Makayla Richardson

KSBY News • 27th May 2026

Major change coming to 'dangerous' Arroyo Grande intersection

During the school year, many Harloe Elementary School students cross the intersection of Halcyon Road and Fair Oaks Avenue to get to class.“Accidents [happen] all the time right there," said Rick Wetmore, who lives near the school and says it’s a dangerous area for drivers and pedestrians. "They had a car in the school one time, you know, in the school yard. Speed limit's too high.”With the school on one side of Fair Oaks and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital on the other, Wetmore says it’s a bus...

KSBY News • 25th May 2026

On Memorial Day, Pismo Beach honors those who gave their lives for the United States

A crowd formed at the Pismo Beach Pier for a Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the city on Monday morning.Sgt. George Ayson came from Arroyo Grande to be at the event. “I like to give homage to the children, sons and daughters who gave their lives to our America because we have freedom," Ayson said. "A lot of times we take that for granted but freedom costs a lot.”Ayson is an Army veteran himself, stationed in Europe during the Vietnam War. He said he’s worried the younger generations could be for...

KSBY News • 24th May 2026

Lopez Lake fully booked for Memorial Day weekend

At Lopez Lake, every camping space is booked for Memorial Day weekend.A gloomy Sunday morning at Lopez Lake didn’t stop families from enjoying their Memorial Day weekend.Rachel Solano and her family are staying at the lake from Thursday to Monday. “It's a yearly thing that we do," Solano said. "Every year that we come out here, it's all family. Everybody gets together, we have games, and just spending time with each other. It’s beautiful.”Solano said her family had to book six months in advance...

KSBY News • 23rd May 2026

Veterans and local community place flags for Memorial Day at Arroyo Grande Cemetery

Over 2,200 veterans are being honored at the Arroyo Grande District Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day.Families, volunteers, and veterans had an early start on Saturday, placing flags at the final resting places for hundreds of local veterans.Veteran Joe Martinez said local veterans wanted to extend the Memorial Day observance beyond the holiday on Monday.“We want to honor our veterans and to just put them out and then pick them right back up, it isn't really honoring our veterans," Martinez said. "...

KSBY News • 19th May 2026

Grover Beach changes illegal fireworks fees

It's been nearly a year since Grover Beach city leaders approved a fireworks ordinance that would fine people $1,000 per illegal firework. However, some of those fines from last year's Fourth of July are still unpaid.Now, the City is changing the ordinance to better enforce it.Eight Grover Beach residents still owe thousands of dollars to the City for setting off illegal fireworks last year. Wayne Embrey has lived in Grover Beach for almost two decades. He said he's disappointed in the City's li...

KSBY News • 18th May 2026

Winds calm for warm week ahead

Happy Monday, Central Coast! The wind advisories in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties are finally behind us, but a few watches and warnings are still in place for most of our beaches. There is a small craft advisory along the western beaches, a high surf advisory for San Luis Obispo county beaches down to Lompoc and a beach hazard statement for the Santa Barbara area. This statement is advising people to be aware of the elevated surf and the dangerous rip currents and breaking waves tha...

KSBY News • 17th May 2026

What you need to know before the June primary election

Ballots for the June 2nd primary election have been mailed to all active registered voters.Pismo Beach resident Joe Nemeth said he’s been learning as much as he can before he casts his vote.“Reading, watching the news, getting educated," Nemeth said. "I'm an informed voter.”The deadline to register is May 18. If you miss that, you can still register on Election Day at your polling location. Provisional ballots will be counted once their accuracy is confirmed.Nemeth said he’s planning on mailing...

KSBY News • 16th May 2026

This gateway to the Oceano Dunes just got a major facelift

Your drive to the Oceano dunes just got a little clearer. Pier Avenue now has new paint, new asphalt, and designated bike lanes but not everyone is excited about the changes.Bridgette Vanherweg walks along the beach in Oceano once a week. She said she didn’t notice the new striping, just that the road seemed cleaner than usual.“I think there were two lanes but they were always covered with sand, so you couldn't really tell," Vanherweg said. "So, once the sand starts coming back, once the beach r...

