Sheriff digs for Kristin Smart's body at Flores home

Author

Carly Heltzel
May 07, 2026

Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m reading about where the Woodstock’s pizza chain really began. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

SLO County sheriff is searching for Kristin Smart’s body at the home of her convicted killer’s mother in Arroyo Grande. Smart was murdered in 1996 as a freshman at Cal Poly, and Paul Flores was convicted in 2022. In 2023, scientists found evidence of human decomposition in the soil near her home using a soil vapor analysis. A tenant of the home in 1997 also found a turquoise earring in the soil and heard a watch beep at 4:20 a.m. every morning, though neither was reported into evidence.

2.

Cal State could get a $366 million budget boost in the proposed state budget for next year, a 7% increase from this year. Predictably, the board of Cal State is happy to support this budget proposal. This year, Cal State took a 3% cut, totaling $144 million, which reverberated across the 22 campuses and lead to a scramble to cut programs. But the state itself is seeing a smaller, volatile budget for next year, which means that even if more funding is proposed, it’s surely not guaranteed.

3.

A 78-year-old man who raped and murdered a woman in Nipomo in 1974 will be released after spending 52 years in prison — and the district attorney is “deeply disappointed.” He fervently advocated for the man to stay behind bars in the California Men’s Colony, arguing that because the man admitted to robbing, kidnapping and leaving the woman unconscious in a park he should not be released. He had been sentenced to life with parole.

4.

Latinos in California are swinging back to the left after largely supporting President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. In Latino-dominated districts, 30% more people voted “yes” on Prop 50, favoring Democrat congress seats, than voted for Kamala Harris. Many voiced that they felt deceived by Trump and that he did the opposite of his campaign promises, specifically regarding foreign entanglements and lowering prices. “He didn’t follow through on his words,” one converted Latino voter said.

5.

SLO County has the best birding spot in California, according to the California State Parks Foundation. The foundation named Morro Bay State Park the best location for spotting birds in 2026, citing its “rich history and diverse natural resources.” The saltwater and brackish marshes provide unique habitat for species of coastal birds that are “thriving,” it said. And the stunning coastline offers an “unmatched, accessible experience” for all.