• State Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), vice chair of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, was recently selected to serve as the 53rd president pro tempore of the California Senate. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) and Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), the co-chairs of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, issued statements on June […]
Political Watch: June 26, 2025
Posted inNews
Santa Maria postpones decisions on spending thresholds and three employment contracts
Proposed inflation adjustments and contract renewals raised red flags for Santa Maria City Council members, who spent most of their June 17 meeting dissecting the consent calendar. Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez pulled one item, while Councilmember Gloria Flores pulled two. The council ultimately tabled their decisions on all three—each of which were related to city spending—until […]
Posted inNews
Solvang renews Goleta Library partnership with $100,000 fee increase
For the past six years, the city of Goleta has operated, staffed, and furnished the Solvang Library thanks to a county decree. Prior to the summer of 2019, Santa Barbara County managed the facility before contracting with Goleta to take the helm of Solvang’s library and three others across the Santa Ynez Valley. The current […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc to continue funding chamber of commerce after public speaks out
The Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce isn’t going anywhere. Following outcry from local residents, Lompoc City Council reversed course on a decision to decrease funding for the organization. Council members unanimously decided to continue providing the chamber $108,000 annually for the 2025-27 fiscal years at the June 17 meeting. In response to a June 3 […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Echo Valley explores the depth of a mother’s love
Echo Valley What’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ Julianne Moore gives a quiet, simmering performance as Kate, a woman in the wake of tragedy who’s isolated herself into a life of training horses and awaiting the next time her daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), shows up looking for drug money. When […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cleaner is a fun little Die Hard wannabe
Cleaner What’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Max Michael Campell has directed terrific films such as GoldenEye (1995), The Mask of Zorro (1998), and Casino Royal (2006), but his latest isn’t among his best. Cleaner is, however, a serviceable action adventure in the vein of Die Hard (1988). Former soldier Joey is […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
28 Years Later is a postapocalyptic coming of age tale
28 Years Later 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 Arroyo Grande Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) directs this third installment of the zombie franchise. Original writer Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation, […]
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Targeted tactics: Northern Santa Barbara County cities try to get a handle on illegal fireworks in the sky and on the ground
Whether the risk of being fined $1,000 discourages illegal fireworks use in Guadalupe or not, two longtime residents said they’re hoping to make the city feel like less of a “warzone” when July 4 rolls around by targeting offenders’ hearts rather than their wallets. “We sort of went with the approach that we appeal to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Winning Images 2025
For 30 years, New Times Media Group has been asking Central Coast photographers to send their best moments our way. Animal moments, people moments, floral moments, and more. This year, they submitted 333 images for our annual Winning Images contest, which our judges narrowed down to the top three in each of eight categories and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Filmed in Cambria, family drama Hidden Creek starts a one-week run in the Palm Theatre
Hidden Creek What’s it rated? Unrated When? 2025? Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo, Friday, June 20, through Thursday, June 26 In their directorial debut, Darien Jewel and Julian Mercado helm this family drama written by Cambria-based clinical psychologist Steve Brody about Jimmy Tucker (John Henry Richardson), an elderly widowed rancher […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Studio satirizes a legacy movie studio struggling to survive in a changing Hollywood
The Studio What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ Hollywood gets a thorough skewering in this ensemble satirical comedy about struggling film production company Continental Studios. Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) is the newly appointed studio head, a self-described cinephile who wants to make important films. Continental’s CEO, Griffin Mill (a hilarious […]
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Tyler Perry’s Straw follows a desperate and marginalized mother struggle to care for her daughter
Straw What’s it rated? Unrated What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Netflix Writer-director Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Six Triple Eight) helms this psychological crime drama about single mother Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson) living hand-to-mouth in a rundown apartment with her […]