Bee there Flying Goat Cellars invites everyone to join them for an educational bee event on April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1520 E. Chestnut Court, Lompoc. More information can be found at flyinggoatcellars.com/blogs/news/down-to-earth-month-2025. Honeybee hives consist of the queen bee, the worker bees, and the drone bees, creating a complicated yet “magical” […]
Flying Goat Cellars creates a buzz around local beekeeping efforts
Posted inNews
Political Watch: April 24, 2025
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, described as “a comprehensive approach to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises in California and across the nation,” in an April 21 statement from Padilla’s office. The […]
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Two gas station projects pivot to meet Buellton’s art deco standards
Under the same ownership for about 30 years, Buellton’s Shell station on Highway 246 is gearing up for an expansion to allow more pumps. But not without a new look mandated by the city. Owner Peter Hong, founder of the Conico Oil Company, is seeking to demolish the station’s convenience store and other structures on […]
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Los Padres National Forest expected to be affected by executive order that expands logging
Amid a slew of executive orders from the Trump administration, one to expand logging efforts has a local nonprofit worried about the potential impacts for endangered species, erosion, and wildfire prevention Los Padres National Forest. On March 1, the executive order “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” ordered the streamlining of logging permitting throughout the […]
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Santa Maria Planning Commission approves Sears remodel for incoming grocery store
Boarded up since early 2020, the shuttered, former home of Sears in Santa Maria is due for a makeover in the eyes of its owner and some city officials. During its April 16 meeting, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved a permit for a proposed remodel of the empty two-story building attached to the Santa […]
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Avoiding disaster: Santa Maria aims for de facto moratorium on new battery energy storage facilities
Santa Maria aims to keep battery energy storage system (BESS) projects out of the city with a new set of rules still waiting for final approval. The overlap between specific industrial areas where BESS facilities are allowed and spaces near residential or agricultural uses where they will be banned will make the city’s sign-off impossible, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Art exhibition in Santa Maria highlights the talents and perspectives of local artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities
View the visions The New Muralism: Valley Visions exhibition will tentatively be on display throughout the rest of the year in the Betteravia Gallery at the Government Center in Santa Maria. Find more information at sbac.ca.gov/current-gallery-exhibitions. What began as colored pencil drawings depicting local artists’ interpretations and perspectives of the Santa Maria Valley evolved into […]
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Coastal Commission fines Sable $18 million for violating the Coastal Act
The regional water board will discuss Sable Offshore Corporation’s alleged state water code violations one week after the California Coastal Commission opted to fine the oil company $18 million for “egregious and flagrant” refusal to abide by the Coastal Act. “What we really have before us is a compliance issue,” commission Chair Justin Cummings said […]
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Diverted from jail: Judge grants convicted arsonist mental health help instead of sending him to trial
Exiting his Orcutt garage, Rockie Daren Ginter already had his hands raised as he approached Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on the morning of his arrest. Owned by Ginter’s parents, the house on Genoa Way was emitting flames and black smoke, according to court documents. Ginter allegedly told deputies about the voices in his head […]
Posted inOpinion
Stand with education equity
The White House recently issued an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. If enacted, this decision would roll back decades of progress in ensuring equal access to quality education, disproportionately harming marginalized communities, including the youth we serve. While an executive order alone does not have the authority to shut down the […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s all politics
I am 70 years old, and I want to retire. I can financially live on my Social Security income with supplements from my savings. I planned and saved for this. But now I’m fearful and not sure if Social Security will be around much longer. Is talking to others about Social Security political talk? Is […]
Posted inOpinion
Is supporting noncitizens economically sound?
What are the impacts to American citizens from creating a sanctuary state or city? Providing sanctuary for immigrants who enter our country without following the proper protocols is costly in many ways to persons who are American citizens either by birthright or naturalization. Politicians aren’t noted for looking ahead to see what might happen if […]
