DAOU property bought, Cal Poly rejects thousands with 4.0s. Today’s top stories
San Luis Obispo County saw a busy news day Tuesday, with developments spanning higher education, local business, city government and public safety.
Here’s a digest of top stories from The Tribune:
- Cal Poly admissions: Cal Poly rejected about 19,178 applicants with 4.0 GPAs or higher during the 2025-26 admissions cycle, accounting for nearly 35% of all rejections. The university received roughly 79,400 applications and accepted about 24,267 students, with some majors with seats available for less than 3% of applicants.
- DAOU property sale: Local winemakers Jason Fullmer and Josh Baker have acquired the former Baileyana Winery and DAOU production facility at 4915 Orcutt Road through their new company, Mercenary Premier. The 48-acre site will offer custom vinification and bottling services for other wineries, with no tasting room or proprietary brand, and is expected to open for harvest 2026.
- Mayor leaked grand jury report: San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart shared a confidential SLO County Grand Jury report with Cal Poly economic development official Courtney Kienow before its public release, in what the Grand Jury said violated California Penal Code. Stewart forwarded the report titled “Round and Round with Town and Gown” within three hours of receiving it on June 13, 2025, and told The Tribune she believed Cal Poly was an intended recipient.
- New ramen restaurant: Momotaro Ramen and Izakaya is opening July 8 in Atascadero, decorated to mimic a Japanese alleyway, or “yokocho,” with lanterns, neon signs, a cherry blossom tree and a bamboo fountain. Co-owners Brittney Yracheta and Mateo Rogers closed their Paso Robles location in July 2025 to expand the menu and concept.
- Child abuse images arrest: Roberto Mercado Leonardo, a 45-year-old Cambria resident, was arrested on suspicion of possessing more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said. The June 10 arrest followed an investigation that began in April after the Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo Police Department received multiple tips.
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.