SLO jail to join statewide healthcare study

Author

Carly Heltzel
April 23, 2026

Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m reading about three men who face jail time for dressing up as in a bear suit and wrecking cars for the insurance money. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

SLO County jail will participate in a statewide study on how to best provide medical care to inmates. With rising costs and staffing shortages, jails are increasingly reliant on contracting outside providers, skyrocketing the cost of healthcare. The county set aside $95,000 to fund the research. When the Department of Justice investigated the SLO County jail in 2021, it found cause to believe the jail was not providing “constitutionally adequate” care. 

2.

Atascadero paid a family $465,000 after it was found to be half liable for the loss of their house in the 2023 winter storms. The homeowner alleged that it was the city’s fault for not properly maintaining the creek behind his property, leading to flooding that threatened the foundation of the house. The city deemed the house unlivable after assessing the damage. Both the homeowners and the city are glad that the three year legal drudge is over. 

3.

Gus’s Deli, a SLO neighborhood staple, is set to reopen this summer under new owners. They’re keeping the name, much of the menu and the iconic teal awning color after the owners found a stained glass depiction of the building. Gus’s had been around since 1989, founded by Cal Poly alums, and it closed in 2025 after staffing and appliance issues. There will be a few changes though, with more gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.

4.

The DMV makes millions auctioning off cars without ever notifying the owners, who are eligible to collect the payments for up three years after it’s sold. A new bill would require the DMV to notify people within 14 days of receiving the payment for the car. The legislation is a direct result of a CalMatters investigation that exposed the issue of the DMV collecting this surplus and created a tool to help people claim their money of which the DMV has now adopted its own version.

5.

Benihana is dinner and a show — the multi-course, theatrical teppanyaki experience is part of the price. It’s more common for birthdays and anniversaries than a weekday lunch. But one location in San Francisco is trying to change that with a $15.95 “Power Lunch” that will get customers out of there in a 45-minute guarantee. One reviewer said the promise of a cheaper meal was almost worth the embarrassment of a one-on-one grilling experience in an otherwise deserted restaurant.