Home  »  Archives

Uncovered SLO


SLO County votes to divorce waste management agency

Written on 11 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 12 comments

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to cut ties with the controversial Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), and have the public works department comply with state mandates. A consultant estimated it would... (Continue reading)

Spotlight on SLO County corruption: IWMA

Written on 9 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 13 comments

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors asked staffers to create a plan to leave the controversial Integrated Waste Management Authority after the agency voted for a countywide ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam is a trademarked brand... (Continue reading)

Former SLO County IWMA employee charged with embezzling public funds

Written on 5 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 39 comments

By KAREN VELIE Prosecutors charged the former board secretary of San Luis Obispo County’s waste disposal agency with 10 felonies on Tuesday — nine for embezzlement and one for destruction of public records. Carolyn Goodrich allegedly used an agency credit... (Continue reading)

Dayspring pursued Orcutt dispensary permit after signing plea deal

Written on 4 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 8 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Despite local marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring having already signed a plea deal with federal prosecutors in his bribery and tax evasion case, Dayspring’s Natural Healing Center was still pursuing a cannabis dispensary permit in Santa Barbara County... (Continue reading)

Conflicting scenarios emerge in Kristin Smart murder case

Written on 3 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 18 comments

By KAREN VELIE During the first day of the preliminary hearing of Paul and Ruben Flores, prosecutors attempted to portray former Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart as part of a close knit family while the defense attorneys painted a picture... (Continue reading)

Secrets to SLO County marijuana mogul’s success, video

Written on 1 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 25 comments

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County’s marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring, who dreamed of being on the cover of Forbes Magazine as the richest man in California, touts his successes in a short video he created in 2017. Last week,... (Continue reading)

A twisted tale of corruption in SLO County

Written on 31 Jul, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 32 comments

By KAREN VELIE and JOSH FRIEDMAN Shortly after local officials began crafting recreational marijuana regulations, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill and consultant Cory Black began courting growers who sought the help of a kingmaker. All the growers had... (Continue reading)

Marijuana mogul charged with bribing SLO County supervisor

Written on 28 Jul, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 61 comments

By KAREN VELIE Prosecutors charged marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring with paying thousands of dollars in bribes to then-San Luis Obispo Supervisor Adam Hill for favorable votes on his cannabis business interests. Prosecutors charged Dayspring, 35, in federal court with one... (Continue reading)

Investigators search for Kristin Smart’s remains in rural Arroyo Grande

Written on 28 Jul, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 11 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Investigators searched for the body of murdered Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart in the Huasna area of rural Arroyo Grande on Tuesday morning, several sources said. Since Smart disappeared in 1996, investigators have excavated multiple sites in... (Continue reading)

Gathering political allies as redistricting looms in SLO County

Written on 26 Jul, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 15 comments

By KAREN VELIE As San Luis Obispo County prepares to draw new supervisorial district boundaries, leaders in the SLO County Democratic Party are covertly asking allies to promote redistricting plans that appear to support their candidates. Several days before a... (Continue reading)