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With $137K in the Bank, Eric Friedman Holds 3-to-1 Edge over Kristen Sneddon in Santa Barbara Mayor’s Race Fundraising

With $137K in the Bank, Eric Friedman Holds 3-to-1 Edge over Kristen Sneddon in Santa Barbara Mayor’s Race Fundraising

Election 2026 By Jerry Roberts, SB Newsmakers

In a surprise, moderate councilmember Friedman substantially outraised liberal colleague Sneddon, according to the first round of campaign finance filings less than 100 days before the election.

Man Fatally Struck by Passenger Train Near Santa Barbara’s Dwight Murphy Park

Man Fatally Struck by Passenger Train Near Santa Barbara’s Dwight Murphy Park

Public Safety By Elaine Sanders

August fatality marks fourth train-related death on South Coast in 2026.

Man Allegedly Crushes Occupied Car with Tractor During Argument in Santa Maria

Man Allegedly Crushes Occupied Car with Tractor During Argument in Santa Maria

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

Levi Gaze of Paso Robles arrested, and woman survives altercation.

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Former Inmates Recognized for Their Achievements During Graduation Ceremony in Santa Barbara

Former Inmates Recognized for Their Achievements During Graduation Ceremony in Santa Barbara

Community By Elaine Sanders

Free Child ID Kits at Sheriff’s Stations Countywide

Free Child ID Kits at Sheriff’s Stations Countywide

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Reuniones Comunitarias Sobre el Proyecto Piloto de Repintado de la Calle De La Vina

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

De La Vina Street Pilot Restriping Project Community Meetings

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

Colisión de tránsito con lesiones graves – Cuadra 1200 de Coast Village Road

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

Serious Injury Traffic Collision – 1200 Block of Coast Village Road

Serious Injury Traffic Collision – 1200 Block of Coast Village Road

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

Burgled in the Santa Barbara ‘Burbs

Burgled in the Santa Barbara ‘Burbs

News Commentary By Callie Fausey

Lompoc Theatre Project Receives $6 Million Gift From Cheryl Goldberg

Lompoc Theatre Project Receives $6 Million Gift From Cheryl Goldberg

Community By Shannon Brooks

Summer Slam Punk and Skateboarding Fest Returns to Carpinteria Skate Park for Second Year

Summer Slam Punk and Skateboarding Fest Returns to Carpinteria Skate Park for Second Year

Community By Izadora Hamm

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Immigration

‘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

Carpinteria Community Commemorates One-Year Anniversary of Glass House Farm Raids

Carpinteria Community Commemorates One-Year Anniversary of Glass House Farm Raids

Community By Ingrid Bostrom

Vigil Held at Santa Barbara Courthouse for Victims of ICE Killings

Vigil Held at Santa Barbara Courthouse for Victims of ICE Killings

Photo By Ingrid Bostrom

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Energy

California Restricts Utility Shutoffs as Dangerous Heat Ripples Across State

California Restricts Utility Shutoffs as Dangerous Heat Ripples Across State

Energy By Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters

Congress Votes to Give Department of War Power over State on Behalf of Sable Offshore

Congress Votes to Give Department of War Power over State on Behalf of Sable Offshore

Politics By Nick Welsh

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

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Science & Tech

Two UC Santa Barbara–Led Projects Selected for DOE’s Genesis Mission

Two UC Santa Barbara–Led Projects Selected for DOE’s Genesis Mission

Science & Tech By Andrew Masuda, UCSB's 'The Current'

UC Santa Barbara Comm Scholar Dan Lane Named UC Fellow for Research on AI and Civic Engagement

UC Santa Barbara Comm Scholar Dan Lane Named UC Fellow for Research on AI and Civic Engagement

Science & Tech By Debra Herrick, UCSB's 'The Current'

Quantum Computing Startup in Santa Barbara Gets $54 Million from UC Investments

Quantum Computing Startup in Santa Barbara Gets $54 Million from UC Investments

Science & Tech By Callie Fausey

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Election 2026

With $137K in the Bank, Eric Friedman Holds 3-to-1 Edge over Kristen Sneddon in Santa Barbara Mayor’s Race Fundraising

With $137K in the Bank, Eric Friedman Holds 3-to-1 Edge over Kristen Sneddon in Santa Barbara Mayor’s Race Fundraising

Election 2026 By Jerry Roberts, SB Newsmakers

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces the Statewide Voter Information Guide for the November 3, 2026, General Election Is Available for Public Review

Announcement By Office of California Secretary of State

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

Election 2026 By Nick Welsh

View More Election 2026

Housing

Biggest Federal Housing Bill in Decades Opens More Pathways to Affordable Housing on South Coast

Biggest Federal Housing Bill in Decades Opens More Pathways to Affordable Housing on South Coast

Housing By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance Moves Slowly Forward

Santa Barbara’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance Moves Slowly Forward

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Q&A: Rent Stabilization with Santa Barbara City Councilmember Wendy Santamaria

Q&A: Rent Stabilization with Santa Barbara City Councilmember Wendy Santamaria

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

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Community

Former Inmates Recognized for Their Achievements During Graduation Ceremony in Santa Barbara

Former Inmates Recognized for Their Achievements During Graduation Ceremony in Santa Barbara

