The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has launched the new Community Hazard Awareness Map, a ...

Ballot drop-off boxes opened throughout Santa Barbara County for the Nov. 4 special election. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo Proposition 50, the ballot measure to redraw the state’s ...

Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service. SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased to announce a new exhibit at Casa de la ...

Below is a press release from multiple fire departments regarding Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA – On March 10, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL ...

Do you live in a high fire hazard zone? CalFire has released updated fire hazard maps for Santa Barbara County and the rest of the state, showing land in moderate, high or very high hazard zones.

As an avid traveler, I spend a lot of time exploring new destinations, and I rarely reach for the word “perfect.” Still, Santa Barbara may be the closest I’ve come to finding a place that truly ...

With Santa Barbara and Montecito’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean, it’s no wonder the charming Central Coast towns have so many superlative options for sushi. Local catches like Santa Barbara uni, ...

Santa Barbara’s flourishing food and beverage scene reached new heights in 2025. Although this affluent beach town is best known for its idyllic charm, scenic mountain-meets-ocean landscape and many ...

Santa Barbara has a rep. It’s an escape for the extremely rich and Californian, an idyllic town nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Santa Barbara Harbor, 95 miles northwest of Los Angeles ...

Santa Barbara's most famous avenue, State Street, is the heart of the city. It cuts through downtown for 10 car-free blocks and leads right onto Stearns Wharf. It's nearly impossible to miss with its ...

The Gifford Fire approached 50,000 acres on Sunday afternoon, two days after it ignited in the rugged terrain of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. California county sues fire truck, ...