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Featured Stories

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

Video By Maya Johnson & Elaine Sanders

Community members and protesters show up for the grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Goleta.

Registrar of Voters Encourages Citizens to Register to Vote

Registrar of Voters Encourages Citizens to Register to Vote

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

Last day to register to vote for upcoming election is October 19, 2026.

Santa Barbara Woman in Custody After 23-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run on Mission Street

Santa Barbara Woman in Custody After 23-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run on Mission Street

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

The 45-year-old driver was allegedly driving recklessly and fled from a police officer attempting a traffic stop moments before fatally striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk and fleeing again.

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UC Santa Barbara’s El Centro Celebrates Recent Renovation, Looks to Future

UC Santa Barbara’s El Centro Celebrates Recent Renovation, Looks to Future

Education By Ryan P. Cruz

Classic Cars Take Over State Street in Santa Barbara

Classic Cars Take Over State Street in Santa Barbara

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout Rescheduled to Begin THIS Monday, October 12

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout Rescheduled to Begin THIS Monday, October 12

Announcement By City of Goleta

El estado aprueba $2.5 millones para mejoras en el Centro Comunitario de Goleta y la Biblioteca del Valle de Goleta

El estado aprueba $2.5 millones para mejoras en el Centro Comunitario de Goleta y la Biblioteca del Valle de Goleta

Anuncios By City of Goleta

State Approves $2.5 Million for Goleta Community Center and Goleta Valley Library Improvements

State Approves $2.5 Million for Goleta Community Center and Goleta Valley Library Improvements

Announcement By City of Goleta

Departamento de Policía: Accidente fatal con fuga

Departamento de Policía: Accidente fatal con fuga

Anuncios By Departamento de Policía de Santa Bárbara

Police Department: Fatal Hit and Run Collision

Police Department: Fatal Hit and Run Collision

Announcement By Santa Barbara Police Department

Washington Elementary Principal Returns from Administrative Leave After Admitting to Her Role in Rigging Student Election

Washington Elementary Principal Returns from Administrative Leave After Admitting to Her Role in Rigging Student Election

Education By Jean Yamamura

ICE Activity Ramps Up on Central Coast as Election Approaches

ICE Activity Ramps Up on Central Coast as Election Approaches

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

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Immigration

ICE Activity Ramps Up on Central Coast as Election Approaches

ICE Activity Ramps Up on Central Coast as Election Approaches

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

Officials Speak Out After ICE Surge Hits Santa Maria

Officials Speak Out After ICE Surge Hits Santa Maria

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

Judge: Immigration Agents Must Stop the Way They’re Conducting Warrantless Arrests

Judge: Immigration Agents Must Stop the Way They’re Conducting Warrantless Arrests

Immigration By Sergio Olmos and Wendy Fry, CalMatters

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Energy

Santa Barbara Supes Formally Condemn Feds’ Intervention on Sable Offshore’s Behalf

Santa Barbara Supes Formally Condemn Feds’ Intervention on Sable Offshore’s Behalf

Energy By Nick Welsh

Sable Offshore Digging Up 12 Spots of Pipeline for Corrosion

Sable Offshore Digging Up 12 Spots of Pipeline for Corrosion

Energy By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Ban New Onshore Oil Drilling

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Ban New Onshore Oil Drilling

Energy By Nick Welsh

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Science & Tech

UC Santa Barbara Researchers to Collaborate in Three of NSF’s Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes

UC Santa Barbara Researchers to Collaborate in Three of NSF’s Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes

Science & Tech By Sonia Fernandez, UCSB's 'The Current'

Newsom Clamps Down on California Data Centers as Voters Turn Against the Industry

Newsom Clamps Down on California Data Centers as Voters Turn Against the Industry

Science & Tech By Katherine Ortiz, CalMatters

California Enacts Laws Restricting Chatbots and Banning Teens from ‘Addictive’ Social Media

California Enacts Laws Restricting Chatbots and Banning Teens from ‘Addictive’ Social Media

Science & Tech By Colin Lecher, CalMatters

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Election 2026

Registrar of Voters Encourages Citizens to Register to Vote

Registrar of Voters Encourages Citizens to Register to Vote

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

Central Coast–Riviera (CA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Presents LINK UP THE VOTE Block Party in Partnership with Umoja, The Basic Needs Center, The Well and the Multimodal Lab

