-  Miles of asphalt have been spread in many locations around Santa Barbara to start the year and some of the funds for those projects will be shifting soon as the city begins building a new police headquarters The funds come from a 2017 voter approved Measure C sales tax that generates an estimated $22-million annually That has smoothed out some concerns about funding key projects The road work was overdue in several locations with broken roads The work in recent months has brought a fresh look to streets including San Andres on the Westside and was out front watching the work turn his broken up street into something that was brand new "I think they are doing their  due diligence all around the town It is just a matter of  when they get to certain projects He said they had one vehicle out of the area and one was at home "They sent all the notifications that they were going to be doing this Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez says the voter approved tax for these specific projects is paying off "I am really grateful that the voters back in the day passed Measure C because otherwise doing improvements like these would be almost impossible to find the funding to make it happen." He's found some residents will be unhappy when the roads are in disrepair and some will be inconvenienced when they are being paved "People are complaining about how they want to see the work and then when it's getting done they comment on how disruptive  it is to their lives a little bit but it long run it is for the best." The city is in the development mode for the new police headquarters on Cota St Measure C will be shifted towards that project which is expected to exceed $100-million Work is underway with the tree removal completed There will still be funding within Measure C for infrastructure projects based on a priority list Measure C also comes with a citizen oversight committee to annually review how much money is coming in and how it is spent John Palminteri is senior reporter for KEYT News Channel 3-12. To learn more about John, click here. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service Privacy Policy Community Guidelines FCC Public File EEO Public File Report FCC Applications Do Not Sell My Personal Information Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The ink has dried in high school yearbooks as the summer sun lingers longer and longer with each passing day but it might be time to pick back up that pen to start making lists and plans for college especially if you’ve traveled far and wide to get to UCSB the general rule of thumb that I like to follow is that I probably won’t start using it in college Here are some loose suggestions on what to buy and what you may or may not consider bringing BUY: A shower caddy and shower shoes are essential for showers Extension cords will help chargers reach the tragically located outlets in dorm rooms A laundry basket/bag that is portable is imperative because it’s a bit of a walk to get to the designated laundry rooms BYE: That shirt that you’ve been meaning to wear has not and will not find its calling in college. Wet wipes will dry before they see the light of day. An alarm clock will only harbor dust and annoyance from your roommates; just stick to using your phone. UCSB’s dorms come with a trash can is useful if you frequent the dorm and are diligent in keeping it clean; UCSB has a lot of water filter stations all over campus Rugs/carpets are super cute and make the room feel much more homey but they get dirty faster than it takes to delegate which roommate is getting which bed and upperclassmen to better understand what to bring and what not to Everyone’s dorm experiences and personal preferences vary so take everyone’s advice with a grain of salt and remember that Target and other stores are just a hop My immune system used to be a point of pride That was until my respiratory system got absolutely demolished by disturbingly mysterious germs and viruses floating around freshman dorms I didn’t think I’d have a stubborn cough that would last longer than my quarter-length classes especially if stuck in a dorm room with them bloodthirsty electric scooters and ceaseless bike crashes have done their fair share of damage to the students of UCSB and a bit of courage are some things that I advise you to bring There’s also another plague that I have yet to find a finite cure for: homesickness Some people are eager to leave home (me included) there are many days that I find myself overwhelmingly sober of family and home-cooked meals appreciate home for what it is and spend time with family and friends Enjoy the familiar hometown shops and restaurants nearby Some of my best friends were made before I even stepped onto campus Most UCSB students who needed help finding roommates remedied that by posting on the Instagram pages dedicated to posting incoming freshmen during the summer I already had my roommate situation figured out so I posted on Instagram just to have some familiar faces among the 20,000+ students at UCSB my thumbs worked overtime to network and befriend people with similar interests And even though just about everyone seems to love listening to music the exhilarating feeling of sending or receiving a DM from new people and hearing their unique life stories never gets tiring if I had a dime for every time I had either heard or said I think I follow you on Instagram,” I’d be able to afford out-of-state tuition It’s from these initial interactions that real opportunities to befriend and spend time with people arise so it’s incredibly comforting to realize that everyone is coming into college with a blank slate all in a collective search for people to call home not everyone you reach out to will end up sticking around everyone complains about the quarter system but don’t think for a second that you’re immune to its effects either it means school starts unusually later