Daily
Santa Barbara
Friday, January 23rd, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 23rd of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara nonprofit Veggie Rescue collects surplus produce from farms and markets (working with nearly 70 nonprofit partners) to deliver fresh food to families in need as rising demand outpaces supply amid federal benefit cuts. KEYT
- ➤ In 2025, a holiday blanket from a long-standing DA’s office tradition revealed the Arizona-based Kluver family — who are battling metastatic melanoma, prompting staff to organize a donation drive to support their ongoing fight. Santa Barbara Independent
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Lucinda Lane, Santa Barbara’s defining IndieBossaJazzTwang band, will perform on Monday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at SOhO (1221 State Street) with Paper Moon opening after the release of their debut album, Summer Is Over. CDs will be available for signing. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Momentum Dance Company is opening its new dance studio at 12 E Figueroa Street today from 3 to 5 p.m. The event features a formal ribbon-cutting at 3:15 p.m. along with a champagne toast and treats for guests. Edhat
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ In late 2025, Mission Scholars supporters met a challenge with a $100,000 matching grant from the Bliss Family Foundation plus a $50,000 donation from an anonymous donor, raising a record $513,000 for local students and expanding the nonprofit's college support programs. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara Junior High used Teacher Grant funds to inspire creativity as teacher librarian Chris Greeley’s Picture Me Grom project lets students capture meaningful moments with analog cameras — the project now features a rotating gallery with more than $228,000 in grants to be awarded later this month across the district. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Allan Hancock College welcomed thousands of students when spring classes began Jan. 20 at its Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center, with enrollment rising 7% (over 10,800 credit and noncredit students) and staff assisting through information booths. Noozhawk
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The California Energy Commission said zero emission vehicle sales exceeded state goals, with numbers rising 300% since 2019 and reaching 2.5 million new ZEV sales in 2025. Additional charging stations, including 17 installed at Goleta city hall last January, have improved access for EV owners + eased the transition. KEYT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Harbor faces a 4 million dollar dredging funding gap after federal funds were removed, and officials must find alternative money to keep the channel open for safe navigation while preparing for a funded dredging cycle in Feb. 2026. Edhat
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Organic Soup Kitchen is asking local donors and community partners to provide emergency funding to extend medically tailored meal support beyond the usual 12-week period as food costs rise. Without immediate support + new partnerships, vital nutrition services for low-income residents managing chronic illness may soon be at risk. Santa Barbara Independent
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ The Santa Barbara Association of Realtors report shows the South Coast market ended 2025 with higher median prices, increased sales, and limited inventory (2.9 months) that keeps the sellers’ market tight as buyers compete for move-in-ready homes from Carpinteria to Goleta. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ San Marcos Growers, a beloved local nursery led by Randy Baldwin since 1981, will sell its remaining plants this month as its land is set to become nearly 1,500 new homes on under 40 acres in the Goleta Valley (marking the end of a unique horticultural era). Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ The Architectural Board of Review approved the final design for a Spanish Colonial Revival housing project at 308 West Montecito Street on Jan. 20. The project will feature six two-story duplexes with 12 units averaging 737 sqft each & requires window recesses and walkway redesigns to maintain aesthetic standards. Edhat
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Dos Pueblos wrestling won a 50-25 dual meet against Santa Barbara High on Wednesday at J.R. Richards Gym with key pinning wins by Thiago Hidalgo, Matthew Bernard, and Seamus Fergus. Ventura’s San Marcos team also beat the Cougars and will face Dos Pueblos next Tuesday in Goleta. Noozhawk
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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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Outstanding Performer of the Year Award for Michael B. Jordan
8 PM – 2 AM — Arlington Theatre — $35 General Admission, $100 Priority Seating — Celebrate the incredible achievements of Michael B. Jordan at this prestigious film festival event.
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Sunday Yin Chill
7-8 p.m. — Yoga Soup — Entry fee not specified — Experience a restorative yoga class focused on connecting breath and body in a slow-paced environment.
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Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift
6:15-7:14 p.m. — Music Academy of the West — Ticketed event — Experience Taylor Swift's hits performed by Vapour String Quartet in a magical candlelight setting.
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Open Season Lucha Libre Pro Wrestling
7 PM — Franklin Elementary School — Tickets available — Experience high-energy lucha libre with renowned luchadores from Tijuana.
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Sunday Yin Chill
7-8 p.m. — Yoga Soup — Cost not specified — Unwind with a restorative Yin class focused on breath and relaxation.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Santa Barbara
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