••• “A memorial remembering black people who have been killed in the United States has been installed [at Yanonali and Helena] in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The memorial, with flowers and 216 photos, honors people who have died in the country because of injustice, racism and police brutality, according to the organizers,” a group of “wedding industry professionals.” —Noozhawk
••• “The Public Health Department disclosed Wednesday that Santa Barbara County’s Covid-19 hospitizations have reached their highest point since the start of the pandemic. Currently, 72 residents are receiving hospitalized treatment, with 21 people in ICUs. […] On Thursday, Cottage Health sent a letter to medical staff explaining its Santa Barbara hospital would be cutting its scheduled elective surgeries in half ‘based on a projected potential nursing shortage’ if trends don’t change.” —Independent
••• “Jason Harris, Santa Barbara’s economic development manager, plans to recommend to the Santa Barbara City Council extending the State Street promenade past Sept. 8. Harris said he is preparing a report to take to the full City Council in August.” —Noozhawk
••• “The new Viva! Santa Barbara store has opened up in the Paseo Nuevo mall. Owner Rafa Martel who, with his mother, owns the very tightly packed and much smaller store, Mely’s on the Westside, says the new site is very spacious. […] It has 3100 square feet of clothing for women, men, children and many accessories. The displays also have shoes, purses, wallets, jewelry and hats.” —KEYT
••• “Isla Vista leasing companies are seeing a stable demand for housing despite UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College transitioning to a hybrid class model for at least the fall term.” —Noozhawk
••• Five employees of the Chumash Casino Resort have now tested positive for Covid-19. —KEYT
••• “What was first talked about around 25 years ago has become a reality in Carpinteria with the completion of two new bridge and ramp projects. It’s part of a larger freeway widening plan for U.S. Highway 101 in the very heavily used coastal corridor. The bridges have been completely replaced at Linden Ave. and Casitas Pass Rd. […] Each bridge has additional vehicle lanes, along with bike lanes that connect to a larger city bicycle network for safe riding to downtown, the beach and south to the Rincon. There, a Class One bike lake provides a safe route to Ventura. […] The work was completed five months ahead of schedule.” —KEYT
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