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Russian National Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Russian National Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Inna Vladimirovna Cook faces eight felony counts of theft, fraud, and money laundering, plus a civil lawsuit.

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

Union Pacific restores rail service between Goleta and San Luis Obispo.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Politics By Nick Welsh

Supervisor Laura Capps vacates her seat as board chair to make way for the most outspokenly conservative member of the board.

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Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Environment By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara Motorist Dies After Medical Emergency on De la Vina Street

Santa Barbara Motorist Dies After Medical Emergency on De la Vina Street

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Politics By Emily Vesper

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Immigration

Santa Barbara Community Holds Vigil in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Santa Barbara Community Holds Vigil in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Photo By Ryan P. Cruz

Central Coast Leaders Speak Out after 150 Arrested in Immigration Sweeps

Central Coast Leaders Speak Out after 150 Arrested in Immigration Sweeps

Immigration By Ryan P. Cruz

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

California Is Banning Masks for Federal Agents. Here’s Why It Could Lose in Court

Immigration By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

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Housing

Emergency Rent Freeze Goes Before Santa Barbara City Council Next Week

Emergency Rent Freeze Goes Before Santa Barbara City Council Next Week

Housing By Nick Welsh

California Homeowners Could Qualify for Grants for New Roofs and Fire Safety

California Homeowners Could Qualify for Grants for New Roofs and Fire Safety

Housing By Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters

A New California Law Requires a Working Fridge in All Apartments. L.A. Landlords Fought It

A New California Law Requires a Working Fridge in All Apartments. L.A. Landlords Fought It

Housing By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters

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Energy

Santa Barbara Judge Keeps Sable Injunction in Place as Company Confirms No Oil in Pipelines

Santa Barbara Judge Keeps Sable Injunction in Place as Company Confirms No Oil in Pipelines

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Weigh Legal Options to Stop or Slow Down Restart of Sable Offshore’s Oil Pipeline

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Weigh Legal Options to Stop or Slow Down Restart of Sable Offshore’s Oil Pipeline

Energy By Nick Welsh

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Sable Offshore Wins Court Battle over Oil Pipelines

Energy By Nick Welsh

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Community

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Inheriting the Dream: Santa Barbara Prepares for Five Days of MLK Jr. Events

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara County Named One of GoFundMe’s Most Generous Communities in 2025

Santa Barbara County Named One of GoFundMe’s Most Generous Communities in 2025

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Health

Santa Barbara Health Department Rejects Federal Vaccine Removals

Santa Barbara Health Department Rejects Federal Vaccine Removals

Health By Callie Fausey

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

A New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why

Health By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

Aviso General de Lluvia para las Playas del Condado

Anuncios By County of Santa Barbara

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Politics

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson Wields Gavel for Second Time

Politics By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Santa Barbara County Democrats Endorse Kristen Sneddon for Mayor

Election 2026 By Ryan P. Cruz

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Thousands Show up in Santa Barbara to Protest ICE, Trump Administration

Politics By Emily Vesper

View More Politics

Public Safety

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Leaking Liquid Nitrogen Tanker Near Lompoc Stabilized; No Hazard Confirmed

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara Motorist Dies After Medical Emergency on De la Vina Street

Santa Barbara Motorist Dies After Medical Emergency on De la Vina Street

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Storm Damage Forces Closure of Arroyo Hondo Preserve on Gaviota Coast

Public Safety By Ella Heydenfeldt

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Infrastructure

Santa Barbara Plan to Protect Wastewater Systems from Climate Disaster

Santa Barbara Plan to Protect Wastewater Systems from Climate Disaster

Infrastructure By Ella Heydenfeldt

Solvang Wastewater Treatment Plant to Get Upgrade Using $1M Federal Grant

Solvang Wastewater Treatment Plant to Get Upgrade Using $1M Federal Grant

Infrastructure By Callie Fausey

Power Outage Affects Residents, Businesses in Santa Barbara

Power Outage Affects Residents, Businesses in Santa Barbara

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

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Environment

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Only Two Butterflies Recorded at Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa

Environment By Callie Fausey

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

With Plastic ‘Reusable’ Bags Gone, Santa Barbara Shoppers and Stores Adjust to California’s New Bag Rules

Environment By Ella Heydenfeldt

Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration over ‘Emergency’ Approval for Sable Pipeline Restart

Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration over ‘Emergency’ Approval for Sable Pipeline Restart

