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SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon resigns, denies connection to FBI case

Written on 27 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 51 comments

By KAREN VELIE Amid allegations she took gifts from a marijuana businessman, San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon announced Thursday she is stepping down to battle climate change. First elected mayor in 2016, Harmon said she plans to continue living... (Continue reading)

SLO Mayor Harmon to announce career change, timing suspect

Written on 25 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 55 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Amid allegations that local marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring bribed San Luis Obispo County politicians, SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon will announce on Thursday that she is making a career change. Harmon plans to take a position as a... (Continue reading)

Podcast creator fights subpoena for testimony, records

Written on 25 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 11 comments

By KAREN VELIE Paul Flores’ defense attorney has subpoenaed a freelance journalist whose podcasts have covered the Kristin Smart case since September of 2019. Robert Sanger also tried to keep Chris Lambert, who produces the popular podcast “Your Own Backyard,”... (Continue reading)

San Simeon CSD refuses to identify its general manager

Written on 20 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 11 comments

By KAREN VELIE San Simeon Community Services District officials have refused to disclose the identity of their general manager, or if they even have one, as they continue to battle allegations of conflicts of interest and self-dealing. Throughout the over... (Continue reading)

Marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring in more hot water

Written on 18 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 17 comments

By KAREN VELIE Neighbors complained for years. Helios Dayspring was treating workers at his Santa Barbara County marijuana grows poorly, grading without permits, polluting and threatening them. County officials did little about the complaints. It wasn’t until after Dayspring pled... (Continue reading)

Paavo Ogren abruptly quits SLO County waste agency

Written on 16 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 22 comments

By KAREN VELIE The head of San Luis Obispo County’s regional waste agency quit suddenly on Wednesday, just hours before a board meeting where the members squabbled over the future of the controversial agency. At the beginning of the Aug.... (Continue reading)

Port San Luis commissioner continues bullying, harassment

Written on 13 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 22 comments

By KAREN VELIE Shortly after the Port San Luis Harbor District agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement over allegations of bullying and harassment, Commissioner Bob Vessely doubled down again releasing a copy of a confidential document from closed session. Vessely... (Continue reading)

SLO County votes to divorce waste management agency

Written on 11 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 12 comments

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to cut ties with the controversial Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), and have the public works department comply with state mandates. A consultant estimated it would... (Continue reading)

Spotlight on SLO County corruption: IWMA

Written on 9 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 13 comments

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors asked staffers to create a plan to leave the controversial Integrated Waste Management Authority after the agency voted for a countywide ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam is a trademarked brand... (Continue reading)

Former SLO County IWMA employee charged with embezzling public funds

Written on 5 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 39 comments

By KAREN VELIE Prosecutors charged the former board secretary of San Luis Obispo County’s waste disposal agency with 10 felonies on Tuesday — nine for embezzlement and one for destruction of public records. Carolyn Goodrich allegedly used an agency credit... (Continue reading)