Syphilis is on the rise in SLO County

Author

Carly Heltzel
March 04, 2025

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, and I’m reading a new series that highlights cheap activities in the ever-expensive SLO County. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Syphilis is on the rise in SLO County (yes, the sexually transmitted infection). Last year, the county saw a record high of 107 cases, up from 81 in 2023 and topping the previous record of 100 cases in 2022. That’s about 36 cases per 100,000. Five years ago, there were only about 15 cases of Syphilis per 100,000 people. While these numbers remain well below those of other STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, the severity of a syphilis infection makes it “extremely important” that people know it’s circulating.

2.

A Cal Poly track and field athlete just ran the fastest indoor 800m time ever by an American in the NCAA. The runner, who ran 1:45.19, now has the third-fastest collegiate 800m time ever, behind two Kenyan students. It also marks the first time in 52 years that a Cal Poly men’s athlete has reached the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, and the first time in 17 years that any athlete, male or female, has qualified. He broke his previous best time by over a second — which in track speak is a lot.

3.

The Trump administration just fired 10% of the staff who manage California’s dams and waterways — with plans to fire up to 40% in the near future. Workers at the agency say this staffing deficit will “significantly impact” operations, causing potential safety concerns if the state’s aging water infrastructure doesn’t receive proper maintenance and repairs (the biggest dam was built in the 1940s). Among those fired were maintenance mechanics, engineers and fish biology specialists. One former employee said the jobs they cut “make no sense” and increase the threat of “disaster or failure.”

4.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state employees to return to the office at least four days a week starting in July. The order affects 207,000 workers across California, of which 95,000 have some form of remote or hybrid arrangements; 87% of those have workers in the office at least two days a week. Newsom’s reasoning?: “In-person work makes us all stronger — period.” But union leaders have derided the move as “out of touch, unnecessary and a step backward,” as well as reminiscent of the Trump administration’s policies to drive workers back to the office. 

5.

Your guacamole is about to get more expensive. California’s guac-lovers and restaurants alike are bracing as Trump’s 25% tariffs on all Mexican goods come into play after a month-long pause. One owner of a Mexican restaurant said that almost every ingredient he sources comes from Mexico “to a certain extent.” And while California’s avocados could be an alternative, those won’t be ripe until spring. Ultimately, the tariffs will force price hikes and obliterate the restaurants’ profit margins. “We have no wiggle room to eat price increases,” another owner said.