Gov. Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, and Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway recently announced legislation to comply with a federal court order to limit state prison population to 137.5 percent of capacity, avoid the early release of thousands of prisoners, and protect public safety. According to a press […]
Political Watch 9/5/13
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 9/5-9/12
MONDAY, SEPT. 9 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. TUESDAY, SEPT. 10 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing With Helen
Delicious and delightful. That pretty much sums up Altrusa’s fashion show and chocolate extravaganza held on Aug. 18 at the Elks Lodge. Strutting their stuff on the runway for this first-time combo event were models Josie Baldiviez, Maria Robb, Gina Rodriguez, Yolanda Soares, Loretta Talamantes, and Kathy Telleria. They all looked simply smashing and ever-so-chic […]
Posted inNews
Community Corner: Technology + people = another life saved
For the first time on record at Marian Regional Medical Center, staffers in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) used nitric oxide to save the life of a seriously ill newborn. Dr. Eddie Alderete, medical director of Neonatal Services, and his team used nitric oxide on baby Valeria in the hours after her birth on […]
Posted inNews
Gliding over all: Camp Roberts plays host to drones, defense contractors, and bevy of tech experiments
Locals who know nothing about unmanned drones beyond what they read in international headlines may soon be getting a closer look at the infamous flying contraptions. The Santa Maria Airport recently entered into a teaming agreement with two other airports that are applying to be a drone test site for the Federal Aviation Administration. That […]
Posted inNews
Cities in Santa Barbara County rank third for housing market turnarounds
After two very long years of trying to buy a house, Annie Looyson and her husband finally purchased one three weeks ago. “It was a crazy chance of circumstances,” Looysen said. “We walked in and started high-fiving each other.” It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath on Santa Maria’s east side. Looysen said it was a short-sale home. […]
Posted inNews
Corrections
• In the Aug. 29 news brief, “Santa Barbara County supervisors look at innovative recidivism reform program,” the Sun misstated the amount of money the county is spending on the North County Jail. The county authorized 16 million; the state is funding the remainder of the $96 million project. • The photo of the Aug. […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County employees want better contracts
Budgeting sucks. The process isn’t black and white; it’s more of a fuzzy, tedious burden to move money around until it fits in all the right places. Now imagine doing that with more than $800 million. And you aren’t the sole decision maker; it’s up to you and four others to make choices that will […]
Posted inNews
Anthony Ibarra trial changes venues
Santa Maria Attorney David Bixby isn’t exactly thrilled with the court’s handling of the murder trial in which his client, David Maldonado Sr., is a defendant. Maldonado Sr., also known as “Pops,” is being tried alongside his son, grandson, and eight other people for the gang-related torture and stabbing of 28-year-old Anthony Ibarra, whose body […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County crews help fight Yosemite’s Rim Fire
The 30 members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) sent to battle the Rim Fire returned home Sept. 2 after an 11-day mission. “SBC welcomes home our dozer crews that were a part of a Strike Team helping in the fight against the massive fire burning in the Yosemite National Park & Stanislaus […]
Posted inOpinion
If your house was burning down and you could only grab one thing, what would it be?
Val Brandt carpenter “My wife, but if it has to be a thing, it would be photo albums.” Carolyn Brandt State Farm sales representative “Pictures; a photo album.” Heber David Perrett investor “I have a very rare and expensive gun.” Jackson May missionary “I would grab the keys to my Dodge truck.”
Posted inNews
Blazing a trail in history
American frontier history is filled with iconoclastic characters of independence and freedom. Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie, to name just a few, are all remembered and lauded as folk heroes and have come to symbolize the American dream. One man, James B. Beckwourth (1798-1866), was dismissed for generations as a liar in regard […]