Uncovered SLO


Los Osos sewer bid award costs residents and local jobs

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Los Osos residents will have to foot a bill for nearly $2 million beyond expected costs and local electrical workers will lose thousands of man-hours because San Luis Obispo County staff recommendations were approved by the board.... (Continue reading)

High speed pursuit suspect hit by a truck

By KAREN VELIE A 39-year-old man who evaded Arroyo Grande police during a high-speed chase on Tuesday was hit by a truck while fleeing San Luis Obispo police on Wednesday. San Luis Obispo police officers discovered Arroyo Grande resident Cameron... (Continue reading)

James Miller pleads guilty, daughter gets immunity

By KAREN VELIE Former Hurst Financial President James Miller agreed to plead guilty to a four-count criminal complaint under an agreement that his daughter Courtney Brard will not be prosecuted. Miller, 63, pled guilty in 2011 to charges of mail... (Continue reading)

Is water banking in SLO County’s future?

Eyes on your water: First in a series of reports on the North County’s festering water politics. By DANIEL BLACKBURN Little San Luis Obispo County is poised to become a major player in the West’s high-stakes water future, even while... (Continue reading)

Larry Allen receives contract extension amid Forbes dispute

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Two days after Forbes Magazine published a commentary highlighting the high pay of San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) head Larry Allen, the APCD board approved a contract extension for the district chief. On... (Continue reading)

Larry Allen enters battle against Forbes magazine columnist

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District Executive Director Larry Allen fired back at Forbes Magazine columnist Steven Hayward Wednesday claiming none of the information in his “attack piece” is true. For example, Allen claims Hayward... (Continue reading)

Supervisor Adam Hill demands Forbes Magazine retraction

By KAREN VELIE Battling back against a storm of negative publicity following a Forbes Magazine commentary, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill has demanded a retraction from the national publication. Hill accuses Forbes columnist Steven Hayward of making up... (Continue reading)

What do council members make in SLO County?

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Some part-time city council members and mayors in San Luis Obispo County earn high compensation rates for the hours they work. The top earners among council members in the county received approximately $27,000 to $30,000 in total... (Continue reading)

Kelly Gearhart and James Miller receive another reprieve

By KAREN VELIE For the fifth time, former North County developer Kelly Gearhart’s fraud trial and Hurst Financial president James Miller’s sentencing hearing have been delayed. A federal judge continued Gearhart’s trial from Feb. 18 to June 17. Miller’s hearing... (Continue reading)

Sheriff revamps report of drug bust

By CCN STAFF Details of a December drug raid provided by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department have undergone alterations since Sheriff Ian Parkinson complained in a letter to radio station KVEC about CalCoastNews’ reporting of the incident. Parkinson’s... (Continue reading)