Local stories gathered from public news sources while this area builds its own coverage.
Maribel Aguilera and Ricardo Valencia are running for the Santa Barbara County 5th District Supervisor seat. They discussed housing affordability, homelessness, and immigration enforcement in interviews with KSBY News. The race is open due to the retirement of current Supervisor Steve Lavagnino.
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To celebrate California Clean Air Day on October 7, Santa Barbara County will offer free bus rides. The program partners with several transit agencies to encourage people to use public transportation instead of driving their cars.
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The three Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelters in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria are temporarily closed following a computer system outage. This affects software used for adoptions, intakes, lost pet reunification, and licensing. Staff confirm animals will continue receiving usual care.
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Santa Barbara High girls volleyball defeated crosstown rival San Marcos in a four-set victory on Thursday night. The Dons regained control after the first set to secure the win. Key players for Santa Barbara High included Paylin Marcillac and Blake Saunders.
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Community members have organized a fundraiser to support the family of an 18-year-old man found deceased at Chase Palm Park. The Santa Barbara Police Department is investigating his death as a homicide. Funds raised will help with transporting the body to Guerrero, Mexico.
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The Vegan Chef Challenge is back in Santa Barbara for all of October, showcasing new vegan menu items from local restaurants. The month-long event features diverse cuisines and culminates in an online public vote by diners. Winners will be announced in November.
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Local football league seasons have begun for teams in Santa Barbara and San Marcos. The action will determine playoff standings over the next five weeks. Several local squads are kicking off their league play this weekend.
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The Santa Barbara County Health Department has issued a Health Alert due to an Extreme Heat Warning for parts of the county. The warning is in effect from Friday morning through Thursday, with high temperatures expected across various areas. Residents are urged to take safety measures to avoid heat-related illnesses.
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All three Santa Barbara County animal shelters are closed after a power outage caused their internal processing system to fail. The system, which affects adoptions and licensing, is expected to be operational by Friday morning. Staff can still work, and all animals continue to receive care at the locations in Goleta, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.
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Santa Barbara High School opened an expanded wellness center offering students stress toys, a hygiene pantry, and space to decompress. The new center provides short-term counseling and a quiet area for students throughout the school day. This expansion was supported by the Grace Fisher Foundation and the State of Mind Cafe.
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Summarized from public news sources, not original Juncture reporting. Open the linked sources for the full story.
