Santa Maria City Council seeks applicants after Carlos Escobedo resigns

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Political Watch: March 12, 2026

Avatar photo by Caleb Wiseblood

•On March 9, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that he secured new federal funding for two infrastructure projects in San Luis Obispo County. These two projects are related to improving the Shell Beach Road shared use path and Morro Bay’s city stormwater system, respectively. In order to extend the local shared use path, […]

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TMHA’s Bowl-A-Thon raises money for Central Coast mental health resources

By Fiona Hastings

Since the 1970s, Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) has held an annual bowl-a-thon. The nonprofit serves San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties with the aim of reducing stigma around mental health and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness.  “I think the idea was that it was unique,” TMHA Executive Director Jill Bolster-White […]

Posted inOpinion

Surprise, surprise

by The Canary

The Santa Maria City Council had at least one surprise during its March 3 meeting—and no, it’s not that the council isn’t forming an ad hoc immigration committee.  One of the council members resigned 11 minutes into the meeting.  Why? Well, Carlos Escobedo said he’s moving out of his district and didn’t feel right sticking […]

Posted inOpinion

Know before you vote: One 5th District county supervisor candidate has what it takes to lead North County

by Roy Reed, Santa Maria

Fifth District voters face an important decision June 2 as three candidates compete to succeed the departing Steve Lavagnino on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. First, Cory Bantilan, for the past 16 years chief of staff for Supervisor Lavagnino. Quietly competent and skilled in the operations of county government, Mr. Bantilan has set […]

Posted inOpinion

Sharing the dunes goes both ways

By Rachelle Toti, Arroyo Grande

Regarding the “Learn to share” opinion piece (March 5), I agree with the thought, “You need to learn to share with those who have just as much right to the beach as you do.” In that spirit, I propose “vehicle-free beach days” be implemented for Oceano residents and others who would like to enjoy the […]

Posted inOpinion

We have power over fossil fuels despite the administration’s rollbacks

By Don Gaede, San Luis Obispo

For those of us who dream of a future where fossil fuels are something only our grandparents can remember, the administration’s recent climate rollbacks have been disappointing, to put it mildly. Overturning the EPA’s endangerment finding was only the latest blow to protecting the climate for our children. But regardless of what happens in Washington, […]

Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture

Indivisible Lompoc members use arts, crafts to stand up for their beliefs

Avatar photo by Madison White

Artistry has been intertwined with social justice activism for hundreds of years. Quilt patterns gave signals to slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad, one Lompoc resident said. Red knit caps symbolized resistance in Norway during Nazi occupation, another told the Sun.  Calls for actionFor more information about joining Indivisible Lompoc’s events, visit indivisiblelompoc.org or follow […]

Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture

The Bride! is a guttural yawp into the patriarchal void

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Anna Starkey and Glen Starkey

Writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal helms this updating of the Bride of Frankenstein story. Set in 1930s Chicago and up the Eastern seaboard, the story follows Frankenstein’s monster (Christian Bale), who’s referred to as Frank, as he asks Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening) to create him a companion to help cure his deep loneliness. They resurrect a dead […]

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