https://calcoastnews.com San Luis Obispo County’s on-line independent news source producing in-depth investigative news in the public interest. Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:59:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://calcoastnews.com/images/2022/10/cropped-largetile-32x32.jpg https://calcoastnews.com 32 32 59345941 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-members-rob-resident-arrested/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-members-rob-resident-arrested/#respond Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:59:17 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131427 By KAREN VELIE Santa Maria police officers arrested three gang members on Saturday after they allegedly stole a gun from a man allowing them to use his music studio. Late Saturday morning, the three suspects went to an apartment on the 900 block of West Morrison to use a music studio located inside the residence. […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-members-rob-resident-arrested/feed/ 0 131427 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/morro-bay-police-arrest-slo-county-men-for-alleged-fentanyl-sales/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/morro-bay-police-arrest-slo-county-men-for-alleged-fentanyl-sales/#respond Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:12:41 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131422 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Morro Bay police officers caught a pair of alleged drug dealers on Friday with fentanyl and methamphetamine in their vehicle. At noon, Morro Bay officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 Dodge Dakota for a moving violation in the 700 block of Quintana Road. Upon contacting the driver, 32-year-old Carmelo Colaccino […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/morro-bay-police-arrest-slo-county-men-for-alleged-fentanyl-sales/feed/ 0 131422 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/cal-poly-instructor-pleads-not-guilty-to-trying-to-have-sex-with-a-minor/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/cal-poly-instructor-pleads-not-guilty-to-trying-to-have-sex-with-a-minor/#respond Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:17:06 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131413 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A Cal Poly instructor has pleaded not guilty to contacting and arranging a meeting with a minor for sexual purposes. Last month, during an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children, SLO County Sheriff’s detectives conducted a sting operation in which they arrested 38-year-old Kevin Coulombe. Detectives arrested Coulombe after serving search […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/cal-poly-instructor-pleads-not-guilty-to-trying-to-have-sex-with-a-minor/feed/ 0 131413 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/civic-engagement-and-public-leadership-in-paso-robles/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/civic-engagement-and-public-leadership-in-paso-robles/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2026 19:53:05 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131411 OPINION by DORIAN BAKER In a recent opinion piece reflecting on her first year on the Paso Robles City Council, Councilmember Kris Beal emphasized the importance of civic participation and described her role as a bridge between the community and City Hall. Encouraging residents to engage with local government is an important goal, and one […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/civic-engagement-and-public-leadership-in-paso-robles/feed/ 2 131411 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-officers-arrest-three-suspects-for-gun-and-drug-charges/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-officers-arrest-three-suspects-for-gun-and-drug-charges/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:08:25 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131406 By KAREN VELIE Santa Maria police officers made multiple arrests on Friday night during proactive enforcement operations in the city. Shortly before 4:30 p.m., the gang suppression team pulled over a vehicle driven by a probationer on the 600 block of S. Broadway. During a search of the vehicle, officers located several baggies containing suspected […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-officers-arrest-three-suspects-for-gun-and-drug-charges/feed/ 1 131406 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-identifies-man-killed-by-officer-releases-video/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-identifies-man-killed-by-officer-releases-video/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:34:14 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131399 By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo city officials identified the man shot and killed by an officer on Feb. 28 as 69-year-old Willie Felton Foster Jr. Shortly after 4:40 p.m., several 9-1-1 callers reported a male in the 900 block of El Capitan Way who was shouting aggressively and waving a firearm. Officers located the […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-identifies-man-killed-by-officer-releases-video/feed/ 1 131399 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/former-slo-county-probation-officer-guilty-of-embezzlement/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/former-slo-county-probation-officer-guilty-of-embezzlement/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:31:53 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131311 By KAREN VELIE A former San Luis Obispo County probation officer pleaded guilty to nine counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement after her request for mental health diversion was denied. Following 32-year-old Fallyn Sierra Rollins’ guilty plea, the court indicated a sentence of 270 days in jail if Rollins fully pays restitution of $169,875 […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/former-slo-county-probation-officer-guilty-of-embezzlement/feed/ 2 131311 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/oceano-cub-scouts-leader-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/oceano-cub-scouts-leader-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:29:41 