Today’s top stories: CA Supreme Court ruling, Uber scam and a beach ‘volcano’

Here are the top stories from The Tribune covering San Luis Obispo County on April 23, 2026, spanning a major California Supreme Court ruling, local elections, a beach “volcano” and more.

Here are key takeaways:

• California Supreme Court rules for Los Osos developer: The court ruled unanimously that the California Coastal Commission lacked jurisdiction to revoke a 2019 permit allowing Shear Development Co. to build three homes in Los Osos. The ruling also said courts should not defer to the Coastal Commission or local governments in disputes over Local Coastal Program interpretations.

• Smoke pours from beach “volcano” in Santa Barbara County: Fire crews responded to Hope Ranch on Thursday after a natural coastal bluff vent known as the “Hope Ranch Volcano” flared up, igniting an underground PVC drainage pipe and producing visible smoke. No structures were threatened.

• SLO County District 2 supervisor candidates face off: Candidates Jim Dantona and Michael Erin Woody squared off at a forum in Morro Bay, splitting on offshore wind energy, Diablo Canyon’s future and battery storage ahead of the June 2 primary.

• New downtown Atascadero studio opens for artists: Husband-and-wife artists Arthur and Allie Mount moved their creative community space, Fieldwork, to a new location on Entrada Avenue in downtown Atascadero, offering workshops in figure drawing, silversmithing, block-printing and more.

• Uber driver unknowingly used in $10,000 scam: Paso Robles police say a resident was scammed out of more than $10,000 over the phone, with an Uber driver unknowingly sent to collect the cash. Officers recovered the money and returned it to the victim.

• Pismo Beach may put four-year mayoral terms on the ballot: The City Council voted 3-2 to hold a hearing on a ballot measure that would extend the mayor’s term from two years to four, with supporters saying two-year terms leave too little time to govern before campaign season begins.

• Next phase of major Atascadero apartment complex underway: After years of delays caused by the Great Recession and the pandemic, the 72-unit second phase of the Emerald Ridge Apartments on El Camino Real is under construction and expected to be complete in early 2027, with rents ranging from $2,500 to $3,200.

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.

This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Today’s top stories: CA Supreme Court ruling, Uber scam and a beach ‘volcano’."