News - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

Taylor Swift Gives Direct Relief a Swift Pump in the Pocketbook

Taylor Swift Gives Direct Relief a Swift Pump in the Pocketbook

Wildfire By Leslie Dinaberg

Pop star donates to Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief to support wildfire recovery efforts.

Private Firefighters Are Increasingly Popular with Insurers. But Do They Pose a Risk?

Private Firefighters Are Increasingly Popular with Insurers. But Do They Pose a Risk?

Wildfire By Felicia Mello, CalMatters

Los Angeles fires raise questions over how the state should regulate private firefighters and how they should communicate with the public firefighting agencies leading disaster response.

Kids Displaced by L.A. Fires Welcomed by Santa Barbara Schools

Kids Displaced by L.A. Fires Welcomed by Santa Barbara Schools

Education By Callie Fausey

Schools are beginning to see a small spike in enrollment coinciding with the number of families seeking temporary shelter — or permanent residence — on the South Coast.

Latest Stories | See More Stories

Isla Vista Housing Inspection Plan Moves Forward

Isla Vista Housing Inspection Plan Moves Forward

Housing By Christina McDermott

‘Man Who Owns Nothing’ Stops in Santa Barbara on 1,500-Mile Walk from Canada

‘Man Who Owns Nothing’ Stops in Santa Barbara on 1,500-Mile Walk from Canada

Environment By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing in Murder of Blanca Aguilera

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing in Murder of Blanca Aguilera

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara Office of the District Attorney

Island View Preschool Overcomes ‘Daunting’ Process to Open Daycare in Santa Barbara

Island View Preschool Overcomes ‘Daunting’ Process to Open Daycare in Santa Barbara

Community By Callie Fausey

New Commuter Train Service Connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara Could Begin in October

New Commuter Train Service Connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara Could Begin in October

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

Residents Sound Off on SpaceX Sonic Booms at Public Meeting in Santa Barbara

Residents Sound Off on SpaceX Sonic Booms at Public Meeting in Santa Barbara

Environment By Callie Fausey

Italian Stone Pines Staying on Santa Barbara’s East Anapamu Street

Italian Stone Pines Staying on Santa Barbara’s East Anapamu Street

Environment By Isabelle Walker

Montecito Man Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Man Walking His Dog

Montecito Man Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Man Walking His Dog

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

More Stories

Public Safety

Body Found at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara

Body Found at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New K-9 Recruits

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New K-9 Recruits

Public Safety By Callie Fausey

How Full Are Santa Barbara’s Water Reservoirs?

How Full Are Santa Barbara’s Water Reservoirs?

Public Safety By Jean Yamamura

View More Public Safety

Community

Island View Preschool Overcomes ‘Daunting’ Process to Open Daycare in Santa Barbara

Island View Preschool Overcomes ‘Daunting’ Process to Open Daycare in Santa Barbara

Community By Callie Fausey

In Wealthy Santa Barbara, Poverty Rate Among Highest in State

In Wealthy Santa Barbara, Poverty Rate Among Highest in State

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

Campus Events at UC Santa Barbara Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Struggle for Equality

Campus Events at UC Santa Barbara Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Struggle for Equality

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

View More Community

Wildfire

Taylor Swift Gives Direct Relief a Swift Pump in the Pocketbook

Taylor Swift Gives Direct Relief a Swift Pump in the Pocketbook

Wildfire By Leslie Dinaberg

Private Firefighters Are Increasingly Popular with Insurers. But Do They Pose a Risk?

Private Firefighters Are Increasingly Popular with Insurers. But Do They Pose a Risk?

