News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

Santa Barbara Zoo Suffers Loss of One Red Panda Cub; Sibling Transferred to Incubator & Receiving Specialized Veterinary Care

Santa Barbara Zoo Suffers Loss of One Red Panda Cub; Sibling Transferred to Incubator & Receiving Specialized Veterinary Care

Announcement By Santa Barbara Zoo

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (July 21, 2026)— It is with immense sadness that Santa Barbara Zoo shares that one of Ruby

Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Murder

Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Murder

Announcement By Santa Barbara County District Attorney

Re: People v. Jonathan Isaiah LimonSanta Barbara County Superior Court Case No. 25CR06139 SANTA MARIA, Calif., – Santa Barbara County

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Abandoned vessels pose a persistent problem to Santa Barbara County.

Latest Stories | See More Stories

Empty Office Buildings on Carpinteria Bluffs to Be Converted into Housing?

Empty Office Buildings on Carpinteria Bluffs to Be Converted into Housing?

Housing By Callie Fausey

$1 Million Still Available for Vineyard Pollinator Habitat Grants

$1 Million Still Available for Vineyard Pollinator Habitat Grants

Drink By Matt Kettmann

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

Infrastructure By Izadora Hamm

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

Politics By Izadora Hamm

Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna Dead After Heavy Machinery Accident at Vandenberg Space Force Base Thursday

Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna Dead After Heavy Machinery Accident at Vandenberg Space Force Base Thursday

News By Elaine Sanders

Santa Barbara Congressmember Salud Carbajal Votes Against Military Aid to Israel

Santa Barbara Congressmember Salud Carbajal Votes Against Military Aid to Israel

Politics By Nick Welsh

California AG Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Trump Administration over Onshore Wind Projects

California AG Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Trump Administration over Onshore Wind Projects

Environment By Jean Yamamura

More Stories

Immigration

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

Funding Saved to Support Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Tri-County Area

Funding Saved to Support Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Tri-County Area

Immigration By Elaine Sanders

View More Immigration

Energy

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Pain at the Pump Starting to Ease Up in Santa Barbara?

Pain at the Pump Starting to Ease Up in Santa Barbara?

Energy By Natalie MacFarlane

Sable Offshore Asks Feds to Seize State, Private Lands in Santa Barbara County

Sable Offshore Asks Feds to Seize State, Private Lands in Santa Barbara County

Energy By Callie Fausey

View More Energy

Science & Tech

UC Santa Barbara Comm Scholar Dan Lane Named UC Fellow for Research on AI and Civic Engagement

UC Santa Barbara Comm Scholar Dan Lane Named UC Fellow for Research on AI and Civic Engagement

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

Quantum Computing Startup in Santa Barbara Gets $54 Million from UC Investments

Quantum Computing Startup in Santa Barbara Gets $54 Million from UC Investments

Science & Tech By Callie Fausey

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 Science & Tech

Election 2026

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

Election 2026 By Nick Welsh

2026 Carpinteria City Council Election Nomination Period Opens July 13

Announcement By City of Carpinteria

Billionaire Tax, Affordable Housing: See the Measures on California’s November Ballot

Billionaire Tax, Affordable Housing: See the Measures on California’s November Ballot

Election 2026 By Yue Stella Yu and Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

View More Election 2026

Housing

Empty Office Buildings on Carpinteria Bluffs to Be Converted into Housing?

Empty Office Buildings on Carpinteria Bluffs to Be Converted into Housing?

Housing By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Landlords’ Lawsuit Sent Back to Drawing Boards

Santa Barbara Landlords’ Lawsuit Sent Back to Drawing Boards

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Changes to Santa Barbara’s Seasonal Boat Anchorage Delayed

Changes to Santa Barbara’s Seasonal Boat Anchorage Delayed

Housing By Ethan Stewart

View More Housing

Community

Santa Barbara Zoo Suffers Loss of One Red Panda Cub; Sibling Transferred to Incubator & Receiving Specialized Veterinary Care

Santa Barbara Zoo Suffers Loss of One Red Panda Cub; Sibling Transferred to Incubator & Receiving Specialized Veterinary Care

Announcement By Santa Barbara Zoo

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

Politics By Izadora Hamm

Fundraiser and Mini-Market to Raise Funds for Santa Barbara School Supply Drive

Fundraiser and Mini-Market to Raise Funds for Santa Barbara School Supply Drive

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Community

Public Safety

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Red Flag Warning for Santa Barbara County Goes into Effect Wednesday