Announcement By The Links, Incorporated

The ‘Santa Barbara Independent’ Endorsements for the General Election, November 3, 2026

The ‘Santa Barbara Independent’ Endorsements for the General Election, November 3, 2026

Endorsements By Indy Staff

View More Election 2026

Housing

Santa Barbara City Council Adopts Rent Stabilization Ordinance in Milestone 4-3 Vote

Santa Barbara City Council Adopts Rent Stabilization Ordinance in Milestone 4-3 Vote

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara City Council Split, but Rent Stabilization Ordinance Moves Forward

Santa Barbara City Council Split, but Rent Stabilization Ordinance Moves Forward

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

City of Santa Barbara to Loan School District $1M for Employee Housing at Former Parma School Site

City of Santa Barbara to Loan School District $1M for Employee Housing at Former Parma School Site

Housing By Callie Fausey

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Community

Classic Cars Take Over State Street in Santa Barbara

Classic Cars Take Over State Street in Santa Barbara

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Annual Chumash Intertribal Powwow Draws a Crowd in Santa Ynez Despite Soaring Temperatures

Annual Chumash Intertribal Powwow Draws a Crowd in Santa Ynez Despite Soaring Temperatures

Photo By Elaine Sanders

Eva Marie Saint, Hollywood Legend and Montecito Resident, Dies at 102

Eva Marie Saint, Hollywood Legend and Montecito Resident, Dies at 102

Community By Jean Yamamura

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Public Safety

Lompoc Fire Department Responds to Structure Fire on E Walnut Avenue on October 8, 2026

Lompoc Fire Department Responds to Structure Fire on E Walnut Avenue on October 8, 2026

Announcement By City of Lompoc

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Gun Violence Prevention

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Gun Violence Prevention

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

El condado de Santa Barbara destaca los puntos clave de la reunión comunitaria sobre El Niño

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

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Courts & Crime

Santa Barbara Woman in Custody After 23-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run on Mission Street

Santa Barbara Woman in Custody After 23-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run on Mission Street

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

Departamento de Policía: Accidente fatal con fuga

Departamento de Policía: Accidente fatal con fuga

Anuncios By Departamento de Policía de Santa Bárbara

Police Department: Fatal Hit and Run Collision

Police Department: Fatal Hit and Run Collision

Announcement By Santa Barbara Police Department

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Politics

NEWS: Schiff, Padilla, and Carbajal Probe Corrupt Career Move as Former White House Energy Adviser that Fought to Reopen California Pipeline Takes Executive Position at Oil Company Pushing the Restart

NEWS: Schiff, Padilla, and Carbajal Probe Corrupt Career Move as Former White House Energy Adviser that Fought to Reopen California Pipeline Takes Executive Position at Oil Company Pushing the Restart

Announcement By Senator Adam Schiff

Governor Signs Hart Bill Strengthening County Jail Accountability

Governor Signs Hart Bill Strengthening County Jail Accountability

Announcement By Indy Staff

Santa Barbara’s Laura Piña Helps Gregg Hart Pass Domestic Violence Survivors’ Bill

Santa Barbara’s Laura Piña Helps Gregg Hart Pass Domestic Violence Survivors’ Bill

Politics By Nick Welsh

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Environment

Saving Naples, Once and for All

Saving Naples, Once and for All

Cover Story By Callie Fausey & Tyler Hayden

Beached and Abandoned: Santa Barbara County Confronts ‘Toxic’ Boat Wrecks

Beached and Abandoned: Santa Barbara County Confronts ‘Toxic’ Boat Wrecks

Environment By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Environmentalists Celebrate Newsom’s Signing of One of ‘Strongest Anti-Offshore Oil Bills in State’s History’

Santa Barbara Environmentalists Celebrate Newsom’s Signing of One of ‘Strongest Anti-Offshore Oil Bills in State’s History’

Environment By Callie Fausey

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Education

UC Santa Barbara’s El Centro Celebrates Recent Renovation, Looks to Future

UC Santa Barbara’s El Centro Celebrates Recent Renovation, Looks to Future

Education By Ryan P. Cruz

Washington Elementary Principal Returns from Administrative Leave After Admitting to Her Role in Rigging Student Election

