For the second year running, Allan Hancock College’s Fire Academy won a grant through the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which will cover scholarships and the cost of textbooks, protective gear, and other training materials. “When I first heard it, I was like, ‘Wait, Metallica, like the band?” first-year Fire Academy student Conner Lee said. “I listen […]
Bulbul Rajagopal
Posted inSpecial Issues
California’s Phone-Free School Act took effect in July, but local parents want uniform enforcement
Two years after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free School Act, kids in California are about to find out the effects of the bill once they return from summer break. By July 1, 2026, every school district, county office of education, and charter school had to develop and adopt policies to limit on-campus smartphone use. […]
Posted inGet Outside
Central Coast Women for Fisheries spreads the word about life at sea
FEATURE Overboard, and troublesome heavy deck machinery in unpredictable maritime settings. The lives of the women close to them are no less marked by sacrifice. “Some of the women in this group have raised their kids when their husbands were gone for weeks at a time, and all they could do was talk to them […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Feed My Seoul is the only Korean food truck serving artisanal Asian barbecue in SLO and Santa Barbara counties
Bowl callFeed My Seoul can be found most Wednesdays starting at 5:30 p.m. at Machado Plaza in Santa Maria. Follow @feedmyseoul805 on Instagram to keep up with weekly locations. Place orders in advance until an hour before service by calling or texting co-owner Grace Kim at (805) 888-7226. Book Feed My Seoul as your next […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Get hitched in the sky with Central Coast hot air balloon adventures
Take flightLearn more about Sky’s The Limit Ballooning Adventures in Santa Ynez at skysthelimitballooning.com. For details on Paso Robles’ Balloons over Paso, visit balloonsoverpaso.com. For a hot air balloon proposal or wedding, use the code, SLOWEDDING, until Jan. 1, 2027, for a 10 percent discount. For a couple thousand dollars, you can climb into a […]
Posted inGet Outside
Mayhem Canines teaches dogs to ditch the pavement and hike San Luis Obispo County’s great outdoors
TRAILBLAZING Think your furry companions can handle something a little more hardcore than a walk around the park? Alissa Loftus of Mayhem Canine has your answer. “Hiking is much more efficient, much more stimulating for the dog,” she said. “They’re not just being marched around the pavement. They get to run and jump, get dirty, […]
Posted inGet Outside
California Sauna Club brings a heated trailer and cold plunging to San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay
FEATURE I despise cold, overcast days, but peeping out at gray San Luis Obispo farmland through the half-moon window of California Sauna Club’s heated barrel trailer softened the gloom. The experience, tucked behind Froom Ranch Way marketplace, is from the minds and hands of couple Darren and Arielle Leva. The former Bay Area residents opened […]
Posted inGet Outside
These products can take the stress away from bathroom breaks in the wild
GEAR HUB Answering nature’s call is a little more complicated when you have a uterus. Popping a squat in the woods isn’t for everybody, so here are some products that could be a lifesaver when you’re out on the trails. Kula Cloth Leave behind the excessive toilet paper rolls when you go camping and grab […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Health & Wellness 2026
Outrunning leukemia: Celebrate Life 5K founder talks cancer, remission, and fitness
Fatigue and achiness were the first signs that something was wrong. Initially, international triathlete Siri Lindley just thought it was her age after a lifetime of pushing her body. But doctors discovered it was acute myeloid leukemia. For our annual Health and Wellness issue, Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood talks with Lindley about her cancer journey, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Central Coast residents are getting hooked on IV treatments to boost immunity and wellness
Three for IVMedSpa SLO is located at 867 Pacific St., suite 110, in San Luis Obispo. Visit medspaslo.com or call (805) 457-3244 for more information on its treatments. IV Hydration and Beyond is located at 1512 Park St. in Paso Robles. Call (805) 769-4001 or visit ivhab.com for more information. IV Beach House is located […]
Posted inNews
SLO County man sues Grover Beach, Santa Maria over alleged police misconduct
A San Luis Obispo County resident sued the cities of Grover Beach and Santa Maria, alleging that their police departments colluded to protect an officer with a reported history of misconduct. In his April 2025 lawsuit, SLO resident Casey Johnston claimed that Santa Maria police officer Jason Zickuhr “assaulted” him using a firearm after an […]
Posted inNews
Stacking up: Lawsuits against Lucia Mar school district allege sexual abuse, negligence
San Luis Obispo County’s largest school district faces three lawsuits filed within the last six months alleging child sexual abuse, assault, and negligence at the hands of its employees. A Mesa Middle School student, a Grover Beach Elementary School student, their guardians, and two former students at Dana Elementary School filed separate complaints against the […]
