F. McLintocks and Buffalo up for sale

Author

Carly Heltzel
May 01, 2026

Good morning. It’s Friday, and I’m reading about how to vote for the first ever “dream dog” in SLO. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

F. McLintocks and Buffalo Pub and Grill are now for sale, following the untimely death of their owner that shut down the businesses earlier this year. McLintocks is listed for $1,695,000 and Buffalo is listed for roughly $1,295,000. Old customers lament the closures, one calling it “sad” when there are vacancies downtown and one hoping the new owners open up the historic F. McLintocks to continue its legacy.

2.

Cal State students are confused by the university system’s policies and practices around AI. Data and anecdotes show that some students reject using AI, some faculty don’t have guidelines for acceptable use outlined in their syllabus, any actionable consequences in writing and Cal State didn’t and hasn’t asked for input on the decision to offer this — much to the frustration of student and faulty leaders. Some abandoned AI altogether, like one Cal Poly student who said it’s “making us dumber.”

3.

Two candidates for the SLO County Board of Supervisors claim credit for building a temporary bridge to restore access to Huasna and East Arroyo Grande communities after a low-water crossing was washed out in the 2023 winter storms. Incumbent Jimmy Pauling says he pushed a permanent bridge and then a faster temporary one. Candidate Adam Verdin says he worked with the contractor to create a cheaper and more effective bridge that’s accessible year round. But Paulding says Verdin initially opposed the project’s funding.

4.

SpaceX just got a very favorable legal settlement that could peel back regulation of their rocket launches. Elon Musk’s company will no longer have to get a coastal development permit every time it wants to launch, after the Coastal Commission challenged SpaceX’s plan to increase how often it launches. In the lawsuit, SpaceX argued the commission had political bias because of comments its members made about Elon Musk. Part of the settlement required an apology from the commission about the comments.

5.

Currently, Waymos can’t get traffic tickets. After all, there’s no driver to ask for their license and registration. But starting July 1 of this year, the DMV can issue “notices of noncompliance” to the manufacturers that gives them the opportunity to fix the issue. If the issue persists, then the DMV can now restrict, suspend or revoke the manufacturer’s permit. The expanded regulation also comes with new reporting laws, requiring manufacturers to notify lawmakers about system failures, sudden stops and other safety issues.