Courts & Crime
Another Shooting at Santa Barbara’s Bohnett Park
Police are mum on details; a man was shot and killed at the park in February.
Courts & Crime
Lompoc Man Who Immolated Father and Family Dog Sentenced to Life Without Parole
Joseph Garcia, 44, had been convicted of murder and found to be legally sane.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara Nurse Accused of Stealing from Dependent Adults, Including a Veteran
Rosanne Marquis, 71, faces dozens of felony charges related to her unlicensed in-home care business.
Courts & Crime
Multiple Arrests Made in Fatal Shooting at Santa Barbara's Bohnett Park
Luis Terrazas, previously implicated in a separate killing, was gunned down earlier this year.
Courts & Crime
Case Dismissed Against Santa Barbara Activist Arrested for Slashing ICE Tire
Jack Randmaa had been charged with “depredation against property of the United States.”
Courts & Crime
Los Angeles Restaurant Owner Paying Big Price for Fishing in Protected Channel Islands Waters
Conner Mitchell and his partners face large fines and are prohibited from owning or operating commercial fishing boats.
Courts & Crime
Liberty Street Killers Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Santa Barbara Court
Carpinteria gang members Angel Varela and Oscar Trujillo-Gutierrez were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
Election 2026
A Rare Bid to Unseat a Santa Barbara County Judge
Private attorney Luis Esparza is challenging Judge Thomas Adams, whose 44-year career has been marked by multiple achievements and recent controversy.
Marine Protected Areas Do In Fact Work, Study Shows
Satellite imagery proves the regulated zones are virtually free of industrial fishing.
Animals
Have UCSB Researchers Come Up with a Solution to the Cape Ivy Invasion?
Another South African native ― a tiny fly ― may be the answer.
Music
Flight of the Conchords Comeback Show Was a Hot, Hilarious Mess
The New Zealand comedy-music duo charms and rocks the pants off the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara County Has One of the State’s Highest Arrest Rates
Juvenile arrest rate is fourth highest in California.
Courts & Crime
AI at Center of Santa Barbara Sex Crimes Case
A city resident is convicted under a new California law that combats computer-generated child abuse materials.
Courts & Crime
Ty Warner v. Santa Barbara Sea Center
The Beanie Babies mogul is suing the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History over naming rights for its center.
Courts & Crime
Man Found Guilty of Murdering Santa Barbara Homeless Woman
Theresa Ann Carina, 51, was described as “quiet, polite, and someone who kept to herself.”
Courts & Crime
Montecito Stock Fraud Couple on the Run
Andrew and Helen Waters operated a multimillion-dollar scheme and are now hiding in Australia.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara DA Calls Sentence in Fatal DUI Case ‘Appallingly Lenient’
Katelyn Fultz will serve just nine months in jail for driving drunk and killing Carly Howard on Highway 154.
Courts & Crime
Lompoc Councilmember Resists Calls to Resign as Criminal Case Proceeds
A Santa Barbara County judge will rule this week if Steve Bridge will go to trial on 10 felony counts of theft and fraud.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara Jail Inmate Stabbed 30 Times in Gang-Related Assault
One of the alleged attackers was recently convicted of first-degree murder.
Science & Tech
Santa Barbara’s Supernovae Superstar
A UCSB grad student has helped crack the code behind the immense power and mysterious “chirps” of exploding stars.
Courts & Crime
Kathy Ireland Accuses Business Managers of Looting Her Fortune
The model-turned-entrepreneur and lifelong Santa Barbara resident claims decades-long deception left her virtually broke.
Health
Santa Barbara Surgeon Calls Out Health Insurance Giant
Dr. Kevin Casey claims “immoral” denial and delay tactics by UnitedHealthcare contributed to his patient’s “preventable death.”
Public Safety
Santa Barbarans: Do You Live in a Hazard Zone?
New user-friendly map helps residents identify risks and plan for emergencies.
Courts & Crime
Montecito Couple Are ‘Practiced and Unapologetic Fraudsters,’ Authorities Say
Byron and Vonna Tarnutzer are accused of sweeping, years-long cons involving multiple victims.
Politics
Santa Ynez Ranch Owner and Trump Insider Called Jeffrey Epstein a ‘First Class Human Being’
Thomas Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, operates Happy Canyon Vineyard and its polo grounds.
Courts & Crime
Lyndon Lea, Former Montecito Polo Player and International Business Tycoon, Appears in Epstein Files
The British investor owned a $38 million Channel Drive estate from 2008 to 2021.
Courts & Crime
Full Video Shows What Led to Friday’s Violent ICE Arrest in Santa Barbara
Eight minutes of unedited footage, provided exclusively to the 'Independent', captures the entire chaotic scene.
Courts & Crime
Bankrupt California Friars Agree to $20 Million Settlement with Survivors
Approximately half of the victims had Santa Barbara ties; more restitution is expected.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara Custody Sergeant Charged with Time-Card Fraud
Segun Ogunleye is accused of logging more than $175,000 in earnings for shifts he did not work.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara County Siblings Sue State over Oil Drilling Rights
Attorneys for John and Melinda Morgan argue a new law amounts to an unconstitutional taking of their property.
Courts & Crime
Recent ‘Alt Ed Student of the Month’ Arrested After Santa Barbara Shooting
Jose Manual Suastegui, 20, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon.
Courts & Crime
Eagle-Eyed Witness Thwarts Home Depot Robbery in Goleta
Three men, two in ski masks, were arrested with fentanyl and a loaded handgun.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara Massage Therapists Tense over New Regulations
Police argue an updated ordinance is needed to curb prostitution and human trafficking.
Courts & Crime
Santa Barbara Jury Convicts Carpas Gang Members of 2021 Double-Homicide
Angel Varela, 31, and Oscar Trujillo-Gutierrez, 29, face life in prison without parole.
Courts & Crime
Former UCSB Student Convicted of Rape, Flees Santa Barbara Courthouse
Arian Eteghaei, 23, made it a block to State Street before he was tackled by bailiffs.
Courts & Crime
Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets
Inna Vladimirovna Cook faces eight felony counts of theft, fraud, and money laundering, plus a civil lawsuit.
Science & Tech
Vandenberg Announces Plan for New ‘Super-Heavy’ Launch Site
The Santa Barbara County base could become the next home of SpaceX's Starship, the world’s largest rocket.
Travel
A Discounted Santa Barbara Staycation Is Just What the Doctored Ordered
Seasonal colds almost derailed our plans, but sunshine and sea breeze prevailed.
Tyler Hayden’s 2025 Year in Review
Crime, Trump, and happier things.
Courts & Crime
Attempted Murder Defendant Said ‘Head-Link’ with Katy Perry Directed Him to Ty Warner’s Home
Russell Phay was arrested in May for breaking into the Beanie Babies mogul’s estate and violently attacking his girlfriend.