Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo will become the county’s sole Level III trauma center March 1, allowing it to heighten its level of trauma care to area residents.

Central Coast veterans are being asked to attend a breakfast with their congresswoman, Rep. Lois Capps, on Feb. 20 to ask questions about their health and education benefits.

Road construction intended to restore access to the beach at Guadalupe Dunes County Park is underway and expected to continue through the month, according to the Santa Barbara County Parks Department. The park won’t be closed during construction.

Murder suspect Andrew Downs has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Judge John Trice ruled that Downs did not know that what he was doing was morally or legally wrong when he killed Beverly Reilly and Kathy Yeager on Christmas Day 2010.

Cuesta College has until November to fix problems noted by the agency responsible for accrediting community colleges or it will lose its accreditation and possibly face closure, school officials announced Monday.

An attorney suing the county waste management board over its adoption of an ordinance that would ban plastic shopping bags at most stores in San Luis Obispo County has withdrawn one of his reasons for the litigation but has left the other intact.

Donald Baker was sentenced to 16 years in state prison Monday for child molestation. He admitted molesting the two children for the first time today in court.

The fate of Atascadero Junior High School could be decided this week.

Former county Supervisor Jerry Lenthall loads 10 to-go orders for Roger Steele, left, during Sunday’s Martin Luther King Scholarship Barbecue at the Elks Club in San Luis Obispo. Proceeds will help cover college expenses for seniors graduating from San Luis Obispo high schools.

The Los Osos Community Services District Board of Directors has appointed Mitch Cooney as the agency’s interim general manager.

Local nonprofit organization Options Family of Services has ceased publishing the Central Coast franchise of TravelHost, a glossy travel publication distributed to San Luis Obispo County visitors through local hotels.

In an apparent prank originally taken seriously by authorities, more than 70 small, heart-shaped signs along Cambria’s Main Street were removed Saturday night, which could have left many young artist-creators heartbroken.

Thirty-nine of the longest-tenured teachers in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District will end their careers there at year’s end to take an early retirement incentive.

The Cal Poly DanceSport Team held its fifth annual Ballroom and Latin DanceSport Competition on Friday in the Chumash Auditorium.

The Tribune previewed the July 2009 debut of FunRide, a San Luis Obispo carsharing service. The nonprofit operates buses and vans for commuters, seniors and others in San Luis Obispo County.

Joe Schwartz was born in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood of brownstone tenements in Brooklyn. His parents separated and Joe’s mother, a finisher in the garment district, supported the family.

Arroyo Grande Planning Commission. Meets Tuesday. 473-5420. Review two alternative sites for a proposed new police station.

Construction activity is ramping up on two large commercial solar projects on the Carrizo Plain.

Firefighters at seven fire departments in the county have new tools to help them retrieve people trapped in cars thanks to $150,000 in gear handed out Saturday at the Cambria Fire Department.

Classic rock band Journey, country star Brad Paisley and pop group Big Time Rush are among the acts coming to the California Mid-State Fair this summer, fair officials announced Friday.