SLO County gas prices remain steady, find lowest costs
By KAREN VELIE Gas prices stayed steady with the average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County remaining at $4.86 a gallon last week, according to figures from AAA. In California, the average price for a gallon of gas remained steady at $4.49. Nationally, gas prices...
Cannabis sellers attempt to silence critic, judge says unconstitutional
By KAREN VELIE While the Paso Robles City Council considers making major revisions to its cannabis ordinance, owners of a marijuana delivery service attempted to silence a critic of their business though a restraining order. However, a judge found the request infringed on the critic’s First Amendment rights. Late last...
Cannabis business to pay $620,000 over environmental violations
By KAREN VELIE A cannabis company located near Buelton has agreed to pay a $620,000 settlement for violating environmental regulations regarding diesel generators, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors filed an environmental protection lawsuit against Central Coast Agriculture Inc. and several related companies, which operate cannabis...
Gifford Fire nearly 70% contained, 132,605 acres burned
By KAREN VELIE There was no increase in the acreage burned by the Gifford Fire on Friday. The fire is currently 69% containment. Burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, the fire has scorched 132,605 acres, destroyed five structures and injured 12 people, according to the Friday evening...
Valley fever case rising in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties
By KAREN VELIE California health officials report huge increases in valley fever cases in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties from 2023 to 2024, according to the California Department of Public Health. San Luis Obispo County cases increased 49% from 2023 to 2024: 2023 cases – 56 (though...
Teen crushes golf tournament at Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles
By KAREN VELIE A 13-year-old won her first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) championship tournament on Thursday at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles. Kelly Zhang from Hillsborough, California claimed the girl’s title finishing 10-under par. Richard Ding, 14, from Pleasanton, California won the boy’s title finishing seven-under...
Losses in Government jobs, jump in SLO County unemployment rates
By KAREN VELIE After half a year of falling unemployment, rates skyrocketed in San Luis Obispo County in July to 5.2%, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. While unemployment numbers climb, the size of the county workforce is increased from 133,200 in July 2024 to 134,700 in July 2025....
