Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Catholic Charities in Santa Barbara is cutting its long-running rental assistance program after losing FEMA funding + it still offers help with utilities and food and urges low income residents to seek other supports.

Makenna Koffee Company will open new cafés in Isla Vista near UCSB and in Newbury Park in spring 2026 + the new locations will serve coffee, breakfast tacos, and specialty fare.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn (and Benicio Del Toro) will receive the Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award on Monday, Feb.

9 at Arlington Theatre during the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Their roles in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER have sparked notable awards buzz.

The Santa Barbara Independent launches a new podcast series that delves into Isla Vista’s past and present, with the first episode airing on January 8 and five more scheduled through February 12 (highlighting local stories about housing, student life, and community change).

Christina McDermott reports on Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, where student housing and longtime residents form a community evolving from sparse housing (once part of oil venture plots) to a bustling neighborhood near the coast.

The piece highlights challenges like repair delays and tight parking amid rising rents.

County students seeking financial aid for the 2026-27 school year must submit completed Scholarship Foundation applications by Jan.

31. The Foundation offers both general and employer-sponsored programs (program advisors are available to assist) and application materials are online.

Santa Barbara County will host a public design workshop for the new Orcutt Library on Tuesday, Jan.

20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Oasis Center (420 Soares Ave.) in Orcutt to gather community input on design, technology, and services for the future hub.

The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management is collecting storm damage reports from properties and businesses hit by January's storm and urges residents to use the disaster form; residents with questions can call (805) 681-5526.

Santa Barbara County Court upheld an injunction preventing Sable Offshore from restarting its Santa Ynez Unit pipelines due to new Coastal Development Permit rules taking effect Jan.

1; the next hearing is set for Feb. 27.

Anchor Rose has officially closed and the City listed its historic waterfront restaurant space for lease at 113 Harbor Way; the venue offers indoor and patio seating (1,934 sqft upstairs and 2,954 sqft downstairs) and views that have long drawn locals and visitors.

Proposals for new operations are now welcome.

Blind Fitness Golf Clinic will be held Monday, Jan.

12 at Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Participants will receive adaptive coaching from longtime PGA professional (Robert Kotowski) to prepare for the upcoming Winter Golf Classic later this month.

UCSB's basketball team lost at home to UC Davis 93 to 86 as the Gauchos dropped their third straight Big West game.

Miro Little returned from a foot injury and led with 20 points as the team struggled with defense.

San Marcos High Girls' Basketball ended its five-game losing streak with a 55-53 win over Dos Pueblos on Thursday night at Thunderhut, led by Jada Ahmad's 20 points and key plays by Isabela Schow and Lily Ruvalcaba, moving the Royals to a 9-5 overall record.

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes named a 26-player roster for a January training camp at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The camp will finish with matches against Paraguay on Jan. 24 at DHSP and Chile on Jan. 27 at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara.

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.