Man shot and killed in Santa Maria

Paso Robles police officers allegedly failed to do their jobs and confront an armed suspect firing shots at the station, instead electing to stand down for more than three hours, according to a ruling filed on Thursday. Three people who suffered losses during a 2020 shooting spree filed a motion...

The Santa Maria Police Department released video on Friday of an officer shooting a carjacker in Santa Maria in December. On Dec. 15, 24-year-old Francisco Gomez allegedly stole a woman’s car at gunpoint. Shortly afterwards, a patrol officer attempted to pull Gomez over. A chase ensued with officers following the carjacker through the city.

With the number of official searchers dropping, the family of missing 5-year-old Kyle Doan is asking for the public’s help. Last weekend, nearly 300 people from 10 counties in California searched the Salinas River area for the missing boy. After pausing the search, approximately 20 members of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office began searching the Salinas River area north of the River Road bridge today.

A San Luis Obispo jury convicted a 57-year-old man on Thursday of raping a child under 10 years of age and sexually abusing two other children in North County. From Aug. 2018 through Aug. 2021, Craig Anthony Grunow sexually assaulted children at his home in the Heritage Ranch area, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. Grunow knew two of the victims well. He abused the third victim after the child came to his home as a guest.

More than two weeks after storms pounded San Luis Obispo County, state and local agencies have reopened the majority of road closed because of flooding, mudslides and damage. As crews remove debris, officials have reopened some roads while more than a dozen roads and highways remain closed. Current road closures.

Normally prices fall during the winter months, but not in 2023. In San Luis Obispo County, and throughout the nation, gas prices are rising. The average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County increased four cents during the past week to $4.88, according to figures from AAA. Although gas costs are climbing, prices are still down considerably from an average high of $6.63 in June 2022.

The extreme weather that pounded San Luis Obispo County brought some good news, the bulk of the county is no longer considered in drought, according to a map published on Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Before a series of 12 storms, SLO County was in moderate to extreme drought,...