compared to other schools nationwide until everyone else in the semester-system colleges is away and all that’s left is the uncomfortable summer heat and the itch for school to begin I can only describe the quarter system as getting blindsided and swept off your feet by the whirlwind of the quarter system and then reopened them to find myself in finals week just when I was starting to get familiar with the syllabuses of my classes I would suggest not allowing your brain to melt into nothingness professors and the fast-paced curriculum have students working right out of the gates and read over your high school classmates’ sweet yearbook paragraphs Now, as the Trump administration seeks to encourage oil and gas production within federal lands and waters that watershed conservation law is being tested along the same stretch of coastline — and in a way it never has before For months, a Texas-based oil company has rebuffed the authority of the California Coastal Commission — the body tasked with enforcing the act — and has instead pushed forward with controversial plans to revive oil production off the Gaviota Coast Ten years after another spill brought oil production here to a halt, Sable Offshore Corp. has begun repairing and upgrading the network of oil pipelines responsible for that 2015 spill without Coastal Commission approval and ignoring the commission’s repeated demands to stop its work Aggressive and impactful reporting on climate change Sable has accused the commission of “overreach” and insists that it has acquired the necessary approvals for its work Climate & Environment Plans to restart a pipeline in Santa Barbara County have angered residents worried about an oil spill similar to the massive one near Refugio State Beach in 2015 In a new report Coastal Commission staff allege that Sable’s activities — which include excavation removing vegetation and placing cement bags on the seafloor — “have adversely impacted coastal resources as a result of Sable’s outright refusal to comply with the Coastal Act.” The report recommends that commissioners fine Sable almost $15 million issue another cease and desist order for all development along the pipelines and require restoration work The requested sanctions will be considered next week at a public hearing — one of the first such venues for citizens to weigh in on reactivation of the offshore oil rigs and how that could affect the local environment, which has long concerned Santa Barbara residents and climate activists Sable insists it does not need to comply with the latest Coastal Commission requests “The repair and maintenance work done to ensure the safe condition of the Santa Ynez Unit and onshore pipelines was fully authorized by coastal development permits previously approved by the California Coastal Commission and Santa Barbara County,” Steve Rusch Sable’s vice president of environmental and governmental affairs “Commission staff’s unreasonable overreach is an attempt to exert influence over the planned restart of the Santa Ynez Unit oil production operations.” In a statement of defense submitted to the Coastal Commission, Sable noted that due to updated requirements, “this pipeline will meet more stringent environmental and safety requirements than any other pipeline in the state.” The company called the commission’s findings on environmental impacts exaggerated, and noted that it has “implemented several construction best management practices to limit impacts to coastal resources, biological resources, and archaeological resources,” Sable wrote. California ExxonMobil officials withdrew plans to replace pipelines across Santa Barbara County shuttered since the catastrophic 2015 Refugio oil spill If Sable succeeds in restarting operations, it would mark a surprising reversal for California’s oil and gas industry in recent years, as climate-focused policies have slowly reduced the state’s production of fossil fuels The Houston-based company estimates that once the Santa Ynez Unit is fully online, it could produce an estimated 28,000 barrels of oil a day, according to an investor presentation The unit has three offshore platforms — Hondo Harmony and Heritage — located in federal waters a few miles off the coast These platforms are connected to the Las Flores Canyon processing facility and other distribution lines that run onshore The 2015 Refugio oil spill was caused by the rupture of a buried onshore pipeline Though Sable has already cleared some of that agency’s major regulatory steps, State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant has said the company’s final restart plan wouldn’t be approved without agreement from a handful of other state agencies, including the Coastal Commission. “Before we would ever sign off on a pipeline, [we will make] sure that each of these departments has agreed that all of the rules have been followed,” Berlant said at the March town hall. Berlant also assured Santa Barbarans that since the 2015 spill, the fire marshal’s office has implemented more stringent standards for oil infrastructure, which are part of Sable’s plan. He said his office requires 67 new conditions focused on safety and corrosion protection, stricter and more frequent monitoring and repair standards. Gov. Newsom waived CEQA and the California Coastal Act for utilities working to rebuild, and move infrastructure underground, in the Palisades and Eaton fire areas. Sable, however, has most heavily relied on recent approval from Santa Barbara County Planning & Development, which in October said the company could proceed with its corrosion repair work under the pipeline’s original county permit from the 1980s. The company contends it is still relevant because its work is only repairing and maintaining an existing pipeline, not constructing new infrastructure. After concern from the Coastal Commission and environmental groups, county officials confirmed its position in