Ashley Branum was just a couple days away from giving birth to her first child on a clear October day in 2023, when she sat alone inside her San Luis Obispo home. Branum heard some commotion outside and went to check it out. After clearing her doorway, she was greeted with a plume of smoke […]
Category: environment
Posted inBreaking News
Gifford Fire is now biggest blaze this year
Update August 16, 7:50 p.m.: The Gifford Fire has grown to 132,605 acres and is at 77% containment, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Fire crews will be reassigned to other incidents, whilst sufficient crews will ensure full containment. Cool temperatures and higher humidity levels will aid firefighters in achieving additional containment over the weekend. […]
Posted inTop Stories
Altadena will change–but Cal Poly students resolve to bring back what’s left
Students from Cal Poly’s architecture and city and regional planning programs are working to rebuild homes, businesses, and community centers in Altadena, California, after the Eaton Fire, while also trying to minimize gentrification and retain the community’s tight-knit nature.
Posted inTop Stories
Madre Fire: California’s largest blaze in 2025 burns over 80,000 acres in San Luis Obispo County
Update July 26, 10:41 a.m.: The Madre fire covered 80,786 Acres. It is fully contained according to Cal Fire. Update July 18, 12:48 p.m.: The Madre fire covered 80,779 Acres. It is currently 97% contained according to Cal Fire. Update July 8, 5:42 p.m.: The Madre Fire is covering 80,610 acres. It is currently 62% […]
Posted inNews
‘Poly P’ trail entrances relocated during campus housing construction
The entrances to the “Poly P” trail have been temporarily relocated to accommodate the university’s ongoing housing construction projects. To ensure safety and minimize disruption, hikers have been directed to two new entry points: one near the Cerro Vista loop exit and another behind the Sierra Madre volleyball courts. Clear signage is in place to […]
Posted inNews
Mental health, housing, DEI & more: Mustang News breaks down the State of the City Address
San Luis Obispo’s mayor and city manager formally addressed community members at the 2022 State of the City Address for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were not without our hardships over the past few years,” San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica A. Stewart said in a video presentation at the event. “Despite the […]
Posted inNews
How San Luis Obispo communities are impacted by the California drought
San Luis Obispo County has had its driest year in 128 years with having dropped over nine inches of average precipitation, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. For local communities, the drought has challenged agricultural industries and has inspired some individuals to adapt to the drier conditions. Beekeeping and the drought Jeremy Rose, […]
Posted inNews
SLO Mayor Erica Stewart announces official mayoral campaign for 2022 election
Eight months ago, Erica Stewart was unanimously appointed as mayor by the San Luis Obispo City Council after former mayor Heidi Harmon stepped down. The appointment helped the city avoid a special election that could have cost up to $200,000. Now, Stewart, who is the first Black mayor in San Luis Obispo’s 145-year history, is […]