News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

Goleta Gets New Splash Pad

Goleta Gets New Splash Pad

Community By Elaine Sanders

A new way to play from Memorial Day to Labor Day at at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park.

Man arrested for Driving a Stolen Vehicle is also Found in Possession of an Illegal Gun and Drugs

Man arrested for Driving a Stolen Vehicle is also Found in Possession of an Illegal Gun and Drugs

Announcement By City of Ventura Police Department

VENTURA, Calif. – A man was arrested for multiple felonies after being stopped in a reported stolen vehicle, then found

Chalk One Up for Art in Our Schools

Chalk One Up for Art in Our Schools

By Leslie Dinaberg, photos by Ingrid Bostrom

Santa Barbara’s most picturesque festival, I Madonnari, delights crowds at the Old Mission.

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Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Homeless By Jean Yamamura

$6 Gas and Refinery Fears Collide with California’s Climate Ambitions

$6 Gas and Refinery Fears Collide with California’s Climate Ambitions

Energy By by Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters

Why Surveillance Pricing Bans Are Suddenly Gaining Traction This Year (And Not Just in California)

Why Surveillance Pricing Bans Are Suddenly Gaining Traction This Year (And Not Just in California)

Politics By Khari Johnson, CalMatters

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

Labor By Elaine Sanders

Lane Reduction on Northbound Highway 101 North of Buellton set to Begin Tuesday, May 26

Lane Reduction on Northbound Highway 101 North of Buellton set to Begin Tuesday, May 26

Announcement By Caltrans

Santa Rosa Island Fire Enters ‘Mop-Up’ Phase on Day Eight

Santa Rosa Island Fire Enters ‘Mop-Up’ Phase on Day Eight

Wildfire By Callie Fausey

Goleta Gets Ready to Welcome Team Austria for World Cup 2026

Goleta Gets Ready to Welcome Team Austria for World Cup 2026

Community By Jean Yamamura

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Election 2026 By Jeanne Kuang, Yue Stella Yu, and Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces More Than 1.5 million Vote-by-Mail Ballots Already Returned

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces More Than 1.5 million Vote-by-Mail Ballots Already Returned

Announcement By Office of the California Secretary of State

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Immigration

Medi-Cal Shakeup Looms

Medi-Cal Shakeup Looms

Health By Nick Welsh

Central Coast Immigrant Rights Orgs Respond to Federal Raids

Central Coast Immigrant Rights Orgs Respond to Federal Raids

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre Welcomes Mexican Stars for Concert Supporting Immigrants

Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre Welcomes Mexican Stars for Concert Supporting Immigrants

Music By Ryan P. Cruz

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Energy

$6 Gas and Refinery Fears Collide with California’s Climate Ambitions

$6 Gas and Refinery Fears Collide with California’s Climate Ambitions

Energy By by Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters

Environmentalists’ Lawsuit Challenging Restart of Pipeline at Center of Refugio Oil Spill Removed from Santa Barbara Court

Environmentalists’ Lawsuit Challenging Restart of Pipeline at Center of Refugio Oil Spill Removed from Santa Barbara Court

Energy By Nick Welsh

Surfrider Hosts a Paddle-Out to Protect the Santa Barbara Coast

Surfrider Hosts a Paddle-Out to Protect the Santa Barbara Coast

Energy By Lauren Solway

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Science & Tech

UC Santa Barbara’s David Gross Wins Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

UC Santa Barbara’s David Gross Wins Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Science & Tech By Shelly Leachman, UCSB’s ‘The Current’

Researchers Uncover ‘Treasure Trove’ of Bioactive Molecules in Coral Reefs

Researchers Uncover ‘Treasure Trove’ of Bioactive Molecules in Coral Reefs

Science & Tech By Sonia Fernandez, UCSB’s ‘The Current’

