https://calcoastnews.com San Luis Obispo County’s on-line independent news source producing in-depth investigative news in the public interest. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:37:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://calcoastnews.com/images/2022/10/cropped-largetile-32x32.jpg https://calcoastnews.com 32 32 59345941 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/evolution-and-the-oceano-dunes/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/evolution-and-the-oceano-dunes/#respond Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:37:33 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134642 OPINION by GARY KIRKLAND I read that a new group has teamed up with a Chumash tribe to sue the state to close the Oceano Dunes to off-road vehicles. This group is claiming they are saving endangered species and biodiversity. When I took biology classes in college, the professors taught us evolution as major tenet […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/evolution-and-the-oceano-dunes/feed/ 0 134642 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/santa-maria-police-use-drone-to-catch-armed-parolee/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/santa-maria-police-use-drone-to-catch-armed-parolee/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:58:08 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134632 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Maria police officers caught and arrested an armed parolee on Wednesday with help from a drone. Prior to 4 p.m., officers responded to the 1000 block of E. Chapel Street over a report of a man armed with a handgun. When officers attempted to contact the suspect, they determined he was […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/santa-maria-police-use-drone-to-catch-armed-parolee/feed/ 1 134632 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-alleged-high-street-deli-vandal/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-alleged-high-street-deli-vandal/#respond Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:56:34 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134624 By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo police officers arrested the man who allegedly vandalized High Street Deli earlier this week. The suspect is also accused of committing similar vandalism at another deli in San Luis Obispo. On Tuesday, dispatchers sent officers to the original High Street Deli location at 350 High Street over a vandalism […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispo-police-arrest-alleged-high-street-deli-vandal/feed/ 0 134624 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/man-drowns-at-lopez-lake-in-san-luis-obispo-county/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/man-drowns-at-lopez-lake-in-san-luis-obispo-county/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:36:26 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134621 By KAREN VELIE A 20-year-old man died while swimming in Lopez Lake on Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after 4 p.m., a caller reported a swimmer in distress. A 20-year-old man had been swimming with friends when he appeared to struggle and went underwater. His friends flagged down a nearby boat. The people onboard located the swimmer […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/man-drowns-at-lopez-lake-in-san-luis-obispo-county/feed/ 1 134621 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/neighbor-arrested-for-burglarizing-grover-beach-car-wash/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/neighbor-arrested-for-burglarizing-grover-beach-car-wash/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:01:17 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134616 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A man who was living across the street from Bob’s Car Wash in Grover Beach allegedly burglarized the business several times.  On May 6, Grover Beach officers responded to a report of a burglary in the 200 block of W. Grand Avenue. Officers learned that a suspect broke through the car wash […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/neighbor-arrested-for-burglarizing-grover-beach-car-wash/feed/ 2 134616 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispos-high-street-deli-vandalized/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispos-high-street-deli-vandalized/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:01:06 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134609 By JOSH FRIEDMAN A vandal scribbled messages over much of an outdoor seating area at the original High Street Deli location in San Luis Obispo on Monday night or early Tuesday morning. High Street Deli posted photos of the vandalism on Instagram. The vandal’s messages include a phone number and many words with dollar signs […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/san-luis-obispos-high-street-deli-vandalized/feed/ 10 134609 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/parolee-arrested-for-robbing-elderly-man-in-san-luis-obispo/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/parolee-arrested-for-robbing-elderly-man-in-san-luis-obispo/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:07 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134605 By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo police officers arrested a homeless parolee for allegedly robbing an elderly man on Monday. Shortly after 6 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Prado Road over a reported robbery. Investigators determined the suspect, 60-year-old Anthony Smith, approached the elderly victim from behind, placed his hands on the […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/07/parolee-arrested-for-robbing-elderly-man-in-san-luis-obispo/feed/ 8 134605 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-robles-loses-thousands-in-airport-revenue/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-robles-loses-thousands-in-airport-revenue/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:20:33 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134587 