Good morning Santa Barbara! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Lunch With An Author and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. County receives 'prohousing designation' for expanding housing opportunities (santamariatimes.com) — Santa Barbara County has earned California's coveted "prohousing" designation, unlocking $1.25 million to support affordable and special‑needs housing and streamline multifamily development. The new status also gives the county priority access to additional state housing and infrastructure funds, strengthening implementation of its Housing Element and potentially shaping where and how new homes are built locally.
2. Oil Spill Drill Tests the Emergency Response in the Santa Barbara Harbor (keyt.com) — Emergency crews practiced containing a potential oil spill at Santa Barbara Harbor, deploying booms to protect more than a thousand boats and sensitive marine life. Harbor Patrol, state wildlife officials, the Coast Guard, and contractors coordinated a real-world response scenario to ensure they can quickly seal off the harbor from West Beach to the breakwater during a major spill.
3. Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days (independent.com) — Families at several Santa Barbara schools, including Santa Barbara High and Junior High, should expect minimum-day schedules today due to the extreme heat, though students may stay through normal dismissal if needed. Campuses are limiting outdoor activity, using air-conditioned rooms, and A-OK after-school programs will continue with heat-conscious adjustments while principals share exact dismissal times.
4. New CEO Jana Petersen Hopes to Continue Vision of 'One County, One Future' (noozhawk.com) — Santa Barbara County's new executive officer, Jana Petersen, is stepping into the top administrative role overseeing 23 departments and a $1.66 billion budget as the county braces for a projected financial downturn. Drawing on her Boulder County experience, she plans to focus on fiscal stability, disaster response, criminal justice reentry, and equity for Black, Indigenous and brown residents while settling into life near the courthouse.
5. Carbajal Discusses $20 Million Grant for UCSB Advanced Research Lab (noozhawk.com) — UC Santa Barbara has secured a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to build an AI- and robotics-enabled cloud lab, allowing researchers nationwide to run experiments remotely in Santa Barbara. Congressman Salud Carbajal and UCSB leaders say the COAST PCL facility at OASIS will accelerate materials breakthroughs with potential benefits in medicine, energy, electronics, and water purification.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Barbara PatchAM possible:
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Santa Barbara! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Santa Barbara Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.