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State Treasurer Fiona Ma talks affordability, leadership at ‘Cosmopolitics’ event in Santa Barbara

Politics

State Treasurer Fiona Ma talks affordability, leadership at ‘Cosmopolitics’ event in Santa Barbara

Over 100 guests attended the event hosted by the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee

by Sofia Wallace • Santa Barbara News-Press September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Latest News

Car crash blocks two lanes of Highway 101 in Santa Barbara

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

Government

Santa Barbara Talks ‘podcast’: Bob Smith says Salud Carbajal has been ‘invisible’ in Congress

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Caltrans: Highway 101 Montecito construction zone as ready as can be for El Niño

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

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Government

Santa Barbara Talks ‘podcast’: Bob Smith says Salud Carbajal has been ‘invisible’ in Congress

Santa Barbara Talks ‘podcast’: Bob Smith says Salud Carbajal has been ‘invisible’ in Congress

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Solvang strike on third day complicates Danish Days prep, shuts down city hearing

Solvang strike on third day complicates Danish Days prep, shuts down city hearing

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

Candidates for District 5 Santa Barbara City Council seat talk finances, State Street at forum focused on issues

Candidates for District 5 Santa Barbara City Council seat talk finances, State Street at forum focused on issues

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 17, 2026September 18, 2026

Education

Goleta Union School Board Member Emily Zacarias appointed to key state board

Goleta Union School Board Member Emily Zacarias appointed to key state board

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 19, 2026

UCSB welcomes the class of 2030 during move-in week as the fall quarter approaches

UCSB welcomes the class of 2030 during move-in week as the fall quarter approaches

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

Santa Barbara Unified students blast YouTube ban and other district tech restrictions in new student-led survey

Santa Barbara Unified students blast YouTube ban and other district tech restrictions in new student-led survey

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

Business

Real estate firm Goodwin & Thyne Properties closing business after 22 years

Real estate firm Goodwin & Thyne Properties closing business after 22 years

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 16, 2026September 19, 2026

Goleta City Council inches closer to placing regulations on firearm, ammunition sales

Goleta City Council inches closer to placing regulations on firearm, ammunition sales

by Amanda Velasco • Santa Barbara News-Press September 2, 2026September 3, 2026

When will West Marine actually close? Even the Harbor Commission isn’t sure

When will West Marine actually close? Even the Harbor Commission isn’t sure

by Aston Smith • Santa Barbara News-Press August 30, 2026August 30, 2026

Environment

Caltrans: Highway 101 Montecito construction zone as ready as can be for El Niño

Caltrans: Highway 101 Montecito construction zone as ready as can be for El Niño

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors quells fears of waterfront data center

Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors quells fears of waterfront data center

by Aston Smith • Santa Barbara News-Press September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

Santa Barbara County bans new onshore oil and gas wells

Santa Barbara County bans new onshore oil and gas wells

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 15, 2026September 16, 2026

See the story

Santa Barbara County, in focus.

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Sep 21

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Danish flags fluttered above downtown Solvang as folk dancers in traditional dress moved through the streets, parade floats rolled past crowds lining the sidewalks and visitors stood in a line stretching down the block for plates of powdered-sugar-dusted æbleskiver.

The second day of Solvang’s 89th Danish Days, a three-day celebration of the city’s Danish heritage, filled downtown with food, music, dancing and festivities since Friday.

Saturday brought one of the weekend’s biggest draws: the Danish Days Parade, which wound through downtown with floats, horses, musicians and dancers before festivities continued into the evening.

Read more at the link in bio.
Story by Kaitlin Sweeney

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Sep 19

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Did you know California ran out of license plate numbers? The current license plate combination has been in place in the 1980s but recently reached its last possible combination. Now the DMV is reversing the order and a new license plate combination is being distributed. This new sequence will last for about 40 years.

California drivers do not need to make any changes and all old license plates are completely valid. The new sequence has been rolled out and you may start to see them on the road.

