News - The Santa Barbara Independent

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Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Video By Indy Staff

The discussion included candidates Annabella Lehne, Alexander Stoeber, Gabe Escobedo, and Jason Carlton.

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Transportation By Elaine Sanders

Both lanes of the freeway have reopened after an hours-long closure due to an early-morning crash on Thursday that left 60 gallons of diesel on the freeway.

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

Video By Ryan P. Cruz & Maya Johnson

‘Indy’ staffers Ryan Cruz and Maya Johnson discuss upcoming Santa Barbara election issues and candidates.

Latest Stories | See More Stories

Santa Barbara County Takes First Step to Reduce Restrictions on Backyard Hives

Santa Barbara County Takes First Step to Reduce Restrictions on Backyard Hives

Environment By Callie Fausey

Trump Administration Further Endangers the Endangered Species Act

Trump Administration Further Endangers the Endangered Species Act

Environment By Callie Fausey

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Goleta Gas Station Sells Drivers $3 Gas, Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Paid the Rest

Goleta Gas Station Sells Drivers $3 Gas, Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Paid the Rest

Election 2026 By Elaine Sanders

Lompoc Councilmember Avoids Censure over Pending Criminal Charges

Lompoc Councilmember Avoids Censure over Pending Criminal Charges

Politics By Tyler Hayden

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

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

Santa Barbara Supervisors Target ‘Cat’ Burglars with New ‘One, You’re Done’ Law

Santa Barbara Supervisors Target ‘Cat’ Burglars with New ‘One, You’re Done’ Law

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

EDC Files Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Administration Special Permit for Defective Central Coast Pipelines

EDC Files Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Administration Special Permit for Defective Central Coast Pipelines

Announcement By Environmental Defense Center

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Immigration

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

‘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

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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

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

Co-Founded by UC Santa Barbara Physics Professor, LUX-ZEPLINSees Surprising Result in Search for Dark Matter

Co-Founded by UC Santa Barbara Physics Professor, LUX-ZEPLINSees Surprising Result in Search for Dark Matter

Science & Tech By Sonia Fernandez, UCSB's 'The Current'

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

View More Science & Tech

Election 2026

Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Video By Indy Staff

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

Video By Ryan P. Cruz & Maya Johnson

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Election 2026

Housing

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

Santa Barbara Housing Authority Head Rob Fredericks Retiring

Santa Barbara Housing Authority Head Rob Fredericks Retiring

Housing By Christina McDermott

View More Housing

Community

Santa Barbara County First Responders Mark 25th Anniversary of September 11

Santa Barbara County First Responders Mark 25th Anniversary of September 11

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Santa Barbara Zoo’s White-Handed Gibbon Gives Birth in Front of Visitors

Santa Barbara Zoo’s White-Handed Gibbon Gives Birth in Front of Visitors

Animals By Callie Fausey

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

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Public Safety

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Transportation By Elaine Sanders

UC Santa Barbara Students Return to Isla Vista, Where El Niño Threatens Cliff Collapse

UC Santa Barbara Students Return to Isla Vista, Where El Niño Threatens Cliff Collapse

Public Safety By Christina McDermott

Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Bolster Statewide El Nino Preparedness, Protect California

Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Bolster Statewide El Nino Preparedness, Protect California

Announcement By Governor Gavin Newsom

View More Public Safety

Courts & Crime

Lompoc Councilmember Avoids Censure over Pending Criminal Charges

Lompoc Councilmember Avoids Censure over Pending Criminal Charges

Politics By Tyler Hayden

Santa Barbara Supervisors Target ‘Cat’ Burglars with New ‘One, You’re Done’ Law

Santa Barbara Supervisors Target ‘Cat’ Burglars with New ‘One, You’re Done’ Law

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

EDC Files Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Administration Special Permit for Defective Central Coast Pipelines

EDC Files Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Administration Special Permit for Defective Central Coast Pipelines

Announcement By Environmental Defense Center

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Santa Barbara City Council District 6 Candidate Forum

Video By Indy Staff

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

A Gen Z Voter’s Guide for Santa Barbara City Elections | Behind the Desk

Video By Ryan P. Cruz & Maya Johnson

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

What to Know About the Santa Barbara Mayoral Race Ahead of Sept. 30 Forum

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Politics

Environment

Santa Barbara County Takes First Step to Reduce Restrictions on Backyard Hives

Santa Barbara County Takes First Step to Reduce Restrictions on Backyard Hives

Environment By Callie Fausey

Trump Administration Further Endangers the Endangered Species Act

Trump Administration Further Endangers the Endangered Species Act

Environment By Callie Fausey

Coastal Cleanup Day — California’s Largest Volunteer Event — Is Back for 42nd Year

Coastal Cleanup Day — California’s Largest Volunteer Event — Is Back for 42nd Year

Environment By Callie Fausey

View More Environment

Education

Westmont Soars in Latest National Rankings

Westmont Soars in Latest National Rankings

Announcement By Westmont College

Supporting Santa Barbara’s Fledging Fishermen

Supporting Santa Barbara’s Fledging Fishermen

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Unified Sets Sights on Higher Achievement Targets as Preliminary Test Scores Show Continued Growth

Santa Barbara Unified Sets Sights on Higher Achievement Targets as Preliminary Test Scores Show Continued Growth

Announcement By Santa Barbara Unified School District

View More Education

Business

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Music Academy of the West Groundbreaking Ceremony

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Music Academy of the West Groundbreaking Ceremony

Announcement By Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association

Famed Santa Barbara Eatery Roy Preparing to Hang Closed Sign, for Good

Famed Santa Barbara Eatery Roy Preparing to Hang Closed Sign, for Good

Business By Josef Woodard

Bye-Bye to Bibi Ji

Bye-Bye to Bibi Ji

Food & Drink By Matt Kettmann

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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

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

View More Homeless

Transportation

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Two Semi-Trucks and a Lexus Crash on Hwy. 101 in Montecito, Causing Complete Closure of Southbound Traffic

Transportation By Elaine Sanders

‘Old Days’ in Los Alamos to Result in Closure of Highway 135 on September 26 and 27

‘Old Days’ in Los Alamos to Result in Closure of Highway 135 on September 26 and 27

Announcement By Caltrans

Construction to Begin on Maria Ygnacio Bike Path

Construction to Begin on Maria Ygnacio Bike Path

Announcement By Indy Staff

View More Transportation

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

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

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

View More Labor

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