107 guns seized in search and a bear’s Airbnb break-in. Today’s top stories

The Tribune published a wide range of local news Friday, from criminal cases and election controversies to a black bear’s break-in at an Airbnb.

Here’s a quick digest of the day’s top stories:

• 107 guns seized: A San Luis Obispo County man, Jacob Cole Clopton, 39, was charged with seven felonies after the Sheriff’s Office allegedly found 107 firearms, ammunition and methamphetamine during a March 12 search of his Little Morro Creek Road home. A prior Texas conviction for firearm theft could double his sentence under the Three Strikes Law.
• Radio host departs KVEC: Clive Pinder is leaving KVEC after three years hosting “CeaseFire,” saying critics waged a “coordinated campaign” to remove him from air, including threats to file FCC complaints. He’s relaunching his independent nonprofit media venture “In Search of Sanity” with partner Mark Wilson.
• Bear trashes Airbnb: A “slightly scrawny” black bear broke into an Airbnb at Santa Margarita Ranch, ripping up furniture and pulling the refrigerator from the wall while searching for a snack. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist said the 2- to 3-year-old bear was likely looking for food, since there was takeout left near an open window.
• Clerk-recorder race heats up: Challenger Vanessa Rozo called for an investigation of incumbent SLO County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano, alleging incompetence and partisanship over a poll worker shortage ahead of the June 2 primary. Cano said her office filled the gaps by Thursday and called the shortage a statewide issue.
• Nipomo man identified in stabbing death: Police identified Steven Vargas, 21, of Nipomo as the man who died after being stabbed multiple times in Santa Maria on May 16. Carlos Miguel Vazquez, 24, of Santa Maria was arrested the next day and initially charged with attempted murder.
• New groundwater fee approved: The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority voted unanimously to charge $22.90 per acre-foot of groundwater used during water year 2025 by farmers, commercial pumpers and water systems. The fee will fund the agency’s $1.09 million budget as it works to balance the critically overdrafted basin by 2040.
• Pismo Beach tops California list: USA Today readers voted Pismo Beach the No. 1 beach in California in 2026, beating out ‘Olol’koy Beach Park and Huntington State Beach. The SLO County destination also took the title of best small coastal town in the U.S. after ranking No. 2 in both 2024 and 2025.

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.