One of the most exciting aspects of the Santa Barbara News-Press is our ability to deliver in-depth reports on a variety of imporant issues. Today, Lillian Perlmutter offers us an investigative story on how immigration raids are harming and sparking fear in Santa Barbara County.
According to her story, federal data suggests that half of the people who have been arrested had no criminal record despite the government’s continued insistence that nationwide immigration busts are targeting hardened criminals.
Perlmutter, who speaks Spanish, covered Latin America as an independent journalist in Mexico City and has written for more than 25 news outlets, including Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times and The New Republic.
And she grew up in Montecito. Perlmutter reports throughout California, but we were lucky to have her spend time in Santa Barbara County recently to craft this report. She has more big stories in the works, so look for her byline.
Today’s newsletter also features Melinda Burns’ in-depth report on the state of play for small farmers in the Cuyama Valley. Burns is a jewel of journalism, and we’re fortunate to have her share her incredible reporting with us. She’s one of the reasons the News-Press is here today.
It’s been a tremendous week for us: We unveiled a new look to our website, and we are growing phenomenally in every metric, from website views and newsletter subscriptions to social media. Anika Brodnansky and Aston Smith are covering the Santa Barbara International Film Festival with amazing enthusiasm, scoring some big interviews and getting noticed.
We thank you for seeing us, caring about our success and supporting this local enterprise. We owe you so much for your support.
Joshua Molina
News-Press Editor
Top read of the day
Immigration crackdown pushes some into hiding, others into the streets
By Lillian Perlmutter • Santa Barbara News-Press
Roving ICE arrests and activist pushback have become a presence in everyday life in Santa Barbara County.
4 stories sparking buzz
Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro walk the red carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Actors appear in oscar-nominated film One Battle After Another.
Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Teyana Taylor, Virtuosos tower above at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
He plays a monster in Frankenstein, but Jacob Elordi was only a heartthrob Sunday night at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The actor smiled and took selfies with his fans […]
Help is on the way for Cuyama Valley’s embattled small farmers
A judge wants to grant them more water and excuse them from a water rights lawsuit filed in 2021 by global carrot companies.
Academy Award-nominated directors walk the red carpet at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Santa Barbara News-Press social media team interviews Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) on the red carpet.
Local voices
“When you start with great ingredients, you don’t have to do much. You just let the food speak for itself. We’re not reinventing the Palace, just honoring what’s already here.”
— Georges Bitar
Must watch
Santa Barbara News-Press coverage of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
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