A spat over oil drilling on public lands pitted local environmental groups and a collection of California lawmakers against a federal agency in early September. Critics of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) say it gave too short of notice to the public about its 30-day comment period for potential projects involving hydraulic fracturing, or […]
SPENCER COLE
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Spotlight on: Flower Carriage
Susana Cardel, owner
Susana Cardel never thought she’d own a flower shop. But after 10 years of being the sole owner of the Flower Carriage at 2255 S. Broadway, she said she looks back on her decision to purchase the store as a good one. “It’s a big deal,” Cardel told the Sun. On Oct. 19, she will […]
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County warns cannabis growers of increased enforcement for out of compliance operators
In a meeting designed to provide an update for cannabis operators, Santa Barbara County’s pot czar gave a stern warning: Get up to date with your documents or face the consequences. “Our goal is keeping people in compliance until they don’t want to be in compliance anymore, and then we have enforcement,” Deputy CEO Dennis […]
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Lompoc Police Chief asks for donations for homeless emergency shelter
Just a few days after opening an emergency shelter for displaced homeless in Lompoc, the city’s police chief called on its citizens to do more. On Sept. 14, Police Chief Pat Walsh issued a statement that said 55 people had checked into the triage center at River Park. The center provides services to homeless individuals […]
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Santa Barbara County Supervisors declare ‘shelter crisis’ to secure funding
Millions of dollars in state funding will be injected into Santa Barbara County over the next two years to combat homelessness. The county will receive nearly $10 million from the state following a unanimous decision by the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 11 to declare a “shelter crisis.” The Homeless Emergency Aid Program will bring […]
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Jackson and Limón speak out against BLM plans for drilling and fracking
A pair of Central Coast state legislators took aim at the fossil fuels industry and the Trump administration by voicing their opposition to a plan that would open California federal lands to oil drilling and fracking. On Sept. 7, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) sent a letter to […]
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Spotlight on: K9 For Gaby – Gabriela Leon
The first time Gabriela Leon, 22, (Gaby for short) suffered a severe seizure, she was only 11 years old. She almost died. It wouldn’t be the last time. “I’ve never had a full year of being free from them,” she said. The recurring epileptic issues eventually forced her to stop pursuing her education at Ernest […]
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Newly signed bail reform bill faces challenges
A newly signed bill ending cash bail in California drew a relatively mixed reaction from state representatives, activists, and local law enforcement. On Aug. 28, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 10, or the California Money Bail Reform Act, into law, effective Oct. 1, 2019. “This a transformative day for our justice system,” state Chief […]
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Spotlight on: Whalebird Kombucha: Mike Durighello, CEO and founder
The first time Mike Durighello tried kombucha, he didn’t like it. His friend had handed him the fermented tea-based probiotic drink after a day of surfing along the Central Coast. Durighello was unimpressed. “It tasted bad,” he told the Sun. But there was a reason. “I wasn’t familiar with the world of fermentation and what […]
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Solvang City Council eyes smoking regulations following cannabis vote
The Solvang City Council discussed amending city code for its smoking regulations during its meeting on Aug. 28. The talks on where one can and cannot smoke in public were placed on the agenda two weeks prior, when council members adopted the first reading of an ordinance allowing a medical cannabis dispensary to operate near […]
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Santa Barbara County supervisors mull improvement options for emergency dispatch services
Santa Barbara County staff presented to the Board of Supervisors four options to help improve emergency dispatch services at its Aug. 28 meeting. It’s been a little more than a year since the supervisors last received an update on the issue. Currently, the county’s Public Safety Dispatch Center is managed by the Sheriff’s Office, who […]
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What about the rest of us? County, cities, and nonprofits search for funding options to create long-term solutions for homelessness
Wide, bald, and barrel chested with a thick dark mustache wrapped around the top of an almost always half-cracked grin, Lompoc Police Sgt. Mauricio Calderon exudes friendliness and calm as he takes long strides toward the first makeshift shelter in the Santa Ynez Riverbed. Calderon became the department’s liason to the city’s homeless population earlier […]