https://calcoastnews.com San Luis Obispo County’s on-line independent news source producing in-depth investigative news in the public interest. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:57:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/calcoastnews.com/images/2022/10/cropped-largetile.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://calcoastnews.com 32 32 59345941 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/neighbor-questions-pismo-beach-city-council-candidates-integrity/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/neighbor-questions-pismo-beach-city-council-candidates-integrity/#respond Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:57:32 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136422 OPINION by MEL STAHLMAN As our community prepares to vote on members of the Pismo Beach City Council, I feel a deep obligation to share my personal experiences with candidate Clare Malone Prichard. Candidates must possess fairness, ethics, integrity, and a commitment to public service. Ms. Prichard has shown me she lacks those vital qualities. […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/neighbor-questions-pismo-beach-city-council-candidates-integrity/feed/ 0 136422 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-damages-garage-of-san-luis-obispo-home/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-damages-garage-of-san-luis-obispo-home/#respond Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:52:15 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136417 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A fire damaged the garage of a house in San Luis Obispo on Sunday. The fire broke out at a residence in the 700 block of Del Rio Drive near Diablo Avenue, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Firefighters contained the blaze and worked to minimize damage to the property. […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-damages-garage-of-san-luis-obispo-home/feed/ 0 136417 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/wrong-way-driver-crashes-into-storage-container-in-san-luis-obispo/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/wrong-way-driver-crashes-into-storage-container-in-san-luis-obispo/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:56:31 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136409 By KAREN VELIE A wrong way driver flipped his car and crashed into a storage container in San Luis Obispo early Friday morning. Shortly after midnight, a caller reported a single vehicle crash on the 400 block of Higuera Street. Officers determined the 20-year-old Santa Maria driver exited Highway 101 at Marsh Street and made […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/wrong-way-driver-crashes-into-storage-container-in-san-luis-obispo/feed/ 3 136409 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/gas-prices-skyrocket-in-slo-county-find-lowest-costs/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/gas-prices-skyrocket-in-slo-county-find-lowest-costs/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:13:24 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136399 By KAREN VELIE Amid unrest in the Middle East, the average price for gas surged in San Luis Obispo County last week jumping 12 cents to $6.19 a gallon, according to AAA. At $5.99, the average price for a gallon of gas is currently 20 cents less in Santa Barbara County. “Volatility in the Strait […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/gas-prices-skyrocket-in-slo-county-find-lowest-costs/feed/ 2 136399 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-wounded-in-santa-maria-shooting/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-wounded-in-santa-maria-shooting/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:47:08 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136386 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A man suffered a gunshot wound in an overnight shooting in Santa Maria. Early Saturday morning, just after midnight, officers responded to the 2400 block of North Baldwin Way. Officers located a 34-year-old man who had sustained a gunshot wound, according to the Santa Maria Police Department. Responders transported the victim to […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-wounded-in-santa-maria-shooting/feed/ 3 136386 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/mcclatchy-guts-slo-tribune-newsroom-part-of-nationwide-layoffs/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/mcclatchy-guts-slo-tribune-newsroom-part-of-nationwide-layoffs/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2026 21:44:48 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136373 By KAREN VELIE McClatchy gutted newsrooms throughout the United States on Thursday, including laying off five journalists who were working for the San Luis Obispo Tribune. The layoffs include three reporters, one photographer and opinion editor Stephanie Finucane, according to a post by Kathe Tanner – one of the discharged reporters. Tribune editor Joe Tarica […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/mcclatchy-guts-slo-tribune-newsroom-part-of-nationwide-layoffs/feed/ 14 136373 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-fires-a-gun-near-park-in-paso-robles-arrested/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-fires-a-gun-near-park-in-paso-robles-arrested/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2026 20:28:33 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136375 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Police officers arrested a man for firing a gun near a park in Paso Robles on Friday. After receiving a report of multiple shots fired in the area of Larry Moore Park, officers responded to the scene and located several people whom they later determined to be the victims. The victims, who […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/man-fires-a-gun-near-park-in-paso-robles-arrested/feed/ 1 136375 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-police-arrest-minors-who-allegedly-robbed-victim-at-knifepoint/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-police-arrest-minors-who-allegedly-robbed-victim-at-knifepoint/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:55:27 