It’s been more than two years since Santa Barbara County formally started its debate over how to deal with the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis, a process that has included dozens of lengthy public meetings, community input, and workshops across the county. But county officials say rumors are starting to spread—rumors that the county’s handling […]
Kasey Bubnash
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Animal Kingdom wins small claims court case
A San Luis Obispo County small claims court recently released a ruling in favor of Animal Kingdom Pet Shop, a local pet store accused of knowingly selling an unhealthy puppy to an Arroyo Grande family. Jen Toste, who purchased an $1,800 goldendoodle puppy from Animal Kingdom in July 2018, filed a complaint against the pet […]
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Unexcused absences: There aren’t enough substitutes locally to fill in for every absent teacher, and schools are struggling to find solutions
It’s early on a Thursday morning in May, and a group of nearly 30 eighth graders at Tommie Kunst Junior High School have already settled into their seats, pulled out their math books, and are listening to the day’s lesson. Anyone who has ever attended a public school already knows what the classroom looks like: […]
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Grand jury report offers insight into Cuyama school district embezzlement
A Santa Barbara County grand jury recently released its report on a school district in Cuyama, concluding that inadequacies in the district’s business office may have contributed to the “mysterious disappearance” of district funds in the spring of 2018. In the report released on May 20, the jury details issues it found in the Cuyama […]
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Local organizations push for tobacco flavor ban despite state failure
A state bill that would have banned flavored tobacco products entirely in California recently stalled out, but that’s not stopping local tobacco prevention advocates from pushing for similar ordinances on the Central Coast. State Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) announced on May 23 plans to withdraw Senate Bill 38, a bill that would have prohibited […]
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Spotlight on: Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, Senior meal programs
Millions of senior citizens in the U.S. are threatened by food insecurity and malnutrition each year. Nearly 7.8 percent of all senior households in the country were food insecure in 2016, according to data collected by the National Council on Aging, including 18 percent of Latino seniors. Seniors face a number of challenges when it […]
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With Guadalupe revitalization efforts afoot, residents wonder what will become of the Royal Theater
If Steven Kawano ever wins the lottery, he’s going to buy the Royal Theater in Guadalupe. He was 9 years old when he and his family moved away from Guadalupe, but he’ll always have fond memories of the town he was raised in. The Royal is one he just can’t get out of his mind. […]
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Santa Maria to release police misconduct records
After various court rulings across the state, the city of Santa Maria plans to release police misconduct records in compliance with a new California law that aims to make investigations into police misconduct more transparent. The law, Senate Bill 1421, went into effect on Jan. 1 and requires police departments to release public records relating […]
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Governor backtracks on plan that would’ve taken millions from county Public Health
Public health officials in Santa Barbara County and elsewhere are celebrating recent changes in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget, which originally included a plan to take funding from several counties to provide health care coverage to undocumented residents. Earlier this year, Gov. Newsom proposed a plan to divert millions of public health dollars from 39 […]
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State moves to ban chlorpyrifos
After years of back-and-forth on the local, state, and national levels, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced plans on May 8 to ban the use of a controversial pesticide in California. A recent press release from the California Environmental Protection Agency stated that the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) will initiate a cancellation of chlorpyrifos, […]
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Spotlight on: Business and Education Partnerships Luncheon
Not everyone knows all of the ins and outs of adequately running a school district, but in most cases, the old adage “it takes a village” is fitting. Aside from their many teachers, administrators, and other employees, most school districts partner with outside organizations and businesses that help schools provide enhanced services, educational opportunities, and […]
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Santa Marians weigh in on city’s effort to improve biking, pedestrian, and bus systems
When Ana Jacobo-Anaya was growing up, she wasn’t allowed to ride her bike to school, around town, or even too far from home. Her parents didn’t think the Santa Maria area was safe enough to bike in. It’s been more than 20 years since then, and now Jacobo-Anaya is telling her own children the same […]
