Uncovered SLO


Marijuana mogul charged with bribing SLO County supervisor

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

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

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)

Paso Robles removes homeless encampments, deems trash

By KAREN VELIE The city of Paso Robles removed approximately 19,000 pounds of what the city deemed trash from homeless encampments along the Salinas Riverbed during the past two weeks because of the risk of fires, according to the Paso... (Continue reading)

Lawsuit accuses Atascadero officials of bias and retaliation

By KAREN VELIE A businessman filed suit against two Atascadero City Council Members and the city last month for alleged bias and unjust actions in violation of his constitutional rights. The plaintiff, Scott Newton, argues that three council members violated... (Continue reading)

Human blood and fibers discovered in Kristin Smart murder case

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County investigators discovered human blood under the home of Paul Flores’ father in 2021, court records show. They also found fabric fibers in the place where they believe the body of Kristin Smart was... (Continue reading)

Paul Flores’ sex life revealed, numerous rapes alleged

By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County judge Wednesday refused to allow prosecutors to add two Los Angeles rape charges to the case against Paul Flores, charged in the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart. Judge Craig van Rooyen said... (Continue reading)

SLO County supervisors argue over clerk recorder appointment

By KAREN VELIE The majority of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to allow applicants to apply for the county clerk-recorder’s position — to the dismay of the board minority. Supervisors Bruce Gibson and Dawn... (Continue reading)

Flores could face 2 LA rape charges in Kristin Smart case

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office is moving to add two charges of rape of an intoxicated person in its case against Paul Flores, charged with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart. The charges involve... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria attorney accused of defrauding a client to pay for her lavish lifestyle

By KAREN VELIE A Santa Maria attorney is facing 13 felony charges after she allegedly embezzled more than $400,000 from an elderly client which she then used to fund her lavish lifestyle. A judge on Tuesday awarded her client’s beneficiaries... (Continue reading)