Good morning. It’s Tuesday, and I’m reading about which Bay Area city was named the best food city in the U.S. for the second year is a row. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

The former executive director of SLO’s most prominent LGBTQ+ organization was charged with embezzling money from the organization during his two year tenure. He was officially charged with four grand theft felonies of more than $950 each. The nonprofit is not sure how much he embezzled total, though the company’s insurance paid out $45,000 in losses. Its board said it was “appalled” and called the his crimes a “betrayal.”

Joan Lynch / The Tribune

2.

The groundwater authority in Paso Robles is facing a $300,000 deficit, needed to fund its recently-approved $945,000 budget for next year. A water usage tax was proposed to cover the gap and disincentivize wineries and other agricultural producers from drawing too much water from the already-overdrawn basin, but the majority of residents rejected this proposal. Local agencies will have to split the bill instead.

Stephanie Zappelli / The Tribune

3.

California’s electric vehicle drivers can no longer purchase a sticker that authorizes them to drive in the carpool lane, even when alone. Congress didn’t renew the law, which has been in place since 1999, and the program’s 60-day grace period ended yesterday. Some people said that’s the reason they bought an electric car, others mourned the convenience and a few said the car pool lanes are so congested these days that it doesn’t matter anyways.

Olivia Harden / SFGate

4.

Mobile healthcare clinics designed to serve hard-to-reach communities of undocumented immigrants are seeing a decline in people willing to show up to receive routine check-ups. The decrease began around the time that President Donald Trump took office, and it’s only gotten worse as immigration crackdowns and deportation raids. Those who do come are distrustful about where their data is going in the medical system. 

Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters

5.

Women took over the waves in Cayucos this November for the third annual Diva Cup female-first surf competition. Around 100 surfers competed in the invite-only event’s 12 heats created to put women first after the organizers competed for men’s wetsuits and trophies with me on them for years. There was one heat of men, but they had to strut the red carpet wearing drag over their wetsuit beforehand.

Chloe Shrager / The Tribune