News - The Santa Barbara Independent

BREAKING: Trump Gives Sable Go-Ahead to Restart Oil Production in Santa Barbara Channel

Featured Stories

One Person Injured in Helicopter Crash at Santa Ynez Airport

One Person Injured in Helicopter Crash at Santa Ynez Airport

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

The sole occupant of the small helicopter was transported to the hospital with minor injuries on Friday.

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in Santa Barbara County

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in Santa Barbara County

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

Sheriff Bill Brown drops a blizzard of statistics in his report to Board of Supervisors.

Trump Gives Sable Go-Ahead to Restart Oil Production in Santa Barbara Channel

Trump Gives Sable Go-Ahead to Restart Oil Production in Santa Barbara Channel

Energy By Nick Welsh

Friday’s presidential executive order and action of the Energy Secretary come shortly on the heels of a Department of Justice legal opinion invoking the Defense Production Act as justification for the restart.

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Saving Santa Barbara’s Sandy Beaches

Saving Santa Barbara’s Sandy Beaches

Environment By Callie Fausey

When Trees Come Down: Inside Santa Barbara’s Urban Forest Debate

When Trees Come Down: Inside Santa Barbara’s Urban Forest Debate

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

El Condado aumenta la aplicación de normativas sobre venta ambulante en aceras para proteger a los negocios legales y a los consumidores

El Condado aumenta la aplicación de normativas sobre venta ambulante en aceras para proteger a los negocios legales y a los consumidores

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

County Increases Sidewalk Vending Enforcement to Protect Lawful Businesses and Consumers

County Increases Sidewalk Vending Enforcement to Protect Lawful Businesses and Consumers

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

Lane Closure on Northbound Highway 1 Near Vandenberg Village Set for Week of Monday, March 16

Lane Closure on Northbound Highway 1 Near Vandenberg Village Set for Week of Monday, March 16

Announcement By Caltrans

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara Unveils Design for Downtown Asphalt Art Project

Santa Barbara Unveils Design for Downtown Asphalt Art Project

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

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Immigration

Santa Barbara City Council, Police Deal with Fallout of ICE Enforcement

Santa Barbara City Council, Police Deal with Fallout of ICE Enforcement

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

We Keep Us Safe: The People Fighting to Keep ICE Out of Santa Barbara

We Keep Us Safe: The People Fighting to Keep ICE Out of Santa Barbara

Cover Story By Ryan P. Cruz

Goleta Punk Show Raises Money for Undocumented Families

Goleta Punk Show Raises Money for Undocumented Families

Video By Larry Nimmer

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Energy

Trump Gives Sable Go-Ahead to Restart Oil Production in Santa Barbara Channel

Trump Gives Sable Go-Ahead to Restart Oil Production in Santa Barbara Channel

Energy By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara Gas Prices Soar as Iran Conflict Impacts Global Supply

Santa Barbara Gas Prices Soar as Iran Conflict Impacts Global Supply

Energy By Emily Vesper

Trump Poised to Preempt State Authority to Allow Sable to Restart Offshore Oil Production in Santa Barbara County

Trump Poised to Preempt State Authority to Allow Sable to Restart Offshore Oil Production in Santa Barbara County

Energy By Nick Welsh

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Science & Tech

Blood Moon Rising: Total Lunar Eclipse Visible in Santa Barbara

Blood Moon Rising: Total Lunar Eclipse Visible in Santa Barbara

Science & Tech By Christina McDermott

UC Santa Barbara Startup Builds Software to Speed Drug Discovery

UC Santa Barbara Startup Builds Software to Speed Drug Discovery

Science & Tech By Cameron Walker, UCSB's 'The Current'

UC Santa Barbara Scientists Bottle the Sun with Liquid Battery

UC Santa Barbara Scientists Bottle the Sun with Liquid Battery

Science & Tech By Seren Snow, UCSB's 'The Current'

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Election 2026

State of Play: As Rivals Sprint to June 2 Primary, a Guide to the Governor’s Race

State of Play: As Rivals Sprint to June 2 Primary, a Guide to the Governor’s Race

National Affairs By Jerry Roberts

Republican Steve Hilton Campaigns for Governor in Santa Barbara, Promotes ‘Califordable’ Agenda

Republican Steve Hilton Campaigns for Governor in Santa Barbara, Promotes ‘Califordable’ Agenda

Election 2026 By Nestor Manzanares

Santa Barbara City Council Considers Tax Measures for November Ballot

Santa Barbara City Council Considers Tax Measures for November Ballot

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

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Housing

Santa Barbara’s Short-Term Rental Program Inches Forward Despite Concerns

Santa Barbara’s Short-Term Rental Program Inches Forward Despite Concerns

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara’s Temporary Rent Increase Moratorium Sparks Confusion

Santa Barbara’s Temporary Rent Increase Moratorium Sparks Confusion

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Shelby Builder’s Remedy Project Clears Goleta Planning Commission

Shelby Builder’s Remedy Project Clears Goleta Planning Commission

Housing By Jean Yamamura

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Community

Santa Barbara Unveils Design for Downtown Asphalt Art Project

Santa Barbara Unveils Design for Downtown Asphalt Art Project

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Caused Frinj Founders’ Deaths

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Caused Frinj Founders’ Deaths

Community By Matt Kettmann

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Public Safety

One Person Injured in Helicopter Crash at Santa Ynez Airport

One Person Injured in Helicopter Crash at Santa Ynez Airport

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in Santa Barbara County

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in Santa Barbara County

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Widowed Lompoc Mother Injured in Hit-and-Run, Family Asking for Support

