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SLO County warns of Omicron variant as new cases remain moderate

By KAREN VELIE As the COVID-19 Omicron variant has now been identified in California, local health officials encourage San Luis Obispo County residents to strengthen their protection against the virus, which remains at a moderate level, to avert a potential... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo man who raped a child sentenced to 40 years

By KAREN VELIE After pleading no contest to four counts of forcing a child to engage in sexual acts, a 47-year-old San Luis Obispo man was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Initially, the SLO County District Attorney’s Office charged... (Continue reading)

Biden wants Diablo Canyon in SLO County to remain open

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The Biden Administration is encouraging the state of California to consider keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open, rather than shutting it down by 2025, as planned. Diablo Canyon currently provides 10% of California’a electric power. [Reuters]... (Continue reading)

Former Atascadero worker violated retirement rules

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A former local government worker who performed post-retirement duties for the city of Atascadero is one of five individuals found to have sidestepped California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) rules by, under the guise of doing consulting... (Continue reading)

Ruddell’s Smokehouse in Cayucos bites the dust

Editor’s Note: The following series, “Life in Radically Gentrifying Cayucos by the Sea,” to be posted biweekly includes the notes, thoughts, and opinions of an original American voice: author Dell Franklin.  Franklin’s memoir, “Life On The Mississippi, 1969,” is currently... (Continue reading)

Teen wounded in Santa Maria shooting

By JOSH FRIEDMAN An 18-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds in a shooting in Santa Maria Tuesday night. Shortly after 10 p.m., 911 callers reported shots heard and someone yelling in the area of 200 W. Newlove Drive. Officers arrived... (Continue reading)

Lompoc murder suspect arrested in Oceanside

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Authorities arrested a 21-year-old man in San Diego County after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Lompoc earlier this week. Shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday, a caller reported a shooting in the 200 block... (Continue reading)

SLO County’s district map selection process exposes political divide

By KAREN VELIE After months of debate and mudslinging, San Luis Obispo County has a new political map that makes major changes to the supervisorial districts. Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt the Patten map, with supervisors Bruce Gibson... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo homicide victim and suspect identified

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Police have identified the 64-year-old man who was killed near Megan’s Organic Market on Higuera Street last month as San Luis Obispo transient Rick Fowler. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Nov. 20, a 911 caller reported need... (Continue reading)

Truck driver who killed SLO bicyclist charged with manslaughter

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County prosecutors charged a truck driver with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for hitting and killing a bicyclist in SLO earlier this year. [Tribune] Shortly after 7 a.m. on June 25, 61-year-old Salvador Cortez of SLO... (Continue reading)