Santa Maria police arrest teen for firearm violation
By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Maria detectives arrested a 19-year-old man on Saturday evening whom they caught at a traffic stop with an unregistered firearm. Shortly after 5 p.m., Santa Maria Police Department Gang Suppression Team detectives conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Miller and Central avenues for equipment...
Woman accused of election fraud seeks continuance, denied
By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County woman facing nine counts of election fraud lost a motion on Wednesday to continue her trial, which is set to begin on Monday. Prosecutors charged Gaea Powell in June 2025 with violating multiple election laws when she ran for mayor of Arroyo...
Brush fire burning off Highway 101 in Pismo Beach, suspected arson
By KAREN VELIE A brush fire burning off the east side of Highway 101 in Pismo Beach on Sunday afternoon is suspected to be arson related, according to witnesses. Shortly before 1:30 p.m., a caller reported the fire burning near Costa Brava in the Shell Beach area. A neighbor said...
Gas prices rise in San Luis Obispo County, find lowest costs
By KAREN VELIE While the average price for gas fell in the United States, in California and San Luis Obispo County prices continued to increase last week, according to AAA. SLO County gas prices jumped four cents to $5.90 a gallon. At $5.73, the average price for a gallon of...
Smoke from Big Sur drifting across San Luis Obispo County
By KAREN VELIE Smoke from two wildfires burning in the Big Sur area drifted across the north and coastal regions of San Luis Obispo County on Saturday afternoon. The Plaskett Fire, which ignited on Tuesday in southern Monterey County, exploded to 8,241 acres on Saturday. Further north, the Timber Fire...
Morro Bay City Council votes to purchase school site
By KAREN VELIE The Morro Bay City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to purchase the Morro Elementary School property from San Luis Coastal Unified School District for $5.3 million, with Councilwoman Cyndee Edwards dissenting. The property was appraised at $10.2 million. Built in the 1930s, the school was closed in...
Pregnant Atascadero woman loses baby following head-on crash
By KAREN VELIE A pregnant Atascadero woman lost her baby after a wrong-way driver crashed into the car she was driving on the Cuesta Grade on Wednesday night. Under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs, David Worthington Ross was driving a white GMC Canyon truck the wrong way, heading...
