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SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XXXVIII
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026
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PRJUSD mulls privacy solutions amid transgender student debate Board discusses sports participation and student privacy as state, federal laws remain in conflict By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — During the Tuesday, Feb. 24 meeting, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) trustees discussed Title IX relating to transgender female student-athletes and the use of restrooms and locker room facilities based on gender identity. Throughout the past few months, students and parents have come forward to the board to address their concerns surrounding Title IX and concerns over the district’s policy on transgender students using the girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and participating in girls’ sports at Paso Robles High School (PRHS). Title IX is a federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in schools. It means students cannot be treated unfairly in programs, sports, or activities because of their sex or gender. Trustee Kenney Enney repeatedly requested the board discuss the issue as a formal item on the agenda, however his motion failed more than once. It wasn’t until the Tuesday, Jan. 13, meeting that trustees finally agreed to hold an information item on the subject in February. You can find our full coverage on the Jan. 13 meeting at pasoroblespress.com Superintendent Jennifer Loftus presented the information to trustees during the Feb. 24 meeting. According to California law, students are allowed to participate in school sports teams that align with their gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on their records. Established through the California Education Code in 2013–2014, this law requires all public K–12 schools to let students join programs and athletics consistent with their identified gender — meaning a student who identifies as a girl can play on girls’ teams, and a student who identifies as a boy can play on boys’ teams. Schools also cannot require students to use facilities based solely on the sex listed on their birth certificate. Basically, students can use the restroom and locker room that matches their gender identity and cannot be forced to use one that does not. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which oversees high school sports in CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
First row, from left: Alan Melgar, Caleb Konoski, and Logan Camack. Second row, from left: Coach Mike Ciccarelli, Vander Gibson, Chris Melgar, Pedro Coronado, Chris Jewett, Coach David Ybarra, Josh Willis, Anthony Maldonado, and Coach Nate Ybarra, all of the Paso Robles High wrestling program. Photo courtesy of Nate Ybarra
Bearcats advance three wrestlers to CIF State Championships Paso Robles caps undefeated league season with strong Masters performance By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles High School wrestling team delivered an impressive performance at the CIF Central Section Masters Tournament last weekend at Selland Arena in Fresno, advancing three athletes to the CIF State Wrestling Championships. The Masters Tournament followed the CIF Central Section Division I Championships the previous week, where 11 boys and two girls from Paso Robles qualified to compete among the
section’s elite. All 11 Bearcat boys who advanced out of Division I secured spots at Masters. “An undefeated league season represents far more than a winning record — it reflects the culmination of disciplined training, strategic execution, and unified team commitment. For our program, this achievement carries profound significance,” Coach Nate Ybarra told Paso Robles Press. “This season’s undefeated league campaign and subsequent championship title represent a return to excellence for Paso Robles
wrestling. The annual championship match against Righetti High School is a cornerstone rivalry, and reclaiming the title this year demonstrated our competitive superiority and reinforced our program’s standing in the league.” At the Division I Championships, the Bearcats placed seventh as a team. Individual results were as follows: • 108 pounds – Vander Gibson, 6th place • 115 pounds – Dominic Fonts, 9th place • 120 pounds – Anthony Maldonado,
10th place • 132 pounds – Logan Camack, 7th place • 138 pounds – Drake Mello, 7th place • 144 pounds – Christopher Jewett, 9th place • 157 pounds – Josh Willis, 7th place • 165 pounds – Pedro Coronado, 4th place • 175 pounds – Christopher Melgar, 8th place • 190 pounds – Caleb Konoski, 7th
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The San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s Association held its spring meeting Feb. 18 at the Paso Robles Event Center, where ranchers and industries leaders discussed the challenges in the beef industry. Photo by Camille DeVaul /PRP
Cattlemen address industry challenges, innovation at spring meeting Speakers highlight record beef prices, screwworm threat, and innovation in rotational grazing By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association gathered at the Paso Robles Event Center on Wednesday, Feb. 18, for its annual spring meeting, bringing together ranchers and
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industry leaders to discuss both the challenges and successes shaping the local beef industry. The evening featured a lineup of guest speakers addressing issues from emerging grazing technology to national policy concerns. Among them were Kevin Kester, past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who provided insight into federal discussions affecting agriculture. Bill Dale of the California Beef Council reported that while cattle trade in Califor-
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nia remains active and ranchers are seeing record prices, overall cattle numbers have dropped sharply in recent years. Herd numbers peaked in 2021 at 3.9 million head but have since declined by approximately 800,000 head in 2025. Because $1 is collected per animal — split evenly between the state and national programs — the decline resulted in a $400,000 reduction for both the national program and the California Beef Council. Dale noted that current cattle trade numbers are the lowest recorded
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since the council’s database was established in 2002. He also highlighted significant contraction in the state’s packing industry, with the number of cattle processed in California dropping from 1.1 million head in 2009 to about 550,000 last year — a 50% reduction. Despite the shrinking supply chain, consumer demand remains strong. In 2024, the average American spent $400 annually on beef, a 30% increase over the previous year and 50% more than on any other animal protein.
Kester provided a national industry update, noting that cattle prices continue to reach record highs. Recently, the U.S. fed cattle price hit an all-time high of $2.47 per pound, while fresh retail beef prices averaged $9.55 per pound in December — also a record according to Kester. Despite higher prices, retail beef sales volume increased 4.3%, driven in part by historically high quality grades, with prime carcasses averaging nearly 12% and choice around 75%. He said herd rebuilding CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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