Featured


California ordered to change the sex of an inmate

A federal judge has ordered the state of California to allow a prison inmate to undergo gender reassignment surgery. [LA Times] U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar ruled in San Francisco that the state was violating Michelle-Lael Norsworthy’s constitutional rights... (Continue reading)

Trice sentences Central Coast Bandit

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge John Trice doled out a 16-year prison sentence on Thursday to Cristina Fernandez Padilla, a Watsonville woman better known as the Central Coast Bandit. Padilla robbed six banks in three counties over an eight-month... (Continue reading)

California cities, towns must cut water use by 25 percent

California Governor Jerry Brown announced an executive order Wednesday that will require all cities and towns in the state to cut their water use 25 percent from 2013 levels. [LA Times] The executive order is California’s first mandatory water use... (Continue reading)

EXCLUSIVE: FBI informant beaten in San Luis Obispo County Jail

By KAREN VELIE An informant who helped the FBI expose a corrupt police officer was severely beaten last month while incarcerated in the San Luis Obispo County Jail. On March 2, the day after it was reported that the city... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo man accused of distributing child porn

San Luis Obispo police arrested a 20-year-old Monday for allegedly possessing and distributing child porn. Shortly before 1 p.m., police served a search warrant at Philippe Estines’ home in the 2800 block of Johnson Avenue. During the search, detectives discovered... (Continue reading)

Los Osos man charged in alleged rape of disabled teen

A 57-year-old Los Osos man is facing three felony charges and one misdemeanor for allegedly raping a developmentally disabled girl who was spending the night on his couch. [Tribune] Last Friday night, the 16-year-old girl spent the night at a... (Continue reading)

Chowchilla kidnapper granted parole from CMC

One of the men who kidnapped a busload of Chowchilla schoolchildren and their bus driver in 1976 was granted parole Wednesday in San Luis Obispo, where he is imprisoned at the California Men’s Colony. [SacBee] This was the 20th parole... (Continue reading)

Man killed in Highway 101 crash

A Santa Maria man was killed Wednesday after he drove his motorcycle into a car on Highway 101 near Spyglass Drive in Pismo Beach. At about 12:30 p.m., the man drove his three-wheel motorcycle into the back of a car... (Continue reading)

Tribune printing press moving to Fresno

Central Valley residents can soon get copies of the San Luis Obispo Tribune hot off the press. The Tribune announced Tuesday that, starting in early June, its newspaper will be printed in Fresno. The Tribune’s parent corporation, McClatchy Company, is... (Continue reading)

SLO City Council votes to outlaw odors

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to enact an ordinance that allows the city to prosecute people who allow foul odors to creep across their property lines for a misdemeanor. During public comment, a... (Continue reading)