Nearly two years before the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, I published a book about combating disinformation. I had concluded my story about my trials and tribulations involving CalCoastNews, a San Luis Obispo County-based online tabloid. I decided to not chase down any more leads about them, fact-check their…

Every ten years, San Luis Obispo County revisits the district map to determine what changes should be made to it. This happens every time the U.S. Census releases new population data. Elected officials will also look into other factors beside Census data for adjusting the district map, including communities of…

On October 5, I was in downtown San Luis Obispo and a few short steps away from the SLO County Board of Supervisors building where their meeting was held to discuss the clerk-recorder selection process. I had in my possession a small piece of paper with a scribble of comments…

Last week, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office released their final report on the controversial Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA). Though the report faulted IWMA officials for violating internal rules, not properly handling accounting records and lacking transparency, the DA’s office found no widescale fraud. However, the report…

Every now and then, I get a comment or a message from some anonymous account out of nowhere, accusing me of being part of the left-wing conspiracy to “shut down” and “kill” CalCoastNews. These accounts used the same language and phrases that website co-founder Karen Velie used in various articles…

CalCoastNews co-founder Daniel Blackburn is rather predictable. He absolutely cannot resist attacking The Tribune for not doing the heavy lifting in reporting on corruption like his beloved CalCoastNews does. Let me spare you any surprise for his latest screed. In his remarks, Blackburn ostracizes The Tribune for treating Natural Healing…

Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever penned a column about CalCoastNews’ readers. You know, the readers who comment anonymously, spewing disinformation and conspiracy theories without consequence. I mean sure, a chunk of those “readers” are actually CalCoastNews writers posing as concerned and oddly well-informed readers who…

There is a lot to unpack with this story. Last week, I wrote about the Dept. of Justice revealing in a press release and court filings that local marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring pled guilty in federal court to bribery and failing to report millions in income to the IRS. Since…

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice revealed that San Luis Obispo resident and Natural Healing Center founder Helios Dayspring plead guilty in federal court to bribery and failing to report millions in income to the IRS. According to federal prosecutors, from fall 2016 to 2019, Dayspring paid the late District…