Uncovered SLO


A rude Italian awakening for reporter Josh Friedman

By KAREN VELIE Some of the world’s most powerful people are attending the mysterious Bilderberg conference this week in Turin, Italy. The conference provides a secretive forum for about 120-140 world leaders in politics, finance, media and industry to discuss... (Continue reading)

SLO County’s numerous election winners and losers are…

An unusually competitive primary election cycle — containing hotly contested races for everything from county supervisor to superior court judge — has come to an end. Will the family of deceased SLO County Jail inmate Andrew Holland succeed in ousting conservative... (Continue reading)

SLO County Democrats gaining parity with Republicans

As the electorate becomes deeply divided over issues regarding immigration and gun control, the number of registered voters in San Luis Obispo County has increased to an all time high, and the Democratic Party is the big winner. [Cal Coast... (Continue reading)

Questionable spending at SLO County IWMA on the agenda

Editor’s note: The Wayne Hall letter requesting an audit of the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority is at the bottom of this story. By Cal Coast Times staff San Luis Obispo County’s public agency responsible for waste... (Continue reading)

Marijuana partnership leads to fraud lawsuit

By KAREN VELIE A partnership formed to claim part of California’s estimated $7 billion pot industry wound up in a San Luis Obispo County court with claims of fraud and forgery. [Cal Coast Times] Kyle Billingsley, Hal Billingsley, Sean Despain... (Continue reading)

South SLO County Sanitation District audit reveals weaknesses

A recently released 2015-16 financial audit for the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District found that even though the overall financial health of the district was relatively good, three material weaknesses put it at risk for fraud. [Cal Coast... (Continue reading)

FPPC investigating Supervisor Gibson for conflicts of interests

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission has mounted an investigation into San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson concerning conflict of interest allegations. [Cal Coast Times] In 2016, the county board of supervisors approved a vacation rental exemption for a... (Continue reading)

Deputies question jail safety, elect not to endorse Ian Parkinson

Members of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association have voted twice not to endorse San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson in his campaign to keep his seat in the June 5 election, while questioning his management of the county jail. [Cal... (Continue reading)

Central Coast community reeks of marijuana

Carpenteria is a charming coastal community peppered with antique stores, mom-and-pop shops and gourmet cafes. But with an onslaught of marijuana cultivations, some say the southern Santa Barbara County community stinks, literally. [Cal Coast Times] After multiple nurseries switched from... (Continue reading)

Fact checking the Compton and Paulding Nipomo debate

Cal Coast Times monitored Monday’s San Luis Obispo District 4 supervisor debate, which included claims on everything from Nipomo having a 400 percent increase in crime to accusations that a candidate is in the pocket of special interests. [Cal Coast... (Continue reading)