Daily
Santa Barbara
Saturday, January 3rd, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 3rd of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The County of Santa Barbara Health Department recognized Sarah Aguilar (2025 Local Hero) for her innovative animal welfare leadership at the Independent's 40th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes on Friday, Jan. 02. Her work has led to historic animal adoptions and expanded community programs throughout the county. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ The Pad Climbing will open a free Santa Barbara open house on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. First-time climbers can join games, demos and vendor showcases, and CEO Kristin Horowitz will share welcome remarks at noon. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Two long-time shelter residents are seeking adoptive homes: Spike, a four-year-old Kelpie mix from San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Center who plays well with dogs, kids + non-aggressive cats, and Ivan, a one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix from Woods Humane Society known for his playful nature. KSBY
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ A free exhibit titled 'Portraits. by Stephanie Baker, 1990-Present' will run from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17 at Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden St, where local photographer Stephanie Baker presents curated black and white photos capturing decades of local growth — a visual community slideshow. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Out of the Box Theatre Company will hold auditions for its spring production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins on Jan. 23 (6-10pm) at Center Stage Theater; rehearsals will start Feb. 16 and performances are scheduled for Apr. 10-19. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Local film, art, and music scenes are thriving in Santa Barbara as SBIFF prepares to open a renovated film center and upcoming early January concerts promise fresh experiences, following Sir Paul McCartney’s standout performance last fall. Community members can enjoy screenings, live Q&As, and art exhibitions through diverse local venues. Santa Barbara Independent
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ California schools must set up new protections against abuse under Senate Bill 848 that goes into effect Jan. 1. Schools, including private ones, will need protocols by July, including training staff, policies on appropriate behavior and a teacher database (to prevent re-hiring of accused educators). Santa Barbara Independent
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is hosting Underwater Parks Day on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Stearns Wharf, offering free admission and interactive exhibits & activities that highlight marine protected areas. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ A powerful New Year’s storm brought 1.15 inches of rain in 24 hours and pushed Santa Barbara's water year rainfall totals to 353% of normal, nearly filling local reservoirs (Gibraltar reached 101.8% capacity) according to a county report. Edhat
- ➤ California’s plastic bag law went into effect Jan. 1, 2026, requiring retailers to offer recycled paper bags (sold for 10 cents) and reusable options. In Santa Barbara, officials are reviewing an ordinance that would ban single-use plastics including water bottles and styrofoam following a unanimous committee vote in Dec. 2025. Edhat
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara County Fire received a $157,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase three sets of battery-powered extrication equipment (the jaws of life) for stations 21, 26, and 31 to boost first responders’ rescue capabilities at vehicle crash scenes. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ For November 2025, Santa Barbara collected $2.7 million in transient occupancy taxes—the fifth month of its fiscal year—raising year-to-date totals to $17.7 million and coming in 3.2% above budget. Edhat
- ➤ A federal appeals court denied a request to pause Sable Offshore Corp.'s restart of oil production from the Santa Ynez Unit in Santa Barbara County, setting an opening brief deadline of Jan. 26. Production will resume amid safety & permit concerns. Noozhawk
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The County Health Department honored Sarah Aguilar, director of Animal Services, for her innovative leadership at the 40th Annual Community Heroes Celebration — she was named Local Hero 2025 and joined the Best Friends Network. Aguilar’s work has driven record animal rehoming and strengthened community partnerships. Santa Barbara Independent
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Reading Skills 101 Workshop
2-4 p.m. — Santa Barbara Public Library — Free entry — A community workshop designed to empower families with essential reading skills and understanding for children across all grades.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
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