Recent Articles

These are the most recent articles on CalCoastNews.com

Man accused of killing his mother in Grover Beach for money

Written on 23 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments


An Indiana man allegedly stabbed his mother to death in her Grover Beach home in order to steal her will and sell off her assets, district attorney’s office investigators testified on Monday. [Tribune] On Oct. 25, 2018, Grover Beach police officers... (Continue Reading)

PG&E seeking to raise rates to cover losses from wildfire issues

Written on 23 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments


PG&E requested permission from the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Monday to hike rates, which would result in the average household’s electricity and natural gas bill increasing by $22.67 a month. [Sac Bee] Currently in bankruptcy over the massive... (Continue Reading)

Bounty hunter captures armed, naked fugitive in Paso Robles

Written on 22 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 8 comments


Editor’s Note: The following article and video include language some may find offensive. By KAREN VELIE After tracking a fugitive for three weeks, bounty hunter Richard Dunbar found the bail jumper holed up in a hideout in Paso Robles last... (Continue Reading)

Is SLO County staff working to reduce public participation?

Written on 22 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Opinion | 8 comments


By JULIE TACKER As a countywide government watcher from Los Osos, I have been expecting the long-awaited Morro Bay sewer plant proposal to make its way through San Luis Obispo County’s approval process and perhaps to the California Coastal Commission.... (Continue Reading)

Paso Robles shifts to district voting system

Written on 22 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments


By JOSH FRIEDMAN The Paso Robles City Council voted last Tuesday to finalize a shift from an at-large electoral system to by-district voting, a move that is intended to appease a lawyer who threatened the city with a lawsuit over... (Continue Reading)

Woman killed in Oceano crash identified

Written on 22 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment


The woman killed in a five-vehicle crash at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Friday night has been identified as Narcissa Lichtman, 44, of San Jose, according to KSBY. At about 7;30 p.m., a group of people were following... (Continue Reading)

Fire destroys car in Arroyo Grande, video

Written on 22 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments


FCFA and @CALFIRE_SLO responded to a vehicle accident with fire in vegetation SB 101 / Grand. Thankfully all occupants out of the car and ok! #fivecitiesfire #arroyogrande #groverbeach #oceano #calfire_slo pic.twitter.com/TttKgl9egT — Five Cities Fire (@5CitiesFirePIO) April 21, 2019 A... (Continue Reading)

SLO residents try to fight house fire, do not succeed

Written on 21 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments


A pair of San Luis Obispo residents attempted to extinguish a fire in their granny unit using cups of water on Saturday, but they did not succeed, and they ended up displaced by the blaze. [KSBY] Shortly before 4 p.m.,... (Continue Reading)

Woman killed in 5 vehicle crash at Oceano Dunes

Written on 20 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 12 comments


A woman died Friday night following a five-vehicle crash at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, according to KSBY. Shortly after 8 p.m., the vehicles collided south of the Vent Pipe area. Dispatchers sent multiple emergency personal to the... (Continue Reading)

SLO County gas prices nearly highest in the nation

Written on 20 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 29 comments


Amid a spike in gas prices across California, drivers are paying more at the pump in San Luis Obispo County than in nearly every other region nationwide. [Cal Coast Times] As of Saturday morning, the average price for a gallon... (Continue Reading)

Teens stabbed during fight over stolen marijuana

Written on 19 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 16 comments


A clash between two groups of teenagers over stolen marijuana products morphed into a chase through a pair of North County cities, culminating in a fight in which one juvenile stabbed two teens around the corner from the Paso Robles... (Continue Reading)

NCAA sanctions Cal Poly for overpaying athletes for books

Written on 19 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments


By JOSH FRIEDMAN The National Collegiate Athletic Association has penalized Cal Poly for providing student-athletes with excessive financial aid for textbook costs, a violation that has landed the university on probation and could possibly force it to vacate the records... (Continue Reading)

Calling out the SLO New Times Shredder

Written on 18 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Opinion | 17 comments


OPINION by T. KEITH GURNEE This week, one of my friends told me that my name was in the April 11 issue of the SLO New Times and The Shredder again. Since I don’t read the New Times anymore, my... (Continue Reading)

Residents express outrage over planned pot grow near Creston

Written on 18 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments


Creston residents expressed outcry at an advisory body hearing Wednesday night over a proposed marijuana grow and manufacturing operation that would be located near the North County community. [KSBY] Project plans call for a three-facility operation on a 4,000 square... (Continue Reading)

Paso Robles informant, who killed his dad in 2003, dies in prison

Written on 18 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 6 comments


By DANIEL BLACKBURN Martin Mendoza, imprisoned since murdering his 67-year-old Paso Robes father in 2003, died  March 30 in Mule Creek State Prison’s hospital, family members said this week. [Cal Coast Times] Mendoza had been suffering from an undisclosed illness,... (Continue Reading)