February, concluding that Sable’s repair work on the corroded pipeline “is authorized by the existing permits ... [and] was analyzed in the prior Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement.” Coastal Commission staff have questioned how a permit from nearly 40 years ago can adequately take into account current technology, requirements to remedy corrosion issues and environmental conditions. As oil companies shut down refineries, California policymakers are weighing whether the state should get into the refinery business to ensure steady supplies. An industry group says it’s not so simple. Ultimately, the matter may be determined in court. In February, Sable sued the Coastal Commission claiming it doesn’t have the authority to oversee its work. “Sable’s representatives have told us that they’ll only stop if a court makes them, so we’ve been working with the attorney general’s office for the past month to move in that direction,” Teufel said at a town hall last month in Santa Barbara. The event drew hundreds of attendees — clearly divided between those donning Sable hats and others holding signs that read, “No polluting pipeline” and “No coastal permit, no restart.” But as of yet, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta hasn’t weighed in. A spokesperson for the office declined to respond to questions from The Times, referring inquiries to the Coastal Commission. Since 1969, when the blowout of on an offshore oil platform spewed more than 3 million gallons of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel and devastated the coastline, environmentalists have fought to shut down offshore oil rigs along the Gaviota Coast. In their view, Sable’s behavior has been beyond the pale. “So far this has been happening with no environmental review,” said Alex Katz, the executive director of the the Environmental Defense Center, which was founded after the 1969 spill. “For a project that’s this big and has this much risk, it’s very strange.” At the same time, other residents see economic value in oil extraction. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson has called much of the concern around the pipeline “political theater.” He said he generally agrees that Sable has the necessary permits to restart oil production, and noted that local oil is better than the alternative, especially when there’s still demand for such fuel. “If you really cared about climate change, you’d want to use this oil,” Nelson said in an interview, arguing that it’s better to use local resources than oil shipped from around the world, where there are likely fewer environmental regulations and no local tax revenue or jobs. Sable has reported it expects the project to initially generate $5 million a year in new taxes for the county and, upon restart, would support an additional 300 jobs. Donald Trump took action to reverse many of the Biden administration’s efforts to move the country toward a green-energy economy Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) called on California’s attorney general to get involved in this process to uphold the state’s environmental laws Some of those state agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, have also raised concerns about Sable’s work. The regional water board in December issued Sable a noncompliance notice for unauthorized discharge into waterways, while wildlife officials alerted the company of a potential Fish and Game Code violation. Sable’s response to those issues remain under review. Yet, the full extent of completed or possible environmental damage from this project remains unclear, the Coastal Commission argues, because Sable hasn’t shared detailed plans or applied for permits. And that’s a precedent that should be concerning for all Californians, said Linda Krop, chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center. “This is the biggest threat to the California coast,” Krop said. “They should not be allowed to operate when they’re violating state laws.” Staff writer Tony Briscoe contributed to this report. Grace Toohey is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news for the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Sentinel and the Advocate in Baton Rouge. Toohey is a Maryland native and proud Terp. World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Scientists are trying to understand how a herd of goats not only survived but thrived on an isolated island in northeastern Brazil for over two centuries without any known fresh water source It’s not clear how exactly the goats originally wound up on Santa Bárbara one of the five volcanic islands that make up the Abrolhos archipelago about 70 kilometers off the coast of Bahia but scientists believe they were brought and left there by colonizers and poultry made for a reliable food source but they were usually left behind when colonization failed Their presence on Santa Bárbara Island has been documented for more than 250 years which is remarkable if we take into account that the small island has no known fresh water sources Despite this “inconvenience,” the goats thrived on the dry windy island to the point where they had to be relocated in order to protect endemic plants and animals Photo: Bailey Mahon/Unsplash the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) which manages the Abrolhos National Marine Park carried out the removal of the last 27 goats on Santa Bárbara after it was concluded that their presence compromised the island’s ecological balance particularly affecting seven species of seabirds that breed in the region the animals were not eradicated because scientists want to study them particularly their ability to survive on little to no water “We believe they developed unique talents to survive, Erismar Rocha, the head of the Abrolhos National Marine Park, said “If their population hadn’t been controlled they would have taken over the entire island and self-destructed.” in