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Controversial Goleta Chick-fil-A to go before Santa Barbara County Planning Commission

Controversial Goleta Chick-fil-A to go before Santa Barbara County Planning Commission

The county Planning Commission on Wednesday will consider whether to approve a drive-thru proposed for the site of a shuttered IHOP restaurant, next to Starbucks

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press March 23, 2026March 24, 2026

Latest news

Ray Ford: A gift in the chaparral

Voices

Ray Ford: A gift in the chaparral

As fiber optic broadband future nears, will all of Santa Barbara County benefit?

Government

As fiber optic broadband future nears, will all of Santa Barbara County benefit?

Manifattura gains traction on lower State Street with a craft-driven culinary concept

Economy

Manifattura gains traction on lower State Street with a craft-driven culinary concept

The Rack, Santa Barbara’s only family-friendly pool hall, is now open

Economy

The Rack, Santa Barbara’s only family-friendly pool hall, is now open

In-depth

The fight between Santa Barbara County and Sable oil: What happens next?

The fight between Santa Barbara County and Sable oil: What happens next?

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Santa Barbara County Supervisors to greenhouse pot growers: ‘Enough is enough’

Santa Barbara County Supervisors to greenhouse pot growers: ‘Enough is enough’

by Melinda Burns • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

Feel the boom: More and bigger SpaceX launches are coming to Santa Barbara County

Feel the boom: More and bigger SpaceX launches are coming to Santa Barbara County

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press February 8, 2026February 9, 2026

New Santa Barbara County commuter train service on track for early May start

New Santa Barbara County commuter train service on track for early May start

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press February 19, 2026February 19, 2026

News

Santa Ynez Valley’s Sunstone Winery opens tasting room on Coast Village Road

Santa Ynez Valley’s Sunstone Winery opens tasting room on Coast Village Road

by Joy Martin • Special for the News-Press March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

Immigration crackdown could force hundreds of Santa Barbara County families from subsidized housing

Immigration crackdown could force hundreds of Santa Barbara County families from subsidized housing

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

Vibrant Mixtec and Zapotec art coming to downtown Santa Barbara’s biggest intersection

Vibrant Mixtec and Zapotec art coming to downtown Santa Barbara’s biggest intersection

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

Youthclusive brings an inclusive and hate-free community to theater with its production of High School Musical

Youthclusive brings an inclusive and hate-free community to theater with its production of High School Musical

by Aston Smith • Special for the News-Press March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

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Environment

California sues Trump over order to open oil pipeline on Santa Barbara coast

California sues Trump over order to open oil pipeline on Santa Barbara coast

by Alejandro Lazo • CalMatters March 24, 2026March 24, 2026

President Trump orders Sable Offshore to restart transporting oil in Santa Barbara County

President Trump orders Sable Offshore to restart transporting oil in Santa Barbara County

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press March 14, 2026March 14, 2026

Heat wave headed to Santa Barbara County

Heat wave headed to Santa Barbara County

by Aston Smith • Special for the News-Press March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

VOICES

Ray Ford: Into the chaparral

Ray Ford: Into the chaparral

by Ray Ford March 23, 2026March 24, 2026

Commentary: What Cesar Chavez cost the movement

Commentary: What Cesar Chavez cost the movement

by Matt Garcia • Zócalo March 21, 2026March 23, 2026

On the trail: Inside the Playground

On the trail: Inside the Playground

by Ray Ford March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

News & Features

Cats, wildlife and more: Charities reap $1-million windfall from Santa Barbara woman’s legacy

Cats, wildlife and more: Charities reap $1-million windfall from Santa Barbara woman’s legacy

by Chris Woodyard • Santa Barbara News-Press March 10, 2026March 12, 2026

Pizza bursts with flavor, natural ingredients at Montecito’s Bettina

Pizza bursts with flavor, natural ingredients at Montecito’s Bettina

by Joy Martin • Special for the News-Press March 5, 2026

Dog walkers growl over foxtail management at Douglas Family Preserve in Santa Barbara

Dog walkers growl over foxtail management at Douglas Family Preserve in Santa Barbara

by Patricia Stark • Special for the News-Press March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Community announcements

Youthclusive presents Disney’s High School Musical at Center Stage Theater March 20-22

Youthclusive presents Disney’s High School Musical at Center Stage Theater March 20-22

by Youthclusive Inc. March 7, 2026March 7, 2026

Montecito Fire Chief announces retirement

Montecito Fire Chief announces retirement

by Montecito Fire Protection District March 5, 2026March 7, 2026

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara honors 20 student artists

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara honors 20 student artists

by Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara March 5, 2026March 7, 2026

MORE stories

Drop Cesar Chavez name from landmarks, holidays, Congressional Hispanic Caucus says

Politics

Drop Cesar Chavez name from landmarks, holidays, Congressional Hispanic Caucus says

by Amelia Benavides-Colón • NOTUS March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Santa Barbara property owners, attorney Barry Cappello plan lawsuit to block rent freeze

Housing

Santa Barbara property owners, attorney Barry Cappello plan lawsuit to block rent freeze

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press March 3, 2026March 4, 2026

Man watched UCSB student Liz Hamel climb over railing, fall to her death, report shows

Man watched UCSB student Liz Hamel climb over railing, fall to her death, report shows

by Chris Woodyard • Santa Barbara News-Press February 5, 2026February 5, 2026

Santa Barbara Unified to send layoff notices to 66 employees

Education

Santa Barbara Unified to send layoff notices to 66 employees

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press February 25, 2026February 26, 2026

Santa Barbara school district approves seven-period day at all junior high schools beginning in 2027

Education

Santa Barbara school district approves seven-period day at all junior high schools beginning in 2027

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

Santa Barbara tensions inspire proposal to weaken jail authority of sheriffs across California

Santa Barbara tensions inspire proposal to weaken jail authority of sheriffs across California

by Tom Schultz • Special for the Santa Barbara News-Press February 28, 2026February 28, 2026