Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Hot Dogs held Long Dog Summer at Cabrillo Park in Goleta on Sunday — drawing over 50 dachshund owners who enjoyed a costume contest, cuddle zone, and art station.

The event, which is part of regular monthly meetups, connected local dog lovers in a relaxed setting.

SBPAL marked 26 years of offering summer camp scholarships to low-income families by uniting community partners to honor MOXI + other local groups that help make camp affordable.

The program ensures children gain enriching outdoor experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.

Thee Sacred Souls, LA LOM, and The Womack Sisters will perform at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Sunday, Aug.

30 at 6 p.m. Tickets remain available on sbbowl.com.

County education officials reported that nearly 9,800 students experienced housing instability during the 2024-25 school year, with most doubling up & sharing homes due to economic hardship, particularly in North County school districts.

More than 250 families received free backpacks and school supplies at Presidio Springs during the annual Tools for School event as students returned to class.

The event (organized by the Housing Authority) also connected families with local resources for education, health and youth services.

UCSB’s bioengineering training program was renewed for five years by NIH with nearly $400,000 in annual funding — increasing trainee spots from six to 10.

The initiative will support interdisciplinary mentorship and research until June 2031.

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, Santa Barbara Unified began the school year with policies limiting personal device use and emphasizing a culture of care (tech with intent) in classrooms.

Administrators and teachers aim to boost student well-being and focus on hands-on learning while balancing safety and academic progress.

Santa Barbara will unveil four 400-kW EV chargers at Eastside Library during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug.

26 at 11:00 a.m. City officials say the fast chargers (powered by 100% carbon-free electricity) will boost EV access and support local sustainability efforts.

California’s new statewide rent cap of 8.6% took effect on Aug.

1, yet Santa Barbara renters under the city’s temporary freeze will see no increases above the Dec. 16 rate through Dec. 31 & officials plan a permanent stabilization program for added protection.

Caltrans has finished a new drainage system under the 101 bridge that makes the Castillo Street wet spot much drier, and the project cost half-million dollars.

Regular maintenance will be needed to clear mineral clogs from the copper pipes.

Contact tracers in Santa Barbara identified more than 150 residents exposed to measles from a mid-July international flight; health officials in both Santa Barbara and Ventura report no new cases and are closely monitoring the situation using quarantine and testing protocols.

County Health is hosting three events: virtual lactation training on Aug.

20 from 12 to 1 p.m., a Family Resource Fair at Ryon Park on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a Medi-Cal Town Hall in Lompoc on Aug. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Some tenants at University Mobile Home Park in Old Town Goleta received 60-day move-out notices after new management switched to an all-ages rule and raised rent, while one mobile home owner saw his sale canceled when he failed a required inspection (raising concerns about further costs and pending litigation).

Today, four local high school football teams begin their non-league CIF-SS season; Santa Barbara High hosts Camarillo at 7 p.m. + San Marcos hosts Dana Hills at 7 p.m. + Bishop Diego travels to Paso Robles at 7:30 p.m. and Dos Pueblos faces Santa Ynez at 7 p.m.