Santa Barbara News-Press — Local News for Santa Barbara County

Top Story

U.S. Department of Justice requests ballots from non-citizen voters ahead of next Tuesday’s election

Government

U.S. Department of Justice requests ballots from non-citizen voters ahead of next Tuesday’s election

Second District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps urges the elections office to avoid decisions that are “driven by political pressure from the White House.”

by Joshua Molina Oct. 25October 25, 2026

Latest Stories

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: James Zurlinden rages against the machine in Santa Barbara City Council District 5 bid

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: James Zurlinden rages against the machine in Santa Barbara City Council District 5 bid

by Joshua Molina Oct. 25October 25, 2026

As many as 47,000 people could be kicked off CalFresh

As many as 47,000 people could be kicked off CalFresh

by Madeline Shannon • The Center Square Oct. 25

Cottage Health nurses announce unionization campaign, expect vote on representation by end of the year

Cottage Health nurses announce unionization campaign, expect vote on representation by end of the year

by Tom Schultz Oct. 24October 24, 2026

They fight wildfires. Housing is another battle

They fight wildfires. Housing is another battle

by Lauren Pruett • News21 Oct. 24

Santa Maria High School student and U.S. citizen with disabilities allegedly assaulted by ICE

Santa Maria High School student and U.S. citizen with disabilities allegedly assaulted by ICE

by Angel Corzo Oct. 23October 24, 2026

Start your morning with Daybreak, our free email newsletter

The Santa Barbara County stories you need to know, curated and delivered to your inbox Monday – Friday.

Government

Orcutt library proposal advances: ‘an absolute need’

Orcutt library proposal advances: ‘an absolute need’

by Tom Schultz Oct. 20October 21, 2026

Gabe Escobedo, battle-tested Santa Barbara City Council hopeful, wears his battle scars lightly

Gabe Escobedo, battle-tested Santa Barbara City Council hopeful, wears his battle scars lightly

by Tom Schultz Oct. 20October 22, 2026

‘Every day is a bonus day’: Second chance at life powers Eric Friedman’s bid for Santa Barbara mayor

‘Every day is a bonus day’: Second chance at life powers Eric Friedman’s bid for Santa Barbara mayor

by Kaitlin Sweeney Oct. 19October 19, 2026

Education

San Marcos High School breaks ground on a new era of health care education

San Marcos High School breaks ground on a new era of health care education

by Kaitlin Sweeney Oct. 19October 19, 2026

Top journalists with diverse backgrounds talk future of the industry at Santa Barbara City College

Top journalists with diverse backgrounds talk future of the industry at Santa Barbara City College

by Julianna Lozada Oct. 16October 20, 2026

Public decries pattern of racism at Santa Barbara Unified following ‘blackface’ incident

Public decries pattern of racism at Santa Barbara Unified following ‘blackface’ incident

by Julianna Lozada Oct. 14October 14, 2026

Housing

Friendship Manor senior community approved to move from Isla Vista to downtown Santa Barbara

Friendship Manor senior community approved to move from Isla Vista to downtown Santa Barbara

by Sofia Wallace Oct. 13October 21, 2026

Housing Notebook: Rent stabilization, vacation rental ordinances to go into effect Jan 2027, and more housing news

Housing Notebook: Rent stabilization, vacation rental ordinances to go into effect Jan 2027, and more housing news

by Sofia Wallace Oct. 8October 20, 2026

Affordable housing law expected to prevent foreclosures

Affordable housing law expected to prevent foreclosures

by Madeline Shannon • The Center Square Oct. 11

Environment

Earl Warren Showgrounds confirms no data center will be built

Earl Warren Showgrounds confirms no data center will be built

by Aston Smith Oct. 21October 22, 2026

Lompoc-based nonprofit fighting to protect wild horses from being shipped to slaughter

Lompoc-based nonprofit fighting to protect wild horses from being shipped to slaughter

by Aston Smith Oct. 16October 23, 2026

Montecito Sanitary directors cut their own pay, raise questions about shipping wastewater to Santa Barbara

Montecito Sanitary directors cut their own pay, raise questions about shipping wastewater to Santa Barbara

by Melinda Burns Oct. 16October 18, 2026

See the story

Santa Barbara County, in focus.

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 25

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18152470210473746

Santa Barbara City Council candidate in District 5 James Zurlinden opens up on his views on ICE in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina. Check out the full episode on You Tube on Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina and read article at newspress.com Monday. Zurlinden also talks about State Street, rent stabilization, city budget, La Cumbre Plaza, housing, the Democratic Party and much more!

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 25

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18124346905928396

Quite the Thriller show today at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden. World Dance For Humanity always puts on a great show!

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 24

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 17955842175031546

In a bold step at Santa Barbara County’s largest medical provider, Cottage Health nurses announced a unionization campaign Friday, citing the region’s high cost of living while describing a growing dissatisfaction with their working conditions.

Flanked by family members and three Santa Barbara City Council members, nurses at the forefront of the effort gathered across the street from the healthcare system’s flagship Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital—and said they hope to hold and win a union election before the end of the year.