Wildfire By Felicia Mello, CalMatters

Santa Barbara City Administrator Addresses Fire Concerns

Santa Barbara City Administrator Addresses Fire Concerns

Wildfire By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Wildfire

Infrastructure

Lord of the Links: Sandpiper Golf Club Seeks a Redo

Lord of the Links: Sandpiper Golf Club Seeks a Redo

Infrastructure By Jean Yamamura

Goleta Wins $11 Million Grant for San Jose Creek Bike and Pedestrian Path

Goleta Wins $11 Million Grant for San Jose Creek Bike and Pedestrian Path

Infrastructure By Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara Airport Attempts to Avoid Drowning

Santa Barbara Airport Attempts to Avoid Drowning

Infrastructure By Jean Yamamura

View More Infrastructure

Housing

Isla Vista Housing Inspection Plan Moves Forward

Isla Vista Housing Inspection Plan Moves Forward

Housing By Christina McDermott

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Voters in City of Santa Barbara Split on Rent Control Measure

Voters in City of Santa Barbara Split on Rent Control Measure

Election 2024 By Christina McDermott

View More Housing

Environment

‘Man Who Owns Nothing’ Stops in Santa Barbara on 1,500-Mile Walk from Canada

‘Man Who Owns Nothing’ Stops in Santa Barbara on 1,500-Mile Walk from Canada

Environment By Callie Fausey

Residents Sound Off on SpaceX Sonic Booms at Public Meeting in Santa Barbara

Residents Sound Off on SpaceX Sonic Booms at Public Meeting in Santa Barbara

Environment By Callie Fausey

Italian Stone Pines Staying on Santa Barbara’s East Anapamu Street

Italian Stone Pines Staying on Santa Barbara’s East Anapamu Street

Environment By Isabelle Walker

View More Environment

Business

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Community Rallies to Support Metro Entertainment After Burglars Steal $10,000 Worth of Product

Community Rallies to Support Metro Entertainment After Burglars Steal $10,000 Worth of Product

Business By Christina McDermott

South Coast Hotels See Healthy Increase Near End of 2024

South Coast Hotels See Healthy Increase Near End of 2024

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

View More Business

Science & Tech

California’s ‘Trump-Proofing’ Likely Won’t Include AI — at Least Not Yet

California’s ‘Trump-Proofing’ Likely Won’t Include AI — at Least Not Yet

Science & Tech By Alex Shultz, CalMatters

Dr. Jennifer Doudna Talks Editing Genes and Shredding Cancer

Dr. Jennifer Doudna Talks Editing Genes and Shredding Cancer

Science & Tech By Callie Fausey

UCSB Partners with Santa Barbara City College to Expand Workforce Training in Micro/Nanotechnology and Semiconductor Manufacturing

UCSB Partners with Santa Barbara City College to Expand Workforce Training in Micro/Nanotechnology and Semiconductor Manufacturing

Science & Tech By Sonia Fernandez, UCSB's 'The Current'

View More Science & Tech

Courts & Crime

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing in Murder of Blanca Aguilera

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing in Murder of Blanca Aguilera

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara Office of the District Attorney

Montecito Man Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Man Walking His Dog

Montecito Man Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Man Walking His Dog

Courts & Crime By Callie Fausey

Santa Barbara Police Respond to Armed Bank Robbery Near Milpas Street

Santa Barbara Police Respond to Armed Bank Robbery Near Milpas Street

Courts & Crime By Jackson Friedman

View More Courts & Crime

Energy

Lights Out at Platform Holly off Goleta Coastline

Lights Out at Platform Holly off Goleta Coastline

Energy By Jean Yamamura

Trump Has Promised to ‘End’ Offshore Wind. What Will That Mean for California’s Big Bet?

Trump Has Promised to ‘End’ Offshore Wind. What Will That Mean for California’s Big Bet?

Energy By Julie Cart, CalMatters

Energy Co-op’s Attempt to Downsize Board Gives Goleta a Jolt

Energy Co-op’s Attempt to Downsize Board Gives Goleta a Jolt

Energy By Jean Yamamura

View More Energy

Health

Santa Barbara’s Crisis Stabilization Unit Six Month Report

Santa Barbara’s Crisis Stabilization Unit Six Month Report

Health By Christina McDermott

Boomers Go Bust: Santa Barbara Supervisors Receive Bombshell Report on Aging

Boomers Go Bust: Santa Barbara Supervisors Receive Bombshell Report on Aging

Health By Nick Welsh

California Almost Legalized Psychedelics. Now, Supporters Are Looking for a Good Test Case

