Over the past 12 years, Santa Barbara County riding group Rancheros Visitadores, in partnership with Wrangler, has donated more than $1.5 million to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara to support local cancer research and care programs. The Rancheros Visitadores was started in the Santa Ynez Valley in the 1930s by local ranch owners to […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Santa Ynez high school district names full-time principal/superintendent
Kimberly Sheehan will be taking the helm as Santa Ynez Valley Union High School’s new principal/superintendent starting July 1 after the school board unanimously approved her contract during its April 16 meeting. “I’m just really excited to join an already established team, an already very well-run school district,” Sheehan told the Sun. “I know for […]
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Free summer baseball programs in Lompoc and Santa Maria are open for registration
Santa Maria and Lompoc families looking for free summer programs for their kids can sign up for the Junior Giants coed baseball league. The eight-week program starts in mid-June for children ages 5 to 13—with teams divided by age. The Santa Maria program registration ends April 30 with practices starting on June 6. The Lompoc […]
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Marian NICU respiratory therapist creates watercolor paintings for patients and their families
Going into the medical field, Nickie Brayton knew she wanted to work with infants and their families. As a respiratory therapist for Marian Regional Medical Center, she began working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) three years ago where she and her team help the youngest patients in the hospital. “It’s been a great […]
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Contract holes: Santa Barbara County aims to adjust its contract with jail health care provider, Wellpath, to improve service levels
“People are thrown into the snake pit,” Santa Barbara County resident Kate Smith said about the jail and the county’s mental health care system during public comment at a recent special meeting. “You can talk about this year’s crop of buckets we could shoot people in to help, [but] it’s no different,” Smith said. “I […]
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Santa Maria declares impasse with its firefighters over new contract
Santa Maria declared an impasse in its negotiations with the Firefighters Union Local 2020 on April 12. The city and the union—which represents 57 firefighters, captains, engineers, and fire inspectors—first entered negotiations in November 2023 before the contract expired in December, city Public Information Officer Mark van de Kamp said in a statement. After three […]
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Coastal Commission waits to decide whether SpaceX rocket launches can increase
The California Coastal Commission recently delayed deciding on whether SpaceX should be able to increase the number of rockets it launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX proposed expanding its Falcon 9 space program by increasing launch activities from six to 36 per year, with anticipation for an additional increase to 100 per year at […]
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Slowed revenue, new state legislation limit county’s 2024-25 budget
Facing increasing costs and revenue that’s struggling to keep up, the Santa Barbara County Executive Office is recommending that the county allocate funds that will maintain current services and avoid expansions. “Our theme this year is prudence and progress,” County CEO Mona Miyasato told the Board of Supervisors during the April 9 budget workshops. “We […]
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Guadalupe artist hoststhe city’s first fashion show through a new grant program
Guadalupe resident Arnulfo Navarro III was always drawn to fashion as a form of personal expression. “That’s where I think I’m breaking through the most. I’m showing up as myself and people are taking that at face value,” he said. “I’m just trying to enjoy life and enjoy my everyday life, and … I’m trying […]
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Aquarium science: A Cabrillo High School CTE program that involves octopus and hands-on training is expanding
A 1-year-old octopus gently wrapped one of its tentacles around Jenna Gorndt’s fingers as the Cabrillo High School senior lightly touched the top of its aquarium. “I think it’s cool, having an animal that can recognize you when you’re trying to interact with her, because most animals, they aren’t going to be this excited to […]
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County resource constraints prevent better jail health care, according to sheriff
During a special meeting to discuss jail health care, Santa Barbara County residents and the Board of Supervisors expressed concerns about care transparency, inmates’ access to timely care, and continued care for individuals once they leave the jail system. While the Sheriff’s Office shared ongoing efforts to address these concerns, jail staffing shortages, inadequate infrastructure, […]
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Clean up and abandon: While the state undertakes its largest orphan oil well project in California history, environmental groups worry about lack of accountability for oil operators
About a year ago, the California Department of Conservation embarked on the largest oil well plugging and abandonment project in state history, starting in Santa Barbara County. The department’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) set off to plug and abandon 171 orphaned wells in the Santa Maria Valley’s Cat Canyon with $34 million in state […]
