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Santa Barbara’s newest pizza and gelato restaurants bring flavor to downtown

Santa Barbara’s newest pizza and gelato restaurants bring flavor to downtown

Milio’s Pizza will open on Friday at 801 State Street and Sweetaly Gelato opened on the same block in Paseo Nuevo on Aug. 1

by Amanda Velasco • Santa Barbara News-Press August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Recent Posts

Authorities identified man killed in motorcycle crash near Orcutt on Saturday

News

Authorities identified man killed in motorcycle crash near Orcutt on Saturday

Eric Bowers looks to step onto Goleta School Board, as Richard Mayer exits after 45 years

Education

Eric Bowers looks to step onto Goleta School Board, as Richard Mayer exits after 45 years

Round-up of candidates for Santa Barbara Unified School Board and Goleta City Council

Politics

Round-up of candidates for Santa Barbara Unified School Board and Goleta City Council

A new cidery and meadery is making its way to downtown Santa Barbara

Business

A new cidery and meadery is making its way to downtown Santa Barbara

ELECTION PODCAST SERIES

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: Former tech executive Monte Wilson looks to win seat on City Council

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: Former tech executive Monte Wilson looks to win seat on City Council

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ Podcast: Alexander Stoeber brings new hope

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ Podcast: Alexander Stoeber brings new hope

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press August 2, 2026August 3, 2026

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: Cevin Cathell looks to rewrite the script in District 5 council race

‘Santa Barbara Talks’ podcast: Cevin Cathell looks to rewrite the script in District 5 council race

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press August 5, 2026August 5, 2026

Santa Barbara City Council candidate Devon Wardlow ‘passionate about protecting what we all love in Santa Barbara’

Santa Barbara City Council candidate Devon Wardlow ‘passionate about protecting what we all love in Santa Barbara’

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press July 14, 2026August 11, 2026

NEWS

Former UCSB student sentenced to 30 years to life for sexual assault

Former UCSB student sentenced to 30 years to life for sexual assault

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrests custody sergeant for alleged timecard fraud

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrests custody sergeant for alleged timecard fraud

by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press August 8, 2026August 8, 2026

City of Santa Barbara to update SB Connect with a plethora of improvements

City of Santa Barbara to update SB Connect with a plethora of improvements

by Roman Trovato • Santa Barbara News-Press August 10, 2026August 10, 2026

Buellton gives commercial-residential proposal early thumbs up, as Art Deco revitalization advances

Buellton gives commercial-residential proposal early thumbs up, as Art Deco revitalization advances

by Tom Schultz • Santa Barbara News-Press August 9, 2026August 9, 2026

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Aug 12

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Veronica Binkley transformed Harding into a desirable academic destination. At one time, families that lived in the neighborhood looked to transfer out of the district. Under Binkley, families were looking to transfer in.

Binkley led an academic and cultural renaissance at the elementary school. Under her leadership, students’ test scores increased, she implemented new programs and created an outdoor classroom and STEAM lab.

She also strengthened the International Baccalaureate program and partnership with UC Santa Barbara and created a community school that gained the trust of the neighborhood.

One of her biggest goals as principal in the 2024-2025 school year was to meet 50% for reading and math scores.

“I promised the kids, look, if we can make or break 50%, then I’ll camp on the roof of Harding,” Binkley said. “Come to find out, you can’t camp on the roof of the school.”

While they were just shy of meeting their 50% goal — they reached 48.93% in reading and 44.85% in math—it was still higher than the state average of 48.8% in reading and 37.3% in math.

So she settled on getting “slimed” in front of the kids instead.

Read more at the link in bio.
Story by Julianna Lozada

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Aug 9

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Dozens of bikers hung out outside of Talevi’s Wine and Spirits in Santa Barbara on their way up to Goleta Beach on Sunday, August 9.

Many people rode their bikes together up State Street, with a few stragglers still catching up to the group parked along Hollister Avenue Sunday afternoon.

