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Uncovered SLO


Marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring in more hot water

Written on 18 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 17 comments

By KAREN VELIE Neighbors complained for years. Helios Dayspring was treating workers at his Santa Barbara County marijuana grows poorly, grading without permits, polluting and threatening them. County officials did little about the complaints. It wasn’t until after Dayspring pled... (Continue reading)

Paavo Ogren abruptly quits SLO County waste agency

Written on 16 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 22 comments

By KAREN VELIE The head of San Luis Obispo County’s regional waste agency quit suddenly on Wednesday, just hours before a board meeting where the members squabbled over the future of the controversial agency. At the beginning of the Aug.... (Continue reading)

Port San Luis commissioner continues bullying, harassment

Written on 13 Aug, 2021 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 22 comments

By KAREN VELIE Shortly after the Port San Luis Harbor District agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement over allegations of bullying and harassment, Commissioner Bob Vessely doubled down again releasing a copy of a confidential document from closed session. Vessely... (Continue reading)

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)