Uncovered SLO


Is Mayor Heidi Harmon using her position for personal gain?

By KAREN VELIE While the very poor receive government healthcare benefits, part time or minimum wage workers are often unable to afford health insurance. The Noor Foundation in San Luis Obispo fills the gap providing medical care, medications, dentistry, and... (Continue reading)

SLO county accused of bypassing environmental laws for pot growers

By KAREN VELIE A citizens group from Nipomo filed a lawsuit last week against San Luis Obispo County over a permit issued to a marijuana cultivator, arguing county officials gave the green light without environmental reviews required by state law.... (Continue reading)

SLO City employee headed to cushy pay-to-stay jail

By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo city employee, whose unprovoked assault on a woman and a man at an Avila Beach bar caused public outrage, will serve his time behind bars at a “pay-to-stay” jail. [Cal... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County’s tarnished brass

By KAREN VELIE Officer Trevor Shipman kept his job with the Fresno Police Department after he shot and killed a man during a traffic stop over a seat belt violation. The family of the deceased man then filed a lawsuit... (Continue reading)

Judge denies motion to remove parishioners from Grover Beach church

By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County judge denied a request to keep members of the Bethel Baptist Church from holding services at the church on Newport Avenue. The question of ownership led Judge Ginger Garrett to say she... (Continue reading)

SLO County releases sexual harassment complaints

By KAREN VELIE Two weeks after the head of the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department resigned, the county released portions of three harassment complaints lodged by staffers. [Cal Coast Times] A year ago, shortly after Daniel “Colt” Esenwein... (Continue reading)

SLO Tribune’s wildly varied circulation numbers

For a journalism contest, the San Luis Obispo Tribune’s circulation was less than 15,000. For advertisers, the Tribune’s readership is more than 122,000. [Cal Coast Times] On its website, the Tribune is reporting 27,408 in daily circulation and readership of... (Continue reading)

Judge rules El Campo intersection work can begin, lawsuit continues

By KAREN VELIE A Sacramento judge ruled Thursday that Caltrans can begin safety improvements on Highway 101 at four points between Arroyo Grande and Nipomo, despite an ongoing lawsuit. [Cal Coast Times] Caltrans had scheduled construction to begin on May... (Continue reading)

SLO County official resigns amid sexual harassment allegations

By KAREN VELIE Daniel “Colt” Esenwein resigned as director of the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment made by several female employees, according to county sources. [Cal Coast Times] During the... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach Police Chief takes sides in church ownership dispute

By KAREN VELIE Grover Beach Police Chief John Peters authorized officers to arrest members and the pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church if they attempted to enter the church property. It was the latest development in a battle over ownership... (Continue reading)