Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. An electrical fire broke out in the Yosemite residence hall early Thursday morning, causing minor injuries for one student and displacing 58 students, according to university emails obtained by Mustang News. The fire occurred around 3:15 a.m. in Yosemite […]
Author Archives: Catherine Allen
Posted inNews, The Hill, Top Stories
Cal Poly community petitions for safety protocols after week one COVID blunders
One week into winter quarter, Cal Poly community members are petitioning for safer COVID-19 policies after what they say is university administration’s mishandling of its worst coronavirus surge yet. The petition garnered more than 2,960 signatures in just a few days, including university employees, students, parents, alumni and community members. It cites a main issue […]
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Cal Poly updates masking guidelines to recommend N95 and KN95 masks
In the latest guidance from President Jeffrey Armstrong, Cal Poly is now strongly recommending the campus community wear surgical or fitted N95/KN95 respirator masks indoors. This recommendation comes days after a record number of Cal Poly students tested positive for COVID-19 and as the highly contagious Omicron variant surges across the United States. In an […]
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Record-high number of Cal Poly students test positive for COVID-19
Three days into the new year, more students have tested positive for the coronavirus through Cal Poly’s COVID-19 testing program than ever before, according to the university’s COVID-19 Dashboard. On Sunday, Jan. 2, Cal Poly reported a record-high of 81 positive tests out of 1,939 total tests performed. Cal Poly students made up about 39% […]
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Semester switch: here’s what it means for students and professors
California State University (CSU) Chancellor Joseph Castro expects Cal Poly to transition to semesters by the start of the 2025-26 academic year, according to an email sent out by University President Jeffrey Armstrong. “Almost a decade ago the CSU Chancellor’s Office asked all quarter-calendar campuses to transition to a semester calendar,” Armstrong said in an […]
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Cal Poly plans to switch to semesters
Cal Poly is set to be the final California State University campus to switch to semesters, despite years of pushback from the campus community. Calling it an “eventual transition,” University Spokesperson Cynthia Lambert said Cal Poly is still finalizing plans with the CSU and has yet to make an official announcement. President Jeffrey Armstrong told […]
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Cal Fire: 10-acre Cuesta Grade fire is 60% contained
A brush fire that broke out Sunday evening near the Cuesta Grade is 60% contained, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo reported Monday morning. The fire has burned 10 acres of grass and brush since about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. At the time, the Cuesta Air Attack crew said the fire had a potential to spread across […]
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Cal Poly requires all students test for COVID-19 prior to first day on campus
All students, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test before students’ first day on campus, according to a campus-wide email containing updated COVID-19 requirements for fall quarter. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong outlined testing, vaccination and masking rules in the email, which comes about two weeks after the university first announced a […]
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“When things started getting surreal:” Witnesses describe early investigation at Kristin Smart hearing
A preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores in the 1996 disappearance and death of Kristin Smart began last week. After seven days of witness testimonies and pieces of evidence, here’s what to know about the early stages of the investigation into Smart’s disappearance. The preliminary hearing is expected to last all month and will […]
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San Luis Obispo County reports more COVID-19 deaths and cases, launches vaccine incentive program
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health reported two COVID-19 related deaths and 386 new COVID-19 cases over the past week. Eight residents were hospitalized due to the virus, including three in intensive care. Additionally, 18 cases of the highly-contagious Delta variant were identified in the county this past week. “The Delta variant is here […]
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Kristin Smart’s parents, witnesses testify first day of preliminary hearing for Flores murder charges
A preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores in the 1996 disappearance and death of Kristin Smart began yesterday — providing insight into the Cal Poly freshman’s life before she went missing 25 years ago. The preliminary hearing is expected to last about 12 days and will determine whether there is enough evidence to take […]