Close encounters with humpback whales; a fast-moving wildfire. Today’s top stories
San Luis Obispo County saw fast-moving news Tuesday, from a growing wildfire in the Carrizo Plain to whale sightings off the coast. Here is a roundup of the day’s top stories from The Tribune.
Here are key takeaways:
- Bear Fire triggers evacuations: Mandatory evacuations were ordered Tuesday afternoon as the Bear Fire grew to several hundred acres in rural SLO County near the Carrizo Plain, with potential to reach 1,000 acres as of 4:30 p.m. Level three evacuation orders covered four zones after the fire jumped Seven Mile Road and pushed toward Alleghany Road and Arvin Trail.
- Humpback whales come close to shore: Humpback whales have been spotted in unusually high numbers near Cayucos and other Central Coast spots, including about 13 whales feeding near the Cayucos Pier on June 24. Captains say the whales are following anchovies and squid that move closer to shore around the full moon.
- Diablo Canyon safety report faces scrutiny: A PG&E test found materials in Diablo Canyon’s Unit 1 reactor are safe to operate another 60 years without embrittlement, though the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not yet certified the findings. SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson has urged an independent peer review of the report.
- Aerospace company eyes Paso Robles spaceport: Zone 5 Technologies, a SLO-based defense manufacturer, is expanding to Paso Robles Municipal Airport this summer and expects to hire 200 people for a 40,000-square-foot facility. The company plans to partner with the proposed Paso Robles spaceport for rocket and jet engine testing.
- Grover Beach police seek missing man: Grover Beach police are asking for help locating Freddie Hatfield, an unhoused adult last seen Saturday around 10:30 p.m. leaving the 900 block of Barka Street on a gray electric bike. Hatfield does not have a cell phone, and his destination was unknown.
- Hawaiian-inspired shave ice opens in Morro Bay: Kai Shave Ice held its soft opening June 18 at 255 Morro Bay Blvd., serving shave ice bowls with in-house syrups and signature creations like the tropical island and coastal breeze. Co-owners Hector De La Fuente, Alejandro Flores and Marco Lucatero plan a grand opening July 19, with acai and poke bowls coming soon.
- Dustin Lynch coming to Vina Robles: Multi-platinum country singer Dustin Lynch will perform at Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Oct. 18 as part of his fall tour. Presale tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. and general sale opens Friday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
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.