Washington Elementary Principal Returns from Administrative Leave After Admitting to Her Role in Rigging Student Election

Education By Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara Unified Cuts Projected Budget Shortfall by $15 Million

Santa Barbara Unified Cuts Projected Budget Shortfall by $15 Million

Announcement By Santa Barbara Unified School District

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Business

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

Video By Maya Johnson & Elaine Sanders

Santa Barbara City Council Supports New Rules for Short-Term Rentals

Santa Barbara City Council Supports New Rules for Short-Term Rentals

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara Cracks Top-Five Best Small Cities in U.S.

Santa Barbara Cracks Top-Five Best Small Cities in U.S.

Travel By Ryan P. Cruz

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Health

From Montecito Tragedy to Statewide Change

From Montecito Tragedy to Statewide Change

Health By Sara Bush

Santa Barbara High School Welcomes New-and-Improved Student Wellness Center

Santa Barbara High School Welcomes New-and-Improved Student Wellness Center

Education By Elaine Sanders

Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Receives Five-Star CMS Rating for Cleanliness

Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Receives Five-Star CMS Rating for Cleanliness

Announcement By Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital

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Homeless

Officials, Formerly Homeless Tenants Celebrate Opening of Patterson Point in Santa Barbara County

Officials, Formerly Homeless Tenants Celebrate Opening of Patterson Point in Santa Barbara County

Housing By Jean Yamamura

For Many of Santa Barbara’s Unhoused, Their Car Is Their Castle

For Many of Santa Barbara’s Unhoused, Their Car Is Their Castle

Homeless By Nick Welsh

Downtown Santa Barbara’s FARO Center Turns Two

Downtown Santa Barbara’s FARO Center Turns Two

Homeless By Nick Welsh

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Transportation

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout Rescheduled to Begin THIS Monday, October 12

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout Rescheduled to Begin THIS Monday, October 12

Announcement By City of Goleta

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout

Partial Closure at Hollister Avenue Roundabout

Announcement By City of Goleta

Tree Removal in Lompoc to Close One Lane on Highway 246 Beginning Tuesday, October 6

Tree Removal in Lompoc to Close One Lane on Highway 246 Beginning Tuesday, October 6

Announcement By Caltrans

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

El estado aprueba $2.5 millones para mejoras en el Centro Comunitario de Goleta y la Biblioteca del Valle de Goleta

El estado aprueba $2.5 millones para mejoras en el Centro Comunitario de Goleta y la Biblioteca del Valle de Goleta

Anuncios By City of Goleta

State Approves $2.5 Million for Goleta Community Center and Goleta Valley Library Improvements

State Approves $2.5 Million for Goleta Community Center and Goleta Valley Library Improvements

Announcement By City of Goleta

State Street Master Plan Approved by Santa Barbara City Council

State Street Master Plan Approved by Santa Barbara City Council

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Infrastructure

Labor

California’s Biggest State Worker Union Authorizes Strike in Newsom’s Last Months

California’s Biggest State Worker Union Authorizes Strike in Newsom’s Last Months

Labor By Lynn La, CalMatters

City of Solvang Workers Enter Second Week of Strike

City of Solvang Workers Enter Second Week of Strike

Labor By Christina McDermott

City of Solvang Union Members’ Strike Continues Through Weekend

City of Solvang Union Members’ Strike Continues Through Weekend

Labor By Christina McDermott

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News Commentary

‘LA Times’ Star Mark Barabak Breaks Down Midterms State of Play: Dems Look Solid to Win House, Puncher’s Chance to Take Senate

‘LA Times’ Star Mark Barabak Breaks Down Midterms State of Play: Dems Look Solid to Win House, Puncher’s Chance to Take Senate

Video By Jerry Roberts

Does Santa Barbara Unified Have an Issue with Anti-Black Harassment?

Does Santa Barbara Unified Have an Issue with Anti-Black Harassment?

News Commentary By Maya Johnson

Political Tales of the Weird: Five Takeaways from the Election

Political Tales of the Weird: Five Takeaways from the Election

News Commentary By Jerry Roberts, SB Newsmakers

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