March 24, 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, January 12th, 2026

Dream work: Cal Poly universities’ Rose Parade float wins Sweepstakes Award

Higher Education, Latest news, left, San Luis Obispo County, Subscriber content

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

Venture capital, M&A markets will do or die with AI

Central Coast, Economy, Latest news, Subscriber content, Tri-County Economy

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

MB&T, Baker Hill partnership helps small businesses

Banking & Finance, Economy, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Small Business, Subscriber content

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

Ever the optimist: Former OpenAI exec believes AI gains for entrepreneurs

Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Subscriber content, Technology, Top Stories, Top Story

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

CRE: Historic Ventura County land sale nets $27M

Central Coast, Columns, Latest news, Real Estate, Subscriber content

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

Amgen snaps up Dark Blue for $840M

East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, middle, Subscriber content, Technology, Tri-County Public Companies

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| Friday, January 9th, 2026

Central Coast unemployment rate sees slight decline in November

Central Coast, Columns, Economy, Latest news, left, Tri-County Economy

With the federal government shutdown over, the California Employment Development Department has released unemployment numbers for the month of November, skipping over the month of October. Announced Jan. 9, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast declined from the last release, sitting at 4.73% in November, down from 4.8% in September; however, it is still Read More →