County

February 6, 2018

Santa Barbara County Continues to Experience ‘Severe’ Drought

By Tess Kenny

With below average rainfall expected for the next three months, Santa Barbara County remains in a severe drought, the Santa Barbara City Council announced during its Water Supply Management Report meeting on Jan. 30.

February 4, 2018

Residents Unharmed in Del Playa Structure Fire

By Shomik Mukherjee

A structure fire broke out at 6564 Del Playa Drive late afternoon on Sunday, leaving visible black smoke in the air.

February 1, 2018

Condoleezza Rice Comes to Santa Barbara, Protests Ensue

By Eric Moon, Jasmine Moreno

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to speak at the Arlington Theatre last Thursday, discussing domestic politics, Donald Trump and modern rights movements.

January 25, 2018

Mud from Landslides Moved to Goleta Beach, Tested for Safety

By Stephany Rubio

Goleta Beach is being used as a sediment deposit ground for the Montecito mudslide cleanup effort, but contaminated sewage in the transported mud is raising issues for coastal water quality and ocean life.

January 25, 2018

Beaches in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria Remain Closed Due to Contamination from Runoff

By Tamari Dzotsenidze

Goleta Beach has remained closed after ocean samples tested positive for high levels of coliform and enterococcus caused by runoff from recent storms.

January 15, 2018

University Will Offer Travel Reimbursement as Highway 101 Remains Closed

By Hannah Jackson

The university will be providing a shuttle service to and from the Goleta Amtrak station and the harbor ferry.

January 15, 2018

Santa Barbara Community Mourns Lives Lost in Montecito Mudslides

By Maura Fox

Local elected and community leaders organized the vigil, including First District Supervisor Das Williams, County Board of Supervisors Chair Joan Hartmann, State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson and Congressman Salud Carbajal...

December 24, 2017

Thomas Fire Becomes Largest Wildfire in Modern California History

By Jose Ochoa

The Thomas Fire is now the largest recorded wildfire in California history after burning through 273,400 acres of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in 20 days.

December 15, 2017

Thomas Fire Evacuees Hope To Return Home Soon, UCSB Evacuation Center Remains Open

By Simren Verma

The Thomas Fire is still raging a week and a half later, but evacuation centers continue to shelter those displaced from their homes.

December 8, 2017

Trump Declares State of Emergency in Calif., FEMA Will Fund Most Costs for Firefighting Efforts

By Jose Ochoa

FEMA will cover over 75 percent of firefighting costs in areas affected by the fire, according to Brandi Richard, FEMA spokesperson.

November 30, 2017

July 2017 Whittier Fire May Have Effect on Lake Cachuma Water Quality

By Melanie Voskanian

The Whittier fire that burned through Santa Barbara County in July could have a lasting detrimental effect on the water quality in Lake Cachuma, a main water source for the county.

November 12, 2017

Cathy Murillo to be Next Santa Barbara Mayor with Support of Campus Democrats

By Simren Verma

City councilmember Cathy Murillo will be the new Santa Barbara mayor after winning the 2017 Santa Barbara mayoral race with 28.4 percent of the vote.

November 9, 2017

Supervisor Joan Hartmann Sees Out First Year with Infrastructure Improvements, Helps CSD Start-Up Costs

By Jose Ochoa

The night of Nov. 8, 2016, was a bittersweet one for Joan Hartmann.

September 21, 2017

New Tax for CSD Could Bypass Voters

By Jose Ochoa

A State Supreme Court decision could make a new tax in Isla Vista possible through bypassing most voters and giving local government officials the power to vote on a tax, a lawyer for the Isla Vista Community Services Di...

July 9, 2017

County Wildfires Drop Ash in Isla Vista, Reduce Air Quality

By Stephany Rubio

The Alamo fire is burning near the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County line. It started on July 6 and has reached up to 23,867 acres. The fire was 10 percent contained on Saturday night.

June 30, 2017

Hit and Run Leaves UCSB Student with Broken Leg

By Jose Ochoa

California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded Wednesday afternoon to a call of a hit and run with major injuries on Pardall and Embarcadero Del Mar. CHP responded to a call of a hit and run at approximately 1:58 p.m Wednesda...