There are still about 100,000 license plates in the current sequence to be distributed.

Video by Aston Smith

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Sep 17

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WATCH: Elected official mutters expletive during Santa Barbara City Council meeting discussing ALPR’s

Read more about the meeting at the link in bio.

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Sep 16

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The South Coast Business Action Fund and Santa Barbara Police Officers Association announce their endorsements for Santa Barbara elections.

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Sep 15

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In the weeks before REACH 38 began carrying blood aboard its Santa Maria-based medical helicopter, crews responded to at least four patients who could have used it.

One was trapped for hours inside an auger near Guadalupe.

The patient became snagged inside the agricultural machinery and remained stuck for roughly three hours as rescuers worked to free them, according to Dennis Rowley, program director for REACH 38.

The patient ultimately survived. But at the time, blood wasn’t routinely carried aboard the Santa Maria-based helicopter.

Now it is.

In late August, REACH 38, an air ambulance service based out of Santa Maria, launched a new blood program that lets its flight crews begin blood transfusions right at the scene of an emergency. For patients in rural and remote areas, the new capability could mean receiving blood 20 to 30 minutes sooner.

Read more at the link in bio.
Story by Kaitlin Sweeney

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Sep 14

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News-Press reporter Sofia Wallace interviews Ian Baucke, candidate for the Santa Barbara City Council District 5 seat.

#santabarbara

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Sep 14

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News-Press reporter Julianna Lozada interviews Gabe Escobedo, candidate for the Santa Barbara City Council District 6 seat.

#santabarbara

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Sep 11

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After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, there was a community event in which locals formed an enormous American flag at SBCC’s La Playa stadium.

Over 6,000 people came together on Sunday, September 23, 2001 to create the flag and a copy of the photo was included in the print edition of the News-Press the following Sunday, September 30th

Video courtesy of Ed Morris

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Sep 11

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Helicopters from the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit flew over the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens on Friday to conclude the 25th anniversary ceremony of Sept. 11, 2001.

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Sep 10

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News-Press reporter Julianna Lozada interviews candidate for the Santa Barbara City Council District 4 seat, Devon Wardlow.

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Sep 9

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Congressman Salud Carbajal explains why he endorsed Eric Friedman for Santa Barbara Mayor.

Reporter: Julianna Lozada
Video: Aston Smith

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Sep 8

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The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party hosted its annual Labor Day picnic at Goleta Beach.

All candidates that spoke at the event were endorsed by the SBC Democratic Party. This event comes at the start of a highly decisive election season at federal, state, county and city levels.

Stay tuned for more coverage of this event by Joshua Molina, Sofia Wallace and Julianna Lozada.

Video by Aston Smith

Voices

Opinion: California celebrates fifty years of coastal protection in face of Trump challenges

Opinion: California celebrates fifty years of coastal protection in face of Trump challenges

by Janet Bridgers September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Letter: Let there be (blue) light! How a UCSB professor changed the way we light the world

Letter: Let there be (blue) light! How a UCSB professor changed the way we light the world

by John Hunt September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Letter: In support of Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s AB 1448 to protect California’s coasts

Letter: In support of Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s AB 1448 to protect California’s coasts

by Lisa Gilfillan, Oceana September 19, 2026September 20, 2026

Opinion: Parsing Kristen Sneddon’s words on the rent stabilization ordinance

Opinion: Parsing Kristen Sneddon’s words on the rent stabilization ordinance

by Loy Beardsmore September 16, 2026September 16, 2026

Letter: In support of Eric Friedman For Mayor

Letter: In support of Eric Friedman For Mayor

by Hadley Johnson September 16, 2026September 16, 2026

Opinion: The promise of Measure C

Opinion: The promise of Measure C

by Pat McElroy September 15, 2026September 15, 2026

Announcements

Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers pick up over 5,000 pounds of litter

Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers pick up over 5,000 pounds of litter

by Jill Cloutier, Explore Ecology September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

“Cruzin for Life” benefit parade to close Highway 135 in Santa Maria on Friday, Sept. 25

“Cruzin for Life” benefit parade to close Highway 135 in Santa Maria on Friday, Sept. 25

by Ashton Harris, Caltrans September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Chumash Casino Resort kicks off annual “Project Pink” Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Chumash Casino Resort kicks off annual “Project Pink” Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by Sean Larsen, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians September 20, 2026September 20, 2026

Construction to begin Sept. 28 on Maria Ygnacio Bike Path between Calle Real and Lassen Drive

Construction to begin Sept. 28 on Maria Ygnacio Bike Path between Calle Real and Lassen Drive

by Lael Wageneck, County of Santa Barbara September 19, 2026September 20, 2026

SB Maritime Museum speaker series welcomes Dr. Philson of UCSB’s Natural Reserve System

SB Maritime Museum speaker series welcomes Dr. Philson of UCSB’s Natural Reserve System

by Heather Behrens, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum September 18, 2026September 20, 2026

Music Academy of the West groundbreaking ceremony celebrated by DSBIA

Music Academy of the West groundbreaking ceremony celebrated by DSBIA

by Maria Molina, Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

Obituaries

Obituary: Clifford A. Hopson

Obituary: Clifford A. Hopson

by Erin Johnson September 14, 2026September 14, 2026

Obituary: Sara Rudeen

Obituary: Sara Rudeen

by Anna Rudeen September 10, 2026September 10, 2026

Obituary: Harold Thomas Hamm

Obituary: Harold Thomas Hamm

by Kris Kristen September 1, 2026September 1, 2026

Obituary: Carol Anderson

Obituary: Carol Anderson

by Leslie Cornejo August 31, 2026September 1, 2026

Obituary: Bradley “Brad” Reed Lawrence

Obituary: Bradley “Brad” Reed Lawrence

by Ashley V. Wood August 24, 2026August 24, 2026

Obituary: Robert “Tully” Ramsaur Jr.

Obituary: Robert “Tully” Ramsaur Jr.

by Family of Robert “Tully” Ramsaur Jr. August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

Obituary: Carmine Santandrea

Obituary: Carmine Santandrea

by Edward Santandrea July 27, 2026August 1, 2026

Obituary: Kenneth Duane Heimbaugh

Obituary: Kenneth Duane Heimbaugh

by Charles Heimbaugh July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

Obituary: Charles M. Hornick

Obituary: Charles M. Hornick

by Tracy Hornick Freeman July 24, 2026July 27, 2026

More News

Tradition takes over Solvang for 89th Danish Days

Arts and Culture

Tradition takes over Solvang for 89th Danish Days

by Kaitlin Sweeney • Santa Barbara News-Press September 19, 2026September 19, 2026

Watch Video: Candidates for Santa Barbara City Council in District 4 mix it up at forum

Politics

Watch Video: Candidates for Santa Barbara City Council in District 4 mix it up at forum

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

Goleta Union School Board Member Emily Zacarias appointed to key state board

Education

Goleta Union School Board Member Emily Zacarias appointed to key state board

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 19, 2026

SB City Council District 5 candidates dive into details of their neighborhood at forum

Politics

SB City Council District 5 candidates dive into details of their neighborhood at forum

by Sofia Wallace • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 19, 2026

From ‘Twilight’ to ‘Tequila Mockingbird,’ Planned Parenthood book sale has a shelf for everything

Arts and Culture

From ‘Twilight’ to ‘Tequila Mockingbird,’ Planned Parenthood book sale has a shelf for everything

by Kaitlin Sweeney • Santa Barbara News-Press September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

Santa Maria man convicted of murder in 2023 shooting with the help of Flock Safety cameras

Santa Maria man convicted of murder in 2023 shooting with the help of Flock Safety cameras

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press September 17, 2026September 18, 2026

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