The news group's readership grew substantially in 2010 after a series of stories on hard-money lending led to multiple indictments, including the arrests of developer Kelly Gearhart and lender Karen Guth.
Three time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist George Ramos was once an editor[3] who was also serving as the head of the journalism department at California Polytechnic State University.
[7] Currently the newspaper is staffed by editors Bill Loving and Karen Velie as well as reporters Josh Friedman and Ben DiGuglielmo[8] In 2012, an article by Cal Coast News inappropriately cited sources referencing a contractor's employment history and accusing him of mishandling hazardous waste.
[17][18] CCN has published articles accusing former San Luis Obispo County District 3 Supervisor Adam Hill of corruption and bribery.
The website accused Hill of backing the Tenborg libel lawsuit as part of "an undisguised effort to destroy the eight-year-old online news agency.".
[22] CCN implied the FBI raid and suicide attempt was linked to allegations they published that Hill solicited money from the marijuana and development industries.
[23] Also in 2019, Cal Coast News released video footage of a physical assault of a woman at a bar by a San Luis Obispo city employee.