David Rasper, a firefighter with Santa Barbara County, rode in the first engine on the scene of the Burton Mesa fire, which scorched 300 acres of brush outside of Lompoc the last week of June. “We made an initial attack on the fire,” he told the Sun. Armed with progressive hose packs—literally, a kind of […]
SEAN MCNULTY
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Fifth lawsuit filed against Plains All-American Pipeline in the wake of Refugio oil spill
Another lawsuit’s in the pile stacking up against Plains All American Pipeline in the wake of the Refugio State Beach oil spill. The class-action complaint—“on behalf of fishers, fish buyers, and other affected businesses”—is the fifth facing the Texas-based company. Two complainants, Keith and Tiffani Andrews, fish for giant red sea cucumber in the waters […]
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Oil bills engendered by Refugio spill pass out of committee
Two bills coauthored by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) in the early wake of the Refugio State Beach oil spill passed out of committee on June 29. Senate Bill 414, which moved on with an 8-1 vote, is aimed at speeding up oil spill response. The main provision’s a program by which fishing vessels […]
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El Capitan, fishing grounds reopen after spill
The California Department of Fish and Game lifted its closure of the fishing grounds around Refugio State Beach on June 29. The long stretch of fertile coast, spanning more than 100 miles between Coal Point and Hollister Ranch, was reopened after tested fish didn’t show oily contaminants that posed a threat to people. This comes […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Brandon Pita
Brandon Pita spent his childhood racing motocross. When he quit, he said, he wanted to keep racing but in a different style. So, in 2009, he took up BMX at the age of 11. And, after riding for a few short months, he travelled to Louisville, Ky. to win the national title and take home […]
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Oscar-winning composer feared dead in Cuyama plane crash
A small plane registered to Oscar-winning composer James Horner crashed in the Cuyama Valley on June 22. The single-engine S312 Tucano MK1 crashed for unknown reasons, leaving a debris field, a 1-acre brush fire, and no survivors. Horner, an accomplished composer, scored more than 100 films. He won two Oscars, two Golden Globes, and three […]
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Lasting impression: As southern Santa Barbara County beaches get cleaner, what can we make of the Refugio spill?
Work crews removed thousands of feet of yellow boom from the beach at Refugio State Beach the weekend before Father’s Day. According to the Unified Command in charge of cleanup, oil hadn’t been seen on Santa Barbara Channel’s surface in several days. Ten rehabilitated pelicans, some outfitted with tracking devices, were released on June 12. […]
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Ted Cruz stumps, fundraises in Nipomo
A crowd of hundreds packed Edwards Barn in Nipomo to see Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz stump June 22. Cruz is in town for the 70th birthday of his father-in-law, Peter Nelson, who practiced dentistry in SLO. Attendees paid $25 a head to hear Cruz’s stump speech and participate in a question-and-answer session after. Cruz—a […]
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Santa Barbara County looks at tighter restrictions for rural wineries, and not everyone likes it
Reactions to a recently released draft plan that could change the way Santa Barbara County does rural wine—special events, volume of visitors, tours, food, and tasting rooms—are heated and sharply critical from the wine industry. Morgan McLaughlin, president of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, is one such opponent. “Wine and food, they go hand […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Willie Iribarren
Willie Iribarren, Lompoc native and Hancock linebacker, signed a letter of intent to play football among the pines of CSU Humboldt, a Division II program. “It’s beautiful,” he said about Humboldt. “They’re doing a lot of good things over there. I’m just hoping to keep that going.” At the age of 7, Iribarren began playing […]
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Olive Grove clears important hurdle in preparation for State Board of Education appeal
Two-dozen local teachers, administrators, and advocates travelled to Sacramento on June 10 to make their case on behalf of the beleaguered Olive Grove Charter School before the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS). The meeting before the ACCS was an important prelude to their petition appeal hearing before the California Board of Education on July […]
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Santa Barbara County looks at tighter restrictions for wineries
New wineries in Santa Barbara County may be subject to new restrictions on special events, volume of visitors, tours, and tasting rooms. Santa Barbara County’s planning department recently released a draft environmental impact report for the proposed changes, which is now open to public comment. The proposed changes would modify the Winery Ordinance adopted by […]