As people mingled and music blasted from different speakers, Ken Betz from Georgia shared his thoughts of the event with the News-Press.

It’s Betz’s fifth year traveling to Santa Barbara to participate in the event.

Video: Angel Corzo

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Aug 9

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Thousands of people dance and walk alongside the roaming bands on lower State Street Saturday night, the last night of Fiesta, in Santa Barbara.

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Aug 9

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This week’s news recap featuring non-fiesta related stories you may have missed!

Video: Aston Smith

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Aug 9

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Shark encounter with a foiler off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Ron said that the foiler hit the shark first, the shark did not attack unprovoked.

Video courtesy of @heyron_sb

VOICES

Lynn Montgomery: The House of Swans—My 203 days in a Kyiv Airbnb

Lynn Montgomery: The House of Swans—My 203 days in a Kyiv Airbnb

by Lynn Montgomery August 9, 2026August 10, 2026

Opinion: State Street belongs to everyone

Opinion: State Street belongs to everyone

by Debbie Merlo August 4, 2026August 4, 2026

Opinion: A main street should serve all, not a select few

Opinion: A main street should serve all, not a select few

by Craig Saling, Santa Barbara Cash Register August 4, 2026August 4, 2026

Opinion: Why I believe in Strong Towns Santa Barbara

Opinion: Why I believe in Strong Towns Santa Barbara

by Kevin Heim August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

Opinion: Why Santa Barbara still needs Strong Towns

Opinion: Why Santa Barbara still needs Strong Towns

by Guthre Leonard August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

Letter: Calculated applause for the Los Olivos sewer pipeline

Letter: Calculated applause for the Los Olivos sewer pipeline

by David Woodard July 30, 2026July 31, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cottage Health emergency departments earn prestigious Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award

Cottage Health emergency departments earn prestigious Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award

by Cristina Cortez, Cottage Health August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

New York Times bestselling author to headline Hospice of Santa Barbara fundraising event

New York Times bestselling author to headline Hospice of Santa Barbara fundraising event

by Jake Wong, Hospice of Santa Barbara August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Departamento de Salud confirma caso de sarampión

Departamento de Salud confirma caso de sarampión

by Jessica Martinez, County of Santa Barbara Health Department August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

SB County Health Department confirms measles case

SB County Health Department confirms measles case

by Jessica Martinez, County of Santa Barbara Health Department August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Housing Authority graduates 14 local teens from summer program

Housing Authority graduates 14 local teens from summer program

by Jake Wong August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Mini renaissance faire at La Cumbre Plaza on August 22

Mini renaissance faire at La Cumbre Plaza on August 22

by The Grace Fisher Foundation August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

MORE stories

News-Press reporters share thoughts on their first Santa Barbara Fiesta

Community

News-Press reporters share thoughts on their first Santa Barbara Fiesta

by Julianna Lozada • Santa Barbara News-Press and Amanda Velasco • Santa Barbara News-Press August 9, 2026August 9, 2026

Fiesta fixations: Squishies are all craze this year during Santa Barbara’s Fiesta

Community

Fiesta fixations: Squishies are all craze this year during Santa Barbara’s Fiesta

by Roman Trovato • Santa Barbara News-Press August 9, 2026August 10, 2026

Photo gallery: Fiesta children’s parade dazzles crowds on Cabrillo Boulevard

Community

Photo gallery: Fiesta children’s parade dazzles crowds on Cabrillo Boulevard

by Viviana Ruiz • Santa Barbara News-Press August 9, 2026August 9, 2026

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church faces fewer crowds during Fiesta after fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Community

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church faces fewer crowds during Fiesta after fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

by Viviana Ruiz • Santa Barbara News-Press August 8, 2026August 8, 2026

‘This is Mexico’: Vendors bring Mexican heritage to Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days

Arts and Culture

‘This is Mexico’: Vendors bring Mexican heritage to Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days

by Angel Corzo • Santa Barbara News-Press August 8, 2026August 8, 2026