Thank you and goodbye

Author

Carly Heltzel
June 05, 2026

Good morning. It’s Friday, and this is the last ever Morning, Mustang newsletter you will receive in your inbox. To those who have supported it from the beginning, thank you so incredibly much for your support. To newer subscribers, thanks for joining along. I will miss you all — and this newsletter — dearly. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

If the podcast wasn’t enough for you, there’s now true crime special about Kristin Smart’s case investigates “a new lead and a new search” for her unrecovered remains. The 36-minute episode titled “Killer on Campus” dropped on Hulu and Disney+ yesterday. It features interviews with law enforcement working the case, a former news reporter who covered it and members of Smart’s family. All remain adamant that the search will continue until Smart’s remains are found.

2.

As more votes pour in, at least one SLO County race was shaken up. Democrat Jim Dantona now leads the race for the District 2 seat on the county board of supervisors, representing Los Osos to the Monterey County line. Previously, Independent Michael Erin Woody led the race by about 210 votes following election day, but Dantona now leads by 240 votes. Meanwhile, Democrat Jimmy Paulding widened his lead over Republican Adam Verdin for the District 4 seat. 

3.

Santa Rosa Island, the channel island that burned last month, will remain closed at least through the end of June. Officials say the fire scorched “less than 40%” of the island and needs further risk assessment for hazardous materials before considering reopening. One visitor with a July reservation is not sure whether his family will be able to go on the trip, calling the uncertainty “sad and frustrating” because everything else is already booked.

4.

California’s top-two primary system was supposed to make statewide races more meaningful and competitive. So why does it always end in a good ol’ fashioned Democrat vs. Republican showdown? Democratic voters make up about 60% of the state’s population, which is enough to predictably push the Dems to the top in the November elections, but it’s not enough to vote through two Democrats over a Republican candidate in the primary, experts say. Now, everyone just kind of hates the system.

5.

Gen Z knows the risks of cigarettes. They just don’t care. Smoking is seeing a revival, primarily with college kids and 20-somethings who either want to portray a certain “Indie sleaze” aesthetic or turn against the state of the world in a fit of nihilistic rebellion. Vaping doesn’t cut it for most, with one smoker saying there’s no community in it and cigs are the most “authentic” way to consume nicotine. Another said we “can’t live in fear.” A last smoker boiled it down: “I like looking incredibly cunty.”