There’s at least one framed photo in 34-year-old Cesar Garcia’s living room that tends to elicit a physiological reaction from first-time visitors. Within days of departing from the White House, Joe Biden posed with Garcia in early 2025 for a selfie at Mission Santa Ines—where the Buellton resident has regularly attended Sunday mass since he…
Trying to work its way out of the red, Santa Barbara County is considering almost $71 million in reductions for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Multiple departments are facing layoffs and program reductions if the board approves the budget in June. On April 13, the Public Health and Social Services departments presented financial plans to the…
Most of the oil produced in and around the Santa Maria Valley is considered “heavy.” It’s not refined into gasoline or jet fuel. Rather, it’s often used to make products like asphalt—but maybe not for very much longer. “That’s what we specialize in, as most of the oil production onshore in Northern Santa Barbara county…
Abraham Lincoln’s decision in 1861 to appoint three of his political opponents to his cabinet should have helped steer Santa Maria officials’ approach to filling a recent City Council vacancy, in resident Gale McNeeley’s view. “Mayor Patino, you can be the Abraham Lincoln of Santa Maria. I know you don’t look like him, but you…
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) recently led 10 colleagues in strongly opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule limiting the application of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, under which states and tribes would effectively be unable to regulate many of the water quality impacts of hydropower dams within their lands. The…
Seeking mental health help and resources for substance use disorder can be daunting. The county is trying to make the process a little easier at the Lompoc Behavioral Wellness Service Center. Adults and youth in the valley can now access resources for mental health and substance use all under one roof. The county’s new Lompoc…
How much power does a local government have to change existing uses? Turns out, local governments think they have a lot of power. They seem to have the power to kick people out of their homes, the power to force property owners to change the use of their properties, the power to kill people’s livelihoods,…
If I were a state or local government employee in California, I would be concerned about my future retirement plan. Many local governments are suffering budget deficits; we read about these budget shortfalls regularly as revenue (tax-based funds) decreases and expenses increase. The Independent Institute’s website says, “Legislative analyst Gabe Petek, in his overview of…
As a mother of two young kids, I didn’t expect my first electric car purchase to bring me this much joy—or this much peace and quiet. But our new Hyundai IONIQ 5 has done exactly that. First, the silence. No engine roar, no rattling—just smooth, almost magical acceleration. My kids actually asked if the car…
When I attended the very first Earth Day in 1970 as a college student, the air was choked with smog, Rachel Carson had alerted us to the harms caused by DDT, and the heartbreaking massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara polluted miles of ocean and killed thousands of birds. Environmental consciousness was…
Nevada Gibson’s second memory with Daniel Black is their “iconic” slap fight at Pacific Christian School after playing together during recess in third grade. “For some reason we just started slapping the heck out of each other, like, in the face,” Gibson said in between laughs. “We got in trouble. We had to sit on…
Bill Engvall is heading to Santa Ynez for a night full of laughs. The tried-and-true comedian and TV host is headlining the Chumash Casino on April 24. He’s known for clean commentary on marriage, parenthood, and everyday life. The show will be held in the Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. After getting his feet wet…
Los Alamos Theatre Group’s 14th original stage production is set to run from May 7 to 10. Bell Street restaurant Pico Los Alamos is the host, offering a social hour and three-course meal to accompany the performance. Taking place over the course of one chaotic day, Audition: Showtime! follows Hollywood expats who produce a talent…
Jonah Hill (Mid90s) directs this screenplay he co-wrote with Ezra Woods about Hollywood star Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves), five years sober and on a break from acting, who receives a panicked call from his “crisis lawyer,” Ira Slitz (Hill), who tells him someone is blackmailing him with some dirt from his past. Desperate to maintain…
AnacondaWhat’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix Jack Black and Paul Rudd—what could go wrong with such a jovial and charming duo? The two play childhood friends Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd), whose adult lives have proved less than satisfying. When Griff gains the rights to their favorite ’90s flick, Anaconda, the…
The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel What’s it rated? R When? 2026 Where’s it showing?Netflix Ben Feldman (Bug Out) directs this documentary filled with archival footage and images as well as contemporary interviews with Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Jack Irons, and others. The doc’s focus, guitarist…
After a hot day by the pool or a sandy afternoon on the beach, Old Orcutt residents have a new place to cool off before heading home. Roy’s Orcutt Yogurt Shop opened on March 14 after three years of planning and construction. It sells classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry along with rotating dairy-free…
