For the sixth time in four decades, City Council members in Santa Maria got a bump in their salaries. They’ll make an extra $341 per month starting in December. The Santa Maria City Council voted 3-2 on Aug. 4 to approve the increase. Mayor Alice Patino will earn around $2,298 per month and the rest […]
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See ya: A look back at 2025’s headlines in northern Santa Barbara County
This past year was full of headlines about the Trump administration, federal job cuts, and increased immigration enforcement. But through all of that national news, northern Santa Barbara County was still humming along, impacted by the new federal polices and national politics and continuing with business as usual. The biggest, most consistent headlines were about […]
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A position’s worth: Unsatisfied by a 1 percent raise, Santa Maria-Bonita employees enter mediation with the district
This October marks Cheryl Ausan’s 31st year making breakfast and lunch for hundreds of schoolchildren a day. She’s been stationed in cafeteria kitchens within the Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) for all 31 of those years. For the past 20, she’s held the title of food service worker at Ida Redmond Taylor Elementary School on […]
