Santa Barbara News-Press — Local News for Santa Barbara County

Top Story

Battle over exemptions tangles rent stabilization ordinance at Santa Barbara City Council

Housing

Battle over exemptions tangles rent stabilization ordinance at Santa Barbara City Council

The rent stabilization ordinance will include two exemptions: deed-restricted units and Section 8 voucher housing. The decision was led by Councilmember Meagan Harmon.

by Sofia Wallace • Santa Barbara News-Press September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Latest News

Government

‘Save with Steve’: Governor candidate Steve Hilton visits Fuel Depot, offers $3 a gallon gas

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 23, 2026

Education

Test score gap between white and Latino students remains wide in Santa Barbara Unified

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Education

Goleta Union test scores from 2025-2026 school year remain steady, but disparities exist among racial lines

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

FREE MORNING NEWSLETTER

Start your day with Daybreak.

The Santa Barbara County stories you need to know, curated and delivered to your inbox four mornings a week.

Government

County Notebook: Supervisors advance Los Olivos sewer line, back bees and target catalytic converter thieves

County Notebook: Supervisors advance Los Olivos sewer line, back bees and target catalytic converter thieves

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

‘Save with Steve’: Governor candidate Steve Hilton visits Fuel Depot, offers $3 a gallon gas

‘Save with Steve’: Governor candidate Steve Hilton visits Fuel Depot, offers $3 a gallon gas

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 23, 2026

In a Santa Barbara City Council battle for downtown, experience collides with new ideas

In a Santa Barbara City Council battle for downtown, experience collides with new ideas

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Education

Test score gap between white and Latino students remains wide in Santa Barbara Unified

Test score gap between white and Latino students remains wide in Santa Barbara Unified

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Goleta Union test scores from 2025-2026 school year remain steady, but disparities exist among racial lines

Goleta Union test scores from 2025-2026 school year remain steady, but disparities exist among racial lines

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

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

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

Santa Barbara County pushes back on potential land seizures over Santa Ynez Pipeline System

Santa Barbara County pushes back on potential land seizures over Santa Ynez Pipeline System

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press and Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 23, 2026

Santa Barbara prepares for El Niño dangers as it welcomes Creek Week

Santa Barbara prepares for El Niño dangers as it welcomes Creek Week

by Kaitlin Sweeney • Santa Barbara News-Press September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

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

See the story

Santa Barbara County, in focus.

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 22

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18124233301878579

Republican Candidate for California Governor Steve Hilton visited the Fuel Depot on Storke Road in Goleta and sponsored $3/gal gas for 150 customers.

While Hilton didn’t directly pay for the customers gas, his campaign covered the deficit for the Fuel Depot’s discounted gas offer.

Hilton is planning to do more of these events around California.

Video: Aston Smith
Read more by Joshua Molina at the link in bio.
#Goleta

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 21

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18087415013298659

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 19

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18155845153513299

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 17

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18111212653844792

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

Read more about the meeting at the link in bio.

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 16

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18484100854105249

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 15

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18124468816878671

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 14

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18429602230198862

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

#santabarbara

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 14

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18142002679573155

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

#santabarbara

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 11

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18372736357237501

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 11

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18156775597507715

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.

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 10

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18155225374518881

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

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Sep 9

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18125544796847156

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

Reporter: Julianna Lozada
Video: Aston Smith

Voices

Opinion: Sometimes there is only one option

Opinion: Sometimes there is only one option

by Cass Ensberg September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Letter: How political reporting can shape the candidate

Letter: How political reporting can shape the candidate

by Anabella Lehne September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Opinion: I’m voting for Genevieve. Here’s why you should too.

Opinion: I’m voting for Genevieve. Here’s why you should too.

by Suzanne Cohen September 22, 2026

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

Announcements

What’s Happening Downtown Sept. 23

What’s Happening Downtown Sept. 23

by Maria Molina, Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

Youthclusive opens auditions for “The Prom” as free, youth-led theatre group starts third season

Youthclusive opens auditions for “The Prom” as free, youth-led theatre group starts third season

by Youthclusive Inc. September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

The sixth annual Masq(p)arade! returns to State Street for roving performances

The sixth annual Masq(p)arade! returns to State Street for roving performances

by Darian Bleecher, Masq(p)arade September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

A big win for a tiny bird: SB Zoo celebrates 10 years of snowy plover conservation

A big win for a tiny bird: SB Zoo celebrates 10 years of snowy plover conservation

by Andrea Gruber, Santa Barbara Zoo September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

The Salvation Army to host free workshop on will planning in Goleta, Oct. 29

The Salvation Army to host free workshop on will planning in Goleta, Oct. 29

by Geovanny Islas, The Salvation Army September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Cottage Medical Group expands urology care in Goleta

by Cristina Cortez, Cottage Health September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

Obituaries

Obituary: Carlie Ruthana Cosentino

Obituary: Carlie Ruthana Cosentino

by Jennifer Parks, McDermott-Crockett Mortuary September 22, 2026September 23, 2026

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

More News

Anti-abortion advocates say it’s possible to ‘reverse’ an abortion. California wants them to stop

Health

Anti-abortion advocates say it’s possible to ‘reverse’ an abortion. California wants them to stop

by Kristen Hwang • CalMatters September 23, 2026

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy appointed leader of California Peace Officers Association

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy appointed leader of California Peace Officers Association

by Kaitlin Sweeney • Santa Barbara News-Press September 23, 2026September 23, 2026

County Notebook: Supervisors advance Los Olivos sewer line, back bees and target catalytic converter thieves

Government

County Notebook: Supervisors advance Los Olivos sewer line, back bees and target catalytic converter thieves

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Santa Barbara County pushes back on potential land seizures over Santa Ynez Pipeline System

Santa Barbara County pushes back on potential land seizures over Santa Ynez Pipeline System

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press and Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 23, 2026

Santa Barbara man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting minor

Santa Barbara man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting minor

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

Santa Barbara prepares for El Niño dangers as it welcomes Creek Week

Community

Santa Barbara prepares for El Niño dangers as it welcomes Creek Week

by Kaitlin Sweeney • Santa Barbara News-Press September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

Keep Santa Barbara in the story.

Your support helps our nonprofit newsroom report the stories that matter to Santa Barbara County.