Daily
Santa Barbara
Thursday, February 19th, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 19th of February.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Jalapeño SB has opened on North Milpas Street (former Santa Barbara Food Connection space) and offers Latin American and American breakfast fusion with signature dishes like breakfast burritos and chilaquiles. The restaurant held a soft opening earlier this month and features prices between $16.95 and $24.95. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Actor Stellan Skarsgård was honored with the Montecito Award on Feb. 11 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre—presented by his Dune co-star Josh Brolin amid a red carpet event that drew many fans. Daily Nexus
- ➤ Today, DSBIA launched an art initiative on State Street to transform vacant storefront windows; three have been painted and 13 more are planned to brighten the downtown area. The effort aims to spark local engagement and boost a more vibrant urban environment. Santa Barbara Independent
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2026-2030 strategic plan in January to boost regional job growth, improve housing, and support a stronger workforce pipeline. The plan calls for creating an Economic Development Foundation and expanding public-private partnerships from Goleta to Carpinteria. Noozhawk
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ UCSB’s Gevirtz School of Education honored 61 recipients of its 2025-26 Fellowships at a ceremony on campus in Santa Barbara; the awards include 27 fellowships exceeding $200,000 and a new fund to support low-income, first-generation & bilingual students planning careers in teaching. Noozhawk
- ➤ An independent review finds that UC posted a $5.5-billion surplus in fiscal year 2025 while UCSB service workers have seen wages fall by 6% since 2017 and face rising rents. The report urges UC leaders to shift funds from expansion to better pay for frontline workers. Noozhawk
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara residents + businesses can apply for clean energy upgrades using $9.5 million in incentives from the Tri-County Regional Energy Network to install heat pump water heaters + HVAC systems. Funding is available for single-family, multifamily, + commercial projects in the region. Noozhawk
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Roundabouts on Hollister Avenue in Goleta will open to traffic on March 2, while Highway 217 ramp closures from 8 p.m. Feb. 27 until 5 a.m. March 2 require drivers to plan extra travel time (Project Connect). Noozhawk
- ➤ Today, CAL FIRE launched a forest health and fuels reduction campaign to educate communities about fire-safe practices and prescribed burns, using a customizable toolkit (for local agencies and organizations) to boost wildfire mitigation efforts. Edhat
- ➤ Vandenberg Space Force Base will host its first Mission Update event on Friday, Feb. 20 at Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center in Lompoc to explain rocket launch operations and address sonic boom concerns. Col. James T. Horne III and Dr. Kent Gee will share findings at the free event. Edhat
- ➤ Goleta approved temporary street parking restrictions for University 1 and 2 neighborhoods near Isla Vista as community leaders expect large crowds during Deltopia. The restrictions will run from noon on April 3 to 7 a.m. on April 5 (pending final event dates) and require residents to display a parking permit. Noozhawk
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara High girls water polo won an 8-6 CIF-SS D2 Semifinal over Murrieta Valley on their home pool deck yesterday. The Dons will play La Serna for the championship on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. Noozhawk
- ➤ Cabrillo High senior Andrew Wallace qualified for the CIF Masters Wrestling Meet with a third-place finish at the CIF-CS Div. 4 tournament and will compete in the 138-pound division against top state wrestlers this weekend in Fresno at Selland Arena. He aims to avenge a previous double-overtime loss. Noozhawk
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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.
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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
7-10 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — $26 General Public / $18 Youth / $15 UCSB students — Experience thrilling outdoor adventure films at a larger-than-life scale, showcasing the best mountain adventures.
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Bored Teachers Comedy Tour
11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Check venue for pricing — Enjoy an uproarious comedy night with the 'Teachers Off Duty' Podcast stars.
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La Chupitos Comedy and Mariachi Show
7-9 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Tickets available — Experience a vibrant fusion of Mexican comedy and mariachi music featuring La Chupitos and the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas.
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Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
6:15-7:14 p.m. — Music Academy of the West — Tickets required — Experience the enchanting music of Hans Zimmer in an intimate candlelit setting.
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Kyle Watson Live Performance
9:00 p.m. — EOS Lounge — $12.36 — Experience Kyle Watson's unique blend of house music with rolling basslines and punchy grooves.
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Nachle Deewane 2026
4:30-7:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Proceeds aid South Asian charities — Experience a vibrant annual Bollywood-fusion dance competition featuring teams from across the country.
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March 2026 Area Meeting
6-8 p.m. — The Community Arts Workshop — Free entry — Engage in an open forum of critiques and insights from local artists while enjoying a keynote from ceramicist Erin Smith.
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.
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