Daily
Santa Barbara
Saturday, March 7th, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 7th of March.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ On March 5, Cox employees raised $100,000 for local nonprofits during Cox Charities’ 30th anniversary. Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County each received $50,000 to support vital community programs. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ The Santa Barbara Police Department will host Buckle Up with First Responders on Saturday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Westside Neighborhood Center (423 W. Victoria St.), where families can receive free car seat inspections, enjoy a pancake breakfast, and explore emergency vehicles. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Veggie Rescue will host Sweet 16: Celebrating 16 Years & 5 Million Pounds Rescued on May 21 at Bernat Vineyard & Cafe Farm in Santa Ynez. The fundraising gala will include live music, food & wine, and auctions to support local food rescue operations. Santa Barbara Independent
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch today from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex-4, aiming for liftoff at 6:31 a.m. to deploy 25 Starlink satellites. Backup opportunities are set for Sunday, and the first-stage booster will land on the (Of Course I Still Love You) droneship in the Pacific. Noozhawk
- ➤ Home Plate Grill, a well-loved neighborhood restaurant in Goleta, announced its permanent closure effective March 31 due to losing its lease at the Padre Shopping Center (7398 Calle Real, Suite C). The restaurant, which has served the community nearly 10 years since opening in 2016, thanked its patrons for their support. Edhat
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Governor Newsom announced on March 5 that CalOSBA is awarding over $2 million in innovation grants to 37 startups statewide, including Santa Barbara companies in health tech and clean energy. The grants, from $25,000 to $100,000, aim to boost small business growth. Edhat
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Unified and its local partners are hosting a free Family Literacy Festival today at the Public Library (40 E. Anapamu St.) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., offering PK-12 families interactive author sessions, arts and crafts, and other literacy activities. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ The Scholarship Foundation honored 20 student artists as winners of its 2026 Art Scholarship Competition on Tuesday, March 3 at Art & Soul Gallery in Santa Barbara. Each winner received a scholarship of $3,000 or $3,500, with one top artist earning an extra $1,000. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ On Feb. 27, SBCC hosted 170 local eighth grade students for an AVID Discovery Day event that introduced them to college and career pathways. They toured the Cliff Campus, learned about Dual Enrollment opportunities, and participated in interactive sessions (including tours of both east and west campuses). Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ San Marcos High School’s Health Careers Academy offers students a guaranteed path to Westmont College with at least $15,000 in aid if they meet GPA and course requirements. The partnership, approved on Nov. 18, 2025, runs until May 31, 2029 (students need a 3.3 GPA and to complete A-G courses). Santa Barbara Independent
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On March 3, the Air Force tested its unarmed Minuteman III missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base with two reentry vehicles headed to Kwajalein Atoll. The test confirmed system performance and helped guide future force development. Edhat
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Carpinteria High track & field swept its double dual meet on Thursday in Carpinteria by beating Malibu 108-23 and Del Sol 120-3 on the girls side, while the boys won 97-33 over Malibu and 82-49 against Del Sol. Noozhawk
- ➤ Bishop Diego student-athletes shined this winter as the girls basketball team won the CIF-SS Division 5 championship and the boys squad, led by MVP Crew Sjovold, went undefeated in the Tri-Valley League. Both basketball and soccer teams received multiple All-League honors. Noozhawk
- ➤ Westmont Women’s Basketball beat Dominican 64-61 on Thursday night in a tight PacWest quarterfinal and advanced to the semifinals to play top-seeded Vanguard — the team used strong rebounding and team play to secure their 21st win of the season. Noozhawk
-
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.
-
St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
7:30-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Ticket information not provided — Celebrate Irish culture with music, dance, and high-energy performances from champion dancers.
-
California Agave Symposium
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort — $125-$350 — Network with industry leaders and explore the future of California's agave industry.
-
Live Concert by Booker T. Jones
7:30-9:00 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Tickets required — Enjoy an evening of soulful music by the legendary Booker T. Jones.
-
Los Inquietos Del Norte Concert
11 PM - 3 AM — Earl Warren Showgrounds — Ticket prices vary — Experience an unforgettable night with Los Inquietos Del Norte and Los Caimanes de Sinaloa.
-
Richard Thompson Concert with Zara Phillips
7-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Tickets available — Enjoy an evening of captivating music with the legendary Richard Thompson and the talented Zara Phillips.
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
Don't look for happiness. Look for meaning.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Santa Barbara
Welcome to the Daily Santa Barbara, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Santa Barbara, California community. If you like the Daily Santa Barbara, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Santa Barbara.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Santa Barbara and across California. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Santa Barbara
A free Santa Barbara community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailysantabarbaranews.com/sitemap