SLO County is testing its ballot counters

Author

Carly Heltzel
October 03, 2025

Good morning. It’s Friday, and I’m reading about the rumors (started by a 49ers player) that Los Angeles Rams pump their stadium with extra crowd noise. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

SLO County is testing its ballot counters ahead of the Nov. 4 special election to vote on Proposition 50. During a normal election year, the county would have to test over 80,000 ballots for accuracy, but with a lower anticipated quantity, this special election mandates 4,000 ballots run through the machines before election day. The public is invited to sit in and watch, and one official said “there's a lot of curiosity behind it.”

2.

Students are happier than they’ve been in a while about campus dining options. New facilities across campus since 1901 Marketplace’s opening improved the health and variety of food offered. This year, a second Julian’s in the library, 1901’s Poly Choice, Campus Market’s Sequel Tea and PCV’s Hilltop grocery for those in on campus apartments added to the lineup. “It was actually good,” one upperclassman said after trying Poly Choice’s poke bowl. “As a first year, I was very disappointed by the food on campus.”

3.

You can fly nonstop to Las Vegas from SLO again starting this Saturday. Billed as a “seasonal” service, Alaska Airlines said the flights have been popular for leisure and business travelers in the past. Airport officials say the flights could also boost the local economy by bringing tourists in this direction. 

4.

California’s glaciers will disappear entirely between 2050 and 2100, research shows. Scientists previously thought that the glaciers went away as the Ice Age receded, but a new study says this will be the first time in history that there won’t be glaciers in the Sierra Nevadas, adding a new layer of mourning for environmental conservationists. “When these glaciers die off, we’ll be the first humans to see ice-free peaks in Yosemite,” the study’s lead author said.

5.

SLO’s Porsche dealership displayed Cal Poly Racing Team’s formula and baja vehicles at its Cars & Coffee event last Saturday. The team’s first ever appearance at the monthly event helped them connect with the over 100 attendees and show off their months of work. Some 90% of the cars displayed at Cars & Coffee are Porsches, drawing attention to the team’s hand-designed build. “It let us share what we do with people who might not otherwise see it,” one racing team member said.