all the years that scientists studied the mysterious goats of Santa Bárbara “How did they survive there for over two centuries?” At this point Some believe that the goats may have adapted to drinking seawater and that this behavior was passed on to subsequent generations a plant with a high water content found on Santa Bárbara But the goats of Santa Bárbara weren’t just surviving there Researchers reported that most of the births on the island were twin births which suggests that the goats were “well nourished and healthy” By studying the goats of Santa Bárbara Island Brazilian scientists hope to decipher the secret to their extreme resilience which could help develop new breeds better suited to survive the challenges of climate change and adapt in arid regions — Three days of competition at the Kenny Loggins Pickleball in the Danger Zone tournament wrapped up Sunday Celebrity competitors included Loggins himself The tournament took place at the Santa Barbara Municipal Tennis and Pickleball Courts which is a favorite playing spot for Loggins The celebrity exhibition was held in conjunction with the American Riviera Classic Tournament and served as a fundraiser for The Unity Shoppe and families displaced by the Los Angeles fires Actor Duane Henry downplayed his talent on the court “This is a great event because we’re connecting community wealth with a love of pickleball and “We’re here to basically celebrate that through pickleball and you get to see how terrible my shot is.” For more information visit https://www.unityshoppe.org – It was the paw-fect day to cuddle puppies during brunch the only thing we know for sure is he’s 100 percent cute," said Anna Markmann Sunday, the wildcat and the glitter brunch hosted Santa Barbara Rescue presents “Pride and paws, an event celebrating love, community and rescue pups." During the brunch show the dogs were brought out to be introduced “We’re trying to raise enough money to buy a facility so we can rescue more animals," said SPARK volunteer "Until we have a facility we can’t rescue some of the animals because we don’t have enough homes to put them in.” The event gave attendees the chance to meet furry friends ready for adoption and raises funds for animals in need of a home while celebrating love “There’s lots of dogs without homes and people you know think that that’s more important is to like you know like buy pure breds or whatever but you know  I think that  having adopting dogs is way more important," said Van hook SPARK Santa Barbara Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and donations are tax-deductible SPARK is always looking for more volunteers and fosters You can learn more about cats and dogs available for adoption or donate at their website. “You can go to SPARK rescue dot org and they have the application process there it’s pretty intense but it’s because we want to make sure we have the best home for our puppies," said Markmann Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 5:27:00 PM Thanks for visiting scores by five lengths in the Santa BarbaraBenoit photo Astor got back on the beam for trainer Jonathan Thomas Sunday when rolling to an authoritative five-length victory under Umberto Rispoli in the $100,000 Santa Barbara for older fillies and mares going 1½ mile on turf at Santa Anita Astor entered the Santa Barbara following a second-place finish in the Santa Ana (G3) at 1¼ miles on turf when making her seasonal debut March 15 at the Arcadia That effort followed consecutive graded stakes wins to close out 2024 in the Red Carpet (G#) at Del Mar and Robert J Astor settled in fourth as 17-1 longshot Sakura Blossom set a pace of :23.54 Astor then drew into contention with an outside rally on the final turn surged in front of new leader Starry Heavens just past the quarter pole and then extended her advantage through the stretch to bag her third graded stakes win “I have to totally admit that it was my fault when I got beat She looked like a filly that traveled well and you think that once she comes off the heels of the other horse that she is going to have a turn of foot She liked the track (which received light rain) But I definitely rode her better than last time.” Astor's winning time on a firm course was 2:27.95 “She really relishes a route of ground,” Thomas said “There’s only a handful of opportunities so we have to make the best use of them when we can.” the next graded stakes spot at Santa Anita is the 1¼-mile Possibly Perfect on June 14 Santa Anita hosts its iconic San Juan Capistrano (G3) at about 1¾ miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up Thomas said taking on males in the San Juan Capistrano could be next for Mrs I’m curious about stretching her out,” Thomas said A 5-year-old mare by Lookin At Lucky out of the Creative Cause mare Causal Astor is a homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables She improved to  5-5-3 from 18 career starts and $435,235 in earnings leading to its biggest card being run on a Tuesday Receive daily headlines, breaking news alerts, promotions, and much more! © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. – The UC Santa Barbara Men’s and Women’s Track & Field teams competed in their last regular season meet of the year last weekend at Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine the Gauchos sent a few athletes to the one-day Oxy Invite in Los Angeles the women’s high jump witnessed Lila Washington take tenth place with a mark of 1.58m while Kennedy Johnson took ninth in the triple jump with a leap of 11.34m Natalie Lyons also impressed with a jump of 5.86m to take eighth overall We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy – The UC Santa Barbara Men's and Women's Track & Field teams competed in their last regular season meet of the year last weekend at Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine For throwing, Dimitra Vitogiannis took fourth in the