Good morning, Santa Barbara.

A Los Angeles County woman—34-year-old Caihong Lei—was arrested in Goleta on Monday for trying to scam a 77-year-old resident out of $30,000 by posing as an Amazon employee and was booked on charges of grand theft by false pretense and conspiracy to commit fraud.

David Genovese of Santa Barbara was sentenced to six years, eight months in state prison after pleading guilty to five counts of animal cruelty—charges that detail his repeated abuse of cats, including binding those from local shelters which suffered severe injuries.

Santa Barbara District Attorney John Savrnoch charged three men (Juan Fernando Rios, Sergio Rivas, and Luis Gerargo Terrazo) in connection with stabbings on State Street on August 1.

They were arraigned on August 5 at Department 8 of the Superior Court.

The Deepwater Diving Monument at the Santa Barbara Harbor was unveiled on April 5 and was named the winner of the 2025 Art in Public Space award by Santa Barbara Beautiful.

The bronze sculpture honors the city’s deepwater diving heritage — designed by local sculptor Greg Polutanovich, it features an eight-foot diver with a granite base and the Kirby Morgan Superlite 17 helmet, and it will be celebrated at Santa Barbara Beautiful’s 60th Anniversary Awards Ceremony on September 28 at the Alhecama Theatre.

The 28th Annual Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival celebrated Mexican culture and supported local high school scholarships with performances by mariachi legends and emerging artists at the Santa Barbara Bowl on August 2.

The event featured lively tributes to classic songs—melding tradition and modern talent to honor a rich musical heritage.

The Santa Maria Air Tanker Base is supporting firefighters battling the Gifford Fire, which broke out on Friday along Highway 166 east of Santa Maria.

Air tankers and helicopters return in about 10 minutes—this quick turnaround lets them drop retardant on steep, hard-to-reach areas to slow the fire’s spread.

The family of Cecelia Covarrubias filed a claim against Santa Barbara County for more than $10 million after she hanged herself in a jail isolation cell last November—Attorney Dale Galipo said county officials ignored her repeated warnings and acted too slowly to help her.

Gem Faire

12-6 p.m. — Earl Warren Showgrounds — $7 weekend pass — Explore an array of gems, jewelry, and crafts in a vibrant market atmosphere.

Robert Glasper at Lobero Theatre

7-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Tickets required — Experience the genre-defying brilliance of Grammy-winning artist Robert Glasper live in concert.

Slightly Stoopid Concert

6-10 p.m. — Santa Barbara Bowl — $56.50 - $82.50 — Experience the reggae-rock vibes of Slightly Stoopid in a dynamic live performance.

2025 Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series

6 p.m. — Leadbetter Beach — Participation fees apply — Enjoy an exciting evening of swimming and running events against a stunning beach backdrop.

Social Meetup at Kim's Service Department

6-8 p.m. — Kim's Service Department — No cover charge — Enjoy drinks and mingling at this vibrant downtown meetup for the Santa Barbara social crowd.

An Evening with Pete Yorn

7-10:30 p.m. — SOhO Restaurant & Music Club — Tickets available — Enjoy a special performance from critically acclaimed artist Pete Yorn following his exciting past year.

An Evening with Mt. Joy

7-8:30 p.m. — Santa Barbara Bowl — Ticket prices vary — Experience the uplifting sounds of Mt. Joy, the band behind the hit 'Silver Lining.'

Community Song Circle

7-8:30 p.m. — Yoga Soup — No cost mentioned — Experience the joy of group singing and connect through music in a welcoming environment.

2025 Nite Moves Aquathlon and 5K Run

6 p.m. — Leadbetter Beach — Registration required — Participate in exciting swimming and running events against the stunning backdrop of Santa Barbara.

Tab Benoit Concert

7:30-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Tickets available — Enjoy an evening of blues with the acclaimed Tab Benoit and his extensive back catalog.