News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

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

Suzanne describes herself as an 89-year-old homeless person of privilege.

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

Dos Pueblos and La Colina were among 408 campuses recognized statewide.

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

Analysts described “unprecedented” volatility as local prices went up by more than 60 cents in a week.

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Santa Barbara County Adopts Road Map to Environmental Justice

Santa Barbara County Adopts Road Map to Environmental Justice

Environment By Callie Fausey

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

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

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

Santa Barbara Food Truck Dreams Come True

Santa Barbara Food Truck Dreams Come True

Community By Nick Welsh

Guardian Angels Drop $5 Million Donation on New Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic

Guardian Angels Drop $5 Million Donation on New Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic

Health By Nick Welsh

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

No Time Extensions on Cannabis Odor Scrubbers in Carpinteria Greenhouses

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

Local High School Robotics Team Makes Top Ten at District Competition

Local High School Robotics Team Makes Top Ten at District Competition

Announcement By Octobots Robotics Team

Santa Barbarans: Do You Live in a Hazard Zone?

Santa Barbarans: Do You Live in a Hazard Zone?

Public Safety By Tyler Hayden

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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

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

California Judge Rejects Sable’s Motion to Lift Injunction

California Judge Rejects Sable’s Motion to Lift Injunction

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 Food Truck Dreams Come True

Santa Barbara Food Truck Dreams Come True

Community By Nick Welsh

Zero-Interest Loans, a Century-Old Idea, Available to Santa Barbarans

Zero-Interest Loans, a Century-Old Idea, Available to Santa Barbarans

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

Fundraiser Set Up for Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Who Suffered Stroke

Fundraiser Set Up for Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Who Suffered Stroke

Community By Emily Vesper

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Public Safety

Santa Barbarans: Do You Live in a Hazard Zone?

Santa Barbarans: Do You Live in a Hazard Zone?

Public Safety By Tyler Hayden

Prescribed Pile Burns in South County this Week

Prescribed Pile Burns in South County this Week

Announcement By Air Pollution Control District Santa Barbara County

Montecito Fire Chief Announces Retirement

Montecito Fire Chief Announces Retirement

Announcement By Montecito Fire Department

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Courts & Crime

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

Driver Arrested After Police Pursuit Ends in Crash on Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Driver Arrested After Police Pursuit Ends in Crash on Santa Barbara’s Eastside

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Politics

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

Santa Barbara County Supes Face Budget Bloodbath

Santa Barbara County Supes Face Budget Bloodbath

Politics By Nick Welsh

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Environment

Santa Barbara County Adopts Road Map to Environmental Justice

Santa Barbara County Adopts Road Map to Environmental Justice

Environment By Callie Fausey

Thousand-Acre Naples Property Listed for $70 Million

Thousand-Acre Naples Property Listed for $70 Million

Environment By Callie Fausey

City of Santa Barbara Invites You to ‘Own Your Impact’

City of Santa Barbara Invites You to ‘Own Your Impact’

Environment By Callie Fausey

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Education

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State ‘Distinguished’ Honor

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

Local High School Robotics Team Makes Top Ten at District Competition

Local High School Robotics Team Makes Top Ten at District Competition

Announcement By Octobots Robotics Team

UC Santa Barbara Gets Grade Bump on Anti-Semitism Report Card

UC Santa Barbara Gets Grade Bump on Anti-Semitism Report Card

Education By Elaine Sanders

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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

Guardian Angels Drop $5 Million Donation on New Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic

Guardian Angels Drop $5 Million Donation on New Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic

Health By Nick Welsh

CDPH Urges Public to Avoid Sick or Dead Marine Mammals and Birds Along California Coast

CDPH Urges Public to Avoid Sick or Dead Marine Mammals and Birds Along California Coast

Announcement By California Department of Public Health

Trump’s Medicaid Work Mandate Could Kick Thousands of Homeless Californians off Coverage

Trump’s Medicaid Work Mandate Could Kick Thousands of Homeless Californians off Coverage

Health By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

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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

Carpinteria Bicycle and Electric Mobility Device Safety Ordinance Takes Effect Today, March 9, 2026

Carpinteria Bicycle and Electric Mobility Device Safety Ordinance Takes Effect Today, March 9, 2026

Announcement By City of Carpinteria

Pacific Surfliner Service Suspended Through Santa Barbara March 7-8 for Corridorwide Track Work

Pacific Surfliner Service Suspended Through Santa Barbara March 7-8 for Corridorwide Track Work

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

State Route 192 Full Closure this Monday Night for Power Pole Repairs

State Route 192 Full Closure this Monday Night for Power Pole Repairs

Announcement By Caltrans

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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

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Labor

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

KEYT Workers Accuse Parent Company of Stonewalling During Contract Negotiations

KEYT Workers Accuse Parent Company of Stonewalling During Contract Negotiations

Labor By Christina McDermott

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