News Roundup

May 14, 2026

Two Former Department Stores Might Get Repurposed

Other recent news: The Biltmore appears to have been pushed back again; possible names for Calle Cesar Chavez; new housing at Santa Barbara Zoo could thwart Highway 101 pedestrian bridge; Modoc Multi-Use Path opened; county moves forward with workforce housing on Carrillo Street; speed-limit reductions on Santa Claus Lane and San Antonio Creek Road; Target launched next-day delivery in Santa Barbara; Ojai tastemaker's art and antiques recommendations. 2

April 30, 2026

The State Street Plan Is Moving Forward

Other recent news: The San Ysidro Ranch finally acknowledged that it has been working on a botanical garden; another candidate for Kristen Sneddon's seat on the city council; the race for county auditor-controller; the return of by-the-wind sailors; Chabad of Santa Barbara's new 7,400-square-foot building approved; SpaceX's lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission was settled; tree of the month. 4

April 23, 2026

The County’s Plan to Prioritize Housing for Locals

Other recent news: An update on Fairview Gardens in Goleta; efforts to keep ICE off county property; mobilizing against incumbent County Clerk Joe Holland; fraud in Montecito. 4

April 16, 2026

Randy Rowse Dropped Out of the Mayoral Race

Other recent news: Another snakebite on front-country trails; nine cannabis operators' licenses revoked; Carpinteria Valley begins work on facility to make wastewater potable; Ensemble Theatre Company's next season.

April 9, 2026

Santa Barbara Is Closer to Limiting Rent Increases

Other recent news: ICE arrests at county jails; Calle Cesar Chavez headed toward renaming; the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum has closed; Montecito water and sewage districts might merge; fundraising drive for Elings Park softball complex; the Pea Soup Andersen’s building conundrum. 3

March 26, 2026

Overnight RV Camping Lot Proposed at East Beach

Other recent news: Costco is looking into the possibility of a Goleta gas station; a quartet of interesting homes; inside Montecito's Pig House; could Isla Vista become a city?; self-storage with social aspect coming downtown; the tree of the month. 14

March 19, 2026

Is Calle Cesar Chavez Headed for a Renaming?

Other recent news: Trump administration forces restarting of offshore oil platform; Jay and Kristen Ruskey's cause of death; more on the Montecito Country Mart's fight to keep its post office; the design for a downtown pavement art project. 9

March 12, 2026

First Look at the Development Proposed for the Carpinteria Bluffs

Other recent news: No deadline extensions for cannabis odor scrubbers; what's next for the armory building on Canon Perdido Street; Santa Barbara might raise the property transfer tax; just one monarch butterfly spotted at Ellwood Mesa; short-term vacation rental ordinance moves forward; federal government continues to push for Sable Offshore; One805Live! performers announced.  13

February 26, 2026

The Threat of New Offshore Drilling

Other recent news: Unedited video of last week's ICE altercation; more on Santa Barbara Airport's flooding problems; insinuations about a former Montecito resident who knew Jeffrey Epstein; portion of Maria Ygnacio Bike Path closed for repairs; the tree of the month. 1

February 19, 2026

ICE Agents Caught Lying to Oxnard Police

Other recent news: 72-room hotel approved in Carpinteria; Open Air Bicycles update; half of Carpinteria cannabis farms miss the scrubber deadline; the widening of Mission Creek; Cottage Health's partnership with a local high school; downtown building nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. 4