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 […]
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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 […]
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Creating space: The Santa Maria Valley lacks dedicated places for the LGBTQ-plus community
In the early days of the Allan Hancock College Pride Alliance, students wrote on name tags preferred names and pronouns, with the understanding that the names would only be used during meetings for safety reasons, said Jackie, a student and Pride Alliance member. The student organization is dedicated to helping LGBTQ-plus students through events and […]
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Boundary lines: Santa Barbara and SLO counties work together to address Santa Maria Riverbed homeless encampments
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are teaming up to address a growing number of homeless encampments in the Santa Maria Riverbed. A $6 million grant Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded to Santa Barbara County in 2023 aims to clean up encampments, including in the Santa Maria Riverbed between Santa Barbara and SLO counties that’s […]
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‘Long overdue’
Santa Maria Fire Department implements annual physicals and seeks additional funding for preventative care
Santa Maria Fire Battalion Chief Evan Scott got his third physical exam in his 20-year career as a Santa Maria firefighter after he helped establish the department’s health and wellness program. “It was a big deal. It was the goal I was shooting for before I retired,” Scott told the Sun. “I banged that drum […]
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Weddings Issue 2024
In this year’s annual issue, you can find the latest dress fashion, traditions and where they came from, and the vintage cake trend
Wedding season is almost here, and we’ve got some information for those of you still trying to decide what to do for yours. In this year’s annual Weddings Issue, Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor speaks with wedding dress purveyors and planners about what’s on-trend in bride and bridesmaid fashion; Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey from the […]
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Shifting services
Santa Barbara and SLO counties’ behavioral health departments could see changes to programs if Proposition 1 passes
California voters will vote on Proposition 1 in March, which could change local behavioral wellness program funding and structure. The multi-pronged legislation attempts to modernize the 2004 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)—a personal income tax measure that established the current structure of county behavioral wellness programs—and add a $6.4 billion bond measure to build 10,000 […]
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Cost of living
Santa Maria city employees, firefighters want more money than the city is bargaining for
Santa Maria firefighter Shea Weidler has lived in a van since October because he can’t afford housing costs with the salary he makes. “As a 30-year-old, you see yourself owning a home and more stable, but when you’re living in a van, living paycheck to paycheck, it kind of wears on you,” Weidler said. “While […]
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Health & Wellness 2024
Music therapy as medicine and the benefits of being around horses
For this year’s issue of Health and Wellness, we decided to focus on therapy—not traditional therapy, though. We explored a couple of outside-the-box approaches. Staff Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas from the Sun’s sister paper, New Times, chatted with a certified music practitioner about how she uses her tunes to help individuals going through difficult medical […]
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Hancock’s first rodeo
Santa Maria’s community college is hosting its inaugural competition in March at the Elks event center
Spring roundup Contact ahcrodeo@gmail.com or (805) 357-6324 for vendor or sponsor information, or if you are interested in volunteering to help Allan Hancock College host its first college rodeo. Gates open at 5 p.m. at the Elks Rodeo Grounds on March 14 and 15, and the college rodeo begins at 6:30 p.m. each day. Paloma […]
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Rooster rules
Santa Barbara County residents speak out about a new ordinance limiting the number of roosters on properties
Eduardo Ramos began raising chickens at his Cebada Canyon home when he bought the property a little more than a year ago, Ramos told the Sun. “I did extensive research before acquiring the property and saw that this is the right place to keep my fowl because of zoning,” he said. “Then I started hearing […]
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Roadblocks to care
Seniors, residents with disabilities say a lack of medical transportation and long wait times for in-home services are issues in Santa Barbara County
Get help Call the Independent Living Resource Center at (805) 462-1162 or visit ilre-trico.org to learn more. Long waits for in-home supportive services and a lack of rural transportation services are some of the many issues Santa Barbara County’s residents with disabilities and senior citizens face on a regular basis. A public health survey conducted […]