KSBY News • 15th May 2026

Actress from Arroyo Grande stars in Peacock series

Actress, producer and Arroyo Grande local Sofia Rosinsky is starring alongside two award-winning actors in a new TV show, and she’s bringing her experience back to the Central Coast.Rosinsky grew up in Arroyo Grande, and now at the age of 19, she’s starring in the new Peacock show, "The Miniature Wife."Rosinsky plays Matthew McFayden and Elizabeth Banks’ daughter, Lulu.“At the point that we find her in the show, she has to start making some big decisions about who she wants to be, where she want...

KSBY News • 14th May 2026

The heated race for San Luis Obispo County’s District 4 Supervisor

Two people are vying for the San Luis Obispo County District 4 Supervisor seat in the June 2 Primary Election. Incumbent Jimmy Paulding and challenger Adam Verdin were both born and raised in southern San Luis Obispo County and have similar reasons for running.“I think that we can make better decisions that's tied not just to the folks that live here today, but also for the next generation of people that are trying to build their lives here,” Verdin said.“I have rolled up my sleeves and put ever...

KSBY News • 12th May 2026

New development planned for long-vacant property in Shell Beach

A new housing development will fill one of the last available spaces in Shell Beach.Tuesday marked the start of construction on a new Spanish-style housing development at Beachcomber Drive and Shell Beach Road. Solemar is set to include 12 townhomes and eight single-family homes.Mardee Whitehouse lives in Shell Beach and said the change is not surprising.“I miss the empty lots just for wildlife," Whitehouse said. "But, I gotta be honest, if it was an empty lot, someone's going to build. That's t...

KSBY News • 11th May 2026

Warm and overcast conditions kick off the week with cooler temps on the way

Good morning, Central Coast! As we get started for the week, we're dealing with some of the warmest temperatures for the next few days with overcast conditions. Much like yesterday in some coastal areas, clouds are going to be sticking around most of the Central Coast until Wednesday. A gradual change will happen until then as temperatures cool down and the clouds clear from the area. The fog this morning is heavily impacting visibility in Cambria and the Santa Barbara area. If you're in these a...

KSBY News • 10th May 2026

Families celebrate Mother's Day with a free concert in Pismo Beach

At the Dino Caves Park in Pismo Beach, families from across the Central Coast celebrated Mother’s day with a free concert. New moms, dog moms and boy moms spent some of their Mother’s Day watching the Damon Castillo Band at the Dinosaur Caves Park.Enjie Rubio and her family came to Pismo Beach for the first time on Mother's Day weekend. “It's the most important thing to be with my family, be around families and at my favorite place, the beach," Rubio said. Some families, like Rubio, drove all th...

KSBY News • 9th May 2026

Neighbors watch Susan Flores' home during search

Some Neighbors and even out-of-towners got to Susan Flores’s house at 9 am on Saturday. While some were ready to settle in, Valerie Glahn wanted to walk by just to get a peek at what was going on.“Everybody seems to want to have a conclusion to this tragedy," Glahn said. Some of the people who claimed a spot outside of the home first showed up on Wednesday, the day investigators executed the search warrant. They did not want to go on camera, but did tell me they came back to show their support f...

KSBY News • 8th May 2026

What’s allowed during the search at Susan Flores' home

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said investigative leads and other evidence led to a judge signing off on this week’s search warrant for Susan Flores’ Arroyo Grande home, but what’s allowed under the search warrant and why do others need to be obtained before the investigation at the home wraps up?“It's not what we believe, it's what we can prove," Sheriff Parkinson said. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, the man found guilty of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart's 1996 murder....

KSBY News • 6th May 2026

Up to 30 single-family homes being considered for construction on a vacant lot in Grover Beach

California’s Central Coast is a destination to visit, but living in the area can be out of reach for many. The City of Grover Beach is currently reviewing a plan that may provide 28 to 30 houses to buyers who do not qualify for low-income housing but cannot afford prices in today’s market.“This project would provide for the ‘missing middle,’” said Grover Beach Mayor Kassie Dee. “It's in a really wonderful spot right across the street from a park near other residential spaces within walking dista...

