Daniel Blackburn
Daniel Blackburn is editor of KCCN.tv
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Velie banished by KVEC’s Ron Roy
By DANIEL BLACKBURN CalCoastNews’ Karen Velie has been bounced from the airwaves of KVEC/920 following station management’s receipt of a critical letter from San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson. Velie, the news site’s publisher and co-founder, was informed of KVEC General Manager Ron Roy’s decision in an email from Hometown Radio talk show host […]... (Continue Reading)
County bullies in full revenge mode
OPINION: By DANIEL BLACKBURN It was a casual get-together of professional women, mostly from the South County and Santa Maria, and the tone was cordial until one of the ladies happened to mention that she had read an article on CalCoastNews. “The mood of the gathering changed instantly,” she later recalled. “The contempt was palpable.” […]... (Continue Reading)
Foster kids just like money in the bank
By DANIEL BLACKBURN Children taken from parents and placed in foster homes generate a generous flow of cash to California counties, according to a recent Los Angeles Times report. County social services agencies throughout the state net at least $1,800 each month for every child placed into foster care. “The currency of the system is […]... (Continue Reading)
Grandchildren of CCN publisher spend holidays in county hands
By JOSH FRIEDMAN and DANIEL BLACKBURN In the midst of a CalCoastNews investigation into alleged abuses of power by a county agency, three grandchildren of the news agency’s co-founder and publisher have been removed from their family and forced to spend Thanksgiving in foster homes. Karen Velie’s grandchildren, 10-year-old Gwen, 8-year-old Brenden, and 7-year-old Kaleb, […]... (Continue Reading)
County rebuffs California Coastal Commission
By DANIEL BLACKBURN County planners have snubbed California Coastal Commission (CCC) investigators in an ongoing dispute over permit requirements for a controversial Morro Bay commune. Acting Planning Director Kami Griffin, responding to a formal complaint from the state agency, stated flatly in a Nov. 1 letter that Roandoak of God’s “present use… is consistent with […]... (Continue Reading)
State eyes Morro Bay commune for violations
By DANIEL BLACKBURN A destination for the downtrodden on the outskirts of Morro Bay has been circumventing a variety of building codes and environmental regulations for more than four decades, and now an official of the California Coastal Commission is chiding county officials for the protracted paralysis. Additionally, county officials’ options for correcting the problems […]... (Continue Reading)
Politicians must now divulge payments to bloggers
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN California’s political watchdog initiated a new rule this week requiring politicians to disclose payments made to people or companies receiving remuneration to blog positively about them, or negatively about their opponents. The rule likely will impact some local activities. The one exception to the rule is if the paid […]... (Continue Reading)
OneWest Bank pays 7 figures in mortgage fraud case
By DANIEL BLACKBURN A San Luis Obispo County couple has received a million-dollar-plus settlement and title to two houses in a case that is likely to result in more lawsuits by people who lost property to mortgage lenders after the bursting of the housing bubble. Greg and Irene Rigali of Shell Beach sued OneWest Bank, […]... (Continue Reading)
LaBarbera thinks Brennler constitutionally protected
By DANIEL BLACKBURN A San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge, in a tentative ruling, is planning to uphold an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss a slander lawsuit brought by a homeless services official against Mike Brennler, a North County private investigator. Judge Barry LaBarbera’s office posted his tentative ruling online late Wednesday afternoon. According to the […]... (Continue Reading)
CCN reporter arrested on DUI charge for .06 blood alcohol level
By JOSH FRIEDMAN and DANIEL BLACKBURN CalCoastNews reporter and co-founder Karen Velie was taken into custody on Aug. 13 after a San Luis Obispo police officer arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officer Josh Walsh placed Velie under arrest after her blood alcohol test showed a .06. California’s drunk driving laws require […]... (Continue Reading)
