
Dignity Health adds second surgical robot
By Jorge Mercado / Monday, July 21st, 2025 / Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Subscriber content, Technology / Comments Off on Dignity Health adds second surgical robot

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UCSB names new chancellor
By Jorge Mercado / Thursday, July 17th, 2025 / Higher Education, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Top Stories, Top Story / Comments Off on UCSB names new chancellor

UC Santa Barbara named its sixth chancellor on July 17 when the university announced that Dr. Dennis Assanis has been approved by the UC Board of Regents to be UCSB’s next man in charge. Assanis, who is succeeding longtime Chancellor Henry Yang, will assume his new role on September 1. The UC Regents also approved Assanis’s Read More →

Dubroff: Santa Maria Valley hits cruising speed in transport
By Henry Dubroff / Monday, July 14th, 2025 / Columns, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Subscriber content, Tourism / Comments Off on Dubroff: Santa Maria Valley hits cruising speed in transport

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200 people arrested by federal agents following Glass House raid
By Jorge Mercado / Friday, July 11th, 2025 / Agribusiness, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Top Stories, Top Story, Ventura County / Comments Off on 200 people arrested by federal agents following Glass House raid

The fallout from the federal agent’s raid of Glass House Farms’ operations in both Carpinteria and Camarillo is still being felt, with approximately 200 people across both sites being arrested, the Department of Homeland Security announced on July 11. Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security agents stormed both Glass House Read More →
Santa Barbara’s El Encanto Hotel sells for $82.2M to Tinder co-founder
By Jorge Mercado / Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 / Latest news, Real Estate, Santa Barbara County, Top Stories, Top Story, Tourism / Comments Off on Santa Barbara’s El Encanto Hotel sells for $82.2M to Tinder co-founder

Santa Barbara’s five-star gem El Encanto Hotel is under new ownership after Justin Mateen, Tyler Mateen and the Cayton family combined to purchase the historic estate for $82.2 million. Announced July 8, the Mateen’s and Culver Capital, which is represented by principal Garrett Cayton, purchased El Encanto from Belmond, a luxury hospitality brand owned by LVMH. LVMH Read More →
Central Coast agriculture gross value up in 2024
By Mike Harris / Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Top Stories, Top Story, Tri-County Economy, Ventura County / Comments Off on Central Coast agriculture gross value up in 2024

The gross value of agriculture in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties increased by 7% in 2024 over 2023, according to their recently released annual crop and livestock reports. In 2024, Ventura County’s estimated gross value was $2.3 billion, its findings, made public June 24, said. Santa Barbara County’s was $2 billion, its report, released July Read More →
Santa Maria Airport reintroduces flights to Phoenix
By Jorge Mercado / Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 / Latest news, Santa Barbara County, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Santa Maria Airport reintroduces flights to Phoenix
The Covid-19 pandemic ruined Santa Maria Airport’s plans to have more commercial flights. But five years later, those plans are starting to come back into the fold. American Airlines will be launching a nonstop service flight to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport beginning Oct. 15, restoring direct access to a major hub for the first time since 2020. The route was first announced by American Airlines on Read More →