The Trump Administration is offering some unaccompanied migrant children $2,500 to voluntarily return to their home countries—a move that’s sparked concerns with Central Coast immigration experts.

San Luis Obispo County voters are starting to receive their mail-in ballots for the November 4th special election.

Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal, along with local officials from Hancock College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, announced on Thursday the reintroduction of legislation that would increase federal Pell Grants for students.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the allocation of over $42,000 to pay half of the cost of a Santa Maria Park Ranger. The new ranger will patrol the Santa Maria riverbed for unhoused residents.

More than 20 community members voiced their opinions this week at the Santa Maria City Council meeting, where council members were scheduled to consider forming an ad hoc committee on immigration. The council postponed discussion on the committee because one council member was absent.

California lawmakers are pressing federal regulators for answers about an offshore oil field off the Santa Barbara Coast. Federal agencies say oil production has resumed, but state regulators and environmental groups dispute that claim, warning it can’t legally operate without approval from state agencies.

In Santa Maria, the city council on Tuesday is scheduled to look at continuing a contract for emergency dispatch services with the City of Guadalupe. The contract ended over the summer and the City of Guadalupe has said they are ready to continue this partnership for the next three years.

Santa Barbara County Supervisors are holding off on a decision about a new housing project in Isla Vista. The board is raising concerns over parking and density in the student community.

In a 6-1 vote Tuesday, the Salinas City Council walked back an earlier decision to get rid of protections for renters. A group called Protect Salinas Renters 2026 gathered enough signatures from the public to repeal their decision or bring it to voters in the next election.

U.S Attorney Bill Essayli recently announced the creation of a federal animal abuse task force that aims to prosecute people for violating federal laws and regulations related to animals.The Federal Animal Abuse Task Force will focus efforts throughout seven counties in California, including San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.