Uncovered SLO


Former SLO County IWMA employee charged with embezzling public funds

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

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

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

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

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

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)