UNCOVERED: 45 - The Untold Story

Battered by destructive flooding, California braces for another atmospheric river storm

PAJARO, Calif. — California was bracing for another round of rain beginning Monday as officials tried to assess the damage from severe flooding along the Central Coast and Central Valley, which left scores stranded and left whole blocks under water.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 12, 2023

Scenes of devastation along the Pajaro River: ‘The water is still coming in. It’s rising’

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Crowds of onlookers stood on the Watsonville side of the Pajaro River Bridge looking at the swollen muddy river rushing below and the closed-off, submerged town of Pajaro on the other side.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 12, 2023

Levee breach in California triggers massive flooding, prompts evacuations, rescues

MENLO PARK, Calif. — A levee failure on the Pajaro River in Monterey County overnight triggered massive flooding and prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of water rescues as the latest atmospheric river storm pummeled large swaths of California.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 11, 2023

The man convicted of killing Kristin Smart in 1996 is sentenced to 25 years to life

Smart, 19, disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 1996. Prosecutors maintained that Paul Flores, now 46, killed Smart during an attempted rape.

WEKU · Mar 11, 2023

Roads washed out, rivers flood as deadly storm pelts California and forces evacuations

FRESNO, Calif. — California’s deadly storm season turned even deadlier Friday as the first of two atmospheric river storms descended on the state, prompting widespread evacuation orders as it flooded creeks and rivers and dropped warm, heavy rain atop the state’s near-record snowpack.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 11, 2023

Paul Flores receives maximum sentence for murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A Monterey County Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced Paul Flores to 25 years to life in state prison for killing California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart — the maximum sentence for first-degree murder.

Tribune News Service · Mar 10, 2023

At least 2 dead as storm pelts California, bringing flooding and evacuations

FRESNO, Calif. — At least two people have died as the first of two atmospheric river storms descended Friday on California, prompting widespread evacuation orders as it flooded creeks and rivers and dropped warm, heavy rain atop the state’s near-record snowpack.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 10, 2023

Convicted murderer Paul Flores will not get a new trial in Kristin Smart case, judge rules

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The man convicted of murdering California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart will not get a second trial, a Monterey County Superior Court judge ruled Friday.

Tribune News Service · Mar 10, 2023

Biden OKs emergency assistance for California amid evacuations, flooding risks

FRESNO, Calif. — At least one person has died as the first of two atmospheric river storms descended Friday on California, prompting widespread evacuation orders as it flooded creeks and rivers and dropped warm, heavy rain atop the state’s near-record snowpack.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 10, 2023

Atmospheric rivers hit California with heavy rain and snow

California is expected to see a warmer, wetter storm through the weekend — posing a serious risk of flooding, particularly in central California.

WEKU · Mar 10, 2023