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Paso merchants lost big on Memorial Weekend

Written on 16 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN Angry Paso Robles downtown merchants are reacting to what many are calling a Memorial Weekend financial disaster triggered by city officials responsible for the sudden departure of one of the nation’s largest car shows. Local business owners are reporting... (Continue reading)

Estate Financial evaluator appointed

Written on 16 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 32 comments

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Barry T. LaBarbera Monday initiated a complete evaluation of the books of Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) mortgage fund. LaBarbera appointed Hanno Powell -- an attorney from Fresno experienced in receiverships -- to look into EFI’s... (Continue reading)

Just the facts, ma’am

Written on 10 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

By THE EDITORS A Cal Poly official took to the airways Monday to dispute portions of an UncoveredSLO.com article posted last week. Amy Hewes, director of publications and communications for the College of Engineering, argued on Dave Congalton’s 920KVEC Hometown Radio show... (Continue reading)

UncoveredSLO.com is your watchdog

Written on 10 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | No comments

Do you enjoy reading UncoveredSLO.com’s in-depth reporting? Do you like the media watchdog function we provide and reader commentaries that follow? Now is your chance to help us continue. Support us today. We thank the many people who have contributed to... (Continue reading)

State regulators cancel EFI sales permits

Written on 9 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 42 comments

By KAREN VELIE Estate Financial Corp. (EFI) of Paso Robles can no longer solicit nor accept investor money because the troubled lender’s state permit to do so has been revoked. Specifically, regulators from the California Department of Corporations (DOC) have stopped the... (Continue reading)

Mussel inspection method lacking?

Written on 6 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 2 comments

By KAREN VELIE A tiny, invasive bivalve and a statewide drought of increasing severity are on a collision course in San Luis Obispo County. Hoping to prevent an infestation of the Quagga mussel into local waters, the county Parks and Recreation Department... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly College of Engineering budget bleeds

Written on 6 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 12 comments

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Red ink sullies Cal Poly’s College of Engineering and the internationally respected educational institution now operates at a deficit for the first time in decades, according to a slide prepared, presented, and distributed by the... (Continue reading)

COMMENTARY: Keeping you confidential

Written on 4 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 5 comments

By THE EDITORS Internet journalism and Web sites like this wade through uncharted legal and ethical waters. One of the first difficult issues to surface related to the content not of our news articles, but to the readers’ comments that the news... (Continue reading)

Vendor lawyer Hall helps county official buy house

Written on 2 Jun, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 36 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN and KAREN VELIE A top county official’s Arroyo Grande home was jointly purchased by her and the family trusts of local lawyer Clay Hall, whose firm receives hundreds of thousands of dollars annually as the vendor responsible for... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly-Saudi deal: No women, no problem

Written on 26 May, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

A controversial proposal to partner Cal Poly’s engineering department with a fledgling university in Saudi Arabia has spurred a steam of leaked e-mails between Cal Poly officials, who express a desire to push ahead with the pact despite possible gender... (Continue reading)