Amid bankruptcy, PG&E promises millions to new CEO

Written on 18 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments


Amid its bankruptcy, PG&E has hired a new chief executive officer who will receive a $2.5 million base salary, a $3 million signing bonus and an estimated $3.5 million a year in stock, the company stated in a filing with... (Continue Reading)

Atascadero murders unsolved for decades, resolved by DNA

Written on 17 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 4 comments


By KAREN VELIE Jane Morten Antunez was driving to her best friend’s home in Atascadero on Nov. 18, 1977, but she never arrived. Her friend soon discover why: Antunez was murdered and her body was left in the backseat of... (Continue Reading)

Carpenteria man abandons child, swims into ocean to avoid authorities

Written on 17 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment


A Carpinteria man left his six-year-old daughter in a car for several hours, and upon getting tracked down by authorities, he swam away in an attempt to evade capture, but was eventually rescued and arrested on Monday, according to the... (Continue Reading)

Garbage truck catches fire, dumps burning trash on Morro Bay street

Written on 17 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments


A fire erupted in a commercial trash truck in Morro Bay on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the driver to dump a load of burning debris onto a street in a residential neighborhood. [Cal Coast Times] At about 2 p.m., the driver... (Continue Reading)

SLO City inspector placed on leave after assault conviction

Written on 17 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 42 comments


By KAREN VELIE Amid public outrage over a San Luis Obispo City inspector’s unprovoked assault on a woman and a man at a local nightclub, on Tuesday city administrators placed Chris Olcott on paid administrative leave. [Cal Coast Times] More... (Continue Reading)

Two Morro Bay thieves arrested, property recovered

Written on 16 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments


Morro Bay police arrested two men over the weekend and recovered numerous items the thieves allegedly stole from unlocked vehicles. [Cal Coast Times] Last week, officers took several reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles. Investigators identified a suspect, thanks to... (Continue Reading)

Ogren plans to resign from Oceano Community Services District

Written on 16 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments


At last week’s Oceano Community Services district Board meeting, General Manager Paavo Ogren announced his plans to retire on Dec. 21, 2019. [Cal Coast Times] In Dec. 2018, Ogren moved to a part-time position as general manager in Oceano, and... (Continue Reading)

Pismo Beach significantly expands smoking ban

Written on 16 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 17 comments


The city of Pismo Beach has extended its existing ban on smoking in certain public areas to many new places, a regulation that will take effect this week and will subject violators to hefty fines. [Cal Coast Times] Pismo Beach... (Continue Reading)

Assailant stabs victim in the back at a Paso Robles courtyard

Written on 16 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments


A man stabbed a victim in the back at a Paso Robles apartment complex Sunday night and then fled, but later turned himself in to police, according to police. [Cal Coast Times] Shortly before 9 p.m., the victim was drinking... (Continue Reading)

Compromised power lines lead to electrical outage in Grover Beach

Written on 16 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments


A semi truck knocked down multiple low hanging power lines while driving through a Grover Beach neighborhood Monday afternoon, according to police. [Cal Coast Times] Shortly after 2 p.m., the truck snagged several low hanging power lines and destroyed a... (Continue Reading)

SLO City employee guilty of random assault, video

Written on 15 Apr, 2019 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 72 comments


By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo city employee pleaded guilty last month to assaulting two people at Mr.Rick’s in Avilia Beach and was sentenced to 60 days in the SLO County Jail. [Cal Coast Times] On May 28, 2016,... (Continue Reading)

Inmate dies in the Santa Barbara County Jail

Written on 15 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment


A 62-year-old man died in the Santa Barbara County Jail Friday evening, a couple days after being taken into custody for failing to register as a sex offender, according to the sheriff’s department. [Cal Coast Times] At about 6 p.m.,... (Continue Reading)

Underwear clad burglar found in ceiling of Santa Barbara business

Written on 15 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment


A police K-9 located a burglar hiding inside the ventilation rafters of a Santa Barbara business early Sunday morning, and authorities then used a fire truck to get the suspect, who was wearing nothing but his underwear, off the roof... (Continue Reading)

Family members fight off armed gunmen in Santa Maria

Written on 14 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments


A family fought back against three armed suspects who broke into their Santa Maria home on Saturday morning. [Cal Coast Times] Early Saturday morning, three armed teens broke into a home in the area of Western Avenue and Frank Lane.... (Continue Reading)

Former officer found not guilty in Grover Beach fatal dog attack

Written on 13 Apr, 2019 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 13 comments


A jury found former Grover Beach police officer Alex Geiger not guilty on Friday of two felony counts alleging he did not maintain control of his retired police dog before it attacked and killed a neighbor, and one felony count... (Continue Reading)