Stationed at his cash register behind a jar of orange foam earplugs, the manager of Get R Gun in Santa Maria doesn’t agree with Santa Barbara County’s newest policy on firearms. He believes the recent action raises more red flags than the local controversy that triggered it. “We didn’t see a problem with Goodland Guns,” […]
Caleb Wiseblood
Posted inNews
County considers new solar, battery project standards
Santa Barbara County is one step closer to adopting new requirements for solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. Set for the Board of Supervisors’ second and final reading in late September, a policy package to amend multiple county ordinances for consistency with proposed standards addresses battery units of various sizes—ranging from industrial BESS […]
Posted inNews
Buellton motel seeks relief for long-term tenants weeks ahead of housing ban
An ongoing lawsuit prompted a two-month grace period for long-term tenants of Buellton’s Farmhouse Motel, before new housing restrictions kick in. While a recent city ordinance to help ramp up redevelopment efforts in town requires motel properties along Avenue of Flags—including Farmhouse—to convert units that house long-term renters to traditional motel rooms by October, a […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: September 10, 2026
•On Aug. 31, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1253, designed to expand recreational access at Santa Margarita Lake, “while maintaining strong water quality protections, according to a release from State Sen. John Laird’s (D-Santa Cruz) office. Drafted by Laird and sponsored by San Luis Obispo County, SB 1253 includes safeguards to protect the reservoir […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
County replies to grand jury report on Sheriff’s overtime use
Long-range plans to reboot the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office’s payroll system and decommission the South County jail aligned with recommendations from a recent grand jury report. During its Aug. 25 meeting, the county Board of Supervisors discussed the report titled: “What’s up with overtime in the Sheriff’s Office?” “The sheriff’s overtime excesses have been […]
Posted inNews
State sues Cuyama landowner for cost recovery from 2023 wildfire
Old wounds in New Cuyama resurfaced with Cal Fire’s recent lawsuit to recoup the costs of fighting a 2023 wildfire from those allegedly responsible. The state agency sued local landowner Wayne Goldwyn and “Does 1-50” on Aug. 14 for $3.3 million for effectively setting the 5,400-acre fire “through negligence and violations of law.” “[Goldwyn’s] failure […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: September 3, 2026
•On Aug. 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 917, designed to expand opportunities for small wineries seeking to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets. Drafted by state Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), SB 917 modernizes previous California legislation which only allows winemakers to sell wine at farmers markets if it is […]
Posted inNews
Damage control: In light of Steve Bridge’s felony charges, Lompoc considers censuring him
Two days before Lompoc City Councilmember Steve Bridge’s arraignment in late 2025, one of his peers on the dais asked him to step down from his role as an elected official. When Bridge—who pled not guilty to forgery, identity theft, and misusing city funds—showed no sign of resigning, Councilmember Jeremy Ball motioned for the council […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County explores alternatives to emergency call boxes
Established in 1987, Santa Barbara County’s emergency call box network once included more than 350 roadside phones across the region. With 47 of those phones remaining, the county continues defying a statewide trend of dismantling public call boxes and is on track to become “a call box island,” Transportation Planner Peter Williamson said. During the […]
Posted inNews
Developer pitches 26 apartments for Buellton’s Avenue of Flags
Ahead of submitting an official project proposal, the owner of a vacant 0.7-acre lot in Buellton gave city leaders a glimpse into his hopes for the property. Located north of Hotel Hygge and south of Farmhouse Motel, 560 Avenue of Flags was at the center of a conceptual review hearing, which took place during the […]
Posted inNews
The Grapevine brings new residential elder care, hospice options to Santa Maria
From the outside, the one-story home at 1130 Grapevine Road in Santa Maria appears to be just that: a nice house neighboring others in a suburban neighborhood. Past the front door, there are six bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a living room stocked with board games, puzzles, magazines, and coloring books within the city’s newest […]
