Just days before a Lompoc man shot and killed his 18-year-old girlfriend on March 25, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley called a meeting with her entire staff. She wanted to talk about one of her greatest concerns amid the spread of COVID-19: domestic violence. “I said, ‘We’ve got to focus on in-home crime,’” […]
MALEA MARTIN
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With tight living spaces and work that’s not conducive to social distancing, H-2A farmworkers are at risk
Even before the days of stay-at-home orders and record-breaking numbers of unemployment applications, our nation struggled with domestic labor shortages in the agricultural sector. As American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall wrote during 2019’s mid-summer harvest season, “Farmers and ranchers in every state tell me that the shortage of labor is the greatest limiting factor […]
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Local grocery stores designate morning shopping hours for those most impacted or at risk as a result of COVID-19
Grocery stores across Santa Maria are rising to the coronavirus challenge by designating specific morning hours for people most affected by product shortages. It’s just one way that local businesses are stepping up to make sure that the most vulnerable populations are getting what they need in times of empty shelves and uncertainty. “Monday through […]
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Santa Barbara County firefighters released from quarantine after negative COVID-19 test
Four Santa Barbara County firefighters who were quarantined after a potential exposure to COVID-19 while responding to a call on March 24 were released from isolation, SBC Fire Department Public Information Officer Daniel Bertucelli told the Sun. Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County public health officer, confirmed in a March 30 teleconference that the patient […]
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Local organizations call on Santa Maria to pass eviction moratorium policies
A group of local organizations is calling on Santa Maria City Council members to pass policies that would make it easier for people who are struggling to pay rent as a result of COVID-19—but the limitations of the city’s jurisdiction might present hurdles to their demands. Angel Lopez, a youth organizer with Future Leaders of […]
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Oil spill into the Cuyama River exposes the risks of trucking oil, environmentalists say
A tanker truck containing thousands of gallons of crude oil overturned on Highway 166 March 21, resulting in an oil spill into the Cuyama River, Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer Daniel Bertucelli told the Sun. The truck involved with the accident is from Petrol Transport Inc., a California crude oil transport company, […]
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Filling out the census is easier than ever, but COVID-19 closures may affect completion rates
For the first time, the 2020 census can be completed online, making it easier than ever to fill out this once-a-decade demographics gauge—which, according to city officials, secures around $2,000 of federal funding for each counted citizen. But as of March 19, some of the main avenues for promoting census completion are affected by the […]
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Hefty fines for illegal pesticide use poses larger questions of safety and regulation for Santa Maria strawberry growers
When consuming fresh fruit and vegetables, it’s easy to forget how these fibrous foods make their way from farm to table. From unpredictable climate patterns to ensuring soil health, farming is a tenuous industry that requires meticulous planning and prediction in order to keep up with demand. And, for better or worse, one way farmers […]
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School districts and Foodbank provide services amid COVID-19 closures
With nearly all students normally receiving free- or reduced-price meals at school, the Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) committed to continue providing free meals in the face of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department had confirmed two cases of the coronavirus in North County as of March […]
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New Santa Maria-Bonita school name waiting until April
Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s (SMBSD) new elementary school, slated to open for students and staff at the beginning of the 2020 school year, is one step closer to having a name. Currently referred to under a working title of “new school No. 21,” the district convened a school naming committee to narrow down public submissions […]
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Cabrillo High School Aquarium’s new Interactive Tide Pool offers an accessible and authentic aquatic experience
The Cabrillo High School Aquarium is swimming with exciting new updates that aim to increase accessibility and authenticity for its visitors. The aquarium’s recently completed $250,000 project—funded entirely by grants and community donations—includes upgrades to its aquatic life support system as well as a brand new exhibit called the Interactive Tide Pool. The aquarium plans […]
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CalGEM public hearing held in Santa Maria allows locals to opine on proposed expansion of Cat Canyon oil production
People flanked by handmade signs spill out of a charter bus that just arrived from UC Santa Barbara. They join a growing rally outside the Veterans Memorial Center in Santa Maria, chanting, “Health, not oil,” and, “No new oil, keep it in the soil!” A microphone passed around gave different folks and organizations a chance […]