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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

“Condé Nast Traveler” releases the results of its Readers Choice Awards, with Santa Barbara ranked as the fifth best small city in the country.

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

Education By Seren Snow, UCSB's 'The Current'

The program, based in the College of Letters & Science, examines how culture, history, ethics, research, and storytelling shape the ways people understand and respond to environmental change.

Officials Speak Out After ICE Surge Hits Santa Maria

Officials Speak Out After ICE Surge Hits Santa Maria

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

On October 5, Federal Immigration Enforcement arrested at least 17 people across northern Santa Barbara County, including at Allan Hancock College.

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Two Fires Break Out Tuesday Morning Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County

Two Fires Break Out Tuesday Morning Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County

Public Safety By Elaine Sanders

Sergio Rivas Sentenced for 2025 Fiesta Stabbing in Downtown Santa Barbara

Sergio Rivas Sentenced for 2025 Fiesta Stabbing in Downtown Santa Barbara

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Victim Released from Hospital Following Sunday Shooting on Santa Barbara’s Westside

Victim Released from Hospital Following Sunday Shooting on Santa Barbara’s Westside

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

Washington Elementary Principal Placed on Administrative Leave

Washington Elementary Principal Placed on Administrative Leave

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County Providers Warn Trump Administration’s Latest Proposal Would ‘Gut’ Head Start

Santa Barbara County Providers Warn Trump Administration’s Latest Proposal Would ‘Gut’ Head Start

Politics By Callie Fausey

Electric Bicycle Education and Enforcement Update

Electric Bicycle Education and Enforcement Update

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

Following Critical U.S. Supreme Court Victory, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms Mail-In Voting Remains Safe and Secure for November General Election

Following Critical U.S. Supreme Court Victory, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms Mail-In Voting Remains Safe and Secure for November General Election

Announcement By California Attorney General's Office

Santa Barbara County Judge Reschedules Ashlee Buzzard’s Mental Competency Hearing

Santa Barbara County Judge Reschedules Ashlee Buzzard’s Mental Competency Hearing

Courts & Crime By Christina McDermott

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Environment By Aj Nagbe

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Immigration

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

ICE Agent Sprays Observer at Santa Barbara County Jail

ICE Agent Sprays Observer at Santa Barbara County Jail

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

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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

Following Critical U.S. Supreme Court Victory, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms Mail-In Voting Remains Safe and Secure for November General Election

Following Critical U.S. Supreme Court Victory, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms Mail-In Voting Remains Safe and Secure for November General Election

Announcement By California Attorney General's Office

Four Candidates Running for Two Seats on Goleta City Council

Four Candidates Running for Two Seats on Goleta City Council

Election 2026 By Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara Mayoral Candidate Forum

Santa Barbara Mayoral Candidate Forum

Video 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

Fundraiser for Carpinteria’s Pool Gets a Big Boost from Monique Limón

Fundraiser for Carpinteria’s Pool Gets a Big Boost from Monique Limón

Community By Aj Nagbe

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Announces $30M Centennial Campaign to Advance its Next Century of Conservation & Community Impact

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Announces $30M Centennial Campaign to Advance its Next Century of Conservation & Community Impact

Announcement By Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara to Rename Calle Cesar Chavez to Limuw Street to Honor Chumash

Santa Barbara to Rename Calle Cesar Chavez to Limuw Street to Honor Chumash

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

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Public Safety

Two Fires Break Out Tuesday Morning Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County

Two Fires Break Out Tuesday Morning Along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County

Public Safety By Elaine Sanders

Electric Bicycle Education and Enforcement Update

Electric Bicycle Education and Enforcement Update

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

Prepárense para el ShakeOut: Es la temporada de preparación para terremotos en el condado de Santa Barbara

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

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Courts & Crime

Sergio Rivas Sentenced for 2025 Fiesta Stabbing in Downtown Santa Barbara

Sergio Rivas Sentenced for 2025 Fiesta Stabbing in Downtown Santa Barbara

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Victim Released from Hospital Following Sunday Shooting on Santa Barbara’s Westside

Victim Released from Hospital Following Sunday Shooting on Santa Barbara’s Westside

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

Santa Barbara County Judge Reschedules Ashlee Buzzard’s Mental Competency Hearing

Santa Barbara County Judge Reschedules Ashlee Buzzard’s Mental Competency Hearing

Courts & Crime By Christina McDermott

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

Santa Barbara County Providers Warn Trump Administration’s Latest Proposal Would ‘Gut’ Head Start

Santa Barbara County Providers Warn Trump Administration’s Latest Proposal Would ‘Gut’ Head Start

Politics By Callie Fausey

Newsom Signs Bill Extending Farmer-to-Food Bank Tax Credit to 2032

Newsom Signs Bill Extending Farmer-to-Food Bank Tax Credit to 2032

Politics By Christina McDermott

Four Candidates Running for Two Seats on Goleta City Council

Four Candidates Running for Two Seats on Goleta City Council

Election 2026 By Jean Yamamura

View More Politics

Environment

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

Education By Seren Snow, UCSB's 'The Current'

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Environment By Aj Nagbe

Carbajal, Padilla Introduce Legislation to Investigate Toxic Waste Dump Off California Coast

Carbajal, Padilla Introduce Legislation to Investigate Toxic Waste Dump Off California Coast

Announcement By Office of Congressmember Salud Carbajal

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Education

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

UC Santa Barbara Introduces Minor in Environmental Humanities

Education By Seren Snow, UCSB's 'The Current'

Washington Elementary Principal Placed on Administrative Leave

Washington Elementary Principal Placed on Administrative Leave

Education By Callie Fausey

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Westmont College’s Faith.Climate.Action Program Spreads the Environmental Word

Environment By Aj Nagbe

View More Education

Business

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

Jeff Bridges and Family to Take Over Prime State Street Gallery in Santa Barbara

Jeff Bridges and Family to Take Over Prime State Street Gallery in Santa Barbara

Business By Josef Woodard

Jim Knell’s Big Move: Santa Barbara Real Estate Mogul Launches Drive to Get Cars Back on State Street

Jim Knell’s Big Move: Santa Barbara Real Estate Mogul Launches Drive to Get Cars Back on State Street

Business By Nick Welsh

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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

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

Se ofrecen viajes gratuitos en autobús en todo el condado con motivo del Día del Aire Limpio de California

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

Free Bus Rides Offered Countywide for California Clean Air Day

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

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Infrastructure

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

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

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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

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Labor

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

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

Labor By Christina McDermott

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