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131392 By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County sheriff deputies arrested a Cub Scouts leader from Oceano on Thursday for possession of child pornography. On Feb. 17, deputies received a report of suspected child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as 46-year-old Michael Schmidt, an employee the San Luis Obispo County Health […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/oceano-cub-scouts-leader-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/feed/ 6 131392 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/driver-crashes-into-paso-robles-liquor-store-then-flees/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/driver-crashes-into-paso-robles-liquor-store-then-flees/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:16:42 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131387 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A driver crashed into a liquor store in Paso Robles Thursday morning and then fled the scene. Shortly before 8 a.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported a had driver hit and damaged a wall at Appy’s Liquor, located at 2816 Spring Street. The crash apparently occurred while the individual was trying to park. […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/driver-crashes-into-paso-robles-liquor-store-then-flees/feed/ 4 131387 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/slo-ranch-market-temporarily-loses-liquor-license/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/slo-ranch-market-temporarily-loses-liquor-license/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:44:09 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131383 By KAREN VELIE An employee of the SLO Ranch Market in San Luis Obispo sold alcohol to a minor last summer. The state of California responded by suspending the store’s liquor license for 15 days. On June 5, the San Luis Obispo Police Department, assisted by agents from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, conducted […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/slo-ranch-market-temporarily-loses-liquor-license/feed/ 6 131383 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-member-sentenced-to-50-years-to-life-for-murder/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-member-sentenced-to-50-years-to-life-for-murder/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:57:29 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131371 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A Santa Barbara County judge on Wednesday sentenced a Santa Maria gang member to 50 years to life in prison for murder. On May 16, 2021, at about 2 a.m., Alfredo Alaniz shot and killed Mario Merino Gonzalez, 19, on North Lincoln Street in Santa Maria. Alaniz shot Gonzalez 16 times, 15 […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/santa-maria-gang-member-sentenced-to-50-years-to-life-for-murder/feed/ 3 131371 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/paso-robles-schools-need-to-focus-on-learning-not-encouraging-dissent/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/paso-robles-schools-need-to-focus-on-learning-not-encouraging-dissent/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:04:49 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131373 OPINION by KENNEY ENNEY Since joining the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board, I have lamented the fact that we no longer instill in our children a unifying collective pride in our country. I have lamented the fact that love of country; that thread of patriotism that has stitched together black Americans and white […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/paso-robles-schools-need-to-focus-on-learning-not-encouraging-dissent/feed/ 23 131373 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/firefighters-extinguished-trailer-fire-in-oceano/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/firefighters-extinguished-trailer-fire-in-oceano/#respond Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:58:07 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131363 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Firefighters extinguished a fire that partially burned a fifth-wheel trailer at a residence in Oceano on Wednesday evening. Shortly before 7 p.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported a fire burning in the 1200 block of Silver Spur Place, according to Cal Fire. Five Cities Fire Authority and Cal Fire personnel worked to extinguish […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/firefighters-extinguished-trailer-fire-in-oceano/feed/ 0 131363 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/is-san-luis-obispo-extorting-some-developers/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/is-san-luis-obispo-extorting-some-developers/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:32:54 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131359 Statement from Pacific Legal Foundation San Luis Obispo told homebuilders they could get their permits, but only if they handed over a home at a massive loss or paid a $98,900 inclusionary housing fee. Today, we filed suit to stop the government from imposing unconstitutional fees on builders. John Ruda, Jordan Knauer, and Rami Zarnegar […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/is-san-luis-obispo-extorting-some-developers/feed/ 14 131359 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-and-santa-barbara-counties-declining-populations/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-and-santa-barbara-counties-declining-populations/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:28:07 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=131288 By KAREN VELIE In line with the state of California, the number of people living in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties has declined since the 2020 census. But did the populations increase or decrease from 2024 to 2025? It depends which government agency provides the numbers. While the U.S. Census Bureau reports a […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/03/san-luis-obispo-and-santa-barbara-counties-declining-populations/feed/ 9 131288