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Courts & Crime

Judge to Decide If Developers of Eight-Story Building Behind Mission Can Sue California, City of Santa Barbara

Judge to Decide If Developers of Eight-Story Building Behind Mission Can Sue California, City of Santa Barbara

Courts & Crime By Christina McDermott

Wendy McCaw’s Lawyers Quit ‘Santa Barbara News-Press’ Bankruptcy Case

Wendy McCaw’s Lawyers Quit ‘Santa Barbara News-Press’ Bankruptcy Case

Courts & Crime By Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara County Animal Services Seizes 58 Birds in Lompoc Cockfighting Investigation

Santa Barbara County Animal Services Seizes 58 Birds in Lompoc Cockfighting Investigation

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Politics

Santa Barbara Rep. Carbajal Says Farm Bill Ignores ‘Devastating SNAP Cuts’ in ‘Big Ugly Bill’

Santa Barbara Rep. Carbajal Says Farm Bill Ignores ‘Devastating SNAP Cuts’ in ‘Big Ugly Bill’

Politics By Christina McDermott

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Profiles Santa Barbara’s Hannah-Beth Jackson

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Profiles Santa Barbara’s Hannah-Beth Jackson

Video By Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

‘There Is Hope’: Santa Barbara’s Iranian Community Reacts to Death of Ayatollah, U.S. Military Operations in Iran

‘There Is Hope’: Santa Barbara’s Iranian Community Reacts to Death of Ayatollah, U.S. Military Operations in Iran

Politics By Elaine Sanders

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Environment

Saving Santa Barbara’s Sandy Beaches

Saving Santa Barbara’s Sandy Beaches

Environment By Callie Fausey

When Trees Come Down: Inside Santa Barbara’s Urban Forest Debate

When Trees Come Down: Inside Santa Barbara’s Urban Forest Debate

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

View More Environment

Education

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

UC Santa Barbara ROTC Cadet Team Wins Invite to Prestigious West Point Competition

UC Santa Barbara ROTC Cadet Team Wins Invite to Prestigious West Point Competition

Education By Keith Hamm, UCSB's 'The Current'

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Business

Report Shows Big Bucks in Santa Barbara Arts and Culture

Report Shows Big Bucks in Santa Barbara Arts and Culture

Business By Nick Welsh

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Reopening in Downtown Santa Barbara

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Reopening in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Jean Yamamura

Goldwater Institute Attacks Santa Barbara County’s One Percent Wine Fee

Goldwater Institute Attacks Santa Barbara County’s One Percent Wine Fee

Drink By Matt Kettmann

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Health

El Condado aumenta la aplicación de normativas sobre venta ambulante en aceras para proteger a los negocios legales y a los consumidores

El Condado aumenta la aplicación de normativas sobre venta ambulante en aceras para proteger a los negocios legales y a los consumidores

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

County Increases Sidewalk Vending Enforcement to Protect Lawful Businesses and Consumers

County Increases Sidewalk Vending Enforcement to Protect Lawful Businesses and Consumers

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Surgeon Calls Out Health Insurance Giant

Santa Barbara Surgeon Calls Out Health Insurance Giant

Health By Tyler Hayden

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Homeless

The Santa Barbara Woman Who’s Chosen to Live Outside for 57 Years

The Santa Barbara Woman Who’s Chosen to Live Outside for 57 Years

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Housing Authority of City of Santa Barbara Asks If You’ll Help ‘Adopt a Home’

Housing Authority of City of Santa Barbara Asks If You’ll Help ‘Adopt a Home’

Housing By Christina McDermott

Goleta Officials Address Rise in People Living in Vehicles at Public Meeting

Goleta Officials Address Rise in People Living in Vehicles at Public Meeting

Homeless By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Transportation

Lane Closure on Northbound Highway 1 Near Vandenberg Village Set for Week of Monday, March 16

Lane Closure on Northbound Highway 1 Near Vandenberg Village Set for Week of Monday, March 16

Announcement By Caltrans

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Test-Drive an Electric Vehicle and Claim a Free Air Purifier in Goleta This Saturday

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

New Dashboard Maps Bike Safety Across Santa Barbara County

New Dashboard Maps Bike Safety Across Santa Barbara County

Transportation By Harrison Tasoff, UCSB's 'The Current'

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Infrastructure

Setting the Stage for Santa Barbara’s State Street Master Plan

Setting the Stage for Santa Barbara’s State Street Master Plan

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

Can Santa Barbara Airport Weather Its Flood-Prone Future?

Can Santa Barbara Airport Weather Its Flood-Prone Future?

Infrastructure By Callie Fausey

Upgrading Santa Barbara’s Electric Infrastructure by Helicopter

Upgrading Santa Barbara’s Electric Infrastructure by Helicopter

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

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Cannabis

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara Finance Committee Considers Increase on Cannabis Tax

Santa Barbara Finance Committee Considers Increase on Cannabis Tax

Cannabis By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

View More Cannabis

Labor

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

UAW Workers Stage ‘Last Chance’ Practice Picket at UC Santa Barbara

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

UAW Authorizes Potential Unfair Labor Practice Strike, Putting 40,000 UC Workers — Including at UC Santa Barbara — on Notice

UAW Authorizes Potential Unfair Labor Practice Strike, Putting 40,000 UC Workers — Including at UC Santa Barbara — on Notice

Labor By Ella Heydenfeldt

State Labor Commissioner’s Office Secures $6 Million for Central Coast Farmworkers

State Labor Commissioner’s Office Secures $6 Million for Central Coast Farmworkers

Labor By Ryan P. Cruz

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