The Santa Barbara Independent

With Momentum Building, Cottage Nurses Take Their Union Campaign to the Next Level

Labor By Tyler Hayden

Organizers formally file for elections as management defends pay, staffing, and benefits.

Ashlee Buzzard Competency Hearing Pushed as Family Files Suits

Courts & Crime By Christina McDermott

The Vandenberg Village woman charged with murder’s next court date is November 30.

Santa Barbara County Elections Czar Silent Amid Election Questions

Election 2026 By Nick Welsh

The federal government sent letters threatening legal action against counties who did not purge alleged noncitizen voters.

Excitement Soars at Plane Pull for Alpha Resource Center

Society Matters By Gail Arnold

Tug of war competition raises funds and awareness.

The Operatic Muse, Back in Town

Music By Josef Woodard

Opera Santa Barbara launches its season with a trusty and classic tragedy, Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” at the Lobero Theatre.

Lyle Lovett and His Small Large Band Make Their Way to UC Santa Barbara Nov. 1

Music By Taylor Cusimano

Lovett will lead his crew in an evening of exquisite songcraft and witty storytelling.

A Cinematic Spin | Covering ‘40 Years… of SBIFF’

Visual Arts By Leslie Dinaberg

Exhibition at the Naomi & Ben Bollag Gallery at the Film Center spotlights more than 50 large prints of cover stories, plus celebrity interviews, local filmmaker spotlights, and more.

Silent Movies + Live Organ, Trunk or Treat & More

Thu, Oct 29 5:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Fundraiser for Domestic Violence Solutions

Wed, Oct 28 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Coastal Well Woman SB: “Own Your Menopause Journey”

Wed, Oct 28 5:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Carpinteria Community Spotlight – El Niño Disaster

Wed, Oct 28 6:30 PM

Carpinteria

Reel Rock 20 Climbing Film Tour

Wed, Oct 28 7:00 PM

Santa Barbara

IVRPD Presents : Halloween Pumpkin Patch

Wed, Oct 28 7:00 PM

Goleta

Spook Fest at Loubud Wines Halloween Experience

Thu, Oct 29 12:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Silent Movies + Live Organ, Trunk or Treat & More

Thu, Oct 29 5:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Halloween Paint & Sip at Goodland Wine Shop

Thu, Oct 29 6:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Día de los Muertos at The Speakeasy

Fri, Oct 30 12:00 AM

Montecito

🌼💀 Join us for Día de los Muertos! 💀🌼

Fri, Oct 30 11:30 AM

Santa Barbara

multimedia Stories

Zach Gill’s Star Shines at Pianos on State Performance

Video

ALO and Jack Johnson Band Man Shines in Pianos on State Performance on October 16.

Día de los Muertos Calenda Celebration Comes Alive

Living the Day of the Dead in downtown Santa Barbara.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Terrace Martin

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Music Academy Breaks Grounds on ‘The Muse’ in Downtown Santa Barbara

Photo

Former Forever 21 at 901 State Street starts its transformation into a music hall and education center at Thursday’s groundbreaking.

Dos Pueblos and Rio Mesa Get Down in Post-Game Dance Battle

Video

The two teams broke out into an impromptu dance battle in a show of sportsmanship after Dos Pueblos won the game 48-6.

Santa Barbara Students and Community Members Speak out Against Recent Blackface Incident

Video

Community members call for consequences for students involved in San Marcos blackface incident at October 13th school board meeting.

Larry Nimmer Throws a Dart at the Santa Barbara Studio Artists Tour

Video

Santa Barbara filmmaker’s new snstallment of D’Art series surveys a variety of artists in their studios.

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

Video

Community members and protesters show up for the grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Goleta.

‘LA Times’ Star Mark Barabak Breaks Down Midterms State of Play: Dems Look Solid to Win House, Puncher’s Chance to Take Senate

Video

California’s top political columnist returns to “Newsmakers TV” for in-depth and detailed analysis of how Iran war and Trump’s unpopularity triggered a “red undertow” that may lead to “blue wave.”