Uncovered SLO


Resnick’s water bank takes big judicial hit

Billionaire Stewart Resnick’s nut dynasty in the Central Valley has taken a major hit following a ruling Wednesday by a Sacramento judge that state officials failed to “properly analyze” the environmental impact of the Kern Water Bank. [Los Angeles Times]... (Continue reading)

High cancer rates near Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant

A report by the World Business Academy that details negative health trends in the area surrounding the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County was released Monday. Stephen W. Hosea, MD, the associate director of Internal Medicine... (Continue reading)

Former SLO broker charged with federal bank fraud

A former San Luis Obispo real estate broker is facing federal prison time for illegally flipping houses that he purchased in short sales. Timothy William Barnes, 37, pleaded guilty Monday to committing bank fraud. Barnes, a San Francisco resident, owned... (Continue reading)

Sheep deaths, Mother Nature or animal cruelty?

By KAREN VELIE EDITOR’S NOTE: See videos of sheep in creeks, dying and dead at Heritage Ranch and being tossed in a truck at the bottom of this story. The videos are disturbing and include cursing. A young lamb struggles... (Continue reading)

CAB throws water on district formation plans

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A group representing hundreds of rural landowners in Creston won’t support a proposed North County water district as presently envisioned by its advocates. Sheila Lyons, chair of the Creston Advisory Body (CAB), sent a letter to Assemblyman... (Continue reading)

Five Cities firefighting costs escalating

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach and the community of Oceano merged their fire departments in 2010 with the intent of saving money, but the resulting Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) may soon cost residents... (Continue reading)

Lady Gaga’s Hearst pool filling not OK with state

By DANIEL BLACKBURN Lady Gaga’s much publicized video-taping gig at Hearst Castle Feb. 11 had everything a fan of the singer could imagine — music, dancing, plastic swans, fake flowers, and a giant seashell — everything, it seems except proper... (Continue reading)

Nuanced definitions muddy water debate

By DANIEL BLACKBURN and KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County supervisors are preparing the framework for facilitating a North County-based water district even while advocates scramble to describe what such a district would, or could, do. A widening rift over... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay officials shut down business competitors of council members

By JOSH FRIEDMAN (Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about allegations of abuse of power and selective enforcement of laws in Morro Bay. Several videos, showing police and planning staff interacting with people who have business interests... (Continue reading)

Paso water group wields major-league muscle

Eyes on your water: Second in a series of reports on the North County’s festering water politics. A list of the top 30 land owners over the Paso Robles aquifer is available below this story. By DANIEL BLACKBURN Some of... (Continue reading)