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Drumming up a Fight over Fees: Santa Barbara Drum Circle Pushes Back on City’s Permitting Fee Hike

Drumming up a Fight over Fees: Santa Barbara Drum Circle Pushes Back on City’s Permitting Fee Hike

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

After weeks of back-and-forth, Parks & Rec and the long-running drum circle reach a compromise over cost increase that threatened to price the decades-old weekly gathering out of existence.

Lobster Jo’s Camp Cancellation Draws Overflow Crowd at Santa Barbara City Council

Lobster Jo’s Camp Cancellation Draws Overflow Crowd at Santa Barbara City Council

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Parents, campers, counselors, and community members defend long-running youth program, but Parks and Rec is standing by its decision not to renew the camp’s contract over “program safety.”

Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur Months Ahead of Schedule

Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur Months Ahead of Schedule

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

Caltrans finishes Regent’s Slide repairs nearly 10 weeks early, reconnecting the Central Coast after years of closures.

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La Cumbre Junior High Band Director Marches in Rose Parade

La Cumbre Junior High Band Director Marches in Rose Parade

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Isla Vista Resident Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

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

‘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

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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

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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

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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

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Community

Drumming up a Fight over Fees: Santa Barbara Drum Circle Pushes Back on City’s Permitting Fee Hike

Drumming up a Fight over Fees: Santa Barbara Drum Circle Pushes Back on City’s Permitting Fee Hike

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Lobster Jo’s Camp Cancellation Draws Overflow Crowd at Santa Barbara City Council

Lobster Jo’s Camp Cancellation Draws Overflow Crowd at Santa Barbara City Council

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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'

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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

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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

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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

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Education

La Cumbre Junior High Band Director Marches in Rose Parade

La Cumbre Junior High Band Director Marches in Rose Parade

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

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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

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Transportation

Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur Months Ahead of Schedule

Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur Months Ahead of Schedule

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

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

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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

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