February 16, 2026

		

Jorge Mercado

Jorge Mercado is a staff writer with the Business Times. His beats include technology, agriculture, cannabis, energy and the environment, and higher education.


| Thursday, February 5th, 2026

ICE activity hurts Central Coast business

Central Coast, Latest news, Top Stories, Top Story

Recent and continued activity from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is hurting Central Coast business and while no exact economic figures exist, the owners themselves are speaking out. Jose Luis Lopez Elizalde, an immigrant from Ensenada, has made a name for himself in the restaurant industry, going from an IHOP manager in the 2000s, overseeing Read More →

| Friday, January 30th, 2026

Amazon layoffs hit Ventura County

Latest news, middle, Ventura County

In the days after Amazon announced it was laying off 16,000 workers, it has been revealed that some of those job cuts are hitting the tri-county region. Amazon, one of the largest companies in the world, announced it will be closing down various facilities throughout Southern California, including one at 742 Los Angeles Ave in Read More →

| Friday, January 30th, 2026

Central Coast businesses take a stand

Central Coast, Latest news, Top Stories, Top Story

Businesses across the Central Coast, took a stand on Jan. 30, deciding to close for the day or donate a portion of their proceeds as part of a national protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. Some closures included Santa Barbara’s popular Mexican restaurant, Los Agaves, Blackwater, a gift and vintage shop in downtown Read More →

| Friday, January 30th, 2026

The Trade Desk shares 52-week low after CFO change

Latest news, Subscriber content, Technology, Ventura County

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| Wednesday, January 28th, 2026

Mindbody parent company agrees to merger, new funding

Latest news, middle, San Luis Obispo County, Subscriber content, Technology

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| Wednesday, January 28th, 2026

Atara receives FDA rejection, future uncertain

East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, left, Subscriber content, Technology

The bad news just keeps coming for Thousand Oaks-based Atara Biotherapeutics. Nearly a year after the biotechnology company laid off 50% of its workforce after one rejection from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Atara received another one on Jan. 12. In this notice, Atara, a company specializing in developing transformative therapies for patients with Read More →

| Monday, January 26th, 2026

Dignity Health appoints new Central Coast market president

Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, left

Dignity Health, which has seven award-winning hospitals on the Central Coast, has appointed BJ Predum as its Central Coast Market President, effective Feb. 2. Announced Jan. 26, Predum will be responsible for the strategic planning, growth, operations, financial performance, and support services across the Dignity Health Central Coast market. Predum previously served as the Dignity Read More →