Gold Bars on the Beach for Graduating Surfrider Battalion ROTC Cadets
Abreezy overcast sky gave way to a sunny afternoon as students, family, friends, mentors and speakers gathered at Goleta Beach for UC Santa Barbara’s U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Surfrider Battalion commissioning ceremony. Earning their gold bars and first salutes, seven cadets advanced to the...
Brookside Resident Seriously Injured in Hit-and-Run
Bianca Trester took a break from family festivities on Father’s Day morning to go for a long run while her family walked on the beach in Ventura. Her husband Luke expected to see her when he returned to his parents’ home, so he used his cellphone to check her location. He was shocked to find her in the emergency room...
‘He Was My Heart’: Alex Wood, 15-Year-Old Dos Pueblos High School Student, Remembered as...
Just like famed Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer Eddie Aikau who was associated with the phrase “Eddie would go,” 15-year-old Alex Wood was a bold protector of people in and out of the water. On May 18, 2025, Alex finished training as a Santa Barbara County Lifeguard at Jalama...
Vocal Coach to the Stars: Ken Stacey Brings Vocal Coaching to Santa Barbara
From small band gigs to American Idol, Ken Stacey has had an impressive music career as an artist, producer, musician, vocal coach, and more. And now, he’s bringing his mentorship to Santa Barbara. After working with music legend Kenny Loggins as his vocal coach since 2020 and expanding his...
California weather: Red flag warning issued as ‘strong and damaging’ wind batters state
The warning comes over fears the conditions are perfect for wildfires to develop across large swathes of the Golden State
Celebrating summer! Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Parade expected to attract 100,000 people
In a collection of buildings off of Garden Street in downtown Santa Barbara, people are putting the finishing touches on a crazy assortment of floats and costumes for what’s become a South Coast tradition. It’s the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade, which looks like a cross between a parade...
Santa Barbara Trapeze and Unite to Light Host Free Community Event to Celebrate Light,...
Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service. Santa Barbara, CA – On Saturday, June 28, the community is invited to take to the skies, enjoy a taco in the sun and learn how access to light and power can transform lives. Hosted by Santa Barbara Trapeze and Unite to Light, Fly Into the...
Fire weather Saturday, red flag warning & wind alerts
Warm, dry and windy conditions are creating fire weather concerns for the weekend with multiple weather safety alerts being issued in all 3 local counties. A red flag warning is in effect from 1pm Saturday until 5am Sunday for Santa Barbara & Ventura County mountains. A fire weather watch is in effect for the Santa...
Power outages planned across Central Coast through the weekend due to weather conditions
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Utility companies have started some Public Safety Power Shutoffs across parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and are considered more extensive outages due to weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfires through the weekend. For the latest information about...
How Buildings Became Safer After 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake
After the 1925 earthquake devastated Santa Barbara and a portion of State Street, the survivors were left with the decision of how to rebuild and how to do it more safely. One of the most well-known effects of the disaster was the decision to rebuild much of downtown with the city’s signature design style — Spanish...