Community By Elaine Sanders

Lompoc Theatre Project Receives $6 Million Gift From Cheryl Goldberg

Lompoc Theatre Project Receives $6 Million Gift From Cheryl Goldberg

Community By Shannon Brooks

Summer Slam Punk and Skateboarding Fest Returns to Carpinteria Skate Park for Second Year

Summer Slam Punk and Skateboarding Fest Returns to Carpinteria Skate Park for Second Year

Community By Izadora Hamm

View More Community

Public Safety

Man Fatally Struck by Passenger Train Near Santa Barbara’s Dwight Murphy Park

Man Fatally Struck by Passenger Train Near Santa Barbara’s Dwight Murphy Park

Public Safety By Elaine Sanders

Free Child ID Kits at Sheriff’s Stations Countywide

Free Child ID Kits at Sheriff’s Stations Countywide

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Colisión de tránsito con lesiones graves – Cuadra 1200 de Coast Village Road

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

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Courts & Crime

Man Allegedly Crushes Occupied Car with Tractor During Argument in Santa Maria

Man Allegedly Crushes Occupied Car with Tractor During Argument in Santa Maria

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

SBCC Professor Dismissed After Violating Settlement Agreement

SBCC Professor Dismissed After Violating Settlement Agreement

Education By Callie Fausey

Masks Are Off in Half-a-Million-Dollar Carpinteria Cannabis Heists

Masks Are Off in Half-a-Million-Dollar Carpinteria Cannabis Heists

Courts & Crime By Elaine Sanders

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

‘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

Congress Votes to Give Department of War Power over State on Behalf of Sable Offshore

Congress Votes to Give Department of War Power over State on Behalf of Sable Offshore

Politics By Nick Welsh

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

Politics By Izadora Hamm

View More Politics

Environment

Trump Administration Rescinds Definition of ‘Harm’ in Endangered Species Act

Trump Administration Rescinds Definition of ‘Harm’ in Endangered Species Act

Environment By Callie Fausey

The Long and Winding Road to Open Hollister Ranch’s Remote Beaches to the Public

The Long and Winding Road to Open Hollister Ranch’s Remote Beaches to the Public

Environment By Jean Yamamura

State-Funded Study Offering Santa Barbara County Homeowners $500, Free Home Improvements

State-Funded Study Offering Santa Barbara County Homeowners $500, Free Home Improvements

Housing By Izadora Hamm

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Education

SBCC Professor Dismissed After Violating Settlement Agreement

SBCC Professor Dismissed After Violating Settlement Agreement

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara City College Temporarily Shuts Down Raíces Program

Santa Barbara City College Temporarily Shuts Down Raíces Program

Education By Izadora Hamm

White House Admits It Used Keywords to Kill Billions Worth of California Research Grants

White House Admits It Used Keywords to Kill Billions Worth of California Research Grants

Education By Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

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Business

Gator Boy Rides Again: Cajun Kitchen Reopens with Familiar Mural

Gator Boy Rides Again: Cajun Kitchen Reopens with Familiar Mural

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Ocean Nails & Spa Receives Goleta Business Recognition Award

Ocean Nails & Spa Receives Goleta Business Recognition Award

Announcement By City of Goleta

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Grand Opening of REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Grand Opening of REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Announcement By Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association

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Health

Santa Barbara County Reports Isolated Case of Cyclosporiasis

Santa Barbara County Reports Isolated Case of Cyclosporiasis

Health By Izadora Hamm

Regresan por Cuarto Año las Ferias de Salud de Regreso a Clases en el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Regresan por Cuarto Año las Ferias de Salud de Regreso a Clases en el Condado de Santa Bárbara

Anuncios By Departamento de Salud del Condado de Santa Bárbara

Back-to-School Health Fairs Return for a Fourth Year Across Santa Barbara County

Back-to-School Health Fairs Return for a Fourth Year Across Santa Barbara County

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara Health Department

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Homeless

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

Santa Barbara Nonprofit Holds All-Hands Meeting on Homelessness

Santa Barbara Nonprofit Holds All-Hands Meeting on Homelessness

Homeless By Christina McDermott

View More Homeless

Transportation

Reuniones Comunitarias Sobre el Proyecto Piloto de Repintado de la Calle De La Vina

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

De La Vina Street Pilot Restriping Project Community Meetings

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

Ramp and Lane Closures on Highway 101 Through Buellton to Shift August 12

Ramp and Lane Closures on Highway 101 Through Buellton to Shift August 12

Announcement By Caltrans

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

Santa Barbara Sewer Main Replacement Expected to Cause Daytime Delays for Drivers

Santa Barbara Sewer Main Replacement Expected to Cause Daytime Delays for Drivers

Infrastructure By Izadora Hamm

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

Infrastructure By Izadora Hamm

Santa Barbara’s State Street to Stay Car-Free

Santa Barbara’s State Street to Stay Car-Free

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

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

Eric Schmidt, Santa Barbara Resident and Former Google CEO, Signs ‘We Must Act Now’ AI Statement

Eric Schmidt, Santa Barbara Resident and Former Google CEO, Signs ‘We Must Act Now’ AI Statement

Science & Tech By Izadora Hamm

Labor Board ‘Pierces Corporate Veil’ and Orders McCaw to Pay $3.6M

Labor Board ‘Pierces Corporate Veil’ and Orders McCaw to Pay $3.6M

Labor By Jean Yamamura

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

Labor By Elaine Sanders

View More Labor

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