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Historic ruling: Santa Maria judge says prosecutor violated Racial Justice Act
For the first time in Santa Barbara County’s history, a Superior Court judge concluded that the District Attorney’s Office broke a state mandate designed to root out racial discrimination in judicial settings. In mid-August, a hearing to determine former Santa Maria resident and convicted felon Kevin Wayne Burgess’ sentence in a domestic violence case ended with a 12-year state prison sentence—against the prosecution’s recommendation for life imprisonment. That recommendation didn’t align with sentences for Burgess’ “white counterparts” found guilty…
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Historic ruling: Santa Maria judge says prosecutor violated Racial Justice Act
For the first time in Santa Barbara County’s history, a Superior Court judge concluded that the District Attorney’s Office broke a state mandate designed to root out racial discrimination in judicial settings. In mid-August, a hearing to determine former Santa Maria resident and convicted felon Kevin Wayne Burgess’ sentence in a domestic…
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Solvang’s new art house theater brings indie film screenings to town
One of Jamie Baker’s ideas of fun is watching 20 films in the span of a week at a film festival. He and his wife “graduated” from 20-seat art house movie theaters to the big leagues like the Seattle Film Festival, in the metropolis where they once lived. “[We] saw a lot of things that never made it to a cinema, but they were great films,” Baker told the Sun. “So, I kind of wanted to do that all…
Food & Drink
Big Mamas bakes cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, and cheesecakes to perfection in Guadalupe and beyond
Playing in the kitchen always kept young Alicia Rubio happy. An only child for 15 years, some of her early memories are of bonding with her grandmother while baking. “I…
Groundstar Vineyard is the first in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA to achieve regenerative organic certification
Great wines are made in the vineyard. But what exactly happens in the vineyard? What turmoil does the soil experience? How many chemicals are sprayed on the grapes? Are farmworkers…
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