More than 1,000 Santa Barbara County residents experienced homelessness for the first time in 2024—a jump from 849 in 2023, according to the county’s Point-In-Time Count. Santa Barbara County Homeless Assistance Program Manager Kimberlee Albers told the Sun that the majority of these folks are often seniors or families with children falling out of housing […]
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Posted inSpecial Issues
Pride Issue 2024
Out and about: Our Pride issue highlights a social group for older members of the LGBTQ-plus community and the need for the Pride in Mental Health Act
With this year’s annual Pride issue, we’re taking a little time to focus on support systems for the LGBTQ-plus community—what exists and what needs to exist. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor talks to the Pacific Pride Foundation about a program it’s expanding into North County intended specifically to provide a sense of community that may be […]
Posted inNews
Limited care: Not all reproductive health care services are accessible in Lompoc
After driving three hours from their homes in Lompoc, they met a crowd of picketers surrounding a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood clinic. Kathleen was there with her friend, who was seeking an abortion because the fetus she was carrying wouldn’t survive after birth. “It had been determined that this child she was carrying was suffering […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer Guide 2024
It feels like winter’s still here, doesn’t it? Spring came, but that Central Coast weather hasn’t seemed to come alive just yet. It almost feels like summer will never come, but it will, and with it will come the sun—hopefully. Even if the sun never comes out, though, we’ve got the fun locked down in […]
Posted inNews
Vital draw: The FDA changes guidelines for LGBTQ-plus men who want to donate blood for the first time
An update to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidelines on blood donation allows a whole new cross-section of people to roll up their sleeves and help those in need. In May 2023, the FDA eliminated time-based postponements and screening questions posed to men who have sex with other men (MSM population). Previous instruction deemed […]
Posted inNews
Housing headway: County supervisors approve rezoned sites in largest Housing Element in history, with several sites identified in Orcutt
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors closed the yearslong Housing Element process by rezoning several sites to make way for the needed units. “This wasn’t something that happened overnight; this was two, three years in the making,” 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson told the Sun on May 2. “I want to make sure that […]
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Off to the races: The Santa Maria Speedway is back in business starting May 11
Editor’s note: Santa Maria Speedway General Manager David Castaneda told the Sun after the paper went to press that races have been postponed due to logistical issues, and the speedway is holding an open practice on May 11 from 4 to 9 p.m. instead. Residents can come and watch people practice, but no concessions will […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The hunt for quesabirria: An on-trend taco dials up the flavor all over the Santa Maria Valley
Who doesn’t want a tortilla dipped in consommé and filled with tender, succulent stewed beef and melty cheese? (Unless your vegetarian or vegan, of course.) Top it with some cilantro, onions, and the taquera’s choice of salsa, you really can’t go wrong. The meat falls apart, oozing its saucy origins—stewed for hours with chiles, garlic, […]
Posted inNews
Contract holes: Santa Barbara County aims to adjust its contract with jail health care provider, Wellpath, to improve service levels
“People are thrown into the snake pit,” Santa Barbara County resident Kate Smith said about the jail and the county’s mental health care system during public comment at a recent special meeting. “You can talk about this year’s crop of buckets we could shoot people in to help, [but] it’s no different,” Smith said. “I […]
Posted inNews
Aquarium science: A Cabrillo High School CTE program that involves octopus and hands-on training is expanding
A 1-year-old octopus gently wrapped one of its tentacles around Jenna Gorndt’s fingers as the Cabrillo High School senior lightly touched the top of its aquarium. “I think it’s cool, having an animal that can recognize you when you’re trying to interact with her, because most animals, they aren’t going to be this excited to […]
Posted inNews
Clean up and abandon: While the state undertakes its largest orphan oil well project in California history, environmental groups worry about lack of accountability for oil operators
About a year ago, the California Department of Conservation embarked on the largest oil well plugging and abandonment project in state history, starting in Santa Barbara County. The department’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) set off to plug and abandon 171 orphaned wells in the Santa Maria Valley’s Cat Canyon with $34 million in state […]
Posted inNews
Cannabis conundrum: Santa Barbara County looks at new cannabis tax models after revenue transparency and forecast concerns
When Santa Barbara County opened the doors to legal cannabis operations in 2017, officials designed a tax system without precedent. “There was no model to work from because we were the first ones in the boat,” 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said. During this time, consultants presented the county with two options: taxing the gross […]