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136365 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Maria police arrested two juveniles who allegedly robbed a male victim at knifepoint Thursday evening outside the mall. Shortly after 6 p.m., officers responded to a report of a robbery near the Town Center Mall. Two suspects had approached a victim and threatened him with a knife. The suspect with the […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-police-arrest-minors-who-allegedly-robbed-victim-at-knifepoint/feed/ 2 136365 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-burns-19-acres-triggers-evacuation-orders-near-san-luis-obispo/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-burns-19-acres-triggers-evacuation-orders-near-san-luis-obispo/#respond Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:48:40 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136360 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A fire burned 19 acres by Highway 1 near San Luis Obispo on Friday, triggering temporary evacuation orders. Shortly after 4 p.m., the blaze started by Highway 1 near Mail Pouch Lane and Stenner Creek Road between Cal Poly and the California Men’s Colony. Initially, the fire was threatening structures, prompting evacuation […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/fire-burns-19-acres-triggers-evacuation-orders-near-san-luis-obispo/feed/ 0 136360 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-county-deputies-arrest-10-suspected-drug-dealers/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-county-deputies-arrest-10-suspected-drug-dealers/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:41:32 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136354 By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 10 people on Thursday and Friday following a lengthy investigation into the Nipomo 13 criminal street gang. The investigation focused on the sale of controlled substances in SLO County. The investigation uncovered a conspiracy to sell controlled substances from two businesses, Munchiez 805 restaurant […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-county-deputies-arrest-10-suspected-drug-dealers/feed/ 6 136354 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-courthouse-bomber-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-courthouse-bomber-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:52:06 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136349 By KAREN VELIE The 22-year-old man who set off a bomb injuring five people at the Santa Maria Courthouse in 2024 pleaded guilty to two federal charges this week. As part of a plea agreement, Nathaniel James McGuire agreed to plead guilty to using a weapon of mass destruction and for maliciously damaging a building […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/santa-maria-courthouse-bomber-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges/feed/ 1 136349 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-arson-suspect/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-arson-suspect/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:14:51 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136340 By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo police officers arrested a 38-year-old man on Thursday for allegedly setting a fire that burned five vehicles on city owned property near the Bob Jones Trail on Sept. 8. Shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a caller reported a fire burning off the Bob Jones Bike Trail near the […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-arson-suspect/feed/ 5 136340 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/judge-dismisses-alleged-fraudsters-lawsuit-against-slo-county-clerk/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/judge-dismisses-alleged-fraudsters-lawsuit-against-slo-county-clerk/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:30:14 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136326 By KAREN VELIE A federal judge dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by the San Luis Obispo County woman facing felony election fraud charges because the complaint did not contain specific allegations and did not identify which civil rights were violated. While battling eight felony and one misdemeanor charge, Gaea Powell filed four lawsuits against […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/judge-dismisses-alleged-fraudsters-lawsuit-against-slo-county-clerk/feed/ 3 136326 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/arson-suspected-in-san-luis-obispo-fire-that-burned-vehicles/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/arson-suspected-in-san-luis-obispo-fire-that-burned-vehicles/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:35:16 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136320 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Authorities are investigating a fire that burned at least five vehicles at the San Luis Obispo water treatment plant on Tuesday as possible arson. Multiple homeless people have encampments in the area, and one homeless man was seen standing and watching as firefighters responded to the blaze. The man remained by the […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/arson-suspected-in-san-luis-obispo-fire-that-burned-vehicles/feed/ 6 136320 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/woman-killed-in-crash-near-atascadero/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/woman-killed-in-crash-near-atascadero/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:41:03 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=136316 By KAREN VELIE A 42-year-old woman was killed in a single car crash on Highway 41 near Atascadero on Tuesday evening. Shortly after 10 p.m., Jenny Ritter of Ceres was headed southbound on Highway 41 near Rocky Canyon Road when the Mercedes she was driving drifted across the highway, down a dirt embankment and into […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/09/woman-killed-in-crash-near-atascadero/feed/ 0 136316