Sonic Booms from Artemis II’s Return to Earth May Reach Santa Barbara County

Sonic Booms from Artemis II’s Return to Earth May Reach Santa Barbara County

Science & Tech By Jackson Friedman

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Election 2026

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Election 2026 By Jeanne Kuang, Yue Stella Yu, and Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces More Than 1.5 million Vote-by-Mail Ballots Already Returned

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Announces More Than 1.5 million Vote-by-Mail Ballots Already Returned

Announcement By Office of the California Secretary of State

For Governor: Tom Steyer

For Governor: Tom Steyer

Endorsements By Indy Staff

View More Election 2026

Housing

Santa Barbara City Council Checks Progress of Rent Stabilization Ordinance

Santa Barbara City Council Checks Progress of Rent Stabilization Ordinance

Housing By Ryan P. Cruz

Yardi Systems, City of Santa Barbara Negotiate Deal for Vacant Macy’s Building in Paseo Nuevo Mall

Yardi Systems, City of Santa Barbara Negotiate Deal for Vacant Macy’s Building in Paseo Nuevo Mall

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Proposed Family Village for Homeless Secures $11 Million in State Funds

Proposed Family Village for Homeless Secures $11 Million in State Funds

Housing By Nick Welsh

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Community

Goleta Gets New Splash Pad

Goleta Gets New Splash Pad

Community By Elaine Sanders

Chalk One Up for Art in Our Schools

Chalk One Up for Art in Our Schools

By Leslie Dinaberg, photos by Ingrid Bostrom

Goleta Gets Ready to Welcome Team Austria for World Cup 2026

Goleta Gets Ready to Welcome Team Austria for World Cup 2026

Community By Jean Yamamura

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Public Safety

Progress Made Against Gun Violence in Santa Barbara County

Progress Made Against Gun Violence in Santa Barbara County

Public Safety By Lauren Solway

Santa Barbara Police Department’s Co-Response Team Honored with Thomas Guerry Award

Santa Barbara Police Department’s Co-Response Team Honored with Thomas Guerry Award

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

Goleta, Buellton Police Ticket 157 Distracted Drivers in April

Goleta, Buellton Police Ticket 157 Distracted Drivers in April

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

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Courts & Crime

Man arrested for Driving a Stolen Vehicle is also Found in Possession of an Illegal Gun and Drugs

Man arrested for Driving a Stolen Vehicle is also Found in Possession of an Illegal Gun and Drugs

Announcement By City of Ventura Police Department

Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Special Needs Student Alleges Son Was Sexually Abused at Dos Pueblos High

Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Special Needs Student Alleges Son Was Sexually Abused at Dos Pueblos High

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Two Suspected Burglars Arrested in Evacuation Zone for Foothill Fire in Cuyama Valley

Two Suspected Burglars Arrested in Evacuation Zone for Foothill Fire in Cuyama Valley

Courts & Crime By Jean Yamamura

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Politics

Why Surveillance Pricing Bans Are Suddenly Gaining Traction This Year (And Not Just in California)

Why Surveillance Pricing Bans Are Suddenly Gaining Traction This Year (And Not Just in California)

Politics By Khari Johnson, CalMatters

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Can You Trust That Post About Tom Steyer? How Paid Influencers Are Flooding into the Governor’s Race

Election 2026 By Jeanne Kuang, Yue Stella Yu, and Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

El Condado de Santa Bárbara anuncia su próxima oficial ejecutiva

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

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Environment

Oil Blankets Beach Near UC Santa Barbara

Oil Blankets Beach Near UC Santa Barbara

Environment By Callie Fausey

Surfrider Foundation Paddleout Builds a Wave of Support to Oppose Oil Drilling off Santa Barbara Coast

Surfrider Foundation Paddleout Builds a Wave of Support to Oppose Oil Drilling off Santa Barbara Coast

Environment By Lauren Solway

Carpinteria Launches Beach Cleanup Stations

Carpinteria Launches Beach Cleanup Stations

Environment By Callie Fausey

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Education

Westmont, Santa Barbara Unified Partner on New Residency Program for Future Teachers

