By KAREN VELIE As developer Kelly Gearhart worked to build more than 400 new homes in the Atascadero area, city inspectors and others were apparently looking the other way, allowing Gearhart to avoid paying city fees due to falsified and unfinished... (Continue reading)
George Ramos, three time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former bureau chief with the Los Angeles Times, has joined CalCoastNews. Ramos, former chair of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Journalism Department, continues to teach reporting and editing classes as a tenured professor... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE In addition to detailing the improper relationship Gail Wilcox engaged in with a sheriff union negotiator, the recently released investigative report commissioned by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors unveils how government leaders conspired to hide... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE The much-anticipated County investigative report reveals Gail Wilcox was terminated due to an affair with the married Executive Director of the Deputy Deputy’s association Tony Perry. The brief relationship coincided with the early 2009 negotiations between the County and... (Continue reading)
Attorneys continued to battle over the release of the investigation report that led to the firing of Assistant County Administrator Gail Wilcox in court earlier today. Judge Barry LaBarbera said he needed time to read the report before moving forword with... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE (EDITORS' NOTE: Following CalCoastNews’ continuing investigations into the alleged theft of public funds by county workers, concerned employees have come forward with allegations that millions in public monies have been stolen and threats of retaliation repeated.) State investigators continue... (Continue reading)
Attorney David Warren announced he plans to apply for an order to block all or part of the investigative report that led supervisors to terminate Assistant Administrative Officer Gail Wilcox, according to County Counsel Warren Jensen. Findings from the investigation resulted... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE After learning of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to slash prison guard’s salaries by another 10 percent, the union has authorized a strike vote, according to Paco Villa’s Correction Blog. Union members question how the governor can determine which department’s... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Former police officers have charged that sheriff candidate Ian Parkinson’s brother provided him the answers to sergeant promotion essay questions in 2001. Police officers, vying for one open sergeant position, answered three essay questions designed to test their writing... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE California's Public Employees’ Retirement System (CaLPERS) lost nearly $67 billion in the last 12 months prompting critics to question the steep pensons paid to some government retirees such as former Cal Poly administrator Robert Detweiler at $181,697 per... (Continue reading)