Political Watch 9-3

• On Aug. 26, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined a long list of politicians, activists, and other individuals to publicly express condolences on the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy. “Today America lost a true patriot, a committed public servant, and a legislative legend. He was one of the greatest senators this country has […]

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at bos-agenda.sbcgov.net. • The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the […]

Nearly five years after an international treaty banned the ozone-depleting fumigant methyl bromide from manufacture, the chemical is still being used as a pesticide on strawberries on the Central Coast.   Stockpiles of the toxic gas are legal for growers to use on strawberries in the United States—the result of an “essential use” exemption from […]

Go wine tasting for a good cause on Sept. 6 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Addamo Estate Vineyard Tasting Room and Bistro, 400 E. Clark Ave., in Old Town Orcutt. A portion of the proceeds will go to Central Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to find a cure for the devastating disease.   […]

In its annual Best Of issue, the Sun failed to list Alfonso Curti as the owner/head chef of Uliveto Trattoria (Best New Restaurant). Jim Spallino is the co-owner.   News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or […]

The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Aug. 26 received the Omaha Trophy in the global operations category for 2008, recognizing the facility’s operational flexibility and technical imagination.   It marks the third year in a row the JSpOC was selected as a trophy recipient. One of the center’s major roles […]

 The wheels on the bus should run a lot smoother now that Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) is scheduled to receive more than $2.5 million in stimulus money for a new Intermodal Transit Center and cleaner buses from the Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration.   The funding allows the city to expand its […]

A felony perjury case against former supervisorial aide Gil Armijo has been transferred from Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Clifford Anderson to Judge Frank Ochoa, according to a press release from Armijo. An arraignment hearing is set for Sept. 9.   Armijo was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in December 2007, […]

After almost 20 years of serving as a prosecuting attorney in Santa Barbara County, Senior Deputy District Attorney Joyce Dudley is ready for a promotion.   At a Sept. 1 press conference in Santa Barbara, Dudley announced that she’s running for district attorney.   In her candidacy speech, Dudley said one of the reasons she’s […]