Facing grant deadlines and increased costs, the Guadalupe City Council voted 4-1 (with Councilmember Eugene Costa Jr. dissenting) during its June 11 meeting to approve a bond measure for the Nov. 5 ballot that would help fund the Royal Theater renovation project. The project proposes to revitalize the historic site (built in 1940) with a […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Fast track: Santa Barbara County has two years to spend a $7.9 million state grant to address vehicular encampments
More than 1,000 Santa Barbara County residents experienced homelessness for the first time in 2024—a jump from 849 in 2023, according to the county’s Point-In-Time Count. Santa Barbara County Homeless Assistance Program Manager Kimberlee Albers told the Sun that the majority of these folks are often seniors or families with children falling out of housing […]
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Santa Maria goes to LAFCO to provide clean drinking water to Bonita Elementary
Bonita Elementary School students and staff are one step closer to drinking from campus water fountains again after the Santa Maria City Council approved an application to connect to the city’s water lines to the school during the June 4 meeting. “I want to make clear that the school does have clean drinking water available […]
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Lompoc cannabis manufacturer to pay Air Pollution Control District $1.3 million for air quality violations
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will secure one of the largest settlements in its history after Central Coast Agriculture agreed to pay $1.3 million for air quality-related notices of violations. “The magnitude of this settlement reflects the significance of the violations and the amount of emissions over three years,” APCD Executive […]
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Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP and Collective Cultures Creating Change host annual Juneteenth celebration in Lompoc
Guadalupe Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Michael Cash will be recognized as the first and only African American police chief in Santa Barbara County during this year’s Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP and Collective Cultures Creating Change’s Juneteenth celebration. “I’m very honored and humbled to be even thought of in that sense. I’m very much […]
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Land Trust for Santa Barbara County offers Discover Outside—highlighting ecosystems, conservation, and local recreation opportunities
Alongside conserving local lands, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County wants to teach people about the area they call home, Vanessa Stowers told the Sun. “We are very lucky to live in this unique space, and it’s something that I don’t ever want to take for granted, so really appreciating why Santa Barbara County […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Pride Issue 2024
Out and about: Our Pride issue highlights a social group for older members of the LGBTQ-plus community and the need for the Pride in Mental Health Act
With this year’s annual Pride issue, we’re taking a little time to focus on support systems for the LGBTQ-plus community—what exists and what needs to exist. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor talks to the Pacific Pride Foundation about a program it’s expanding into North County intended specifically to provide a sense of community that may be […]
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Board of Supervisors approve Transient Occupancy Tax increase ballot measure
Despite some residents’ concerns about increased taxes, impacts to the tourism industry, and multiple tax measures going before voters, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 (with 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson Dissenting) to put a Transient Occupancy Tax increase on the November 2024 general election ballot. “I really want to continue to […]
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Guadalupe increases cannabis licensing renewal, inspection fees
Like many other jurisdictions, Guadalupe is working out kinks within its cannabis ordinance. The Guadalupe City Council unanimously voted during its May 28 meeting to increase pre-license, inspection, and annual regulatory fees for commercial cannabis businesses, and pushed staff to enforce a $3,000 community benefit fee that operators have yet to pay nearly a year […]
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Connection, socialization
Pacific Pride Foundation’s Lavender Elders program is designed to bring older LGBTQ-plus folks together
Get together Visit pacificpridefoundation.org to learn more about Lavender Elders and other programs that Pacific Pride Foundation offers. While there are many options for the LGBTQ-plus community to get together during Pride Month in June and throughout the year, it can be challenging for older community members to have that experience. “Things like going to […]
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Limited care: Not all reproductive health care services are accessible in Lompoc
After driving three hours from their homes in Lompoc, they met a crowd of picketers surrounding a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood clinic. Kathleen was there with her friend, who was seeking an abortion because the fetus she was carrying wouldn’t survive after birth. “It had been determined that this child she was carrying was suffering […]
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Lompoc residents to vote on whether to discontinue public park use of 82 acres
A proposed space education center in Lompoc comes closer to fruition as the City Council voted 3-2 (with Mayor Jenelle Osborne and Councilmember Gilda Cordova dissenting) to approve a development agreement on 82 acres of land, including Ken Adam Park. As part of this process, the city also voted 4-1 (with Osborne dissenting) to add […]
