San Luis Obispo Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint
San Luis Obispo police are planning a DUI checkpoint to address impaired driving and promote road safety.
By Jesse Alvarez · 23h ago
Staff Writer · California
Jesse Alvarez
Central Valley
Jesse covers the Central Valley: water rights, farm labor, ag economics, and the towns the coastal press flies over. He was raised outside Fresno and still calls it home.
High Surf and Flood Warnings for Coastal Areas
Coastal regions in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are facing severe weather conditions, with high surf and flood warnings in effect.
By Jesse Alvarez · 1d ago
Stock for company pumping oil off Santa Barbara coast plummets
November 13, 2026 By KAREN VELIE Stock for Sable Offshore, the company extracting oil off the coast of Santa Barbara, this week after it ann
By Jesse Alvarez · 1d ago
Catalina Helicopter Crash Highlights Risks of Island Medevac Flights
A medical evacuation chopper carrying Catalina Romero, pilot, and nurse Jessica Devries crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff, killing all three; federal investigators are assessing causes including night flying, spatial disorientation, and the island’s challenging Pebbly Beach heliport.
By Jesse Alvarez · October 3, 2026
Starbucks is likely closing 64 California locations. Here's where.
FILE: A view of a Starbucks store and logo in San Francisco, Jan.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 26, 2026
Starbucks Coffee closing three store in San Luis Obispo
By KAREN VELIE Starbucks Coffee is closing 250 stores in the United States and Canada, three in San Luis Obispo, the chain announced on Thur
By Jesse Alvarez · September 26, 2026
$571 Million Hike vs 12,189 Policies: Why California Homeowners Are Still Waiting for Relief
State celebrates return of insurers but new data shows a slow start and high costs
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
Chabria: A 'fight worth fighting': Paramount settlement is less than desired, more than nothing
Did California come out a winner when Atty.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
California deal on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger spurs frustration, questions about political pressure
California Atty.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
Sacramento Adds 53rd Light Rail Stop As New Dos Rios Station Hits Tracks On Sept 28
River District residents get better access to transit with the new Blue Line stop.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
How A Neighbor Discovered A Missing 2007 Case Under Their Mountain Floor
A cold case gets solved when a homeowner finds human remains under the house.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
La Verne Battery Fire Forces Mass Evacuations: Why Your Neighborhood's Energy Future Might Be a Hazard
Fire crews battle chemical reaction in a small city as the state races toward 100 percent clean energy goals, leaving residents wondering about safety.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
He Rides a Bike, He Has $4 Million, and He Wants to Fix LA Streets
Hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick bankrolls Nithya Raman's campaign with millions for bike lanes and safe streets.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
Jury Issues $11 Million Verdict to Kids of South LA Man Killed by LAPD
South LA family receives record payout after officers shoot father with knife during 2024 confrontation
By Jesse Alvarez · September 25, 2026
Thunder beast or swamp rhino? Fossils of prehistoric animal uncovered at SoCal construction site
The fossilized remains, which belonged to a large, hoofed animal, are believed to be more than 40 million years old.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 24, 2026
How Trump's plan to make Head Start English-only would hit L.A. classrooms
The Trump administration wants to make Head Start English-only, altering learning for two-thirds of California children enrolled in the fede
By Jesse Alvarez · September 24, 2026
Newsom Signs Bipartisan Bill To Speed Up Cheap Gas Deals
California drivers might see savings at the pump soon
By Jesse Alvarez · September 24, 2026
Colorado Regulators Draft Rules for Xcel's Wildfire Power Shutoffs Without Compensating Customers for Spoiled Food or Lost Business Revenue
Regulators set a 2027 deadline for new rules on preemptive outages. Public hearings begin November 23.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 24, 2026
One weird trick to building a house in CA: This guy
If you want to build a housing project somewhere in California like Los Angeles, you’ll have to wade through an ocean of red tape to secure
By Jesse Alvarez · September 23, 2026
Southern California Edison Chief Warns Wildfire Impasse Risks Higher Customer Bills
Southern California Edison customers face hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs if the utility’s credit rating is downgraded t
By Jesse Alvarez · September 23, 2026
Dolly Parton's manager reportedly embroiled in feud with the late singer's nephew
Dolly Parton's estate has reportedly accused the late singer's nephew of extortion and threats against staff.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 23, 2026
He said his election might have been stolen. Then the FBI came
The Northern California County that often seems to be at the center of election drama is bracing for another potentially bumpy one.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 22, 2026
A 'super' El Niño is about to crash into California: 9 essential ways to prepare
Amid warnings of a wet and potentially destructive winter, The Times asked experts for their best tips to be prepared.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 22, 2026
A timeline of California’s decades-long fight to keep Hollywood in state
Since 2009, California has increased its incentives for companies to film in the state.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 21, 2026
California declares statewide emergency ahead of epic El Niño storms
A statewide emergency has been declared in California in anticipation of a rough El Niño-fueled winter.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 21, 2026
Despite court wins, California election war with Trump rages on
L.A.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 21, 2026
California judge sentences former Syrian prison boss to 60 years for torturing inmates
Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 74, was previously found guilty of charges that he ordered and participated in the torture of prisoners while he head
By Jesse Alvarez · September 19, 2026
Newsom vetoes bill to loosen work-from-home rules for state workers
Many California public employees want more flexibility to work from home than Gov.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 19, 2026
Community colleges will be able to grant more bachelor's degrees under law signed by Newsom
Gov.
By Jesse Alvarez · September 19, 2026
Driver accused in fatal Metro bus crash had multiple drug arrests but spent little time in jail, records show
The driver of an SUV that slammed into a Metro bus, killing two passengers, has battled drug addiction for years and been in and out of poli
By Jesse Alvarez · September 18, 2026