News Roundup

June 24, 2021

All International Arrivals Are Now Required to Have a Negative Covid-19 Test

Other recent news: A path to reopening for La Casa de Maria; fundraising push for Carpinteria skatepark; Fiesta will have its marketplace once again; new midcentury home decor store in the Funk Zone; Reef & Run and Nite Moves are back; county supervisors approve 87-acre cannabis grow in wine country.

June 21, 2021

Why Are People So Slow to Ditch Their Masks?

Other recent news: People of color fare worse in Santa Barbara's criminal justice system; bike-rental program to expand to Funk Zone, the waterfront, and Coast Village Road; Santa Barbara Fair & Expo is this week; local designer who makes aprons and biodegradable garbage bags; development likely for lot behind Home Depot; got any Jonathan Winters anecdotes? 1

June 17, 2021

Baby Steps Toward Opening Hollister Ranch Beaches to the Public

Other recent news: Westmont's "Pickle Tree" is being cut down; MacKenzie Scott gave $20 million to Santa Barbara City College; Montecito man helps a family of ducks; the harbor mini-mart reopened with a new name; citizens’ groups disagree over cannabis deals; another Edhat classic.

June 15, 2021

Fully Vaccinated People Can Ditch Masks in Most Settings

Other recent news: the four women who started Save the San Marcos Foothills; SBPD spokesman Anthony Wagner is seeking $4.6 million from L.A. magazine; the Mission Canyon Bridge discussion; county finally starts cracking down on cannabis scofflaws; Barrett Reed is running for city council; musician buys in Montecito; Santa Barbara's new community development director; fire near Lake Casitas; Ojai Music Festival will be in September.

June 9, 2021

Another Chunk of Highway 101 Will Be Under Construction for Years

Other recent news: Santa Barbara County has entered the yellow tier; the city is looking for a hotel to house the homeless; inside a fashion-company founder's Montecito estate; a new company that does composting for you; Chapala Street lane reduction; El Capitán State Beach closure pushed back; sexual harassment lawsuit against former Santa Barbara finance director; Music Academy of the West's 2021 season announced; the upcoming Santa Barbara Studio Artists open studio tour; the Biden administration's effort to retool Section 1031 exchanges.

June 7, 2021

A Battle Is Brewing Over Mission Creek Bridge

Other recent news: Ticks are on the rise in coastal California; more on the human remains found in Montecito; the push for a Coast Village Road business improvement district; how prescribed burns work; the lure of Montecito's Golden Quadrangle; Seaside Makers Collective opening on State Street; coast and sheep put to work on Eucalyptus Hill; cannabis farm broke air-pollution laws for nearly a year.

June 3, 2021

The County Has Pledged to Close Any Foothills Funding Gap

Other recent news: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi bought yet another Montecito property; an update on how the city's bike-rental program is doing; construction of a bike path linking Santa Claus Lane and Carpinteria will start next year.

May 28, 2021

Only $1.6 Million More Needed to Save the San Marcos Foothills

Other recent news: Construction on the 101's Montecito segment to start in fall of 2022; Bellosguardo Foundation starts talking about tours; Hotel Santa Barbara is on the market; earthquake six miles off the coast; county likely to reach yellow tier right before the tier system is abolished; the Crafter's Library opens Saturday; buyers of two big-ticket properties revealed; anti-cannabis lawsuit tossed out of court; skeletal remains discovered in Montecito; local fashion designer Kate McHale Jensen opened a shop here; peeved at sloppy parking.

May 24, 2021

United Airlines Is Launching Daily Service to Chicago

Other recent news: Remembering former mayor Hal Conklin; SBPD's embattled public information officer won't be returning next year; a new low-cost airline is using Burbank as a hub; MarBorg's expansion moves forward.

May 21, 2021

Forward Progress of TV Hill Fire Has Been Stopped

Other recent news: Santa Barbara County to ignore CDC and follow state guidance on masks; yellow tier still out of reach; expanded in-person summer classes at UC Santa Barbara; effort to discourage homeless on Milpas Street; Foodbank food-and-cookware drive this Saturday.