Do local schools have to follow executive orders?

Author

Carly Heltzel
May 19, 2025

Good morning. It’s Monday, and I’m looking at photos from San Francisco’s iconic Bay to Breakers race this weekend. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

As tensions heat up in SLO County regarding transgender teens in sports, a segment of parents claim that President Trump’s executive orders are federal law and therefore supersede California state law. But that’s not true, according to lawyers that study constitutional law. The lawyers said schools do not have a legal obligation to follow executive orders. They agreed that executive orders are policy statements to tell the federal government how to do its job, holding no weight over state and local agencies.

2.

Four new trails are opening at Righetti Hill, an open space in south east SLO. City officials cut the ribbon to grant public access to one hiking trail, hiking and biking mixed-use trail, concrete bike path and a beginner-friendly downhill mountain bike trail. Development for the trails began in 2021, when rangers and others designed the multi-use space to accommodate diverse activities.  “I just want people to come out here and have fun and connect with nature,” one ranger said.

3.

Two students were arrested at ASI’s A Boogie Wit da Hoodie concert last week, both for suspicion of public intoxication. Six others were referred to Cal Poly’s disciplinary pipeline for breaking university alcohol policies, and one other person suffered a minor injury. After delaying the concert due to unsafe pushing in the crowd inside, ASI cut off entry and the venue never reached full capacity. A Boogie eventually came on, but witnesses said the shoving got worse after ASI’s warnings.

4.

Congress is looking to cut huge amounts of funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Known as SNAP, the program serves 119,000 people from northern SLO County down to Santa Barbara including 900 veterans, the representative who serves this district said. The new bill would decimate SNAP’s budget, forcing states to make up the difference. A supporter of the bill said the system is “riddled with fraud and abuse and waste” while those against it warn that this could take away crucial resources that low income people rely on.

5.

A woman had been lost in the Sierras for three weeks before authorities found her alive last week. She finally spoke out about how she survived: she’s a trained forager and permaculturist who ate the plentiful and nutritious leeks in the mountains. She had tried to use her phone after getting caught in an avalanche that knocked her unconscious, but the only thing that would load was the nearest Starbucks location. “You can’t get me 911, you can’t get me GPS, but you can get me a Starbucks?” she said.