KSBY News • 5th May 2026

Two years or four? Pismo Beach mayors could be elected for a longer term

Pismo Beach city leaders are divided on a potential new measure that could extend the mayoral term from two years to four.“I'm always up for some new changes and hopefully some, some positive ones," said Nicole Foster, Pismo Beach resident. In their last meeting, the Pismo Beach City Council voted 3-2 to continue the conversation of expanding the mayoral term to four years.Since 2004, the mayoral term for Pismo Beach has been two years. In February, the idea to expand it to four years was floate...

KSBY News • 4th May 2026

Cecchetti Road reopens with temporary bridge after 3-year closure

Cecchetti Road is back open, but it might not last long. After three years and multiple signs calling for action, a temporary bridge has been installed over Arroyo Grande Creek. Jeroen Dierkes cheered as he crossed the bridge.“I’m so happy," Dierkes said. "I'm so excited. This is so awesome that they fixed it. I'm so happy. I was flying over from that side. Looking forward to finishing the route out this side.”The creek crossing was initially closed after storm damage in 2023, forcing residents...

KSBY News • 2nd May 2026

Top surfing dogs make a stop in Pismo Beach

If you ever visit the Pismo Pier, you have a good chance of catching a surf competition. But these competitors are hanging paws instead of hanging ten.Meet Rippin Rosie, a local surfer from Santa Cruz who’s been surfing since she was seven months old. Now, at five, Rosie is part of an effort to expand dog surfing down to the central coast.Steve Drottar is Rosie's owner. He said he's always wanted a dog to surf with him.“It's just a way to share your experience with your dog," Drottar said. "It's...

KSBY News • 28th April 2026

$85 million Highway 101 project aims to ease Pismo Beach traffic

If you’ve ever driven through Pismo Beach along Highway 101, you’ve probably noticed traffic can get especially congested in the southbound lanes. Local leaders say a project that recently broke ground could eventually make your commute a little easier.Dee Gore can see Highway 101 from her kitchen window in Shell Beach.“It's very congested at certain times of the day," Gore said. "If you live here, you know when to get onto 101.”Work has started on a project aimed at changing that. Once complete...

KSBY News • 27th April 2026

Arroyo Grande city officials want your input on a potential cannabis tax

Cannabis brings in millions of dollars every year to some San Luis Obispo County cities, but not Arroyo Grande. Local leaders now say the city is losing money and a policy change is needed.The city of Arroyo Grande is hosting a series of meetings with residents over the next few weeks to discuss a potential cannabis tax measure.The city said it’s losing money because residents are traveling to other cities in the county to buy cannabis. By potentially legalizing sales and introducing a tax, the...

KSBY News • 27th April 2026

How does rain affect local strawberry farms?

Agriculture is one of the pillars of San Luis Obispo County, and strawberries are one of our biggest crops— so how has recent weather affected this specific fruit?Resident Taylor Filler shops for her fruits and vegetables locally. “There's just so much agriculture in the area, and we're able to grow so many things here," Filler said. "It feels like it's crazy to be buying stuff from far away when we have it all right here.”But Filler said the last batch of locally grown strawberries she bought w...

KSBY News • 26th April 2026

Bear sightings surprise Arroyo Grande residents

An Arroyo Grande neighborhood got an unexpected visitor this week as a bear wandered through backyards.Residents on both sides of Huasna Road had quite the surprise earlier this week with multiple bear sightings in nearby neighborhoods.“I'm used to hearing about the occasional mountain lion in our neighborhood," said resident Bonnie Davis. "We see coyotes periodically, but I hadn't heard of a bear before.”One resident said a bear wandered into their backyard, climbing over a fountain and pulling...

KSBY News • 24th April 2026

'Serious concern': District Attorney issues warning to SLO County political campaign coalition

A local group called the South County Coalition received a warning letter from the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office this week regarding "apparent misclassification of committee and campaign reporting obligations."The DA’s Office says it found campaign documents that “raise serious concern.”The warning alleges the South County Coalition has only been giving money to support candidate Jimmy Paulding in the upcoming District 4 County Supervisor race, despite being listed as “an adv...