Cottage Health leaders told the News-Press they respect employees’ right to choose, but also don’t believe third-party representation is the best choice.

“Our position is that we don’t believe we need a union or a third party to be the intermediary,” said Cara Williams, Cottage vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer. “We enjoy a direct connection to our employees, and we want to maintain that."

See story at linkin.bio and newspress.com

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 22

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18426539365155160

A thunderstorm brought dozens of lightning strikes and heavy rain to Santa Barbara County Wednesday night.

Read more on the storm at the link in bio.

Video taken at Shoreline Park on The Mesa in Santa Barbara.

Video: Aston Smith

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 22

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18145492162582210

A rain storm brought heavy rain to Santa Barbara Wednesday morning causing the creeks to flow and some minor flooding. While rain eased up around noon, more is expected to continue into the night along with the chance of thunderstorms. Rain is expected to continue Thursday.

Video: Angel Corzo

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 21

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18034307276672249

A flood watch has been issued for Santa Barbara ahead of an incoming storm. The storm is expected to bring up to two inches of rain over the next couple of days. There is also a chance for a thunderstorm Wednesday according to the National Weather Service.

At this time, no evacuation warnings have been issued, but there is a risk for flooding in low-lying areas and a potential risk of flash floods near burn scars.

Read more about the storm at the link in bio.
Video by Aston Smith
Story by Angel Corzo

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 18

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18355870138301581

Over 1,000 protestors flooded the streets of downtown Santa Barbara at noon on Saturday, marching from Alameda Park to City Hall in a bold display of opposition to President Trump and and his federal policies.

“We got to throw these bums out,” Former State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson said in a speech. “He’s been a lunatic, an incompetent, lying felon since the time he was born.”

The demonstration was one of hundreds across the nation Saturday, a part of the “No Kings” network in opposition to President Trump and his administration’s actions. In Santa Barbara, the event was put on by Indivisible Santa Barbara. Organizers said the event was non-partisan and avoided promoting any specific campaign.

With midterm elections only a few weeks away, protestors urged early voting. Ballot boxes lined the march, with people sending in their votes along the way. At the starting point in Alameda Park, Indivisible Santa Barbara leaders Myra and Ian Paige spoke on the importance of voting.

Read more at the link in bio.
Story by Sofia Wallace
Video by Aston Smith

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 18

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 17881930143626814

The slaughter of wild horses mostly ended in the United States in the early 2000s, but the auction of wild horses can quickly muddy their fate.

Over the past few years, tens of thousands of wild horses have been shipped to Mexico and Canada for slaughter—often for human consumption. Most of those horses were legally bought at auctions hosted by the Bureau of Land Management, and many were roaming free just months before their slaughter.

But Neda DeMayo—president of the Lompoc-based nonprofit Return To Freedom—is trying to fight this deadly export process.

“The biggest threat to wild horses is by far politics,” DeMayo said.

DeMayo is fighting to have Congress pass a bill that would hold the buyer of the horse responsible for selling the horse to slaughter. She recently returned from Washington D.C., and the bill now has 239 co-sponsors with bipartisan support—the most ever for a horse protection bill.

The bill is the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act. It would permanently ban the slaughter of wild horses for human consumption in the United States and ban the shipment of wild horses for slaughter in neighboring countries.

The hurdle is getting it on the House floor.

Read more at the link in bio.
Story and video by Aston Smith

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 17

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18485043889129172

🗳️ Exciting news, Santa Barbara County! Explore the most comprehensive 2026 voter guide brought to you by Santa Barbara News-Press. Stay informed about candidates and read all the News-Press coverage of them ahead of the upcoming election!

Check it out at the link in bio!

Video: Julianna Lozada, Sofia Wallace, Aston Smith
#SantaBarbara #VoterGuide #Election2026

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 13

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18416474425081405

🎹 Pianos are back on State Street for the 17th annual Pianos on State project, presented by the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative. Each uniquely painted piano is free for anyone to play.

News-Press reporter Julianna Lozada has more.
#StateStreet #SantaBarbara

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 13

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18046321385820344

Graphic content warning: This video contains a graphic depiction of murder

Raising Cane’s, a rapidly growing fast-food chain founded in 1996, opened its first location in the South Coast along 7000 Hollister Ave. in Goleta on Monday.

Dos Pueblos High School junior Rex Blevins arrived at 9 p.m. on Sunday in anticipation of the opening of the new Raising Cane’s in Goleta. He was first in line for the fast food and the restaurant’s grand opening.

Read more at the link in bio.

