News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Housing By Callie Fausey

Former Fire Marshal Rob Hazard cites fire risks and inadequate infrastructure in appeal to the County Planning Commission.

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

The 19-year-old suspect was booked on January 8 in connection to distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: What Happens After an ICE Arrest

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: What Happens After an ICE Arrest

Cover Story By Ryan P. Cruz

Jupiter Castillo, a UC Santa Barbara graduate and healthcare worker, shares his experience of detention and deportation.

Latest Stories | See More Stories

‘Bleak House’ Case over Jail Overcrowding Settles After 45 Years

‘Bleak House’ Case over Jail Overcrowding Settles After 45 Years

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors Approve 72-Hour Festival Ban over Deltopia Weekend

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors Approve 72-Hour Festival Ban over Deltopia Weekend

Public Safety By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara City Council Passes Temporary Rent Freeze

Santa Barbara City Council Passes Temporary Rent Freeze

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Politics By Nick Welsh

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Environment By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

More Stories

Immigration

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: What Happens After an ICE Arrest

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: What Happens After an ICE Arrest

Cover Story By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara Community Holds Vigil in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Santa Barbara Community Holds Vigil in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Photo By Ryan P. Cruz

Central Coast Leaders Speak Out after 150 Arrested in Immigration Sweeps

Central Coast Leaders Speak Out after 150 Arrested in Immigration Sweeps

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Immigration

Housing

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Housing By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara City Council Passes Temporary Rent Freeze

Santa Barbara City Council Passes Temporary Rent Freeze

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Emergency Rent Freeze Goes Before Santa Barbara City Council Next Week

Emergency Rent Freeze Goes Before Santa Barbara City Council Next Week

Housing By Nick Welsh

View More Housing

Energy

Santa Barbara Judge Keeps Sable Injunction in Place as Company Confirms No Oil in Pipelines

Santa Barbara Judge Keeps Sable Injunction in Place as Company Confirms No Oil in Pipelines

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Weigh Legal Options to Stop or Slow Down Restart of Sable Offshore’s Oil Pipeline

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Weigh Legal Options to Stop or Slow Down Restart of Sable Offshore’s Oil Pipeline

Energy By Nick Welsh

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Energy By Nick Welsh

View More Energy

Community

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara County Named One of GoFundMe’s Most Generous Communities in 2025

Santa Barbara County Named One of GoFundMe’s Most Generous Communities in 2025

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

View More Community

Health

Santa Barbara Health Department Rejects Federal Vaccine Removals

Santa Barbara Health Department Rejects Federal Vaccine Removals

Health By Callie Fausey

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

View More Health

Politics

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Politics By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Politics By Emily Vesper

View More Politics

Public Safety

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Retired Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Speaks Out Against Painted Cave Housing Development

Housing By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors Approve 72-Hour Festival Ban over Deltopia Weekend

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors Approve 72-Hour Festival Ban over Deltopia Weekend

Public Safety By Christina McDermott

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Environment By Callie Fausey

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

View More Environment

Business

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Cantwell’s Makes a Comeback in Downtown Santa Barbara

Cantwell’s Makes a Comeback in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Callie Fausey

Goleta’s Frinj Coffee Makes Global Debut

Goleta’s Frinj Coffee Makes Global Debut

Drink By Matt Kettmann

View More Business

Science & Tech

Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site

Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site

Science & Tech By Tyler Hayden

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'

View More Science & Tech

Courts & Crime

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

‘Bleak House’ Case over Jail Overcrowding Settles After 45 Years

‘Bleak House’ Case over Jail Overcrowding Settles After 45 Years

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

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

View More News Commentary

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

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

View More Homeless

Transportation

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

No Trains Running Through Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Coast as Repairs Continue

No Trains Running Through Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Coast as Repairs Continue

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Transportation By Jackson Friedman

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

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.