Whether a new Santa Barbara County initiative helps alleviate or worsen residents’ concerns about local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity was up for debate at the Board of Supervisors’ April 21 meeting. “We have people out there who are becoming constitutional scholars on both sides on what is lawful and what is not,” 4th […]
Santa Barbara County passes ‘symbolic’ ICE safeguard policy package
Posted inNews
Political Watch: April 30, 2026
• Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) introduced a bill package in mid-April that aims to improve health care access for Californians. The package includes three separate bills that put new policy mandates on health insurance companies and osteopathic physicians across the state. Assembly Bill 1703, for example, would ensure that all osteopathic physicians serving patients […]
Posted inNews
A new live-actionrole-play chapter in Santa Maria extends a sword to prospective participants
In a land not so far away, mortals of all ages build friendships while running around the park swinging harmless weapons and defending themselves with handmade shields. Though it’s a pretend world, their bonds are quite real. Dean Scott often spends his Sundays with friends competing in live-action role-play (LARP) games. They pretend to be […]
Posted inCanary
License to love
Lompoc’s little rebate program for local residents seems to be backfiring. After the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office charged City Councilmember Steve Bridge with a litany of offenses, including committing fraud on the energy and conservation rebate program applications, the city is taking a closer look at things. As part of the city’s annual […]
Posted inLetters To The Editor
It’s not wise to cut the Sheriff’s Office’s budget
First let’s stipulate that the primary duty of government is to ensure the safety of the public and provide a robust utility infrastructure and a serviceable road system. Public safety includes a police function, district attorney, jails to house those convicted of violating the laws, fire protection, and emergency medical service. Everything else government does […]
Posted inOpinion
Ricardo Valencia is best for supervisor
I’ve studied all the candidates running for Steve Lavagnino’s seat on the Board of Supervisors. I am voting for Ricardo Valencia in the June 2 primary. Ricardo’s campaign is powered by dozens of energetic volunteers, and like Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he is funded by hundreds of small donations […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Old Orcutt Yarnery is accepting sign-ups for classes and a weekend retreat
Whether you’ve never held a knitting needle or you’ve fashioned plenty of garments, the Old Orcutt Yarnery has a spot for you. Seats go quickly for trainings, but the shop released a docket filled with opportunities through the fall. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the help desk is open. Owner Lisa Long and her team are […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cypress Gallery hosts an artist reception for its duo exhibit
The latest show at the Cypress Gallery, titled Evolving, is made possible by the work of C. Wood and Chuck Klein. They’ll meet with the public on May 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. for a reception at the gallery. Wood’s work is nonrepresentational. Life is short, so she wants to keep trying new styles. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dynasty: The Murdochs examines media mogul Ruport Murdoch’s life and family
This four-part documentary series directed by Liz Garbus (What Happened, Miss Simone?) and written by Sara Enright (Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes) follows media mogul Rupert Murdoch as his children compete to see who will inherit his multibillion-dollar media empire. (four 47- to 56-min. episodes) Dynasty: The MurdochsWhat’s it rated? TV-MA What’s […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
DTF St. Louis is a twisty mystery filled with promiscuity
DTF St. LouisWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? HBO Max I heard Jason Bateman talking about this series on his podcast Smartless as it was being made, so when DTF St. Louis hit HBO streaming, I thought I was ready for what was to come. I’d seen the trailer, I knew the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Netflix’s Breakdown: 1975 offers a brief look at the best films of that era
Breakdown: 1975What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix Morgan Neville (Lorne, Man on the Run) directs this documentary he co-wrote with Alan Lowe (Mr. November, Lorne) that examines the year 1975 through the lens of the risk-taking movies released that year: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, Shampoo, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
From fine dining to delicatessen delights, Tony Minniti knows how to please a crowd
Before discovering Tony’s on Palisade, Craig Diamantopoulos was indifferent about driving with his wife to her doctor’s appointments. She commutes from their home in Lompoc to the Marian Regional Medical Center campus in Santa Maria. But for months now, Diamantopoulos has insisted on making the trek with his wife so he can grab a bite. […]