Updated story: In Santa Barbara County, slow growth softens recession
Santa Barbara County will experience a shorter and shallower recession than the rest of the region, the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project said. Speaking to 600 business and community leaders April 22, Chris Thornberg and Brad Kemp of Beacon Economics said Santa Barbara County went into recession later than Ventura and San Luis Obispo Read More →
Amgen first-quarter earnings up 14 percent to $1.2B
Thousand Oaks-based biotech giant earned $1.2 billion in the first quarter of the year – an increase of 14 percent over earnings of $1 billion in the first quarter a year ago. It saw revenues from several of its key moneymaker drugs increase, and said it remains optimistic about a new drug in the pipeline. Read More →
"Superior proposal" made for CKE
[Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:25 p.m. on April 20, to reflect the correction at the bottom of the article.] A $75 million price hike has restarted the bidding war for CKE Restaurants, the Carpinteria-based parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardees. CKE said April 18 that it has received a buyout offer worth Read More →
Ambitious Evergreen Village project takes root in Santa Maria
Evergreen Village is the latest addition to Santa Maria’s portfolio of ambitious projects. The 52,421-square-foot center, which will be located along Highway 135 between Santa Maria and Orcutt, will replace the 50-year-old Evergreen Center with five new office and retail buildings. The development broke ground on its first phase in November and is well under Read More →
Arnold rushes to salvage his eco-devo legacy
As a person who’s only seen Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from behind the ropes at press conferences up and down the Tri-Counties, I’ve lost my ability to connect with his charm. He now strikes me as a particularly hollow political figure. He’s pretending to ride off into the sunset in a blaze of glory. But what Read More →
Treasurer candidates bank on being the one
The seven candidates for Ventura County treasurer-tax collector include former bankers, a retired judge and the head of the county’s Taxpayers Association. The crowded field is seeking the position now held by Lawrence Matheney, who is retiring. In addition to collecting property taxes, the Ventura County Treasurer’s Office touches billions of dollars in public money. Read More →
