Cal State trade workers go on strike today

Author

Carly Heltzel
February 17, 2026

Good morning. It’s Monday, and I’m reading about which Palo Alto restaurant Bad Bunny bought out after his Super Bowl Halftime show. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Cal State skilled trade workers are on strike, starting today. Electricians, plumbers, mechanics and other campus workers didn’t receive the 5% salary increase that was expected over the summer. Campus operations should go largely unaffected, but maintenance and facility services might be delayed. The union will be protesting at the Slack Street entrance to campus, with other potential picket lines.

2.

With heavy storms hitting California, Highway 1 in Big Sur is closed again due to mudslides north of Ragged Point Inn in SLO County. Near Big Sur, a hiker was rescued yesterday in “rapidly deteriorating weather” as they got stuck when a creek they had crossed became impassable. Highway Patrol used its helicopter to bring the person to safety. And officials warned of potential small, strange weather patterns such as a “brief weak tornado” and pea-sized hail yesterday throughout the downpour.

3.

Libertine Brewing Company is facing a decades-old noise ordinance that police recently began enforcing again. In downtown SLO, there’s no distinguishing between the noise rules in a commercial versus residential zone, meaning the same rules that apply to your house party, technically apply to Libertine. Residents who call in noise complaints are racking up citations for the business and forced an administrative hearing on Feb. 23 in which the city will discuss Libertine’s situation.

4.

California’s state lawmakers are hoping to make this the year of the factory-built housing. Already, one influential lawmaker held two committees on “housing construction innovation,” to examine how growing factory-built housing could look in the state and build political momentum for the issue. As Cal Poly builds the world’s biggest modularly constructed dorms at a university, the rest of the state may follow, cutting costs and boosting housing production.

5.

Happy Lunar New Year! If you’re wondering how to celebrate in SLO, the city’s event will be on Thursday during Farmers’ Market, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Mission Plaza. The city hopes this timing will draw in community members who wouldn’t otherwise come and promote connection. There will be food from local vendors, art, a performance from Cal Poly Lion Dance Team and a “special interactive performance” by violinist Rose Crelli.