• Assembly Bill X2-1, co-written by Assemblymembers Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) and Cecillia Aguiar-Curry (D-Davis), passed the Assembly floor with a 44-17 vote and will advance to the Senate, according to an Oct. 1 statement from Hart’s office. Designed to bring stability to California’s oil market, the bill requires refineries to maintain sufficient fuel reserves […]
Political Watch: October 10, 2024
Posted inNews
Santa Maria City Council explores tax increases and fees to fill budget gap
Facing a $21 million budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, Santa Maria is pondering a sugar tax, a cannabis tax, and/or charging fees for emergency services as ways to inject revenue and avoid dipping into city reserves. “These are outside the norm that we have done in the past,” interim City Manager Alex Posada […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival celebrates 40th milestone with award-winning wines, cuisine
Vintners assemble Visit sbvintnersweekend.com for more info on this year’s Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival. The grand tasting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Vega Vineyard and Farm, located at 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton. Cabanas and cabernets await the attendees of a yearly wine mecca with a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: Wolfs
Wolfs What’s it rated? R When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Writer-director Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) helms this mismatched-buddy comedy about two professional fixers—George Clooney and Brad Pitt—who are individually hired to clean up a mess involving Manhattan District Attorney Margaret (Amy Ryan), who ends up with a dead one-night stand […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc rules in favor of $5 base electric rate without yearly increases
There are roughly 260 households in Lompoc that the city considers “zero usage customers” when it comes to electricity, according to Management Services Director Christie Donnelly. In other words, these houses’ lights are rarely ever on, and nobody’s home, “in most cases,” Donnelly said at the Lompoc City Council’s Oct. 1 meeting. “We look at […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BINGEABLE: Nobody Wants This
Nobody Wants This What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Joanne (Kristen Bell) is an open book, at least on her podcast that she hosts with her sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe). The two are looking for their big break, but what that means to each of them feels very different. Both are […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County will add a moratorium and overlay to protect senior mobile home parks
Months of advocacy efforts from senior mobile home residents are paying off as the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with greater protections for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. “You really brought this forward,” 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps told the senior residents who attended the Oct. 10 meeting. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Joker: Folie à Deux examines our dark side
Joker: Folie À Deux What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Co-writer and director Todd Phillips (Old School, The Hangover, Joker) helms this sequel about Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a tormented comedian […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Riptide Big Band’s next Santa Maria show transports attendees to the 1960s
The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club hosts its 1960s-themed dance party, with live music from the Riptide Big Band, at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Admission to the event is free, thanks to grant funding from the Community Foundation of San Luis […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Polls open to determine New Times Music Awards Readers’ Choice winner
To determine the winner of this year’s Readers’ Choice Award in the 2024 New Times Music Awards competition, the New Times Media Group is collecting votes through Monday, Oct. 28. The polls opened on Thursday, Oct. 10. This year marks the 16th annual New Times Music Awards competition and showcase, which will feature performances from […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
SLO County California Writing Club chapter hosts author lectures, poetry book celebration
Get writing Residents are invited to attend a free writing workshop and lecture series in celebration of California Writers Week hosted by the Coastal Dunes chapter of the California Writers Club at the Santa Maria Public Library on Oct. 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit coastaldunescwc.com. Based in Nipomo, the Coastal […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez debuts The Sports Bar with six new food experiences
Hit the jackpot For more info on The Sports Bar, located on the third floor of the Chumash Casino Resort, visit chumashcasinoresort.com. The resort is located at 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. The Sports Bar is open Monday through Friday, from noon to 1 a.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 1 […]