Man convicted in cold case killing of California woman found strangled to death
A man was found guilty of first-degree murder in the cold case killing of a California woman nearly 40 years after her death. Aloysius James, 58, of Georgia, was found guilty of murdering Ofelia Sandoval, 30, in 1988 after she was found strangled to death in a motel room where she was living. On Sept. […]
WAY BACK WHEN – SANTA BARBARA IN 1926
Assembling Chase Palm Park. Chase Palm Park did not exist a century ago. Parts of this area on the waterfront were private property. “Shore Acres” was a development in this area that consisted of rustic palm thatch cottages built in 1911. But little by little, our city was...
Dos Pueblos High School Honored with Prestigious Global First Amendment Press Freedom Award
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.– Santa Barbara Unified School District is proud to announce that Dos Pueblos High School (DPHS) has been named a recipient of the 2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. DPHS is one of only 26 schools worldwide, representing 12 U.S. states and the United Kingdom, to receive...
After arrest of Ventura man, illegal weapons cache found
A Ventura man was arrested for possession of loaded firearm and narcotics for sale on Feb. 25 and a search turned up illegal weapons, according to authorities. An officer was patrolling the east end of Ventura when he contacted a 46-year-old Ventura resident with outstanding warrants in Los Angeles, according to a...
Dense Fog Advisory issued March 1 at 12:14AM PST until March 1 at 10:00AM...
* WHAT…Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog. * WHERE…San Luis Obispo County Beaches, San Luis Obispo County. Inland Central Coast, Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches,. and Santa Barbara County Inland Central Coast. * WHEN…Until 10 AM PST this morning. * IMPACTS…Low visibility could...
Another setback for efforts to restart Santa Barbara County oil pipeline, which ruptured in...
Controversial efforts to restart a long-idled oil project in Santa Barbara County have hit another roadblock. A judge kept in place an injunction preventing the pipeline's restart, which ruptured in 2015, causing a 140,000-gallon oil spill on the Gaviota Coast. Sable Offshore Corporation wants to get the repaired...
Then and Now: Danish Inn and Solvang Brewing Company
A post from the Elverhøj Museum looks back at the history of the Danish Inn in Solvang, which in the 1950s welcomed guests to dine beside a Danish farm-style fireplace in the Red Room. The Copper Room could host up to 100 guests, making it a popular spot for local celebrations.
Historic Landmarks Commission Raises Transparency Concerns Over State Street Plan
The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission raised concerns about the timeline of the State Street Master Plan during its February 25, 2026 meeting, questioning city staff about when the commission would be formally involved. Commissioners said they remain unclear about when they will be asked to formally review...
Ventura Strengthens License Plate Reader Oversight After Unauthorized Queries Discovered
Police Department changes procedures related to our Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program after discovering a vendor-based configuration error by provider, Flock Safety, on February 23, 2026. This agreement violation allowed unauthorized out-of-state law enforcement agencies to query our system. Ventura...
New Solvang Rules Tighten Vacation Rental Limits, Add Safety Inspections
The Solvang City Council is moving forward to update the city’s short-term rental (STR) regulations, aiming to strengthen enforcement, enhance safety oversight, and protect housing for long-term residents. The council voted 5-0 on February 23, 2026, to approve the first reading of the revised ordinance. The update...
