To help fund workshops and other outreach efforts for public input about a proposed 10-mile bike and walking path through the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang recently agreed to set aside $30,000. “We don’t want to step on toes. We want to learn from the community and see what works best,” Michael Becker, planning director for […]
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Conserving space: PG&E needs to do more about environmental issues if it wants Coastal Commission approval to extend Diablo’s life
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) must return to the California Coastal Commission with new plans to mitigate Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s environmental issues if it wants permits to keep the nuclear facility running. “We’re talking about decades of staggering and devastating environmental impact that demand action not delay,” Commissioner Raymond Jackson said during the […]
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County Public Health pauses layoffs and patient transfers, left with budget deficits
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department paused its plan to make layoffs and transition thousands of patients away from county clinics due to “unsatisfactory immigration status.” The decision follows an ongoing injunction to a change in federal law. Mouhanad Hammami, the director of Public Health, presented this update to the county Board of Supervisors […]
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Santa Barbara County District Attorney charges Lompoc council member with eight felonies
Fraud. Forgery. Identity theft. Allegedly fabricated, a series of counterfeit invoices for construction work is at the heart of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s case against a Lompoc City Council member. On Nov. 19, District Attorney John T. Savrnoch filed eight felony charges against Councilmember Stephen Bridge, including two counts of grand theft of […]
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November’s rainfall tops local records with little impact to wildfire burn areas
November’s rainfall is responsible for Santa Barbara County experiencing “one of the wettest starts to a water-year on record.” That’s according to Flood Control District Senior Hydrologist Shawn Johnson, who gauges the ebb and flow of rivers and reservoirs across the county and keeps close tabs on rainfall patterns, with decades of water data recorded […]
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Recent ICE arrests in Santa Maria draw criticism from immigration rights advocates
After asking to see the warrant for her husband’s arrest, a woman in Santa Maria was handed an insurance claim for the car window ICE agents broke to apprehend him, 805 UndocuFund volunteer Michelle Ambriz-Quintero told the Sun. A member of 805 UndocuFund’s rapid response team, Ambriz-Quintero was alerted on Nov. 16 about an Immigrations […]
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Solvang ups pledge to Santa Ynez aquatics center
The Solvang City Council greenlit an additional $50,000 to support the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex. With the council’s Nov. 10 approval, the city’s contribution has increased to half a million dollars since June, which will be released when construction begins. The decision came after a friendly challenge from Buellton. The cities have engaged […]
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Buellton refreshes its tree policies while pursuing Tree City USA status
There are plenty of guidelines and recommendations for developers related to tree upkeep in Buellton, but not enough enforceable do’s and don’ts, some city officials recently argued. “I don’t like the fact that, … ‘Should’ leads to ‘I don’t need to,’” Buellton Mayor David Silva said at the council’s Nov. 13 meeting. The city is […]
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Santa Barbara County re-evaluates Sable Offshore’s capacity to operate safely and lawfully
Nine months after a stalemate prevented Santa Barbara County officials from taking action on a controversial oil pipeline’s proposed restart, 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino moved from one side of the vote to the other. In February, Lavagnino supported Sable Offshore’s pursuit of the permit transfers needed to revive the Santa Ynez Unit, which includes […]
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Lompoc considers altering its fee program that regulates RVs
A new parking rule in Lompoc inadvertently clashes with a separate protocol that allows RVs on streets in residential neighborhoods, one city official recently argued. In late October, the Lompoc City Council amended the city’s parking restrictions to require any vehicle parked on the street to move at least 150 feet every 72 hours. Lompoc’s […]
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Olive Grove Charter School approved for five more years
Superintendent Meg Rydman’s fondest experiences at Olive Grove Charter Schools are seeing students at their graduation ceremonies. With the charter school’s Santa Maria location set to continue educating through June 2031, she’ll have the opportunity to see future classes graduate there, too. The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) approved Olive Grove’s renewal […]
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Santa Maria homelessness stats spark mixed feedback from city officials
After hearing an annual update on Santa Maria’s homelessness response efforts, 3rd District City Councilmember Gloria Soto echoed many of the concerns she raised last year. “We need to do more, and I know what’s something we keep reiterating,” Soto said at the council’s Nov. 4 meeting. “I’m deeply worried that our local governments will […]