Westmont, Santa Barbara Unified Partner on New Residency Program for Future Teachers

Education By Callie Fausey

Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Special Needs Student Alleges Son Was Sexually Abused at Dos Pueblos High

Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Special Needs Student Alleges Son Was Sexually Abused at Dos Pueblos High

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County Schools Race to Cool Down Hot Classrooms Before State Grant Program Sunsets

Santa Barbara County Schools Race to Cool Down Hot Classrooms Before State Grant Program Sunsets

Education By Callie Fausey

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Business

Yardi Systems, City of Santa Barbara Negotiate Deal for Vacant Macy’s Building in Paseo Nuevo Mall

Yardi Systems, City of Santa Barbara Negotiate Deal for Vacant Macy’s Building in Paseo Nuevo Mall

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Depleted Reserves Cast Shadow over Santa Barbara City Budget Talks

Depleted Reserves Cast Shadow over Santa Barbara City Budget Talks

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

The Picklr Opens in Fairview Shopping Center in Goleta

The Picklr Opens in Fairview Shopping Center in Goleta

Business By Elaine Sanders

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Health

Medi-Cal Shakeup Looms

Medi-Cal Shakeup Looms

Health By Nick Welsh

UC Santa Barbara’s Art of Wellness Program Offers Students Space to Pause, Create, and Connect

UC Santa Barbara’s Art of Wellness Program Offers Students Space to Pause, Create, and Connect

Health By Debra Herrick, UCSB’s ‘The Current’

Five Californians Exposed to Andes Hantavirus in Cruise-Ship Outbreak

Five Californians Exposed to Andes Hantavirus in Cruise-Ship Outbreak

Health By Jean Yamamura

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Homeless

Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Homeless By Jean Yamamura

Proposed Family Village for Homeless Secures $11 Million in State Funds

Proposed Family Village for Homeless Secures $11 Million in State Funds

Housing By Nick Welsh

After Six-Year Hiatus, Annual Foot-Washing Event Returns to Santa Barbara

After Six-Year Hiatus, Annual Foot-Washing Event Returns to Santa Barbara

Homeless By Elaine Sanders

View More Homeless

Transportation

Lane Reduction on Northbound Highway 101 North of Buellton set to Begin Tuesday, May 26

Lane Reduction on Northbound Highway 101 North of Buellton set to Begin Tuesday, May 26

Announcement By Caltrans

Repavimentación de la calle Anacapa

Repavimentación de la calle Anacapa

Anuncios By City of Santa Barbara

Anacapa Street Repaving

Anacapa Street Repaving

Announcement By City of Santa Barbara

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

Solar Microgrid Project in Isla Vista Gets $15 Million in Funding

Solar Microgrid Project in Isla Vista Gets $15 Million in Funding

Infrastructure By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara’s State Street Master Plan Comes into Focus, Without Return of Cars

Santa Barbara’s State Street Master Plan Comes into Focus, Without Return of Cars

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

Goleta Planning Commission Approves Ty Warner’s Revamp of Sandpiper Golf Course

Goleta Planning Commission Approves Ty Warner’s Revamp of Sandpiper Golf Course

Infrastructure By Jean Yamamura

View More Infrastructure

Cannabis

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

Santa Barbara Finance Committee Considers Increase on Cannabis Tax

Santa Barbara Finance Committee Considers Increase on Cannabis Tax

Cannabis By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Cannabis

Labor

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

Labor By Elaine Sanders

Major Open-Ended Strike Averted at UC Campuses, Hospitals as Tentative Deal Reached

Major Open-Ended Strike Averted at UC Campuses, Hospitals as Tentative Deal Reached

Labor By Callie Fausey

Thousands of UC Service, Patient Care Workers Threaten First Open-Ended Strike

Thousands of UC Service, Patient Care Workers Threaten First Open-Ended Strike

Labor By Ella Heydenfeldt

View More Labor

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