California Almost Legalized Psychedelics. Now, Supporters Are Looking for a Good Test Case

Health By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

View More Health

Education

Kids Displaced by L.A. Fires Welcomed by Santa Barbara Schools

Kids Displaced by L.A. Fires Welcomed by Santa Barbara Schools

Education By Callie Fausey

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

UCSB to Buy 78-Unit Apartment Building, Commercial Space in Downtown Santa Barbara

Business By Ryan P. Cruz

Transitional Kindergarten Applications Opening at South Coast Schools

Transitional Kindergarten Applications Opening at South Coast Schools

Education By Callie Fausey

View More Education

Election 2024

Voters in City of Santa Barbara Split on Rent Control Measure

Voters in City of Santa Barbara Split on Rent Control Measure

Election 2024 By Christina McDermott

UC Santa Barbara Declared ‘Overall Champion’ of California Ballot Bowl

UC Santa Barbara Declared ‘Overall Champion’ of California Ballot Bowl

Election 2024 By Callie Fausey

Goleta Council Bids Farewell to Kyle Richards as It Certifies November Election Results

Goleta Council Bids Farewell to Kyle Richards as It Certifies November Election Results

Election 2024 By Jean Yamamura

View More Election 2024

Homeless

Santa Barbara County Votes on How to Remove Encampments

Santa Barbara County Votes on How to Remove Encampments

Homeless By Jean Yamamura

Will Santa Barbara County Expand Safe Parking Program to Public and Private Lots?

Will Santa Barbara County Expand Safe Parking Program to Public and Private Lots?

Homeless By Callie Fausey

Federal Health Care Dollars Are Helping to House Homeless Californians. Trump Could Stop That

Federal Health Care Dollars Are Helping to House Homeless Californians. Trump Could Stop That

Homeless By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters

View More Homeless

Cannabis

The Coming Crackdown on Greenhouse Cannabis

The Coming Crackdown on Greenhouse Cannabis

Cannabis By Melinda Burns

County Supervisors Open a “New Chapter” on Cannabis Industry Regulation

County Supervisors Open a “New Chapter” on Cannabis Industry Regulation

Cannabis By Melinda Burns

California New Laws for 2025: Cannabis Cafes and Entertainment Zones

California New Laws for 2025: Cannabis Cafes and Entertainment Zones

Cannabis By CalMatters

View More Cannabis

Transportation

New Commuter Train Service Connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara Could Begin in October

New Commuter Train Service Connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara Could Begin in October

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

Cold Spring Canyon Bridge Named a Historic Landmark

Cold Spring Canyon Bridge Named a Historic Landmark

Transportation By Callie Fausey

Highway 101’s Southbound Carpool Lane from Montecito to Carpinteria Opens This January

Highway 101’s Southbound Carpool Lane from Montecito to Carpinteria Opens This January

Transportation By Jean Yamamura

View More Transportation

Immigration

Santa Barbara Supes and Sheriff Grapple with Mass Deportations

Santa Barbara Supes and Sheriff Grapple with Mass Deportations

Immigration By Nick Welsh

Will Filling out Student Aid Form Target Undocumented Parents for Trump’s Mass Deportations?

Will Filling out Student Aid Form Target Undocumented Parents for Trump’s Mass Deportations?

Immigration By Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

ICE Is Looking for a New Detention Center in Blue California. The State Probably Can’t Stop It

ICE Is Looking for a New Detention Center in Blue California. The State Probably Can’t Stop It

Immigration By Wendy Fry, CalMatters

View More Immigration

Politics

Capps’s Mantra: Results, Not Rules

Capps’s Mantra: Results, Not Rules

Politics By Nick Welsh

Santa Barbara City Council Honors Outgoing Member, Welcomes New Face

Santa Barbara City Council Honors Outgoing Member, Welcomes New Face

Politics By Ryan P. Cruz

California’s Lemon Law Is Changing and Car Buyers Have Fewer Protections in the New Year

California’s Lemon Law Is Changing and Car Buyers Have Fewer Protections in the New Year

Politics By Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters

View More Politics

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.