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Santa Maria Police Department placed “snipers” on mall roof to surveil protest against police violence

By Joe Payne The Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) stationed two “long observers” with scoped rifles on the roof of the Santa Maria Town Center to surveil an April 24 protest against police violence in the city’s downtown area. The officers are usually part of the city’s SWAT team, SMPD Sgt. Woody Vega said, and…

Indigenous farmworkers organize and strike in Santa Maria with help from MICOP

By Joe Payne A group of dozens of indigenous farmworkers in Santa Maria, California walked off the field on April 15 after a coworker requested higher pay and was fired, according to organizers. Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) organizer Jeremias Salazar said the group of non-unionized fieldworkers quit in solidarity with their coworker, whose…

Andy Caldwell sinks to new low, spreads lies about Capitol Hill attack

By Joe Payne Local rightwing media host, lobbyist, and failed candidate for Congress, Andy Caldwell, sunk to even lower lows on his radio show on Jan. 6, 2021, the day far-right domestic terrorists goaded by President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol Building in an attempt to overthrow American democracy. After our criminal president…

Victory for Tianna Arata as judge kicks SLO County DA Dan Dow off the case

A San Luis Obispo County judge ruled on Friday, Dec. 11, that SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow was hopelessly biased against Black Lives Matter organizer Tianna Arata and co-defendants and would not be able to try their case through his office. The decision from Superior Court Judge Matthew Guerrero pointed to politically-motivated appearances on…

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