News across Santa Barbara County
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 24Angelina LaPointe crowdfunds for her 2027 wildlife calendar
Lompoc block printer Angelina LaPointe is hoping to carry on a 10-year tradition of making her annual calendar of California flora and fauna. But first, her project needs to reach its financial goal. Her Kickstarter campaign must raise $3,500 before Oct. 16 or it’s a no-go.…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 24Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is charming and clever
Steve Cox and Matthew Walker direct this script by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow about a new misadventure at Mossy Bottom Farm. When the farmer (voiced by John Sparkes) accidently trashes the sheep’s beloved pumpkin patch just as Halloween approaches, Shaun (voiced by Justin…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 24Fuze is a slick, old-school heist flick
FuzeWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? HBO Max David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) directs this heist flick about a World War II-era bomb unearthed at a London construction site, leading to chaos. Chief Superintendent Zuzana Greenfield (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) leads her…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 24Death of the Pastor’s Wife explores Mica Miller’s mysterious death
Death of the Pastor’s WifeWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix Mica, 13, met John Paul (JP), 28, when her family started attending Solid Rock Church. She was devout and eager to participate in her new community with JP. While Mica went on to marry her…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 24Canela Café serves sweet bread and espresso for Santa Maria and beyond
TikTok led Marisa Gomez to discover a Mexican coffee shop located roughly an hour from where she lives. She, along with many others, travels great distances to the rinconcito for colorful sweet breads, elaborate latte flavors, and the café’s signature aesthetic cups. It’s all…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Farm to tax table: County supervisors erase Lompoc farm’s five-figure tax debt for farmstay operation
Laying a Lompoc egg farm’s tax appeal to rest recently divided local officials, who simmered over the issue across two lengthy hearings this summer. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ reception to Dare 2 Dream Farms’ plea to forgive about $65,000 in unpaid taxes was…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Guadalupe caps stipends for next year’s council at $150
What began as a hearing for Guadalupe’s leaders to consider decreasing the monthly pay for seven elected roles by $300 each ended with more reductions—including a $600 cut for the mayor. “It’s not because you guys don’t do a lot. You guys have a lot on your plate, obviously,”…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Free K-8 learning center opens at Buellton Garden Apartments
Some Buellton students now have access to after-school activities at a classroom located in their apartment complex. People’s Self-Help Housing opened a learning center at the Buellton Garden Apartments on Sept. 8, according to the organization. A maximum of 20 students from…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Santa Maria court bomber pleads guilty
The 22-year-old man arrested for detonating a bomb inside of a Santa Maria courthouse pleaded guilty to the crime, about one week shy of the incident’s two-year anniversary. As part of a recent plea agreement, Nathaniel James McGuire admitted that he walked into Santa Barbara…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Political Watch: September 17, 2026
•U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) were among the co-signers behind a recent amicus brief in California v. Wright. This pending case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California challenges the Trump…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Life Steps Foundation hosts its annual inclusive 5K fundraiser
Learning a bus route, deciphering important pieces of mail, and calculating tips at restaurants are tasks that many people don’t have to think twice about. At Life Steps Foundation in Santa Maria, staff currently help 22 people who have developmental disabilities successfully…
Santa Maria Sun
Published September 17Harsh measures
Guadalupe’s in quite the fiscal pickle. Facing a $1.6 million deficit, the city’s elected leaders made the prudent decision to cut their own stipends as way to help tackle budget woes—even though it only amounts to savings of $2,100 per month, every little bit counts! It’s quite…