Templeton Feed & Grain fire charges, ‘insane’ shark encounter: Today’s top stories

The Tribune covered a wide range of news across San Luis Obispo County on Thursday, from criminal charges to business openings. Here are the top stories you might have missed.

Here are key takeaways:

• Templeton Feed & Grain fire charges: A 16-year-old and 38-year-old Morro Bay resident Michael Joseph Steele were charged in connection with the July 4, 2025, fire that burned down the historic granary. Steele faces felony child endangerment and explosives charges, while the teen faces felony arson charges after the pair allegedly bought illegal fireworks in Bakersfield.
• Great white shark at Pismo Pier: Local surfer David Steiner captured drone video of a great white shark swimming within 8 feet of surfers near Pismo Pier on Wednesday morning. Steiner spotted a second shark in the area and packed up his drone, calling the encounter “insane.”
• Vina Robles Amphitheatre sold: Los Angeles-based Nederlander Concerts acquired the 3,000-seat Paso Robles venue about a month ago and plans to expand its concert lineup from 25 to 50 acts annually. The amphitheater will get a new name and the 14,000-square-foot hospitality center will open for year-round events.
• Child rape suspect pleads not guilty: Logan David Morrison, 29, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two felony counts of sexual intercourse and sodomy with a child under 10. Morrison was arrested by Atascadero police on Sunday and is being held without bail.
• Cal Poly fraternity loses appeal: The San Luis Obispo City Council unanimously denied Alpha Epsilon Pi’s appeal to restore its conditional use permit, which was revoked in March after three citations between April and October 2025. Only two Cal Poly fraternities now retain conditional use permits in SLO.
• Parents rally for librarians: San Luis Coastal school district plans to split librarians between 10 elementary schools next year due to budget cuts, reducing library hours to two to four days per week. Parents are urging the district to keep librarians at their preferred sites and explore collaborations with volunteers or county libraries.
• New Avila Beach hotel opening: The 54-suite Avila Beach House is slated to open in late July after a $9 million renovation of the former Avila Lighthouse Suites. Peregrine Hospitality designed the oceanfront property to evoke a private beach estate with East Coast nautical and Central Coast influences.
• Paso Robles cannabis delivery revisited: The Paso Robles City Council unanimously asked staff to draft amendments that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses to deliver recreational cannabis. Staff recommended eliminating the city’s three-business cap on registered marijuana services, with recommendations due within 90 days.
• SLO County’s $1.2B budget: San Luis Obispo County introduced a $1.2 billion recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27, balanced by eliminating 22 jobs, many of them limited-term positions. Officials warned of elevated fiscal uncertainty from state budget changes and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with a potential $40 million deficit by 2029-30.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.