OPINION by ANDY CALDWELL On Tuesday, Santa Barbara County Supervisors Steve Lavagnino, Bob Nelson, Joan Hartmann, Laura Capps, and Roy Lee will consider giving themselves a 48% raise worth $56,000 per year, for an annual salary of $171,000. The justification... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to raise their own salaries by 48.8%. The proposed raise, which was listed on the consent agenda, will increase the supervisors’ pay from $115,000 to $171,000... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Former President Joe Biden and Jill Biden landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Top commanders greeted the couple as they arrived late Monday afternoon. The Bidens... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for portions of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties because of a high risk of large fires with very rapid spread, according to the National Weather Service.... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Two domesticated cats from different households recently died of bird flu in Santa Barbara County, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. After testing positive for influenza A, a rare occurrence in felines, the infected... (Continue reading)
By JOSH FRIEDMAN A vehicle plunged 100 feet off Highway 1 near Vandenberg Village on Saturday, injuring a woman. Shortly before 1 p.m., the woman’s vehicle veered off northbound Highway 1, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County deputies arrested a suspected Christmas tree thief on Wednesday morning. On Monday, a caller reported the theft of multiple Christmas trees and wreaths from a nursery in the 100-block of S Patterson Avenue. During... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE A Santa Barbara County man is in custody for battery after he attempted to flee into the ocean to avoid arrest on Monday. Shortly after 11 p.m., a caller reported a man disturbing the peace and threatening... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate, stopped Sunday in Santa Barbara County as part of his fundraising tour across the West Coast. Walz landed at the Santa Barbara Airport at about 5 p.m. He... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department reported today that a 40-year-old inmate died from brain trauma after having a seizure and hitting his head on the ground last month. The coroner found Antonio Alvarado Orozco of Santa... (Continue reading)