women's discus (46.32m) and eighth in the hammer throw (48.46m) to build on her impressive year Shepard and Steele continued to shine in the 200m as well with Shepard placing fourth and going sub-24 seconds while Steele secured fourth with a 21.28 time The men's 100m dash saw Matthew Staples secure a podium spot with a time of 10.58 as well as take sixth in the 200m On the distance side, freshman Jana Barron took the bronze in the women's 3000m steeplechase, timing in at 11:14.22. The men's 5000m race also saw Hayden Owen place sixth with a time of 14:54.00 Additionally, Dylan Manning and KC Barber had strong performances in the men's 800m at Oxy Invite as Manning took eighth with a time of 1:53.59 while Barber placed tenth The Gauchos will now prepare for the playoffs as the Big West Multis take place on May 9-10 in Long Beach the Big West Championships will commence in Long Beach Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Baseball | 5/3/2025 9:22:00 PM Thanks for visiting Match Recap: Women's Tennis | 5/3/2025 7:12:00 PM Thanks for visiting Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music Theatre: a chamber music collective renowned for its musical versatility and bold programming caps its 2024-25 season with an unexpected mix of chamber works by Frédéric Chopin William Bolcom’s irreverent Orphée-Sérénade composed in 1984 for piano and chamber orchestra Bolcom is noted for composing “music in a range of styles that all but erases the lines between art music and popular music” (WOSU) Providing a luscious musical palate cleanser Camerata Pacifica Principal Pianist Irina Zahharenkova is spotlighted on Chopin’s virtuosic Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante in E Flat Major The kaleidoscopic work combines technical brilliance rich harmonies and tremendous emotional depth Concluding the program and the 2024-25 season is Lera Auerbach’s Dreammusik for cello and chamber ensemble written in 2014 for Camerata Pacifica and Principal Cellist Ani Aznavoorian Commissioned by Sandra Tillisch Svoboda in memory of her husband Al it reflects the broad musical sensibilities of Auerbach “an artist of her time” (Gramophone) who creates “music of extraordinary power and intensity” (The New Yorker) In addition to Zahharenkova and Aznavoorian the artists featured on the season finale include Jolente De Maeyer Flute; Nicholas Daniel,Oboe; Kathleen McLean Music Academy of the West is at 1070 Fairway Rd and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) proudly unveiled the Deepwater Diving Monument—a long-overdue tribute to Santa Barbara’s rich heritage as the birthplace of deepwater diving—during a special ceremony on Saturday The monument depicted a professional diver from 1982 wearing a Kirby Morgan® Superlite® 17 Diving Helmet a revolutionary design that set the world standard for commercial divers. This iconic figure stood as a symbol of Santa Barbara’s pioneering role in shaping the global diving industry. The project was funded through the sale of Limited Edition Fine-Art Bronze Statuettes sculpted by California-based artist Greg Polutanovich as well ascharitable donations made through SBMM local abalone divers transitioned to deepwater oxy-helium diving revolutionizing commercial and military diving by enabling safe exploration of much deeper waters This transformation was sparked by Hugh “Dan” Wilson’s historic 400-foot dive off Santa Cruz Island on November 3 1962. Conducted in secrecy, Wilson’s groundbreaking achievement—using mixed gas instead of air—launched what became known as the “Santa Barbara Helium Rush.” Santa Barbara quickly became a hub for innovation in diving technology with Santa Barbara Harbor serving as their operational base. These pioneers, along with Santa Barbara-based Kirby Morgan Dive Systems® whose helmets became the international standard cemented the city’s global impact on the diving industry SBMM Past President and co-chair of the Deepwater Diving Monument Committee said: “This stunning and highly detailed public-art sculpture will educate both residents and visitors to our city about the importance of commercial diving to society and the substantial infrastructure that began here decades ago. This dream was brought to reality thanks to the support of hundreds of donors and SBMM.” “This magnificent Monument is a worthy and lasting testament to the ongoing vision and ingenuity of the Santa Barbara diving community whose revolutionary contributions have been vital to the advancement of international deep-water exploration. An inspirational sculpture for the whole maritime community,” added Leslie Leaney SBMM Founding Trustee and co-chair of the Deepwater Diving Monument Committee The Deepwater Diving Monument now stands as a gift from the local and international diving communities—honoring the visionaries who transformed diving into the sophisticated practice it is today It serves as a lasting reminder of Santa Barbara’s legacy and enduring influence on the maritime world which is located in the Waterfront Center Building (formerly the Naval Reserve Building) opened its doors to the public in July 2000 with the unique mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. SBMM is an interactive museum – a place where the public can experience maritime culture without leaving the harbor. For more information Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress Theatre: San Marcos Theater Department4750 Hollister Avenue Santa Barbara Urinetown is a bold and satirical musical set in a drought-ravaged future where a corrupt government controls access to public restrooms a rebellious young man who leads a revolution against the oppressive system challenging the powerful officials like the ruthless Caldwell B the show balances sharp humor with social commentary Urinetown offers a unique and thought-provoking theater experience https://gofan.co/app/school/CA23116_1 Thanks for visiting