Hollywood Con QueenWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ I listened to the podcast Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen when it came out a few years ago, so when I saw the title flash across our “New on Apple TV” screen, I knew I wanted to watch it even if I knew […]
<i>Hollywood Con Queen</i> follows stranger than fiction true story of a con artist
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Avatar: Fire and Ash is visually stunning but nothing new plot-wise
Avatar: Fire and AshWhat’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Arroyo Grande Director and co-writer James Cameron returns with this third installment in his Avatar franchise, and I’ll start by saying it’s absolutely visually stunning but absolutely derivative in its storytelling. All three Avatar films—Avatar […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Let’s remember the people who served impeccable food and beverages last year
Allow me, the Sun’s Eats writer, to make a toast. We’ve made it through a quarter of the century, and that alone is worth a bit of cheer. Gathering around a table to break bread is one of life’s great pleasures, and it’s even better with a fun drink in hand and a spoonful of […]
Posted inNews
Almost there: Guadalupe’s Royal Theater retrofit hits another snag after groundbreaking ceremony
In the pantheon of roadblocks that have slowed down efforts to resurrect Guadalupe’s shuttered Royal Theater, asbestos is the latest hiccup keeping the $13 million project at a temporary standstill. Two weeks after local organizers and elected officials held a formal groundbreaking to celebrate the reboot reaching its construction phase (to transform the vacant venue […]
Posted inNews
Department of Transportation classifies Las Flores pipeline under new regulatory oversight
Within 24 hours of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ Dec. 16 vote to deny Sable Offshore the permit transfers it needs to revive the Las Flores pipeline, a separate governing body responded to the Texas-based oil producer’s appeal to a higher power. On Dec. 17, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Sable’s request […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Police Department’s Drone First Responder program is ready to take flight
Lompoc City Council members approved a deal for the Lompoc Police Department to buy and operate drones as first responders on calls. Officials hope deploying the drones will improve public safety and the department’s efficiency. At the Dec. 16 meeting, council members voted 5-0 for a two-year pilot period, which will cost $100,000 per year. […]
Posted inNews
Buellton Planning Commission approves new self-storage site on Industrial Way
When Daniel Contreras rounded out Buellton’s five-member Planning Commission, one of his first goals was to help the city make better use of existing properties that become idle for one reason or another. “[We] have a lot of facilities and parcels that are just gathering dust at the moment, and we’re not revitalizing those areas,” […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: December 25, 2025
• U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California) and John Curtis (R-Utah) co-introduced the Timeshare Pricing Transparency Act on Dec. 18. This bipartisan legislation aims to protect consumers from confusing contracts, hidden fees, and unclear exit options in the timeshare industry. “Americans deserve to have all of the information they need upfront, before entering any timeshare commitment, […]
Posted inNews
At Santa Maria’s Neurofighters gym, boxers combat the progression of neurological conditions
Around 20 boxers filed into a studio on East Main Street on a Wednesday afternoon in December. Led by sisters Kristi Boasso and April Huckabey, the class warmed up with moves like marching in place, opening and closing their fists, and cross body punches. The oldies station was on, and a few participants sang along. […]
Posted inOpinion
Tough crowd
Anyone who thought that Guadalupe’s downtown was finally going to be home to construction activities on the Royal Theater revamp needs to wait just a little bit longer. After breaking ground in early December, the project hit another snag. The city needs Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District [APCD] approval to move forward with […]
Posted inOpinion
Reflect on the most wonderful time of the year before 2026
Well, the Christmas parades are behind us; all the Christmas displays are up and running, and the Lompoc City electric division is counting more revenue from all those home-lighting themes. When I was young, Christmas morning was the long-awaited culmination of a boy’s hopes and dreams. We saw angels, mangers, tumbleweed snowmen, and Santa’s sleighs […]
Posted inOpinion
Trump’s deal-making benefits the world, not us
The international equivalent of the S&P 500 Index is the ACWI Index, which tracks large and mid-cap stocks in almost 50 developed countries and emerging markets. It usually performs similar the S&P 500 and at times even underperforms it. This year, since Trump took over, the S&P 500 is up almost 18 percent, which is […]