News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

Orcutt Schools Threatened Twice in Same Week

Orcutt Schools Threatened Twice in Same Week

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office recovers explosive devices from a juvenile’s home days after an unrelated school shooting threat.

Vigilancia de la Calidad del Aire para el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Vigilancia de la Calidad del Aire para el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Anuncios By El Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Bárbara

El Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Bárbara y el Departamento de Salud del

Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County

Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and County of Santa Barbara Health Department issued an Air Quality Watch

Latest Stories | See More Stories

Santa Maria Labor Recruiter Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Lying to Government, Exploiting Farmworkers in Visa Fraud Scheme

Santa Maria Labor Recruiter Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Lying to Government, Exploiting Farmworkers in Visa Fraud Scheme

Announcement By United States Department of Justice

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

Federal Wildfire Crews Are Stretched Thin. California Is Stepping in to Help

Federal Wildfire Crews Are Stretched Thin. California Is Stepping in to Help

Wildfire By Rachel Becker, CalMatters

CommUnify to Open New Childcare Center for Low-Income Families in Santa Maria

CommUnify to Open New Childcare Center for Low-Income Families in Santa Maria

Community By Callie Fausey

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Housing By Christina McDermott

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

More Stories

Immigration

‘Justice for All’ Protests Held in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria in Wake of ICE Killings

‘Justice for All’ Protests Held in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria in Wake of ICE Killings

Politics By Ingrid Bostrom

Carpinteria Community Commemorates One-Year Anniversary of Glass House Farm Raids

Carpinteria Community Commemorates One-Year Anniversary of Glass House Farm Raids

Community By Ingrid Bostrom

Vigil Held at Santa Barbara Courthouse for Victims of ICE Killings

Vigil Held at Santa Barbara Courthouse for Victims of ICE Killings

Photo By Ingrid Bostrom

View More Immigration

Energy

Trump White House Trumps State of California in Fight over Sable Offshore

Trump White House Trumps State of California in Fight over Sable Offshore

Energy By Nick Welsh

Environmental Orgs Sound Alarm on Extending Diablo Canyon’s Operations into 2045

Environmental Orgs Sound Alarm on Extending Diablo Canyon’s Operations into 2045

Energy By Jean Yamamura

Governor Newsom to Pass Baton on Extending Operations at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Governor Newsom to Pass Baton on Extending Operations at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Energy By Callie Fausey

View More Energy

Science & Tech

Meta to Pay $17 Billion — and Limit ‘Likes’ for Teens — in Social Media Settlement with States

Meta to Pay $17 Billion — and Limit ‘Likes’ for Teens — in Social Media Settlement with States

Science & Tech By Colin Lecher, CalMatters

Google Buys 83,000-Square-Foot Campus in Goleta for $32.5M

Google Buys 83,000-Square-Foot Campus in Goleta for $32.5M

Science & Tech By Izadora Hamm

UC Santa Barbara Team Saves Historic Aerial Photos Critical to Coastal Research

UC Santa Barbara Team Saves Historic Aerial Photos Critical to Coastal Research

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

View More Science & Tech

Election 2026

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Announcement By California Department of Justice

Attorney General Bonta Responds to U.S. Supreme Court Decision Allowing President Trump’s Second Elections-Related Executive Order to Be Implemented

Attorney General Bonta Responds to U.S. Supreme Court Decision Allowing President Trump’s Second Elections-Related Executive Order to Be Implemented

Announcement By California Attorney General Rob Bonta

View More Election 2026

Housing

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Housing By Christina McDermott

At Goleta’s University Mobile Home Park, Renters Are Out and One Resident’s Sale Canceled

At Goleta’s University Mobile Home Park, Renters Are Out and One Resident’s Sale Canceled

Housing By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara Fast-Tracks Environmental Review for Housing Programs

Santa Barbara Fast-Tracks Environmental Review for Housing Programs

Housing By Callie Fausey

View More Housing

Community

CommUnify to Open New Childcare Center for Low-Income Families in Santa Maria

CommUnify to Open New Childcare Center for Low-Income Families in Santa Maria

Community By Callie Fausey

We’ll Always Love Dolly Parton, Dollyologist Explains

We’ll Always Love Dolly Parton, Dollyologist Explains

Music By Debra Herrick, UCSB's 'The Current'

Dolly Parton Remembered in Santa Barbara for ‘Her Legacy of Service, Dedication, and Joy’

Dolly Parton Remembered in Santa Barbara for ‘Her Legacy of Service, Dedication, and Joy’

Community By Callie Fausey

View More Community

Public Safety

Vigilancia de la Calidad del Aire para el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Vigilancia de la Calidad del Aire para el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Anuncios By El Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Bárbara

Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County

Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

View More Public Safety

Courts & Crime

Orcutt Schools Threatened Twice in Same Week

Orcutt Schools Threatened Twice in Same Week

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Santa Maria Labor Recruiter Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Lying to Government, Exploiting Farmworkers in Visa Fraud Scheme

Santa Maria Labor Recruiter Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Lying to Government, Exploiting Farmworkers in Visa Fraud Scheme

Announcement By United States Department of Justice

Sheriff’s Investigation Thwarts School Threat, Explosive Devices Recovered

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

View More Politics

Environment

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Environment By Christina McDermott

Feds Moving at Full Throttle to Reverse Roadless Rule Protecting National Forests

Feds Moving at Full Throttle to Reverse Roadless Rule Protecting National Forests

Environment By Callie Fausey

California Divided over Ocean Conservation Proposals, Including Creation of Marine Protected Area off Carpinteria Coast

California Divided over Ocean Conservation Proposals, Including Creation of Marine Protected Area off Carpinteria Coast

Environment By Callie Fausey

View More Environment

Education

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Education By Callie Fausey

Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days

Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days

Announcement By Santa Barbara Unified School District

Warrior Welcome: Record Local Enrollment, Historic Firsts

Warrior Welcome: Record Local Enrollment, Historic Firsts

Announcement By Westmont College

View More Education

Business

Lompoc Farm Forgiven for Failing to Pay Taxes on Farmstays

Lompoc Farm Forgiven for Failing to Pay Taxes on Farmstays

Business By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara County Green-Lights Film Commissioner Role

Santa Barbara County Green-Lights Film Commissioner Role

Business By Jean Yamamura

Colliers Facilitates $11.3 Million Sale of Kellogg Square in Santa Barbara

Colliers Facilitates $11.3 Million Sale of Kellogg Square in Santa Barbara

Announcement By Colliers

View More Business

Health

West Nile Virus Activity at Five-Year High

West Nile Virus Activity at Five-Year High

Announcement By California Department of Public Health

Measles Cases in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties Linked to Same International Flight

Measles Cases in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties Linked to Same International Flight

Health By Jean Yamamura

Sutter Health Confirms Measles Case at One of Its Facilities in Santa Barbara County

Sutter Health Confirms Measles Case at One of Its Facilities in Santa Barbara County

Health By Nick Welsh

View More Health

Homeless

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

Santa Barbara Nonprofit Holds All-Hands Meeting on Homelessness

Santa Barbara Nonprofit Holds All-Hands Meeting on Homelessness

Homeless By Christina McDermott

View More Homeless

Transportation

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Overnight One-Way Traffic Control for Utility Work on Highway 150 Set to Begin August 31

Overnight One-Way Traffic Control for Utility Work on Highway 150 Set to Begin August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Full Daytime Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinteria Continues Monday, August 24

Full Daytime Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinteria Continues Monday, August 24

Announcement By Caltrans

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

Santa Barbara’s Castillo Street ‘Drastically’ Drier Following Emergency Repairs

Santa Barbara’s Castillo Street ‘Drastically’ Drier Following Emergency Repairs

Infrastructure By Jean Yamamura

Carbajal Announces Over $1 Million in Federal Funding for Santa Barbara Airport

Carbajal Announces Over $1 Million in Federal Funding for Santa Barbara Airport

Announcement By Office of U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal

Santa Barbara Sewer Main Replacement Expected to Cause Daytime Delays for Drivers

Santa Barbara Sewer Main Replacement Expected to Cause Daytime Delays for Drivers

Infrastructure By Izadora Hamm

View More Infrastructure

Cannabis

Santa Barbara County Cannabis Company ‘Uplisted’ to New York Stock Exchange

Santa Barbara County Cannabis Company ‘Uplisted’ to New York Stock Exchange

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara Increases Cannabis Sales Tax Rate by 2 Percent

Santa Barbara Increases Cannabis Sales Tax Rate by 2 Percent

Cannabis By Ryan P. Cruz

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

View More Cannabis

Labor

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

Labor By Christina McDermott

KEYT Reporters, Producers, Videographers to Participate in One-Day Strike

KEYT Reporters, Producers, Videographers to Participate in One-Day Strike

Labor By Christina McDermott

Eric Schmidt, Santa Barbara Resident and Former Google CEO, Signs ‘We Must Act Now’ AI Statement

Eric Schmidt, Santa Barbara Resident and Former Google CEO, Signs ‘We Must Act Now’ AI Statement

Science & Tech By Izadora Hamm

View More Labor

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.