Environment By Callie Fausey

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Business

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Cantwell’s Makes a Comeback in Downtown Santa Barbara

Cantwell’s Makes a Comeback in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Callie Fausey

Goleta’s Frinj Coffee Makes Global Debut

Goleta’s Frinj Coffee Makes Global Debut

Drink By Matt Kettmann

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Science & Tech

Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site

Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site

Science & Tech By Tyler Hayden

In New Doc ‘The Age of Disclosure,’ Military Servicemen Expose More Details About UFOs at Vandenberg

In New Doc ‘The Age of Disclosure,’ Military Servicemen Expose More Details About UFOs at Vandenberg

Science & Tech By Callie Fausey

UC Santa Barbara Program Broadens STEM Opportunity for Underserved Youth

UC Santa Barbara Program Broadens STEM Opportunity for Underserved Youth

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

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Courts & Crime

Russian National Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Russian National Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

City of Santa Barbara Gets Judge Off Lawsuit with Harbor Restaurant

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Oxnard Woman Sentenced to Prison Two Years After Fatal Highway 101 Crash in Montecito

Oxnard Woman Sentenced to Prison Two Years After Fatal Highway 101 Crash in Montecito

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

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News Commentary

Journalist Lou Cannon, Who Covered Ronald Reagan for Decades, Dies at 92

Journalist Lou Cannon, Who Covered Ronald Reagan for Decades, Dies at 92

News Commentary By Nick Welsh

To Santa Barbara City Council: Don’t Sell Paseo Nuevo Short

To Santa Barbara City Council: Don’t Sell Paseo Nuevo Short

News Commentary By Indy Staff

‘There Is No Plan B’ for Paseo Nuevo, S.B. City Hall Chief Says, as Key Council Vote Looms

‘There Is No Plan B’ for Paseo Nuevo, S.B. City Hall Chief Says, as Key Council Vote Looms

News Commentary By Jerry Roberts

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Wildfire

Santa Barbara County Fire Department Awarded Grant Funding for the Santa Barbara Vegetation Management Program (VMP) and Ignition Prevention Project

Santa Barbara County Fire Department Awarded Grant Funding for the Santa Barbara Vegetation Management Program (VMP) and Ignition Prevention Project

Announcement By Santa Barbara County Fire Department

Talk on California’s Wildfire Crisis Kicks off IHC Public Series at UC Santa Barbara

Talk on California’s Wildfire Crisis Kicks off IHC Public Series at UC Santa Barbara

Wildfire By Keith Hamm, UCSB's 'The Current'

Gifford Fire Containment Grows to 97 Percent

Gifford Fire Containment Grows to 97 Percent

Wildfire By Jean Yamamura

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Education

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

California Schools Will Have to Do More to Prevent Sex Abuse Under New Law

Education By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

State Releases New Guidelines for Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses

Education By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Teachers Seek Public Donations for Supplies and Special Items

Santa Barbara Teachers Seek Public Donations for Supplies and Special Items

Education By Callie Fausey

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Homeless

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Santa Barbara High Sophomore Paddles from Santa Cruz Island to Ventura to Raise Thousands for Unhoused Neighbors

Community By Ella Heydenfeldt

Longest Night Memorial Remembers 69 Homeless Deaths in Santa Barbara County

Longest Night Memorial Remembers 69 Homeless Deaths in Santa Barbara County

Homeless By Nick Welsh

Why Newsom’s CARE Court Has Struggled to Help Homeless Californians Most in Need

Why Newsom’s CARE Court Has Struggled to Help Homeless Californians Most in Need

Homeless By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters

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Transportation

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Trains Rolling Again Through Gaviota After Weeklong Washout Closure

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

No Trains Running Through Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Coast as Repairs Continue

No Trains Running Through Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Coast as Repairs Continue

Transportation By Ella Heydenfeldt

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Santa Barbara Airport Closes Due to Flooding

Transportation By Jackson Friedman

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Cannabis

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Santa Barbara County’s Cannabis Revenues Continue Long, Slow Slide

Cannabis By Nick Welsh

California’s Marijuana Industry Gets a Break Under New Law Suspending Tax Hike

California’s Marijuana Industry Gets a Break Under New Law Suspending Tax Hike

Cannabis By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters

Santa Barbara County Caps Cannabis Acreage; Responds to Grand Jury

Santa Barbara County Caps Cannabis Acreage; Responds to Grand Jury

Cannabis By Ryan P. Cruz

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