Previously disputed by Lompoc’s legal counsel, a local resident’s 2023 complaint against the city’s tourism board and its accounting practices ignited a Santa Barbara County grand jury investigation. In a report released on March 22, the jury concluded that the Lompoc Tourism Business Improvement District’s annual reporting “shows hundreds of thousands of dollars in unaccounted-for […]
County grand jury finds fault with Visit Lompoc’s financial reports
Posted inNews
Roy Lee elected as new 1st District Supervisor
Incumbent 1st District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams called candidate Roy Lee on March 14 to congratulate him on becoming the next supervisor representing Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, and Cuyama come January 2025. “I wanted to do what none of my opponents in 21 years had done, actually have a personal concession and wish him […]
Posted inNews
Cannabis conundrum: Santa Barbara County looks at new cannabis tax models after revenue transparency and forecast concerns
When Santa Barbara County opened the doors to legal cannabis operations in 2017, officials designed a tax system without precedent. “There was no model to work from because we were the first ones in the boat,” 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said. During this time, consultants presented the county with two options: taxing the gross […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Damsel proves a distressed lady can save herself
Damsel What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee What’s it worth, Anna? Matinee Where’s it showing? Netflix Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) directs this dark fantasy about dutiful Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), a royal from an impoverished kingdom, whose father, Lord Bayford (Ray Winston)—in exchange for wealth—arranges to marry her to Prince […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria Civic Theatre presents A Comedy of Tenors
Performances of A Comedy of Tenors—the Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s latest production—run through Sunday, March 24. Currently onstage, this fast-paced comedy is set in 1930s Paris and follows “four tenors, two wives, and three girlfriends,” according to press materials. Tickets to A Comedy of Tenors are available online in advance at my805tix.com. For more info […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Catch The Fish Whisperer onstage in Oceano
The Great American Melodrama in Oceano presents The Fish Whisperer, which is scheduled to run Friday, March 22, through Saturday, May 11. Set in the small town of Shewauga, Wisconsin, The Fish Whisperer is a musical “brimming with hope and romance,” according to the Great American Melodrama’s website. The show opens during a rough patch […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
SLO REP takes on emotions and deep thinking in What the Constitution Means To Me
Go see it What the Constitution Means To Me will run from March 29 through April 14, Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. SLO REP is located at 888 Morro St. in San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit slorep.org. With the nation smack-dab in the middle […]
Posted inOpinion
We need to end the killing of Palestinian children and families
I am profoundly moved by United States soldier Aaron Bushnell who recently burned himself to death in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. I feel deeply grieved but also all the more determined to preserve life. Aaron Bushnell self-immolated, saying he could no longer be complicit in the U.S.-backed genocide against the Palestinian […]
Posted inOpinion
Eliminating perceived environmental injustices in Lompoc would cost several million dollars
The city of Lompoc like many other jurisdictions is adding a new environmental justice element (chapter) to the general plan. The introduction to the new chapter says, “Today, and throughout California and United States history, communities with lower incomes, lower levels of education, and higher proportions of minority residents often bear a disproportionately large burden […]
Posted inOpinion
Pathetic and apathetic
Who do we blame for voter turnout? The election itself or voter apathy or both? I’m going to say both. And Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne might just agree with me. She challenged 3rd District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann in the primary alongside Republican Frank Troise. Hartmann won, according to the uncertified election results, […]
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Marian Regional Medical Center launches new food recovery program to reduce carbon emissions, redirect food
Rather than seeing pasta sauce, overnight oats, or untouched salad fixings go to waste, Marian Regional Medical Center, in partnership with Replate, will reallocate unused food to community organizations that serve individuals facing food insecurity, Marian Food Services Director Kevin Leitner told the Sun. “This really was initiated by a [California] food recovery bill … […]
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Creating space: The Santa Maria Valley lacks dedicated places for the LGBTQ-plus community
In the early days of the Allan Hancock College Pride Alliance, students wrote on name tags preferred names and pronouns, with the understanding that the names would only be used during meetings for safety reasons, said Jackie, a student and Pride Alliance member. The student organization is dedicated to helping LGBTQ-plus students through events and […]