News Roundup

June 5, 2025

Music Academy of the West Has Plans for a Downtown Hub

Other recent news: Traffic collisions were up in 2024; remembering journalist Barney Brantingham; rival rodeos this summer; the Carpinteria Community Pool is headed for a big renovation; UCSB's pokey search for a new chancellor; the tree of the month. 7

May 30, 2025

Can Anything Be Done About the Monstrosity Behind the Mission?

Other recent news: A second launch facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base; research into the noise caused by rocket launches; electric shuttle to run along lower State Street. 53

May 22, 2025

Rite Aid Is Hitting the Skids

Other recent news: Sable Offshore Corporation has restarted oil operations; gearing up for this year's Summer Solstice Celebration; a profile of Lynda Weinman; the expansion of Arroyo Hondo Preserve; return of the East Beach "beach club." 5

May 15, 2025

Santa Barbara May Take Action on Sidewalk Signage

Other recent news: County votes to phase out onshore oil and gas operations; new home for Tri-County Produce quonset huts; La Casa de la Raza building deemed unsafe; update on decommissioning of Chevron facilities near the Carpinteria Bluffs; Pilates studio opening; unmanned aircraft to be tested at Oxnard and Camarillo airports. 11

May 8, 2025

The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum Opens Next Week

Other recent news: Downtown homeless center has become a nuisance; Santa Barbara school district rescinded all those pink slips; the Isla Vista Food Co-Op is on the ropes; Broadway in Santa Barbara's 2025-26 lineup; will Los Patos Way end with a whimper? 3

May 1, 2025

SBCC Is Going to Build a New Athletic Complex

Other recent news: The new News-Press launched a website; Santa Barbara Unified School District is working on building employee housing at two sites; Santa Barbara MedCenter to remain open under new ownership; the tree of the month. 12

April 24, 2025

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Is Going to Sell McCormick House

Other recent news: Renoviction ordinance adopted; 2028 LA Olympics won't be around here; the case of the big red shoe; judge resigns amid misconduct allegations; online map for lost pets; Lake Cachuma may allow swimming; UCSB to build more housing; cars keep running into a Westside duplex; large self-storage facility proposed in Goleta; possible redevelopment of the Pea Soup Andersen’s building. 11

April 17, 2025

Changes Likely for Santa Barbara Parking Fees

Other recent news: State Street test of "pedlets" that extend the sidewalk into the street; partial closures at Alice Keck Park; environmental groups are suing the state fire marshal in an effort to block Sable Offshore Corporation; check theft in Montecito; urgent-care facility Med Center to close. 7

April 10, 2025

The County Might Build Workforce Housing Downtown

Other recent news: Jewelry store to close after 52 years; another DignityMoves project is in the works; prominent developer says he's getting out of Santa Barbara; city survey of historical buildings in San Roque; Trump administration orders more logging in Los Padres National Forest; Cottage Health looking to open a big new building in Buellton. 4

April 3, 2025

MarBorg’s Massive New Headquarters Takes a Step Forward

Other recent news: The Fiesta rodeo is in flux; sea animals are dying from a toxic algae bloom; aesthetic tweaks for the big apartment building proposed for Milpas Street; new Carpinteria surf shop; senior housing on Laguna Street to get upsized; the county's expensive ambulance mess. 3