Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Grover Beach marijuana dealer accused of fraud, labor violations
By KAREN VELIE A former employee of House of Holistics is suing the marijuana company and several affiliated cannabis growers for allegedly failing to pay him for his work, and for multiple labor violations. [Cal Coast Times] In the past, many marijuana businesses operated as criminal enterprises paying employees with cash under the table and […]... (Continue Reading)
County vendor’s troubles raise the question, who’s printing your ballots?
By KAREN VELIE While fielding questions over its ability to operate in California, San Luis Obispo County’s ballot printer was hit with multiple tax liens. [Cal Coast Times] The additional bad news for the owners of Integrated Voting Solutions and four affiliated companies is likely to have some county officials questioning plans to continue working […]... (Continue Reading)
Carrari family feud – The life and times of Joe Carrari
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about winemaker Joe Carrari, his family’s attempts to have him found incompetent, battles over a $50 million estate, accusations of murder and a home invasion that left two people in the hospital. Read the first in the series here. Joe Carrari distinguished himself as one of […]... (Continue Reading)
Carrari family feud – The Christmas morning home invasion
By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about winemaker Joe Carrari, his family’s attempts to have him found incompetent, battles over a $50 million estate, accusations of murder and a home invasion that left two people in the hospital. Vintner Joe Carrari thought the day could not […]... (Continue Reading)
Inspection report rips SLO County Jail’s treatment of mentally ill inmates
By KAREN VELIE Editor’s Note: This is part two in a two-part series about San Luis Obispo County health services and sheriff department’s treatment of the mentally ill. Part one looked into several suspicious deaths and one injury that occurred in 2017. Following the deaths of three jail inmates in less than a year, in […]... (Continue Reading)
Questions after 2 die, 1 hurt in county custody
By KAREN VELIE Editor’s Note: This is part one in a two-part series about San Luis Obispo County health services and sheriff department’s treatment of the mentally ill. Two men died and a third man seriously injured himself while in county custody in January. A handful of county workers say the deaths and injury could […]... (Continue Reading)
Is SLO County manipulating average rainfall totals?
By KAREN VELIE Going by San Luis Obispo County’s average rainfall numbers, most of the county failed to reach average precipitation in the 2015/2016 rainy season. And with the county’s ever changing average rainfall numbers, much of the county is below averages even during the current season. At the same time, county staffers are applying […]... (Continue Reading)
John Wallace arrested on felony conflict of interest charges
Editors Note: “The criminal complaint against John Wallace is attached below the article. By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office has filed felony conflict of interest charges against 73-year-old John Wallace, the former administrator of the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District. The announcement came Tuesday. After conducting a 10-month […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO County supervisors argue over committee assignments
By KAREN VELIE During a contentious San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, supervisors battled for several prominent positions while leaving several committees without county representation. Of the 22 available committee positions, multiple supervisors applied to represent the county on the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the Local Agency Formation Commission […]... (Continue Reading)
Sanitation district officials tussle over clean underwear
By KAREN VELIE The South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District has launched its third investigation in less than a year into allegations of harassment, threats or discrimination between several former and current district officials and employees. The latest tussle started over a washer and dryer Chief Plant Operator John Clemons ordered so that employees […]... (Continue Reading)
