Expanding jail diversion programs and electronic probation monitoring as well as reducing transfer wait times are some of the options Santa Barbara County is considering to reduce its jail population. Michael Wilson—president of MW Consulting—presented an analysis to the supervisors on July 12 that looked at criminal justice trends, the jail’s historic population of around […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Lompoc leaders honor sex-trafficking awareness nonprofit
After pedaling for more than 1,200 miles, 11 women stopped in Lompoc and received several accolades from state and local leaders for their efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking by biking from Seattle to San Diego. “We actually started [this] in 2017, myself and two friends,” said Savannah Lovelace, the co-founder of Pedal the […]
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Santa Maria City Council decided against adding live interpretation to its meetings, a barrier for those whose first language isn’t English
“Thank you for calling the city of Santa Maria,” a happy, automated voice chirps over the line. “Para español, por favor presione el signo de los numeros.” Selecting the pound sign, a loud beep sounds off, followed by a pause. A woman’s voice relays this message in Spanish: “If you know your party’s four-digit extension […]
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A Santa Maria adult day health care facility celebrates its grand reopening for in-person services and care
Amanda Sillars worked in nursing homes, home health, and hospice care before finding an alternative path for senior care that she fell in love with, she said. “Adult day health care is set up to support people so they can remain living in the community happily and as healthily as possible. The entire goal of […]
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County Main Jail experiences second inmate escape this year
Two K-9 teams and Santa Barbara County Air Support assisted in the arrest of an inmate who escaped from the county Main Jail on July 6—the second escape the jail’s seen in 2022 so far. The jail’s first escape occurred on March 27 when 23-year-old Joshua Camarillo-Sanchez—a Santa Maria resident—got out of jail with the […]
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Forty tons of food delivered to Santa Maria nonprofits
Peanut butter, canned beef, shelf-stable milk, refried beans, and soup will make their way throughout the Santa Maria Valley by the truckload for distribution among several community nonprofits. The national chapter of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 80,000 pounds of nonperishable food and other items in order to help Santa Maria-area […]
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Solvang-based nonprofit gym hosts Junior Olympic weightlifting competition
Lynne Castellanos, a Solvang math teacher, wasn’t super athletic until her daughter went to college and started boxing. Now, the 65-year-old holds several world records in powerlifting, won female athlete of the year in 2017, and runs a nonprofit gym with her daughter as a way to give back to the community. “We work with […]
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Lompoc fire chief retires shortly after domestic dispute arrest
Lompoc Fire Chief Alicia Welch submitted her retirement to city officials effective July 20, following her recent arrest in SLO County on domestic violence suspicions. Battalion Chief Scott Nunez was appointed to act as the fire chief for the transition period, Lompoc Public Information Officer Samantha Scroggin said in a statement. “Chief Welch, who has […]
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A Santa Maria- and Oxnard-based nonprofit hosts its annual backpack drive
Backpacks are a source of pride for students. It’s something they take with them to school and see every day, said Genevieve Flores-Haro, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project associate director. “We are currently fundraising dollars to purchase backpacks and backpack supplies—but we’ll also take new school supplies. Pens, paper, notebooks, coloring pencils, markers crayons. It’s […]
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California responds to the Roe v. Wade decision with a constitutional amendment and legislation to protect reproductive decisions
Nine weeks into Lauren’s pregnancy, doctors detected a weak heartbeat during an ultrasound. Two weeks later, Lauren started bleeding, and she went back to her doctor’s office for a second ultrasound. “Sure enough on the ultrasound screen you could tell it was a fetus disintegrating,” said Lauren, who asked the Sun to change her name. […]
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COVID-19 vaccines will soon be available for the county’s youngest population
The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved COVID-19 vaccines for the youngest group thus far—children from 6 months old to 5 years old. Santa Barbara County Health Officer Henning Ansorg said he was really excited that the vaccines were finally approved for little kids. “It may be a […]
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Inflation and increased demand impacts a Santa Ynez Valley-based food service program serving seniors and families in need
Stacy McNabb cooks 400 meals a day. Five days a week, she plans, prepares, and plates food that will get loaded into cars, and make its way to the doors of people—primarily seniors—who are in need or live below the poverty line. “Sometimes we’re the only people seniors see. We are their lifelines,” McNabb said. […]