Red Flag Warning for Santa Barbara County Goes into Effect Wednesday

Public Safety By Jean Yamamura

View More Public Safety

Courts & Crime

Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Murder

Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Murder

Announcement By Santa Barbara County District Attorney

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

California Attorney General Sues Feds over Sable Offshore Yet Again

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Dog Drowning at Santa Barbara’s Camp Canine Prompts Police Investigation, Community Outcry

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

View More Courts & Crime

Politics

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Rally Draws Hundreds to Santa Barbara Waterfront

Politics By Izadora Hamm

Santa Barbara Congressmember Salud Carbajal Votes Against Military Aid to Israel

Santa Barbara Congressmember Salud Carbajal Votes Against Military Aid to Israel

Politics By Nick Welsh

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

City Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow Jumps into Santa Barbara City Council Race

Election 2026 By Nick Welsh

View More Politics

Environment

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Derelict Boats Get Beached on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

California AG Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Trump Administration over Onshore Wind Projects

California AG Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Trump Administration over Onshore Wind Projects

Environment By Jean Yamamura

‘No Choice’: Rehearing on Sable’s Air Pollution Produces Same Result

‘No Choice’: Rehearing on Sable’s Air Pollution Produces Same Result

Environment By Callie Fausey

View More Environment

Education

Santa Barbara Unified Adopts $250M Budget, Approving Raises for Teachers and Management

Santa Barbara Unified Adopts $250M Budget, Approving Raises for Teachers and Management

Education By Callie Fausey

California School Libraries Blindsided By ‘Catastrophic’ Budget Cut

California School Libraries Blindsided By ‘Catastrophic’ Budget Cut

Education By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

Grant to Prepare Students to Flourish After Graduating

Grant to Prepare Students to Flourish After Graduating

Announcement By Westmont

View More Education

Business

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Grand Opening of REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Downtown Santa Barbara to Celebrate Grand Opening of REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Announcement By Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association

Forty-Six-Home Project Proposed at Former Site of Santa Barbara Motorsports in Goleta

Forty-Six-Home Project Proposed at Former Site of Santa Barbara Motorsports in Goleta

Housing By Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara City Budget Comes Together

Santa Barbara City Budget Comes Together

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Business

Health

Taylor Farms Shredded Lettuce Served at Some Taco Bells Linked to Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea

Taylor Farms Shredded Lettuce Served at Some Taco Bells Linked to Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea

Health By Izadora Hamm

All Hands on Deck for Santa Barbara Medical Leaders

All Hands on Deck for Santa Barbara Medical Leaders

Health By Nick Welsh

Good News About Health Care at Santa Barbara County Jails

Good News About Health Care at Santa Barbara County Jails

Health By Nick Welsh

View More Health

Homeless

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

Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Goleta Grapples with Car-Camping Community

Homeless By Jean Yamamura

View More Homeless

Transportation

Full Overnight Closures of Hwy 217 in Goleta Set to Begin Thursday, July 16

Full Overnight Closures of Hwy 217 in Goleta Set to Begin Thursday, July 16

Announcement By Caltrans

“Bibliovuelo” se inaugura en el Aeropuerto de Santa Bárbara

“Bibliovuelo” se inaugura en el Aeropuerto de Santa Bárbara

Anuncios By Aeropuerto de Santa Bárbara

“Library on the Fly” Launches at Santa Barbara Airport

“Library on the Fly” Launches at Santa Barbara Airport

Announcement By Santa Barbara Airport

View More Transportation

Infrastructure

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

California Public Utilities Commission Approves $33M to Expand Broadband Access on Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

Infrastructure By Izadora Hamm

Santa Barbara’s State Street to Stay Car-Free

Santa Barbara’s State Street to Stay Car-Free

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

Santa Barbara City Council to Vote on Reopening State Street to Cars

Santa Barbara City Council to Vote on Reopening State Street to Cars

Infrastructure By Ryan P. Cruz

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

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

Labor Board ‘Pierces Corporate Veil’ and Orders McCaw to Pay $3.6M

Labor Board ‘Pierces Corporate Veil’ and Orders McCaw to Pay $3.6M

Labor By Jean Yamamura

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

KEYT Workers Picket in Santa Barbara While Contract Negotiations Stall

Labor By Elaine Sanders

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.