Lawsuit alleges Montecito man sold stocks despite FINRA ban
By Stephen Nellis / Saturday, April 19th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Personal Finance, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Lawsuit alleges Montecito man sold stocks despite FINRA ban
A Montecito man is facing allegations that he sold money-losing stock to clients and gave them flawed financial advice despite being banned from brokering securities by industry regulators. A lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on April 3 alleges that Elias Argyropoulos and his Coast Village Road company, Prima Capital Group, assured investor Read More →
Health care prices under scrutiny in Sansum-Cottage merger
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Health Care & Life Science, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Health care prices under scrutiny in Sansum-Cottage merger

As the regulatory review of the proposed merger between Cottage Health System and Sansum Clinic stretches to the six-month mark, a recent federal court ruling points out key issues that arise when a dominant hospital system buys a major physician group. In an Idaho case decided earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission intensely focused Read More →
A dose of kindness: Vitamin Angels celebrates 20 years
By Erika Martin / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Nonprofits, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on A dose of kindness: Vitamin Angels celebrates 20 years

The 1994 Northridge Earthquake turned Howard Schiffer’s priorities upside-down. After spending years as an entrepreneur in the natural products industry, the earthquake’s aftermath, particularly among marginalized communities, left Schiffer feeling helpless. He was also forced to confront the broader impacts his merchandise could have on public health. Using his business connections to secure product Read More →

A premium on historic Oxnard: Barkley buys Bank of A. Levy site
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on A premium on historic Oxnard: Barkley buys Bank of A. Levy site

A historic bank building in downtown Oxnard is now home to Barkley Insurance & Risk Management, a 20-year-old family firm.

Hotel Oceana gets a new name as waterfront inns ready for boom
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Hotel Oceana gets a new name as waterfront inns ready for boom
The 122-room property at 202 W. Cabrillo Blvd. was purchased last month by Philadelphia-based investment firm HHM for $41.7 million, including the assumption of $24.9 million in mortgage debt.

Tuning in to the Tri-Counties: KEYT, KCOY team on news coverage
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Central Coast, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Tuning in to the Tri-Counties: KEYT, KCOY team on news coverage

Under a deal announced last year, CBS affiliate KCOY’s news will be produced under a shared-services agreement with Santa Barbara-based ABC affiliate KEYT. Journalists on the ground in Santa Maria will contribute to a live newscast from studios in Santa Barbara, replacing the old setup in which the evening KCOY newscast is produced in Salinas at station KION.

Location, location is key to drought outlook for region’s vintners
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, Small Business, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Location, location is key to drought outlook for region’s vintners
California’s production of wine grapes is likely to decline this year after record yields in 2012 and 2013, but it’s uncertain whether the booming Central Coast will join in the slide.