View Instagram post by sbnewspress

Oct 12

Open post by sbnewspress with ID 18131284891689875

Raising Cane's opened in Goleta Monday morning. The popular restaurant is at the former site of Kyle's Kitchen in the Hollister Village Plaza. Check out story later at newspress.com and linkin.bio

Voices

Opinion: In local government, the facts matter

Opinion: In local government, the facts matter

by Mike Jordan Oct. 25October 25, 2026

Opinion: The ‘Santa Barbara Way’ is to consider all voices prior to making community-altering decisions

Opinion: The ‘Santa Barbara Way’ is to consider all voices prior to making community-altering decisions

by Cass Ensberg Oct. 8October 9, 2026

Opinion: Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon is on a mission – to make housing affordable

Opinion: Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon is on a mission – to make housing affordable

by Richard Appelbaum Oct. 7October 7, 2026

Marty Blum: Vote Andi Varon for SBCC Board of Trustees

Marty Blum: Vote Andi Varon for SBCC Board of Trustees

by Marty Blum Oct. 7October 7, 2026

Opinion: Social media comments miss the mark in understanding testing gap between Latino and white students

Opinion: Social media comments miss the mark in understanding testing gap between Latino and white students

by Joshua Molina Oct. 5October 5, 2026

Randy Rowse: This election, put Santa Barbara’s financial health first

Randy Rowse: This election, put Santa Barbara’s financial health first

by Randy Rowse, Santa Barbara Mayor Oct. 4October 4, 2026

Announcements

Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association to Induct Five Dons into the 2026 Wall of Fame

Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association to Induct Five Dons into the 2026 Wall of Fame

by Gloria Cavallero Oct. 15October 15, 2026

Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade returns to State Street Friday, Dec. 4

Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Parade returns to State Street Friday, Dec. 4

by Christy Jacobs, Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association Oct. 7October 9, 2026

The Theatre Group at SBCC presents CLUE, to run Oct. 7-24 at the Garvin Theatre

The Theatre Group at SBCC presents CLUE, to run Oct. 7-24 at the Garvin Theatre

by Pamela Lasker Sept. 28October 9, 2026

California Nature Art Museum presents ‘Terra Firma,’ works from the permanent collection

California Nature Art Museum presents ‘Terra Firma,’ works from the permanent collection

by Jessica Tade Sept. 28October 9, 2026

Lompoc Chalks returns Oct. 2-4 with 40 artists, live entertainment, and new ‘Meet the Artists’ kick-off

Lompoc Chalks returns Oct. 2-4 with 40 artists, live entertainment, and new ‘Meet the Artists’ kick-off

by Megan DeCicco, Lompoc Theatre Project Sept. 26October 9, 2026

Downtown Santa Barbara Assn. to host ribbon cutting for grand opening of Jess Conti Leather Goods

Downtown Santa Barbara Assn. to host ribbon cutting for grand opening of Jess Conti Leather Goods

by Maria Molina Sept. 25September 27, 2026

Obituaries

Obituary: Dr. Karl N. Haws, Jr.

Obituary: Dr. Karl N. Haws, Jr.

by Jordan Webb Oct. 21October 21, 2026

Obituary: Martha J. Osborne

Obituary: Martha J. Osborne

by Jennifer Osborne Oct. 15

Obituary: Laurence R. “Larry” Pearson

Obituary: Laurence R. “Larry” Pearson

by Scott Pearson Oct. 15October 21, 2026

Obituary: Rubin “Rube” Boxer

Obituary: Rubin “Rube” Boxer

by Ken Boxer Sept. 27September 27, 2026

Obituary: Carlie Ruthana Cosentino

Obituary: Carlie Ruthana Cosentino

by Jennifer Parks, McDermott-Crockett Mortuary Sept. 22September 23, 2026

Obituary: Clifford A. Hopson

Obituary: Clifford A. Hopson

by Erin Johnson Sept. 14September 14, 2026

Obituary: Sara Rudeen

Obituary: Sara Rudeen

by Anna Rudeen Sept. 10September 10, 2026

Obituary: Harold Thomas Hamm

Obituary: Harold Thomas Hamm

by Kris Kristen Sept. 1September 1, 2026

Obituary: Carol Anderson

Obituary: Carol Anderson

by Leslie Cornejo Aug. 31September 1, 2026

More News

Ricardo Valencia champions progressive vision in politically charged race for Fifth District Santa Barbara County supervisor

Politics

Ricardo Valencia champions progressive vision in politically charged race for Fifth District Santa Barbara County supervisor

by Tom Schultz Oct. 22October 24, 2026

Lightning, thunder shake up Santa Barbara after day of pouring rain; more showers expected Thursday

Lightning, thunder shake up Santa Barbara after day of pouring rain; more showers expected Thursday

by Sofia Wallace and Angel Corzo Oct. 21October 22, 2026

Five candidates seek three Carpinteria City Council seats in November election

Politics

Five candidates seek three Carpinteria City Council seats in November election

by Kaitlin Sweeney Oct. 20October 20, 2026

Batten down the hatches: A storm is expected to soak Santa Barbara County

Batten down the hatches: A storm is expected to soak Santa Barbara County

by Angel Corzo Oct. 20October 20, 2026

Fire breaks out in trees next to Highway 101 in Summerland; trains halted, cat rescued

Fire breaks out in trees next to Highway 101 in Summerland; trains halted, cat rescued

by Angel Corzo Oct. 20October 20, 2026

Voter guide: Understand the propositions on the California general election ballot

Politics

Voter guide: Understand the propositions on the California general election ballot

by Sofia Wallace Oct. 19October 21, 2026

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

Keep Santa Barbara in the story.

Your support helps our nonprofit newsroom report the stories that matter to Santa Barbara County.