Russell Hammer and wife Margo Benson-Hammer in an undated photo. Hammer died of an embolism in San Luis Obispo County Jail in November 2017. Benson-Hammer alleges in a claim for damages filed Friday that Hammer should have received emergency mental health treatment rather than being incarcerated in jail.

Latest News

SLO County supervisor candidates talk racism, housing and jail deaths at forum

12:21 PM

He stole a beer truck and was found in the bushes wearing only American flag shorts, cops say

11:56 AM

He was on a fishing pier when he saw a 'wave.' A whale was coming his way, video shows

11:38 AM

'I wasn't sure I could make 30': SLO County WWII aviators tell harrowing tales

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Charlie the husky is ready to be adopted in SLO County

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Local

A photo from 1956 shows the Nacimiento Dam project in the final stages, looking toward the upstream side of the dam, with the spillway at left and the future reservoir in the foreground.

How SLO County gave away Lake Nacimiento 60 years ago

In 1954, San Luis Obispo County officials gave away Lake Nacimiento, which would become the region's biggest reservoir, to Monterey County. Salinas Valley farmers now use the reservoir to store water and release it for irrigation.

Local

Planned Parenthood says anti-abortion activists shut down its Paso Robles clinic

Earth Day events in SLO County — from concerts to a beach cleanup

Love huskies? Handsome, energetic Charlie is the dog for you

Sports

Cal Poly baseball kicks off its three-game series against Long Beach State.

Cal Poly baseball kicks off its three-game series against Long Beach State

Sancho stars for Dortmund, Hamburg gains hope in Bundesliga

MLS, Columbus Crew owners seek to dismiss move lawsuit

Man United prolongs FA Cup pain for Spurs by reaching final

Opinion

Cal Poly students are demanding the administration do more to address racism. Many have called for the expulsion of the student who appeared in blackface at a fraternity event.

Words alone aren't enough, Cal Poly. It's time to act to end racism

A white fraternity member appearing in blackface is just the latest racist incident at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, says R.A.C.E. Matters, a grassroot organizations in SLO County. It tells Cal Poly to stop issuing statements of concern and start acting.

Cal Poly president is right to lay the hammer down on Greeks

SLO City Council backtracks on Anholm Bikeway. Bad move

What California drivers should remember on 4/20, now that cannabis is legalized

California

Why students are protesting tuition hikes at CSU

Tuition will not increase at California State University next year

California State University Chancellor Timothy White announced on April 20, 2018, that CSU will seek more funding from Gov. Jerry Brown rather than asking the Board of Trustees to vote next month to raise tuition.

Seniors face higher rates of violent crime in Fresno County than statewide average

'Your kids masturbate' and other provocative lines from Fresno State professor's talks

Wife: Man struck by California train pushed her off tracks

In Depth

Lake Nacimiento will be 20 percent full by Labor Day. Where does all the water go?

Blogs & Columns

Times Past

'I wasn't sure I could make 30': SLO County WWII aviators tell harrowing tales

Pet Tales

Love huskies? Handsome, energetic Charlie is the dog for you

Community Columns & Blogs

San Miguel kids get a hands-on history lesson — how to make adobe bricks

Videos

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Entertainment

Norm Macdonald will perform at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez in May 11, 2018.

Arts & Culture

You've seen him on 'Saturday Night Live.' Now Norm Macdonald is coming to the Central Coast

Take a tour of this relaxing, Victorian-era garden in Cayucos

Home & Garden

Victorian garden in SLO County has space for everything, from entertaining to pets

Good soil is vital to the success of any garden.

Home & Garden

Having trouble with your garden? It could be the soil

San Luis Obispo Things To Do

Arts & Culture

You've seen him on 'Saturday Night Live.' Now Norm Macdonald is coming to the Central Coast

Take a tour of this relaxing, Victorian-era garden in Cayucos

Home & Garden

Victorian garden in SLO County has space for everything, from entertaining to pets

Good soil is vital to the success of any garden.

Home & Garden

Having trouble with your garden? It could be the soil