President Donald Trump’s April 28 executive order seeking new offshore oil and gas drilling leases in the Outer Continental Shelf omitted waters in the Pacific region—at least, for now. The order, called the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, directs Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review and consider revising the current five-year moratorium on new […]
BRENNA SWANSTON
Posted inNews
Lawsuit aims to replenish steelhead habitat
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on April 26 seeking water releases from Twitchell Dam, aiming to adjust the timing of flows from the Santa Maria River to the ocean to open a migratory path for the endangered Southern California steelhead trout. The plaintiffs, San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper and Los Padres ForestWatch, claim that specific timing […]
Posted inNews
Supervisors discuss cuts to Behavioral Wellness and Social Services in light of budget shortfall
Santa Barbara County’s Social Services and Behavioral Wellness departments will likely take the brunt of county budget slashes for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, according to deliberations from the Board of Supervisors at last week’s budget workshops. Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, who represents the 5th District, told the Sun he expects the county will decide at its […]
Posted inNews
Suspected Easter shooter charged with murder
A Lompoc man who allegedly shot and killed his ex-girlfriend in Santa Maria early on Easter Sunday was arrested by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on April 19 and charged with murder on April 21. Jorge Tovar Fernandez, 26, is facing murder charges with special allegations of lying in wait and intentionally discharging a firearm […]
Posted inNews
Local Assembly member backs higher standards for oil drilling, farmer equity
Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) is backing initiatives that support chemical reporting transparency for oil and gas extractions and equality for farmers of color, through Assembly bills 1328 and 1348, respectively. AB 1328 will require oil and gas companies to report chemicals used for non-fracking oil and gas operations, according to Denise Tugade, communications and […]
Posted inNews
American GI Forum Education Foundation awards scholarships
The American GI Forum Education Foundation of Santa Maria awarded a total of $25,000 in scholarships to 35 students on April 21, according to foundation treasurer Helen Galvan. At its 38th annual scholarship awards ceremony, the foundation rewarded students who showed perseverance in their education. Scholarship applicants provided information on their grades and financial need, […]
Posted inNews
Chumash aim focus on education
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is taking on a couple of educational initiatives, including the fight to implement Native American studies into middle and high school curriculums and the improvement of classroom technology. Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn testified earlier this month on behalf of an educational instruction bill designed to establish model curriculum […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Planning Commission considers ordinance to curb the number of abandoned shopping carts
When Mike Guerra became an officer with the Santa Maria Police Department, he didn’t think the gig would entail dealing with the trash, debris, bottles of urine, and buckets of feces often found in abandoned shopping carts—but as it turns out, that’s part of the job. Homeless people snag the carts from parking lots and […]
Posted inNews
Sheriff’s Office reports increase in violent, property crimes
Santa Barbara County saw an uptick in both violent and property crimes last year, according to numbers released on April 12 by the Sheriff’s Office covering the county’s unincorporated areas as well as Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, and Solvang. In 2016, violent crimes—those involving force or threat of force—increased by 2 percent over 2015. It wasn’t […]
Posted inNews
Venoco declares bankruptcy, ends drilling in state waters
Venoco announced on April 17 that it has filed for bankruptcy, and the company expects to sell or close down some of its assets, including an oil platform in Santa Barbara County. As a result, Venoco’s Platform Holly offshore of Goleta will shut down permanently—welcome news for environmentalists who have long advocated for the platform’s […]
Posted inNews
Hancock ramps up for annual Friday Night Science event
Allan Hancock College will present Friday Night Science on May 5, featuring music created from bone conduction, an infrared light lounge, and smoke ring target practice, according to a press release from the college. The free annual event draws more than 1,500 people each year, aiming to get children more interested in science, technology, engineering, […]
Posted inNews
Robotics team heads to world championships
The Orcutt Academy Robotics Team scored an invitation to the FIRST World Championship robotics competition in Houston, Texas, scheduled for April 19 through 22. The robotics team comprises nearly 40 members and about a dozen volunteer mentors, according to a press release. Participants are responsible for everything from promoting the team to building the robots, […]