Kicking off his official bid to replace his current boss as Santa Barbara County’s 4th District supervisor in 2020, Bob Nelson echoed a sentiment that’s probably on a lot of voters’ minds. “Many of you are asking yourselves, didn’t we just finish with an election? How on earth can we be starting another one already?” […]
CHRIS MCGUINNESS
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Inmate dies in Santa Barbara County Jail
The Santa Barbara County Jail reported its first inmate death of 2019, after a 52-year-old died of an undisclosed medical condition. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials reported that the inmate, identified as Jose A. Curiel of Santa Maria, died shortly after 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 at an area hospital. Curiel was transported from […]
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Lompoc issues occupancy certificate to cannabis dispensary
A planned commercial cannabis dispensary is one step closer to opening its doors in the city of Lompoc. On Jan. 11, the city issued its very first certificate of occupancy for a commercial cannabis business to David MacFarlane. The certificate will allow MacFarlane to open an adult use retail dispensary at 423 West Ocean Ave. […]
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No age limit: Senior substance abuse presents unique challenges and concerns for those seeking to get them support and treatment
At around 10:30 a.m. in a small room at the SLO County Veteran’s Memorial Building, Colin Quennell was telling a story. The story was a personal one. Quennell, a licensed therapist and program supervisor for the SLO County Health Agency’s Drug and Alcohol Services Department, was talking about an elderly family member that fell on […]
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SLO County’s federal workers will get a pay increase
While San Luis Obispo County government employees are fresh off a strike for higher pay, local federal employees recently received a long sought after increase to their pay. An increase in locality pay for SLO County federal workers, proposed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management earlier this year, was approved through the federal government’s […]
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Cunningham wins second term in state Assembly
Republican Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) will return to Sacramento to serve a second term, winning re-election over Democratic Party challenger Bill Ostrander, according to unofficial voting totals. Cunningham, an attorney with a practice in Templeton, received 63,771 votes Nov. 6, garnering 58.6 percent of the total vote. Ostrander, a SLO-based activist and former […]
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Spotlight on: Open World Leadership Center
Delegation of Russian journalists
The editorial staff at the Sun and its sister paper New Times are used to answering questions about the paper from curious readers, but Nov. 2 was one of the first times they needed the help of a Russian translator to do it. That morning, the New Times Media Group’s publishers, editors, and reporters hosted […]
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Modest measures: Shedding light on the Nov. 6 ballot’s lesser-known propositions
When SLO County voters head to the polls Nov. 6, they’re going to have a lot of decisions to make. In addition to voting for candidates running for state and local offices, as well as local ballot measures, those voters will also have to decide whether to approve or shoot down 11 statewide propositions addressing […]
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Money fight: Millions pour into the 24th District Congressional race while candidates take aim at each other’s donations
It takes a lot to win a congressional election: A message that appeals to voters, a dedicated staff of paid operatives and volunteers, a well-organized ground game, and lots of money. The race for California’s 24th Congressional District, which includes Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is no exception. The race, a rematch between […]
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Starting over: After serving time in state prison, inmates released under realignment must make a new life
The letter was written on a single sheet of ruled notebook paper. Neatly folded and just four paragraphs long. The words, penned in a looping cursive, were hopeful but pleading. “I am in need of a stable, clean and sober living environment,” it stated. “I am totally committed to living life in a productive manner.” […]
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Captive patients: Central Coast jails struggle to care for sick inmates
Kevin Lee McLaughlin woke up in the early morning hours of April 13, 2017, feeling unwell. The 60-year-old inmate had been in custody in the SLO County Jail since late January awaiting sentencing on an assault charge. At 2:30 a.m., he saw a jail nurse for an evaluation. He complained of numbness, tingling, and pain […]
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Forever engaged: How long should you wait before tying the knot?
So you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. You went out and bought a ring. You waited until the perfect moment, took them to the perfect place (a fancy restaurant, in front of Morro Rock, on Cuesta Ridge) and after, fumbling about nervously, surprised them and popped the […]