News - The Santa Barbara Independent

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Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Direct Relief and ShelterBox are drawing on experience in the region to guide their response to the recent deadly floods.

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California recently lifted the statute of limitations on child sex abuse lawsuits, leading to many cases against schools. A bill going to Gov. Gavin Newsom would raise the standard for evidence.

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

California announced a new lawsuit over President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting, arguing in part that the Constitution gives states’ power over elections.

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Federal Wildfire Crews Are Stretched Thin. California Is Stepping in to Help

Federal Wildfire Crews Are Stretched Thin. California Is Stepping in to Help

Wildfire By Rachel Becker, CalMatters

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

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Housing By Christina McDermott

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Announcement By California Department of Justice

Missing Shafter Man Found Deceased Near Main Jail

Missing Shafter Man Found Deceased Near Main Jail

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Environment By Christina McDermott

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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

Trump White House Trumps State of California in Fight over Sable Offshore

Trump White House Trumps State of California in Fight over Sable Offshore

Energy By Nick Welsh

Environmental Orgs Sound Alarm on Extending Diablo Canyon’s Operations into 2045

Environmental Orgs Sound Alarm on Extending Diablo Canyon’s Operations into 2045

Energy By Jean Yamamura

Governor Newsom to Pass Baton on Extending Operations at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Governor Newsom to Pass Baton on Extending Operations at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Energy By Callie Fausey

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Science & Tech

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

Google Buys 83,000-Square-Foot Campus in Goleta for $32.5M

Google Buys 83,000-Square-Foot Campus in Goleta for $32.5M

Science & Tech By Izadora Hamm

UC Santa Barbara Team Saves Historic Aerial Photos Critical to Coastal Research

UC Santa Barbara Team Saves Historic Aerial Photos Critical to Coastal Research

Science & Tech By Keith Hamm, UCSB's 'The Current'

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Election 2026

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Challenging USPS Rule Restricting Mail-In Voting, Interfering with Elections

Announcement By California Department of Justice

Attorney General Bonta Responds to U.S. Supreme Court Decision Allowing President Trump’s Second Elections-Related Executive Order to Be Implemented

Attorney General Bonta Responds to U.S. Supreme Court Decision Allowing President Trump’s Second Elections-Related Executive Order to Be Implemented

Announcement By California Attorney General Rob Bonta

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Housing

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Isla Vista’s Friendship Manor Moving to Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Housing By Christina McDermott

At Goleta’s University Mobile Home Park, Renters Are Out and One Resident’s Sale Canceled

At Goleta’s University Mobile Home Park, Renters Are Out and One Resident’s Sale Canceled

Housing By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara Fast-Tracks Environmental Review for Housing Programs

Santa Barbara Fast-Tracks Environmental Review for Housing Programs

Housing By Callie Fausey

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Community

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

We’ll Always Love Dolly Parton, Dollyologist Explains

We’ll Always Love Dolly Parton, Dollyologist Explains

Music By Debra Herrick, UCSB's 'The Current'

Dolly Parton Remembered in Santa Barbara for ‘Her Legacy of Service, Dedication, and Joy’

Dolly Parton Remembered in Santa Barbara for ‘Her Legacy of Service, Dedication, and Joy’

Community By Callie Fausey

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Public Safety

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Santa Barbara–Based Charities Responding to Nepal Following Devastating Flash Flooding

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Missing Shafter Man Found Deceased Near Main Jail

Missing Shafter Man Found Deceased Near Main Jail

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Education By Callie Fausey

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Courts & Crime

Sheriff’s Investigation Thwarts School Threat, Explosive Devices Recovered

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Superior Court Judges Elect Stephen Dunkle as Assistant to Presiding Judge

Superior Court Judges Elect Stephen Dunkle as Assistant to Presiding Judge

Announcement By Superior Court of Santa Barbara

Sexual Assault Response Team Awarded $236K Federal Grant for New Site in Santa Barbara

Sexual Assault Response Team Awarded $236K Federal Grant for New Site in Santa Barbara

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

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Politics

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

School Sex Abuse Bill Going to Newsom. Will He Sign the ‘Hard-Won’ Compromise?

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

California Sues to Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Rules Just Days After Loss at Supreme Court

Politics By Lynn La, CalMatters

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Why Sex Abuse Survivors and Broke School Districts Are at Odds in Legislature’s Final Days

Politics By Maya C. Miller, CalMatters

View More Politics

Environment

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Santa Barbara to Host Inaugural California Ocean Summit

Environment By Christina McDermott

Feds Moving at Full Throttle to Reverse Roadless Rule Protecting National Forests

Feds Moving at Full Throttle to Reverse Roadless Rule Protecting National Forests

Environment By Callie Fausey

California Divided over Ocean Conservation Proposals, Including Creation of Marine Protected Area off Carpinteria Coast

California Divided over Ocean Conservation Proposals, Including Creation of Marine Protected Area off Carpinteria Coast

Environment By Callie Fausey

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Education

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Santa Barbara Unified Shortens School Day in Response to Extreme Heat

Education By Callie Fausey

Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days

Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days

Announcement By Santa Barbara Unified School District

Warrior Welcome: Record Local Enrollment, Historic Firsts

Warrior Welcome: Record Local Enrollment, Historic Firsts

Announcement By Westmont College

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Business

Lompoc Farm Forgiven for Failing to Pay Taxes on Farmstays

Lompoc Farm Forgiven for Failing to Pay Taxes on Farmstays

Business By Christina McDermott

Santa Barbara County Green-Lights Film Commissioner Role

Santa Barbara County Green-Lights Film Commissioner Role

Business By Jean Yamamura

Colliers Facilitates $11.3 Million Sale of Kellogg Square in Santa Barbara

Colliers Facilitates $11.3 Million Sale of Kellogg Square in Santa Barbara

Announcement By Colliers

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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

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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

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Transportation

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Full Overnight Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinetria Set to take Place Monday, August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Overnight One-Way Traffic Control for Utility Work on Highway 150 Set to Begin August 31

Overnight One-Way Traffic Control for Utility Work on Highway 150 Set to Begin August 31

Announcement By Caltrans

Full Daytime Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinteria Continues Monday, August 24

Full Daytime Closure of Highway 192 Near Carpinteria Continues Monday, August 24

Announcement By Caltrans

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

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

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

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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

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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

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