MATT FOUNTAIN

Nearly four years after Walmart told the city of Lompoc it wanted to expand its existing store, the city’s Planning Commission has given the retail giant the go-ahead. On Feb. 9, the Lompoc Planning Commission voted 3-1, with commissioner Kate Griffith dissenting, to approve Walmart’s development plan for its 721 W. Central Ave. location. Commissioner […]

The new head of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce began work on Feb. 1, temporarily taking over as the city tries to improve communication with the business community while tackling Lompoc’s ongoing economic hurdles. The chamber’s Board of Directors selected long-time Lompoc resident Tim Harrington in December to fill the vacancy left by CEO […]

New legislation was recently introduced in the state Senate that, if passed, would prohibit employers from firing individuals solely on the basis that they are legal medical marijuana patients. On Jan. 31, Democratic Sen. Mark Leno, who represents Marin and portions of San Francisco and Sonoma counties, introduced a bill that would prohibit discrimination of […]

Santa Maria’s efforts to reel in the ballooning costs of its employees’ retirement benefits took a major step when the City Council voted to adopt a two-tiered benefit plan on Jan. 18. The City Council approved a resolution to reduce benefits to a lower level, two-tier system, which essentially shifts some of the existing costs […]

A massive fire in an apartment complex near Allan Hancock College has left several families displaced, and investigators are calling the blaze “suspicious.” As of press time, investigators had no new information on what caused the fire, which destroyed two apartment units and damaged 10 others, but said the investigation is ongoing. “It is still […]

Just as newly elected Gov. Jerry Brown announced his intention to hold another special election this summer, new legislation is being introduced to address some of the fiscal concerns of a ballot-weary electorate. Last summer’s two special elections to fill the seat vacated by former State Sen. Abel Maldonado cost Santa Barbara County $438,000, according […]

The Lompoc City Council has decided to reinitiate talks with Santa Barbara County officials regarding a long-discussed possible merger with the county’s fire department. An October 2010 report estimated initial costs to the city at approximately $3.8 million for the first year of service, according to Lompoc Finance Director Brad Wilkie. The agreement would last […]

The already complicated process for developing a dust-control strategy for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area has hit another snag. On Dec. 3, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Department approved a minor-use permit for the state’s two-year plan to install five 30-foot air monitoring towers, which would be used to measure wind patterns […]

More than one million acres of undeveloped federal forestland will stay undeveloped, thanks to a long-awaited agreement between conservation groups and the U.S. Forest Service. Four national forests, including Los Padres, will be the beneficiaries of a settlement between the state of California, the Forest Service, environmental groups, and off-road vehicle users. The settlement concludes […]