2026 - Page 236 of 574 - The Santa Barbara Independent

Cover Story By Ryan P. Cruz, photos by Elaine Sanders

Having a Ball: Santa Barbara Celebrates the World Cup

Soccer fans showed up to bars, restaurants, and public places in droves to cheer on their teams in the world’s biggest sporting event.

Sports By Victor Bryant

A long and winding path lies ahead but is within reach.

Sports By Diego Melgoza

How one man stood in the rain with his family to watch his national team make history.

Letters By JB Alegiani, S.B.

Price controls don’t create housing. They discourage investment, reduce supply, and shift costs onto new renters. I lived this.

Animals By Callie Fausey

First-time parents Ruby and Raj welcome twins.

Environment By Callie Fausey

The environmental nonprofit used the Clean Water Act to stop pollution at its source.

Letters By Myra Nicholas, S.B.

Thanks for the story of Sheila Lodge.

Letters By Laura Capps, S.B.

Sheila was the first mayor I knew as a child, so I simply assumed all mayors were women.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh

Why isn’t S.B.’s municipal golf course more in play?

Full Belly Files By Matt Kettmann

Living the life of luxury like a Flexjet client on the new Gulfstream 500, with visits to The Charter Oak, Eisele Vineyard, and the Dana Estates.