Uncovered SLO


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)

SLO County Board of Supervisors takes first step to split from waste agency

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors took the first step Tuesday to depart the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) in a 3-2 vote along party lines. Supervisor John Peschong made a motion to have county... (Continue reading)

Conflict over union labor could cost Arroyo Grande reliable water source

By KAREN VELIE After years of meetings, the cities of Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach agreed on plans for Central Coast Blue, a regional recycled water project set to bring a reliable water source to the Five Cities... (Continue reading)

Judge denies bail for Paul Flores, notes evidence of other sexual offenses

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen ruled Monday that Paul Flores is to remain in jail without bail because of fact evidence supporting the murder charge and issues with public safety. Paul Flores... (Continue reading)

Surge in assaults on media, including in Paso Robles

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Black Lives Matter protests picked up nationwide this week spurred by uproar over the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by a Minnesota police officer, which occurred as the George Floyd murder trial was taking place nearby. Attacks... (Continue reading)

Lawsuit challenges Coastal Commission’s authority over the Oceano Dunes

By KAREN VELIE Friends of the Oceano Dunes accuses the California Coastal Commission of violating environmental laws while claiming to be a lead agency when it is not, in a lawsuit filed Monday. The suit challenges the commission’s authority to... (Continue reading)