Good morning, Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Zoo reported that Ruby, a 2-year-old red panda, died Wednesday morning, Aug.

5, after developing a rare endocrine disorder linked to pregnancy stress + her death follows the earlier loss of her newborn cubs + zoo veterinarians are conducting pathology tests.

SpaceX will launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. today to place 24 Starlink satellites into orbit, with its booster attempting a landing on the droneship (Of Course I Still Love You) in the Pacific.

Today at the Granada Theatre, Samuel Adams’s captivating 'No Such Spring' concerto was performed as the highlight of the Music Academy Festival Orchestra program.

Academy faculty pianist Connor Hanick led the premiere under conductor Hannu Lintu, showcasing an evolving minimalist style that echoes past influences while charting new musical paths.

Today, the Mariachi Festival at Santa Barbara Bowl features five hours of lively mariachi music headlined by Majo Aguilar and Joss Favela, raising funds for Latino student scholarships — a proud Fiesta tradition.

Recent events by the Music Academy of the West further highlight the city’s vibrant arts scene.

News Channel 3 team joined Desfile Histórico Friday on Cabrillo Blvd — riding in a carriage amid costumes, horses and floats celebrating Old Spanish Days — to mark a longstanding local tradition.

The Fiesta Children’s Parade will take place today on Cabrillo Blvd to welcome more families into Fiesta Week festivities.

On Friday, Aug. 7, the state made the Farm to School program permanent to help school districts access grants for fresh, local food + training for cafeteria staff.

Nearly 600 small farms will benefit as districts upgrade menus and create more jobs.

Santa Ynez High School District has placed an $80M bond measure on the November ballot to repair the 1937-built campus by replacing 27 portable classrooms and modernizing labs, with property tax increases estimated at $21.73 per $100,000 of assessed value beginning in 2060.

Construction is underway at Carpinteria Children’s Project to turn play yards into certified outdoor classrooms for hands-on science, math, language, art, and problem-solving lessons.

The redesigned spaces aim to extend learning outdoors — providing a new way for children to explore and develop essential skills.

During National Health Center Week Aug.

2 to 8, CenCal Health recognized five local health centers for widening access to care among underserved neighbors, with CEO Marina Owen presenting awards to leaders including Scott Black from American Indian Health & Services.

During National Eye Exam Month, VSP Eyes of Hope and SEE International are bringing a mobile clinic to county health centers in Santa Maria and Lompoc to offer free vision exams and prescription glasses to about 100 residents on Aug.

20 and Aug. 21 at the respective centers.

The Carpinteria-based UdeG men's soccer team won the Central Coast Soccer League title last weekend at Girsh Park with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Press Room FC after a 2-2 tie (marking their 50th anniversary).