In January, the Hagadone-owned community weekly I started my newspaper career at closed. The Bigfork Eagle kept its website, which is no longer populated by a staff of two dedicated to the unincorporated tiny town at the edge of Flathead Lake in Montana—instead, it’s filled with stories written by the Daily Interlake, the “parent” paper […]
A media challenge
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Strength and survival: State and local agencies reach out to help victims move forward with their lives
Last year Santa Maria had one of the highest homicide rates in its history. In its wake family, friends, and loved ones were left to pick up the pieces. Often, there are unplanned burial expenses, unpaid bills, relocation, and needed services to help them with emotional and mental health. In the case of sex crimes, […]
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Alvin Elementary School earns Gold Ribbon School Award
Alvin Elementary School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, was one of nine schools in the county and 722 in the state to recently receive a California Gold Ribbon School Award. Alvin earned the award for its distinctive College Starts Here program, which encourages students as early as kindergarten to start thinking about choosing a […]
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Sen. Jackson discusses workforce development, youth, and community with students at Santa Maria’s Center for Employment Training
Students at the Center for Employment Training (CET) Santa Maria training facility had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) while the senator toured the facility on April 22. Jackson discussed the importance of workforce development opportunities for youth and adults in Northern Santa Barbara County. The visit also gave Jackson personal […]
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Los Olivos Elementary Secretary Wins State-Level Award
Lisa Andresen from Los Olivos Elementary School was recognized as the state-level winner in the office and technical category for Classified Employee of the Year. Now in her 12th year at Los Olivos, Andresen serves as the school’s secretary. Working in a small school requires employees to be flexible and often wear a variety of […]
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Spotlight on: Wings of Freedom Tour
They were the planes that helped win WWII and have since been put out of commission. But they haven’t been forgotten. The Wings of Freedom Tour will help you remember. The tour is bringing a unique display of WWII-era vintage military aircraft to the Santa Maria Public Airport from May 16 to 18. Touring more […]
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Growers, residents in Santa Maria area clash over housing for H2-A farmworkers
On Wednesday, April 6, an unfinished house in Nipomo burned down in a late-night fire. It wasn’t just any house—it was one of the seven three-bedroom homes that, upon completion, would make up a development called Mads Place. Mads Place was set to host up to 112 people—that’s 16 per house—under H-2A, a federal program […]
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County seats: Seven candidates vie for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors 3rd and 4th District positions
This year, three positions are up for grabs on the five-member Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors: the 1st, 3rd, 4th Districts. First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal is leaving to make a run at Congress, with term-limited California 37th District Assemblymember Das Williams and current Santa Barbara County Investment Officer Jennifer Christensen running to fill […]
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Capps endorses Central Coast marine sanctuary proposal
U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) announced her support for the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on Monday, May 2, at a press conference in Pismo Beach. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council is spearheading the movement, which aims to designate Central Coast waters as a National Marine Sanctuary. The designation would impose […]
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Pipeline Safety Act moves forward
The House Energy and Commerce Committee gave U.S. Rep. Lois Capps’ (D-Santa Barbara) Pipeline Safety Act a stamp of approval last week. The bill seeks to strengthen safety regulations on oil and gas pipelines throughout the United States. Capps’ Press Secretary C.J. Young told the Sun that the bill vies to apply lessons learned from […]
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California Department of Fish and Wildlife evaluates response to Refugio oil spill
As the first anniversary of the Refugio Beach oil spill draws near, the state released a report on Tuesday, May 3, evaluating its response to the spill. Overall, the report commended the cooperation between government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and criticized preventative planning and education efforts. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office […]
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Santa Maria Ashley Furniture customers will get their furniture, attorney says
An attorney representing Santa Maria Decor Inc., the company that owns Ashley Furniture in Santa Maria, said that customers will get the furniture they paid for. The furniture store, which is independently owned and has a registered trademark agreement with the parent company, Ashley Furniture Homestore, filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. […]
