Good morning. It’s Monday, and I’m reading about the top eight takeaways from journalists who attended the Oscars. Onto the five Cal Poly, SLO and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

For the third time this year, hundreds of protestors gathered in SLO County to rally against the federal government’s dynamic duo: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. This time around it was in Los Osos, and organizers said the crowds keep getting bigger every time. New to the demonstrators was one National Forest worker who got fired last week in the middle of his project to mitigate fire risk. Signs ranged from “Deport Elon Immediately” to “Hug a federal worker <3.”

Kelsey Oliver / The Tribune

2.

A jet just set the speed record from SLO airport to London — the airport’s first ever speed record and, also, the first time anyone has flown to connect the two cities. Even if the record was guaranteed, they still did it fast. While an official time has not been confirmed, officials say the SLO-County-made jet completed the trip in roughly nine hours compared to the estimated 10.5 hours for a normal plane. The CEO of the jet’s manufacturer called the event a “milestone” and “public relations event” for the SLO region.

Kaytlyn Leslie / The Tribune

3.

Santa Barbara has an e-bike problem. In the pedestrian corridor on the city’s main street downtown, e-bikes have all but taken over. The result? Crashes. In 2022, there were 10 e-bike collisions. In 2023, there were 73. And last year hit a record 107 crashes — 69 of which are confirmed to have the e-bikers at fault. Mostly, city legislators are concerned about the type of e-bike where riders don’t need to pedal while exceeding 30 mph, even though those are already banned. The injuries resulting are far more severe than any other bike crash, one surgeon said.

Andrew Pridgen / SFGate

4.

The Palisades fire ripped through one of the wealthiest communities in the country. Now, the owner of a scorched Shell gas station wants to convert the plot to affordable housing, much to the chagrin of its rich neighbors who have already expressed opposition to the project. The gas station owner envisions an eight-story building with a Cape Cod-esc facade, up to 100 apartments and some units reserved for low-income tenants. Officials say 770 rent controlled apartments were destroyed in the fires, and those who lived in them expect it to be difficult returning to the area.

Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times

5.

Texture, a Black hair salon in downtown SLO, is more than just a space for beauty. As a cultural hub for Black culture in SLO and on the Central Coast, the space attracts celebratory events, Black entrepreneurs and Black people looking for a sense of belonging in a region with a low proportion of Black residents. Only about 15,000 Black people live on the Central Coast, or about 2.2% of the population. “If we want more of us here,” the manager said. “We need the services and the spaces.”

Lauren Quijano / Mustang News