Uncovered SLO


San Simeon officials facing litigation over failure to do their jobs

By KAREN VELIE After repeatedly failing to vote yes or no on a requested hardship exemption, or agree to provide water, San Simeon Community Services District Board members have been named in a proposed lawsuit over an alleged taking. In... (Continue reading)

Oceano Dunes off-road vehicle enthusiasts file quiet title lawsuit

By KAREN VELIE In an attempt to have portions of the Oceano Dunes dedicated for off-highway vehicle use, Friends of the Oceano Dunes filed a quiet title lawsuit on May 11 against multiple state and local government agencies. According to... (Continue reading)

Lustful eyes cast on Paso Robles Water Basin

(Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors recent vote to allow water banking in the county’s aquifers. Read part one.) By DANIEL BLACKBURN On its surface, the idea... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo police detective killed in the line of duty identified

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo city officials announced today the name of the detective shot and killed while serving a search warrant as 37-year-old Luca Benedetti. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday, six officers attempted to serve a search... (Continue reading)

SLO County assesses San Simeon attorney’s work, does not pass

By KAREN VELIE In a scathing letter, San Luis Obispo County chastises San Simeon Community Services District’s legal counsel for failing to properly respond to questions about an alleged encroachment and the awarding of non-bid contracts. This nondisclosure could cost... (Continue reading)

Camp Roberts to house up to 20,000 migrant children during drought

By KAREN VELIE Amid drought conditions and concerns of water shortages, the Department of Health and Human Services has received permission to temporarily house unaccompanied migrant children at Camp Roberts in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. Initially, 1,500 children... (Continue reading)

Check out vaccination rates in your SLO County neighborhood

By KAREN VELIE Avila Beach leads San Luis Obispo County in the number of people over 16 years old who have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with slightly over 100%. The more than 100% rate... (Continue reading)

SLO County moves into the orange tier, with an exemption

By KAREN VELIE SLO County has advanced into the coronavirus orange tier, even though case rates are up, because of an exemption granted by the state. Last week, SLO County health officials asked the state to grant the county an... (Continue reading)

Exclusive: Neighbors point to Flores’ yard as likely location of Kristin Smart’s body

Editor’s Note: CalCoastNews reporters conducted multiple interviews with neighbors of Paul Flores over the past year. Several sources asked that their names not be disclosed in articles. By KAREN VELIE and JOSH FRIEDMAN Kristin Smart case investigators did not find... (Continue reading)

Bail reduced for suspect in the Kristin Smart murder case

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen reduced bail for Ruben Flores from $250,000 to $50,000 on Wednesday afternoon, after prosecutors accused the 80-year-old man of knowing the location of Kristin Smart’s remains. Ruben... (Continue reading)