By KAREN VELIE A 2024 vote by the Paso Robles City Council has cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in fee and tax revenue. Losses all but one council member said would not happen. Not long after former City Manager Ty Lewis selected Mark Scandalis, a former employee of the water district, to […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-robles-loses-thousands-in-airport-revenue/feed/ 14 134587 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-roles-native-wins-first-top-fuel-drag-race/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-roles-native-wins-first-top-fuel-drag-race/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:14:13 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134582 By JOSH FRIEDMAN Paso Robles native and Templeton High School graduate Maddi Gordon won her first Top Fuel drag race on Sunday. Gordon, 22, won the race at the Summit Racing Equipment National Hot Road Association (NHRA) Nationals in Ohio. She became the eighth woman in NHRA history to win in the Top Fuel division. […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/paso-roles-native-wins-first-top-fuel-drag-race/feed/ 5 134582 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/man-killed-in-crash-near-avila-beach-identified/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/man-killed-in-crash-near-avila-beach-identified/#respond Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:27:55 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134580 By KAREN VELIE The California Highway Patrol identified the 27-year-old man killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Avila Beach on Tuesday as Gary Noe Arias of Santa Maria. Shortly after 11 p.m., Arias was headed southbound in a Totota truck near San Luis Bay Drive when the truck veered up an embankment […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/man-killed-in-crash-near-avila-beach-identified/feed/ 0 134580 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/did-san-luis-obispo-officials-help-coverup-fraternity-misconduct/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/did-san-luis-obispo-officials-help-coverup-fraternity-misconduct/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:58:22 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134555 By KAREN VELIE Emails garnered through a records request reveal a San Luis Obispo Police Department employee misleading the SLO County Grand Jury and others regarding the department’s knowledge of prohibited fraternity activity in residential neighborhoods. For years, SLO residents have voiced concerns over noise disturbances, large unauthorized street parties, and fraternity and sorority events […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/did-san-luis-obispo-officials-help-coverup-fraternity-misconduct/feed/ 11 134555 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/newsom-appoints-john-higuera-santa-barbara-county-superior-court-judge/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/newsom-appoints-john-higuera-santa-barbara-county-superior-court-judge/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:37:27 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134547 By KAREN VELIE Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday the appointment of Juan Higuera to a judgeship in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Higuera has served as a deputy public defender at the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office since 2018. He worked as an associate at multiple firms including at Hathaway Firm from 2016 […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/newsom-appoints-john-higuera-santa-barbara-county-superior-court-judge/feed/ 9 134547 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/san-luis-obispo-county-deals-on-dining-lodging-happy-hours-20/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/san-luis-obispo-county-deals-on-dining-lodging-happy-hours-20/#respond Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:23:11 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134545 Find great local sales and deals on dining, happy hours, lodging, golf and more while supporting San Luis Obispo County businesses and the local economy. Old Juan’s Cantina in Oceano A great way to start your Sunday – brunch at Old Juan’s Cantina in Oceano! Spice up your morning with a delicious, hearty brunch, available from […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/san-luis-obispo-county-deals-on-dining-lodging-happy-hours-20/feed/ 0 134545 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/gas-prices-plummeting-in-san-luis-obispo-county-find-lowest-costs/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/gas-prices-plummeting-in-san-luis-obispo-county-find-lowest-costs/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:50:42 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134541 By KAREN VELIE For the sixth week in a row, gas prices fell in the United States. The average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County fell 12 cents last week to $5.71 a gallon, according to AAA. Even so, SLO County average gas prices are the highest on the Central […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/gas-prices-plummeting-in-san-luis-obispo-county-find-lowest-costs/feed/ 4 134541 https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/police-track-down-arrest-paso-robles-bank-robbery-suspect/ https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/police-track-down-arrest-paso-robles-bank-robbery-suspect/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2026 19:35:19 +0000 https://calcoastnews.com/?p=134535 By KAREN VELIE Paso Robles officers tracked the man suspected of robbing a bank to the Fresno area. Detectives booked 36-year-old Ernesto Noriega Cisneros in the San Luis Obispo County Jail early Saturday morning. After discovering Cisneros was in Fresno County, investigators contacted deputies who arrested the suspect on Friday evening. Paso Robles detectives then […]]]> https://calcoastnews.com/2026/06/police-track-down-arrest-paso-robles-bank-robbery-suspect/feed/ 2 134535