Stories from Mustang News on KCPR

On Feb. 1, Cal Poly's Chinese Student Association (CSA) hosted its 68th Lunar New Year banquet, welcoming the year of the horse. This year's Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 17. Reporter Sophia Moreno tells us about the event's turnout and what is to come this Lunar New Year in San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly men’s basketball has been winning some key games despite having a young roster. While the stars of the team are underclassmen, it doesn’t guarantee Cal Poly will have them for a long time. Reporter Ty Soria has the story on what this means for the team going forward.

Libertine Brewing Company is raising questions about a decades-old municipal code that is being applied to the city’s designated entertainment district. The conflict has become the focal point of a broader conversation about noise enforcement in downtown San Luis Obispo. Reporter Diego Puga Escobar has the story.

Highlight dunks, flashy passes and constant crowd interaction defined the Harlem Globetrotters’ visit to Cal Poly on January 16th, where the team performed a special game celebrating their 100th anniversary.  The Harlem Globetrotters, an exhibition basketball team founded in the 1920s, have been known for their entertaining style of play and their influence on shaping modern basketball. Reporter K...

For members of Can of Worms Comedy Club, it often starts in a conference room, where students sit around a table and talk through ideas, jokes and personal stories. For many students, Can of Worms Comedy Club serves as a starting point in their comedy journey. Reporter Lauren Quijano talked to the students about their lives inside the club as comedians.

At the Fox Theater in Boulder last August, The Dirty Turkeys frontman Brad Hansen looked out at a crowd that didn’t just watch — it breathed. Then he dove in. It was proof of what The Dirty Turkeys do best: they turn a crowd of strangers into a scene of absolute chaos. Reporter Delaney Ridder spoke with the band about the ecstatic chaos that every show crowd loves. 

Students who competed in high school sports like cross country and track and field are still finding ways to keep their passion for running alive at Cal Poly. Many have turned to running not only to stay connected to the sport, but also to stay fit and manage the stress of college life. Reporter Cayden Tan talked to different runners on campus about their own personal experiences.

San Luis Obispo is home to many small businesses, including Rad Juice, a family-run company specializing in organic cold-pressed juices. Founded by Jason Plough, the business started with a focus on high-quality, natural ingredients and has since expanded its product offerings. Reporter Dylan White gives us an update on the company's most recent journey. 

A shop on El Camino Real in Atascadero didn’t always smell like honey and lavender. Life Elements is a business now dedicated to skincare, muscle recovery and holistic well-being.  The storefront has been transformed into a mini production space and retail shop, with shelves lined with all-natural products made from beeswax, honey, cannabidiol (CBD) and plant-based ingredients. Reporter Alyssa Par...

The Thrifty Beaches Vintage Market took place Jan. 24 and Jan. 25. Featuring over 60 vendors ranging from vintage clothing, mid-century modern furniture, jewelry and books. Reporter Katy Clark talked to market-goers and the Thrifty Beaches owner to learn more about the re-selling scene in San Luis Obispo.

Tucked away in Studio 3 of the Cal Poly Rec Center, a soft lull of Hawaiian music and the patter of bare feet can be heard — a staple of the Pacific Islander community at Cal Poly, the hula team of Hui O’ Hawai’i practices. Reporter Makena Locsin gives us an inside look at the team.

ASI and Campus Health & Wellbeing launched a free grocery shuttle service earlier this month to transport students between campus and local grocery stores. Reporter Giselle Espinoza takes us on the bus route and speaks with students using the new service.

Over 500 gifts were given back to those in need in the community through the Mustang Holiday Gift Drive from Nov 4. to Dec. 5. Reporter Katy Clark tells us the details on the event's turnout. 

Project Rattle Cam, founded in 2021 by Cal Poly professor Emily Taylor and Scott Boback of Dickinson College, provides YouTube live streams of rattlesnake dens in both Colorado and California. Reporter Alyssa Parikh takes us behind the cameras to the relationships between these reptiles and humans.

With an evolving sound that blends psychedelic and rock textures with story-driven lyrics, Marlon Funaki has carried the musical world in his mind from small rooms to sold-out venues across the country. Now, as his tour winds down, Funaki brings that momentum to SLO Brew Rock on Friday, Dec. 12. Reporter Delaney Ridder spoke with the artist about his journey through music and sound.

Led by a team of fierce women, the Diva Cup was founded to provide female surfers in the Central Coast with their own surf invitational, as a growing number of women compete in local lineups. Reporter Aneka Edwards talked to some of the competitors, viewers and founder about the competition, taking us directly to the shore. 

The sounds of clattering pans, opening oven doors and students weaving around one another filled the communal spaces of Sequoia Hall on Nov. 9. What started as a simple idea between roommates quickly evolved into a full dorm-wide Friendsgiving — one that brought together over 70 students. Reporter Dylan White brings us to the event.

For more than 40 years, Cal Poly’s Poly Reps have volunteered their time to represent the university, leading campus tours, assisting with admissions events and welcoming prospective students to campus.  Now, for the first time, Poly Reps are getting paid for their work. Reporter Lauren Quijano talked to existing Reps to tell us about this process and the future of the program. 

The student-run nonprofit, the Cal Poly Cat Program, has been helping campus and community cats for more than 30 years. As the number of cats coming through the program continues to rise, students say they need more fosters, especially with the upcoming Thanksgiving break. Reporter Alyssa Parikh has more on how this is affecting the friendly felines and student volunteers. 

On the fourth Tuesday of every month, Cal Poly students get in line on the Health Center lawn to pick up bags of free groceries from the SLO Food Bank. Reporter Randi Ingoglia tells us about the relationship between students and these resources, as the cost of food rises and students are impacted by delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding.

After a summer tour that stretched from California to Texas, indie-rock band Margot Sinclair is returning to where it all started — San Luis Obispo, on November 20th at SLO Brew Rock. For the group of college friends, the experience was more than a milestone — it was a turning point. Reporter Delaney Ridder talked to the band about their new era and sound.

Far from his hometown of London, fakemink — your favorite rapper, artist and teacher — made the Central Coast a stop for one of his first-ever headlining performances with a sold-out show at The Hub at UC Santa Barbara. Reporter Rosemary Cromwell takes us back to an eclectic show and venue. 

Listen to the November 4, 2025, KCPR newscast with their statewide special election show, featuring Reporters Fiona Hastings, Dylan White, Delaney Ridder, Rosemary Cromwell and Evelyn Santa Rosa. 

At the University Union, voter turnout is starting to pick up with students coming in between classes or after class. The rate of individuals casting votes and dropping off their ballots is keeping a steady rate, with about five voters coming in every 15 minutes at the UU. Reporter Makena Locsin spoke to students about their voting experiences and their thoughts on the election. 

The Cal Poly Democrats club has seven student representatives on Dexter Lawn discussing Proposition 50 with voters. They are explaining why they believe voters should vote yes. Reporter Diego Puga Escobar spoke with members and non-members about today's election.