Uncovered SLO


SLO council appoints Barasch to investment committee

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The San Luis Obispo City Council appointed former mayoral candidate Steve Barasch to the Investment Oversight Committee Tuesday, despite opposition from staff and the mayor. Barasch, who has criticized city financial decisions during regular appearances at council... (Continue reading)

SLO management snubs policy critic

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Amid allegation of financial inadequacies, San Luis Obispo’s assistant city manager ordered the city clerk to leave the name of an outspoken applicant for a position on the Investment Oversight Committee off a staff report for Tuesday’s... (Continue reading)

Gearhart properties to be auctioned

By KAREN VELIE Three of former north county developer Kelly Gearhart’s properties will be sold at auction in October including the Paso Robles golf course property known as Vista del Hombre. A New York firm will hold the auction on... (Continue reading)

Central Coast ground water quality poorest in state

By KAREN VELIE In southern San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County researchers found more wells with high concentrations of nitrates, arsenic and molybdenum than anywhere else in the state, according to a recent report by the U.S.... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles supervisor departs under criminal cloud

The former building, parks and streets maintenance supervisor for Paso Robles is under investigation for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the city. Charles Lorenzen, 52, was placed on paid administrative leave a week ago and then resigned his position... (Continue reading)

Los Osos sewer contractor dumping millions of gallons of water into Morro Bay

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Every three days, contractor W.A. Rasic dumps more water into Morro Bay than an Olympic-size pool can hold. It’s part of the Los Osos Wastewater Project, putting in a sewer system for the area. As workers dig... (Continue reading)

Politicians must now divulge payments to bloggers

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN California’s political watchdog initiated a new rule this week requiring politicians to disclose payments made to people or companies receiving remuneration to blog positively about them, or negatively about their opponents. The rule likely... (Continue reading)

Three citizens ejected from SLO County Board of Supervisors’ meeting

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson tossed three speakers out of Tuesday’s board meeting following an argument that ensued after community members asked for information about a pledge Gibson and a fellow  supervisor signed. Speaking during public comment, several... (Continue reading)

Hill casts deciding vote for CAPSLO contract

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill cast the deciding vote last week to approve a contract of more than $360,000 for the organization that employs his fiancée. Hill often abstains or recuses himself when the Board... (Continue reading)

CalCoastNews attorneys file anti-SLAPP motion in libel suit over hazardous waste story

Attorneys for CalCoastNews filed a motion Friday to dismiss a libel suit brought by the head of a hazardous waste management service in Arroyo Grande. Charles Tenborg sued CalCoastNews chief Karen Velie and reporter Daniel Blackburn for publishing an article... (Continue reading)