Additional Articles

• News

  County begins preparations for 2020 Census

  COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo will receive funding to support outreach efforts for the 2020 U.S. Census and help ensure a complete, fair and accurate count locally. On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the County Board of Supervisors supported the County’s participation in the Census and accepted $100,000 in funding for the County’s participation. County staff will convene a Complete Count Committee of representatives from cities, schools and local community organizations to develop a strategic plan for regional activities to increase the census response rate and assist in implementing that plan.

  1 day ago
• News

  Smart911 now available in San Luis Obispo County

  COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced on Wednesday, Jan. 9 that Smart911 is now available in San Luis Obispo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 dispatchers during an emergency. Smart911 allows the public to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information.

  1 day ago
• News

  Critical hospice volunteers needed for local patients

  COUNTY — Community volunteers are needed to provide in-home companionship and respite care to hospice patients in San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Maria Valley, according to Central Coast Hospice. Central Coast Hospice has been providing medical and social services to those with a terminal diagnosis in all of San Luis Obispo County for over seven years. Volunteers are an important part of the program. They provide supervision to patients while their family caregivers take a break or run errands, assist with light household tasks, provide emotional support and socialization, and help with miscellaneous, yet important tasks — like organizing family photos or helping the patient write letters to their loved ones.

  1 day ago
• News

  Spring classes begin Jan. 22 at Cuesta College

  COUNTY — Cuesta College’s spring semester begins Jan. 22 and students can continue signing up for classes through Feb. 3. Classes are still available in many areas including art, English, foreign languages, music, and more. Also offered are free Emeritus College non-credit courses for lifelong learners. Open classes may be viewed by clicking here. New this spring are several student services initiatives. This January, Cuesta College is opening two new Dreamer Centers at the San Luis Obispo and North County campuses to support undocumented students and their families. The centers are made possible through a grant awarded to Cuesta College by the California Catalyst Fund — a private funding source focused on creating equitable opportunities for student learning at institutions of higher education. The college is one of 32 campuses throughout California that received support from the grant.

  1 day ago
• News

  Work on southbound US HWY 101 on Cuesta Grade begins this week

  COUNTY — The No. 2 (middle) and No. 3 (right) lane of southbound US 101 will be closed from the top of Cuesta Grade to south of Old Stagecoach Road beginning Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. until Thursday, Jan. 24 at 5 a.m., weather permitting, according to Caltrans. These lane closures will allow Caltrans to repair the roadway where a sinkhole is developing. This roadwork will also include the removal and replacement of a failed drainage culvert beneath those lanes. Motorists should expect to slow in this construction zone and anticipate delays not to exceed 15 minutes.

  1 day ago
• News

  Public input is needed to move forward on county housing ordinance

  COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building is asking for the public’s input as the department works on updates or amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Public Review Draft), formerly known as the Secondary Dwelling Ordinance. Under direction of the Board of Supervisors, Planning and Building staff are working on Phase II of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance to encourage development by removing unnecessary barriers. As part of this effort, the County has reviewed existing restrictions and limitations on secondary dwellings throughout the unincorporated areas of the County and has released the Accessory Unit Ordinance Public Review Draft.

  4 days ago
• News

  Libraries offer fine amnesty in January

  COUNTY — It’s time to pull out that long overdue library book because January is Fine Amnesty Month for County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries. Regardless of how overdue an item is, all County Library branches will waive all overdue fees, clearing the account for checkout of new materials. Fine forgiveness does not apply to fees charged for lost materials, however.

  1 week ago
• Opinion

  Commentary: Elections bring women into politics

  As winter descends upon us (admittedly rather gently in our so fortunate neck of the woods), and the rebirth of Spring is right around the corner, we should all pause to reflect on the many, many things that we should be grateful for. While we each have separate and different lives, we all enjoy the benefit of living on the Central Coast, where the scenic beauty is truly outstanding and many opportunities exist. From the romping Elephant Seals of San Simeon, the changing foliage of the trees in our wonderful new Three Bridges Park on Morro Road, and to the newly greening hills (we are blessed with rain this year), we have much to be thankful for.

  1 week ago