Good morning, San Luis Obispo.

Vandals have repeatedly placed metal spikes on roads in Paso Robles for nearly two months and in San Luis Obispo for the past two weeks—damaging vehicles and prompting police to investigate while Crime Stoppers offers a $1,000 reward for tips in Paso Robles.

San Luis Obispo police announced on August 7 that they are seeking help to identify a suspect who was caught on security cameras taking merchandise from the Madonna Inn Boutique on August 4 (the suspect has brown hair, a brown beard and mustache and a medium build, and anyone with information should call officer LaDow at 805-594-8053).

James Garner’s Tribute to Johnny Cash will return to the Templeton Performing Arts Center on Aug 24 at 3 p.m.—located at 1200 S.

Main St.—with hit songs like "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line" and stories detailing Cash’s legacy. The national touring act, which has performed over 700 shows since 2007, will share the spirit and history behind Cash’s music.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is set for April 23–28, 2026 and will open at the Fremont Theater on April 23 to introduce a new Episodic category and a Best Genre/Horror Film award.

Submissions in all film categories remain open until the end of November and the festival is an Academy Award-qualifying event for documentary shorts.

Cal Poly’s Office of Research awarded $361,943 to 27 faculty projects under the 2025—26 Teacher-Scholar Mini Grant program.

The grant supports research in teaching and learning—90 proposals were reviewed by a faculty panel.

Fire officials held a community meeting on Thursday night in Santa Maria (5003 Depot St.) to update residents on the Gifford Fire, which burned 96,106 acres and is 15% contained; they will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. in Arroyo Grande (140 Traffic Way) after relocating the venue following an evacuation warning.

On Tuesday, community members at a San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting said federal agents were kidnapping undocumented immigrants and warned that accepting a Homeland Security grant might lead to ICE involvement, though Sheriff Parkinson said his department only follows state law. The board unanimously approved the grant as Supervisor Bruce Gibson noted the funds do not tie the county to ICE.

Paso Robles Wine Country will bring more than 40 wineries and over 200 wines to the Central Valley in two one-night tasting events—one on Sept.

5 at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center and one on Sept. 19 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District; both events run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and cost $70 per person.