On a Thursday spring morning in Paso Robles, Aurora William drives into a dirt lot by a hotel to a familiar sight: four other volunteers equipped with bags of supplies, from breakfast burritos to Fentanyl test strips. For the past four years, William and other community members from local churches have met here each week […]
Author Archives: Catherine Allen
Posted inFeatures
The ‘domino’ effect that built Antonia’s Pizza
At the counter of Antonia’s Pizza, a man waits patiently to give his order. Samantha Elhajhasr chats with the man from behind the counter as he points to the display of pepperoni pizza and Coke.
Posted inNews
Kristin Smart’s family sues Cal Poly, accusing university of negligence, wrongful death
Editor’s note: The People v. Flores murder trial was covered each day by Mustang News. Read previous articles about the trial here. The family of Kristin Smart is accusing Cal Poly for negligence relating to Smart’s death, according to documents filed in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court on Thursday. The Smart family is […]
Posted inKristin Smart
One Year Later: How one podcast shaped a murder trial
Mustang News interviewed Your Own Backyard podcast creator Chris Lambert and Flores family attorney Harold Mesick in a special feature documentary reflecting on the trial, one year after the verdict.
Posted inNews
Cal Poly to accept donations and volunteers for Mustang Move-in pop-up thrift stores
Students moving out of residence halls can now donate to Mustang Move-in pop-up thrift stores coming in September. Cal Poly will welcome freshmen during their move-in with two pop-up thrift stores located near University Housing, though the exact locations have not been announced yet. Students can sign up to help collect, sort and clean donations […]
Posted inCrime
Cal Poly Military Science Department Head arrested for spying on girls in dressing rooms
A US Army officer who led Cal Poly’s ROTC program has been arrested on suspicion of spying on minors in multiple dressing rooms. Lt. Col. Jacob Sweatland, 39, was arrested by Pismo Beach Police for invasion of privacy and resisting arrest, according to a complaint filed by the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office on […]
Posted inTop Stories
Vape battery sparks late-night fire in Muir Hall
An overheated battery from a vape pen sparked a fire in Muir Hall Wednesday night, San Luis Obispo firefighters on the scene told Mustang News. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department and Cal Poly Police were on the scene. SLOFD had four fire units and the battalion fire chief dispatched to the fire around 9:18 […]
Posted inNews
Bruce Gibson ahead in SLO County Board of Supervisors race
At his election night party in Cayucos, Bruce Gibson wasn’t watching the news or checking results on his phone. He was shaking hands and thanking his supporters, offering them wine, cake and a night of dancing. The current chair of San Luis Obispo County’s Board of Supervisors, Gibson ran for the District 2 seat against […]
Posted inNews, Top Stories
Democratic candidates in the lead for SLO City Council
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more election results are published. San Luis Obispo City Council candidates Michelle Shoresman and Emily Francis are on track to fill the two open council seats, initial election results show. Shoresman, a current councilmember, garnered 36.71% of the vote and Emily Francis, a teacher and city planning […]
Posted inNews, Top Stories
SLO Rep. Salud Carbajal on track to win fourth term in Congress
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as election results are published. Incumbent Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) is in the lead for San Luis Obispo’s District 24 seat with about 60.95% of the vote, according to the county’s initial report. This would be Carbajal’s fourth term in the House of Representatives. He is running against Republican […]
Posted inCrime and Courts
Kristin Smart murder trial: Paul and Ruben Flores’ verdicts to be read Tuesday afternoon
Editor’s note: The People v. Flores murder trial is covered each day by Mustang News. Follow @CPMustangNews on Twitter and Instagram for more updates. Read previous articles about the trial here. The verdicts for Paul and Ruben Flores will be announced Tuesday afternoon in connection to the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart. The two separate verdicts will be read […]