Nipomo groundwater is facing its lowest levels in history, and the basin’s facing severe water shortage conditions for the eighth consecutive year. Despite this, the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) will continue planning for the Dana Reserve development, a 1,289 single- and multi-family unit housing project with a focus on injecting more housing into the […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Lompoc-based nonprofit recently opened its doors to provide free medical services to community members
Housing, food, child care, and energy bills often come before paying for doctor’s appointments in some low-income households, which can cause people to avoid primary, preventative care, leading to future emergency room visits—particularly in northern Santa Barbara County, according to Eryn Shugart. Shugart is the executive director of Savie Health—a 501(c)3 nonprofit clinic based in […]
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Lawsuit agreement suspends Bureau of Land Management’s Central Coast oil and gas leasing
Several California conservation groups and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management reached an agreement to suspend new oil and gas leasing across more than 1 million acres within the bureau’s Bakersfield Office—which encompasses Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Madera, Ventura, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties. The agreement came about after a 2020 lawsuit challenging the […]
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Los Olivos organizations host Pride flag raising ceremony after flag theft and burning
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies identified two young adults as suspects in the theft of two Pride flags in the Los Olivos area on July 28, according to Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zick. “Deputies spent several days investigating the report, including collecting physical evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, and tracking down a video […]
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Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm in Lompoc is about family and sustainability
Mother-and-son duo Denise and Lucas Neumann traded Los Angeles city living for more open spaces to pursue Denise’s dreams of running a farm. During her time in the city, she became a master gardener and taught people how to make edible gardens in their backyards, but she wanted something more, Lucas said. “We were always […]
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A Los Padres National Forest fire-prevention proposal sparks a long-standing debate on wildfire management
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has already responded to more than 4,900 incidents this fire season—a number the department expects to increase as this year’s season will be longer and drier because of climate change and drought. Los Padres National Forest is currently working to prevent extreme wildfires through the proposed Ecological […]
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New Santa Maria-Bonita superintendent focuses on community relationship building
Darren McDuffie was selected as the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s new superintendent, closing the months-long search after Luke Ontiveros announced his retirement for the end of December 2021. McDuffie told the Sun he was working in San Bernardino County’s Rialto Unified School District as its lead strategic agent for deputy superintendent and was looking for […]
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Orcutt Union School District is building a multi-use facility at Orcutt Academy High School
For years, students at Orcutt Academy High School didn’t get to experience the echoing creaks of people clambering up and down the bleachers of their own gym for home games or rallies. Instead, they’d go to neighboring schools in the Orcutt Union School District for sports games, pep rallies, and gym class, said Superintendent Holly […]
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Agriculture industry’s economic increase presents continued wage issues
Strawberries, wine grapes, and cauliflower along with several other fruits and veggies made big bucks for Santa Barbara County last year, rounding out to about $1.9 billion, according to the county’s 2021 agricultural production report. The 2021 gross production value surpassed 2020’s by about $98 million (a 5 percent increase) with strawberries valued at $8.49 […]
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A national nonprofit that builds beds for children expands to northern Santa Barbara County
Colleen Grant was driving through Lompoc one day when she heard a voice say on the radio, “No child deserves to sleep on the floor.” Although she doesn’t remember the ad’s original intent, she said the message resonated with her. “I taught preschool for 30 years and worked firsthand with a lot of families in […]
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Death report highlights long-standing geographic inequities in Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department found that South County had a 25 percent lower death rate than central or North County, according to the recently released 2018 to 2020 Leading Causes of Death Report. The difference presents a need to improve health equity, county Senior Epidemiologist Joy Kane told the Sun. “There are […]
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Daniel Nielson named as interim county public health director
Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso will be moving on to a new role at CenCal Health after serving the county for five years. She was honored at the July 12 Board of Supervisors meeting for her work to ensure public health and safety during the pandemic as well as other disasters. “I’m […]
