Ex-Cal Poly admin convicted and country legend coming to Paso: Today’s top stories

The Tribune tracked a busy news day across San Luis Obispo County, from a contentious supervisor race to a new fire chief appointment.

Here are the top stories from May 18, 2026:

• Supervisor race heats up: A campaign mailer from Jim Dantona targeting District 2 supervisor candidate Michael Erin Woody over past conservative positions on climate change, ICE and oil drilling has sparked a dispute, with Woody calling it “slanderous” and saying his views have evolved since leaving the Republican Party in 2019, as detailed in The Tribune’s Reality Check.
• Former Cal Poly admin convicted: Richard Edward Ellison, 69, a former Cal Poly associate vice president, was convicted Thursday of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 after pleading no contest to exposing himself to his 6-year-old step-granddaughter in a hot tub at his Arroyo Grande home, according to the District Attorney’s Office. He faces up to a year in county jail and lifetime sex offender registration at his July 28 sentencing.
• Willie Nelson coming to SLO County: Willie Nelson & Family will perform at the Chumash Grandstand Arena on July 22 as part of the California Mid-State Fair’s Michelob Ultra Concert Series, the fair announced. Tickets ranging from $50 to $100 go on sale May 22 at 10 a.m. at MidStateFair.com.
• SLO eyes $1.4 million home purchase: The San Luis Obispo City Council is expected to consider buying a downtown house at 975 Broad St. for nearly $1.4 million on Tuesday, calling it an “extraordinarily rare opportunity” for future community use near the Cultural Arts District, according to a city staff report. The city negotiated the price down from a listed $1.75 million.
• Manslaughter charge in fatal crash: Gary Phillip Tipton, 66, was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after authorities say he hit and killed Atascadero animal rescue activist Rachel Somars Hoffman, 69, as she crossed a highway on-ramp on Dec. 1, according to court records. Tipton pleaded not guilty at his April 20 arraignment and faces up to one year in county jail.
• New ice cream shop opens: Nana’s Ice Cream & Coffee opened May 5 in Atascadero, featuring 12 flavors imported from Marianne’s Ice Cream in Santa Cruz — including a popular one called “Heaven” — along with Tres Hermanos coffee and homemade waffle cones, owner Adeline Carley told The Tribune.
• New SLO fire chief named: Randy Harris has been appointed permanent fire chief of the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department after a months-long national search and will officially start June 18 after serving as interim chief since January, the city announced. Harris will manage the department’s $18 million budget and roughly 60 full-time employees.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.