News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Four candidates, with a diverse range of experience and perspectives, are running for the open District 4 seat.

Hoy es el Día Nacional del Registro de Votantes

Hoy es el Día Nacional del Registro de Votantes

Announcement By Condado de Santa Bárbara

El 15 de septiembre de 2026 es el Día Nacional del Registro de Votantes, y es un gran recordatorio para verificar

National Voter Registration Day is Today

National Voter Registration Day is Today

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

September 15, 2026, is National Voter Registration Day, and it is a great reminder to verify your voter registration status

Latest Stories | See More Stories

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Man Admits to Bombing Santa Maria Courthouse in Retaliation over Seized Gun

Man Admits to Bombing Santa Maria Courthouse in Retaliation over Seized Gun

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Apartment Complex Burglar Arrested

Apartment Complex Burglar Arrested

Announcement By Santa Barbara Police Department

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

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

Intoxicated Man Stabbed During Confrontation While Allegedly Trespassing at Santa Barbara Home

Intoxicated Man Stabbed During Confrontation While Allegedly Trespassing at Santa Barbara Home

Announcement By Santa Barbara Police Department

Prescribed Burn at UCSB Lagoon Scheduled for Today

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

Newsom Signed 13 New Laws to Protect Kids from Technology. Will They Work?

Newsom Signed 13 New Laws to Protect Kids from Technology. Will They Work?

Politics By Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters

California Sues over Trump Administration’s Attempt to Weaken Endangered Species Act

California Sues over Trump Administration’s Attempt to Weaken Endangered Species Act

Environment By Callie Fausey

More Stories

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

View More Immigration

Energy

Newly Passed Bill Would Prohibit Use of Old State Infrastructure for New Offshore Oil Drilling Proposed by Feds

Newly Passed Bill Would Prohibit Use of Old State Infrastructure for New Offshore Oil Drilling Proposed by Feds

Energy By Callie Fausey

Not Yet Gone with the Wind

Not Yet Gone with the Wind

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

More Solar Panels on the Horizon for Santa Barbara County

More Solar Panels on the Horizon for Santa Barbara County

Energy By Callie Fausey

View More Energy

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

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Hoy es el Día Nacional del Registro de Votantes

Hoy es el Día Nacional del Registro de Votantes

Announcement By Condado de Santa Bárbara

National Voter Registration Day is Today

National Voter Registration Day is Today

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

View More Election 2026

Housing

Santa Barbara Housing Authority Head Rob Fredericks Retiring

Santa Barbara Housing Authority Head Rob Fredericks Retiring

Housing By Christina McDermott

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

Housing Authority Executive Director/CEO Rob Fredericks Announces Planned Retirement at End of 2027

Announcement By Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

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

View More Community

Public Safety

Prescribed Burn at UCSB Lagoon Scheduled for Today

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

‘It’s Our Kids’: Solving Santa Barbara’s Sex Trafficking Problem

‘It’s Our Kids’: Solving Santa Barbara’s Sex Trafficking Problem

Cover Story By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County’s Emergency Management Chief Abruptly Resigns

Santa Barbara County’s Emergency Management Chief Abruptly Resigns

Public Safety By Tyler Hayden

View More Public Safety

Courts & Crime

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Announces 1988 Cold Case Investigation Reopened

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Man Admits to Bombing Santa Maria Courthouse in Retaliation over Seized Gun

Man Admits to Bombing Santa Maria Courthouse in Retaliation over Seized Gun

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Apartment Complex Burglar Arrested

Apartment Complex Burglar Arrested

Announcement By Santa Barbara Police Department

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

The Race to Represent the Riviera: Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Election

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Newsom Signed 13 New Laws to Protect Kids from Technology. Will They Work?

Newsom Signed 13 New Laws to Protect Kids from Technology. Will They Work?

Politics By Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters

After A Backlash Over Votes on Sex Offenders, Two California Parole Board Members Were Dropped

After A Backlash Over Votes on Sex Offenders, Two California Parole Board Members Were Dropped

Politics By Kate Wolffe, CalMatters

View More Politics

Environment

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

California Sues over Trump Administration’s Attempt to Weaken Endangered Species Act

California Sues over Trump Administration’s Attempt to Weaken Endangered Species Act

Environment By Callie Fausey

September Heat Wave Breaks Records in Santa Barbara County

September Heat Wave Breaks Records in Santa Barbara County

Environment By Jean Yamamura

View More Environment

Education

Meet Santa Barbara Unified’s New Student Board Member, Victoria Martinez Peñaranda

Meet Santa Barbara Unified’s New Student Board Member, Victoria Martinez Peñaranda

Announcement By Santa Barbara Unified School District

New Fund at UC Santa Barbara Supports Student Projects Connecting Indigenous Studies and Environmental Action

New Fund at UC Santa Barbara Supports Student Projects Connecting Indigenous Studies and Environmental Action

Education By Seren Snow, UCSB's 'The Current'

Reading Scores Up in Santa Barbara Unified After Implementing Literacy Screener

Reading Scores Up in Santa Barbara Unified After Implementing Literacy Screener

Education By Callie Fausey

View More Education

Business

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

How’s the One Percent Wine Fee Working for Santa Barbara Wineries?

How’s the One Percent Wine Fee Working for Santa Barbara Wineries?

Business By Matt Kettmann

View More Business

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

Ramp and Lane Closures on Highway 101 Through Buellton to Shift September 30

Ramp and Lane Closures on Highway 101 Through Buellton to Shift September 30

Announcement By Caltrans

Two Major Active Transportation and Coastal Access Projects Moving Forward in Summerland

Two Major Active Transportation and Coastal Access Projects Moving Forward in Summerland

Announcement By Public Works Department

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 144 in Santa Barbara Set to Take Place Tuesday, September 15

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 144 in Santa Barbara Set to Take Place Tuesday, September 15

Announcement By Caltrans

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

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

KEYT Workers Strike as Fiesta Kicks Off in Santa Barbara

Labor By Christina McDermott

KEYT Reporters, Producers, Videographers to Participate in One-Day Strike

KEYT Reporters, Producers, Videographers to Participate in One-Day Strike

Labor By Christina McDermott

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

View More Labor

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.