January 9, 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.


| Monday, December 29th, 2025

Leeta Materials moves to new Goleta lab

Central Coast, Latest news, Subscriber content, Technology, Top Stories, Top Story

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| Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Direct Relief ranked No. 5 largest U.S. charity

Latest news, middle, Nonprofits, Santa Barbara County

It has been a big year of change for Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief, welcoming a new chief executive, but the global humanitarian nonprofit is still helping people all around the world at a massive scale. That is why the nonprofit ranked as the fifth largest charity in the United States and one of the most Read More →

| Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Covered CA faces big hurdles in 2026, says executive director

Central Coast, Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, left, Subscriber content

The holiday season usually brings a lot of light and joy, but for a majority of Americans, decisions in regards to healthcare in 2026 will also need to be made. Affordable Care Act subsidies, or tax credits, that went into effect in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act are set to expire Read More →

| Friday, December 19th, 2025

PBS Biotech CEO excited for challenge

Latest news, middle, Subscriber content, Technology

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| Friday, December 19th, 2025

Santa Barbara, Ventura Counties among the most generous donors

Central Coast, Columns, Latest news, Nonprofits

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| Thursday, December 18th, 2025

Mission Produce announces C-suite changes for 2026

Agribusiness, Latest news, Top Stories, Top Story, Tri-County Public Companies

Oxnard-based Mission Produce announced some succession planning in the works for 2026, as CEO and Co-Founder Steve Barnard announced he will transition to the executive chairman role in April 2026. Succeeding him in April will be current President and COO John Pawlowski. As executive chairman, Barnard will chair the board and provide strategic oversight, working closely Read More →

| Friday, December 12th, 2025

805 Tech: A look back at a great year for Central Coast tech

Central Coast, Latest news, Subscriber content, Technology

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