News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Breaking | Southbound 101 Partially Reopens Following Storm-Related Closure; Northbound Lanes Remain Closed Near Goleta

Featured Stories

Saturday Storm Brings Flooding, Tragedy to Santa Barbara County

Saturday Storm Brings Flooding, Tragedy to Santa Barbara County

By Jackson Friedman

Photos from the latest in a series of storms that have soaked the region this rainy season.

Man Dies After Being Swept into Goleta Valley Creek During Saturday Storm

Man Dies After Being Swept into Goleta Valley Creek During Saturday Storm

Public Safety By Jackson Friedman

Santa Barbara County authorities recover body of a man swept off North San Marcos Road into Maria Ygnacio Creek following a multi-agency search-and-rescue effort.

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Transportation By Jackson Friedman

All flights were grounded Saturday afternoon due to flooding on the runway.

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Flash Flood Warning Issued for Parts of Santa Barbara County as 101 Closes for ‘Unknown Duration’

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Parts of Santa Barbara County as 101 Closes for ‘Unknown Duration’

Public Safety By Jackson Friedman

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

Health By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

Santa Barbara County Hospitals Welcome New Year’s Babies

Santa Barbara County Hospitals Welcome New Year’s Babies

Community By Callie Fausey

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Energy By Nick Welsh

Another Storm Heads for Santa Barbara as City Exceeds Normal Annual Rainfall

Another Storm Heads for Santa Barbara as City Exceeds Normal Annual Rainfall

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

Education By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

Report of Man with Rifle Prompts Brief State Street Shutdown

Report of Man with Rifle Prompts Brief State Street Shutdown

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

Immigration By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

California’s Minimum Wage Is Increasing in 2026 as Los Angeles Debates $30 an Hour

California’s Minimum Wage Is Increasing in 2026 as Los Angeles Debates $30 an Hour

Business By Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters

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Immigration

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

Immigration By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

Education By Callie Fausey

Central Coast Immigration Sweeps Escalate at End of Year

Central Coast Immigration Sweeps Escalate at End of Year

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

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Housing

Goleta to Consider Ordinance to Protect Senior Mobile Home Park

Goleta to Consider Ordinance to Protect Senior Mobile Home Park

Housing By Christina McDermott

Heritage Ridge Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground in Goleta

Heritage Ridge Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground in Goleta

Housing By Emily Vesper

Laying the Path to Rent Stabilization in Santa Barbara

Laying the Path to Rent Stabilization in Santa Barbara

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

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Energy

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Energy By Nick Welsh

Sable Offshore Gets Green Light to Restart Pipeline from Feds

Sable Offshore Gets Green Light to Restart Pipeline from Feds

Energy By Nick Welsh

Feds Assert Oversight Authority over Sable Offshore

Feds Assert Oversight Authority over Sable Offshore

Energy By Nick Welsh

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Community

Santa Barbara County Hospitals Welcome New Year’s Babies

Santa Barbara County Hospitals Welcome New Year’s Babies

Community By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara’s Polar Dip Is Officially Back

Santa Barbara’s Polar Dip Is Officially Back

Community By Christina McDermott

Forgotten Time Capsule Brings Santa Barbara Church Back to 1999

Forgotten Time Capsule Brings Santa Barbara Church Back to 1999

Community By Emily Vesper

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Health

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

Health By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

Aviso General de Lluvia para las Playas del Condado

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

General Rain Advisory for Countywide Beaches

Announcement By Santa Barbara County

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Politics

Republicans Ask Federal Court To Overturn California’s New Prop. 50 Maps

Republicans Ask Federal Court To Overturn California’s New Prop. 50 Maps

Politics By Maya C. Miller and Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

Rob Reiner Was More Than a Hollywood Legend. He Helped Shape California Politics

Rob Reiner Was More Than a Hollywood Legend. He Helped Shape California Politics

Politics By Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps Launches Reelection Campaign

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps Launches Reelection Campaign

Politics By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Politics

Public Safety

Saturday Storm Brings Flooding, Tragedy to Santa Barbara County

Saturday Storm Brings Flooding, Tragedy to Santa Barbara County

By Jackson Friedman

Man Dies After Being Swept into Goleta Valley Creek During Saturday Storm

Man Dies After Being Swept into Goleta Valley Creek During Saturday Storm

Public Safety By Jackson Friedman

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Transportation By Jackson Friedman

View More Public Safety

Infrastructure

Santa Barbara Plan to Protect Wastewater Systems from Climate Disaster

Santa Barbara Plan to Protect Wastewater Systems from Climate Disaster

Infrastructure By Ella Heydenfeldt

Solvang Wastewater Treatment Plant to Get Upgrade Using $1M Federal Grant

Solvang Wastewater Treatment Plant to Get Upgrade Using $1M Federal Grant

Infrastructure By Callie Fausey

Power Outage Affects Residents, Businesses in Santa Barbara

Power Outage Affects Residents, Businesses in Santa Barbara

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Infrastructure

Environment

Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration over ‘Emergency’ Approval for Sable Pipeline Restart

Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration over ‘Emergency’ Approval for Sable Pipeline Restart

Environment By Callie Fausey

UC Santa Barbara’s 2035 Initiative Charts a Clean Heat Future for U.S. Industry

UC Santa Barbara’s 2035 Initiative Charts a Clean Heat Future for U.S. Industry

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

(Hopefully) Solo Invasive Joro Spider Captured in Santa Barbara

(Hopefully) Solo Invasive Joro Spider Captured in Santa Barbara

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Business

California’s Minimum Wage Is Increasing in 2026 as Los Angeles Debates $30 an Hour

California’s Minimum Wage Is Increasing in 2026 as Los Angeles Debates $30 an Hour

Business By Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters

Municipal Winemakers Closing Funk Zone Tasting Room

Municipal Winemakers Closing Funk Zone Tasting Room

Drink By Matt Kettmann

Showdown Brewing Between City of Santa Barbara and Harbor Restaurant

Showdown Brewing Between City of Santa Barbara and Harbor Restaurant

Business By Nick Welsh

View More Business

Science & Tech

In New Doc ‘The Age of Disclosure,’ Military Servicemen Expose More Details About UFOs at Vandenberg

In New Doc ‘The Age of Disclosure,’ Military Servicemen Expose More Details About UFOs at Vandenberg

Science & Tech By Callie Fausey

UC Santa Barbara Program Broadens STEM Opportunity for Underserved Youth

UC Santa Barbara Program Broadens STEM Opportunity for Underserved Youth

Science & Tech By Debra Herrick, UCSB's 'The Current'

Is Social Media Causing a Modern Moral Panic?

Is Social Media Causing a Modern Moral Panic?

Science & Tech By Keith Hamm, UCSB’s ’The Current'

View More Science & Tech

Courts & Crime

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

Education By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

Immigration By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

Ashlee Buzzard Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

Announcement By Office of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney

View More Courts & Crime

News Commentary

Journalist Lou Cannon, Who Covered Ronald Reagan for Decades, Dies at 92

Journalist Lou Cannon, Who Covered Ronald Reagan for Decades, Dies at 92

News Commentary By Nick Welsh

To Santa Barbara City Council: Don’t Sell Paseo Nuevo Short

To Santa Barbara City Council: Don’t Sell Paseo Nuevo Short

News Commentary By Indy Staff

‘There Is No Plan B’ for Paseo Nuevo, S.B. City Hall Chief Says, as Key Council Vote Looms

‘There Is No Plan B’ for Paseo Nuevo, S.B. City Hall Chief Says, as Key Council Vote Looms

News Commentary By Jerry Roberts

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Wildfire

Santa Barbara County Fire Department Awarded Grant Funding for the Santa Barbara Vegetation Management Program (VMP) and Ignition Prevention Project

Santa Barbara County Fire Department Awarded Grant Funding for the Santa Barbara Vegetation Management Program (VMP) and Ignition Prevention Project

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Fire Department

Talk on California’s Wildfire Crisis Kicks off IHC Public Series at UC Santa Barbara

Talk on California’s Wildfire Crisis Kicks off IHC Public Series at UC Santa Barbara

Wildfire By Keith Hamm, UCSB's 'The Current'

Gifford Fire Containment Grows to 97 Percent

Gifford Fire Containment Grows to 97 Percent

Wildfire By Jean Yamamura

View More Wildfire

Education

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

Education By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Teachers Seek Public Donations for Supplies and Special Items

Santa Barbara Teachers Seek Public Donations for Supplies and Special Items

Education By Callie Fausey

View More Education

Homeless

Longest Night Memorial Remembers 69 Homeless Deaths in Santa Barbara County

Longest Night Memorial Remembers 69 Homeless Deaths in Santa Barbara County

Homeless By Nick Welsh

Why Newsom’s CARE Court Has Struggled to Help Homeless Californians Most in Need

Why Newsom’s CARE Court Has Struggled to Help Homeless Californians Most in Need

Homeless By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters

One of Santa Barbara’s Once Homeless Pays It Forward

One of Santa Barbara’s Once Homeless Pays It Forward

Homeless By Nick Welsh

View More Homeless

Transportation

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Transportation By Jackson Friedman

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Parts of Santa Barbara County as 101 Closes for ‘Unknown Duration’

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Parts of Santa Barbara County as 101 Closes for ‘Unknown Duration’

Public Safety By Jackson Friedman

Major Storm Headed for Santa Barbara Could Impact Holiday Travel Plans, NWS Warns

Major Storm Headed for Santa Barbara Could Impact Holiday Travel Plans, NWS Warns

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

View More Transportation

Cannabis

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

California’s Marijuana Industry Gets a Break Under New Law Suspending Tax Hike

California’s Marijuana Industry Gets a Break Under New Law Suspending Tax Hike

Cannabis By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters

Santa Barbara County Caps Cannabis Acreage; Responds to Grand Jury

Santa Barbara County Caps Cannabis Acreage; Responds to Grand Jury

Cannabis By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Cannabis

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