Good morning, Santa Barbara.

The Channel Islands YMCA collected over 1,500 backpacks during its annual drive to support local children in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Montecito and will soon distribute them to families preparing for the new school year (continuing 140 years of service).

Campership Alliance sent 200 local children from low- and moderate-income families to summer camps at sites such as MOXI and the Santa Barbara Zoo, providing $133,708 in programs.

SBPAL and its 15 camp partners are planning extra spots next summer — expanding support for kids.

On August 5, Google purchased an 83,000 sqft campus at 147-153 Castilian Drive in Goleta for $32.5M, expanding its presence to about 300,000 sqft at Santa Barbara Research Park where it operates a Quantum AI lab.

Slingshot Studio will host ArtFest 2026 on Saturday, Aug.

29 at Community Arts Workshop to showcase over 400 artworks by local artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, featuring ceramics, drawings, and up-cycled clothing. Refreshments by Rest Stop Coffee & live music by DJ Dante Elephante add to the day.

María Bermúdez brings an extraordinary international cast of flamenco artists to Santa Barbara on Thursday, Sep.

10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum courtyard (Tablao Museo) to celebrate the art and community spirit of flamenco, with a Los Angeles show following two days later.

Artist Jorge 'Chucho' Hernandez, a Chula Vista native (formerly of Santa Maria), debuts his solo exhibit Perspective at Indah Gallery (2190 N.

Refugio Road, Santa Ynez) on Thursday, Aug. 27 (5-7 p.m.). The exhibit runs until Sept. 20 and includes an artist talk on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m.

The county of Santa Barbara urges residents to prepare for the rainy season as El Niño may bring heavy rains and flooding.

Residents should check if their property is in a flood zone (via local alerts) and consider flood insurance since homeowner policies often exclude flood damage.

Between Aug. 5, 7, and 18, the County Probation Department visited 30 youth under supervision to confirm enrollment and address school supply needs with a back-to-school wish list, while the County Office of Education donated supply bags.

A federal judge ruled last week that Sable Offshore continued pumping in Santa Barbara County despite a $1.5 million fine for violating its consent decree + PHMSA now enforces pipeline safety while state officials plan to appeal the decision.

Congressmember Salud Carbajal secured a $236K federal grant to renovate a SART facility at Cottage Health in Santa Barbara, providing trauma-informed care & advanced forensic technology for survivors.

District Attorney John T. Savrnoch said the upgrades will help expand wraparound services for local victims.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics marked a landmark year in its dental program as 2025 data showed nearly 24,000 patient encounters, including 2,398 sealants and 112 root canals that averted costly treatments.

The mobile clinic registered over 4,000 encounters (covering 27 schools) and seven dental residents graduated from its training program.

Santa Barbara pediatrician Dr. Daniel Brennan — founder of the Strive for 95 initiative — was named California’s 2026 Immunization Champion by AIM and CDC for boosting childhood and adolescent vaccination rates and community vaccine confidence.

The UCSB Women’s Soccer team rolled to a 4-0 win over Fresno State at home on Tuesday, Aug.

25, with four players scoring in the first 18 minutes for their third straight victory — they will test their skills on the road against California Baptist on Thursday, Aug. 27 in Riverside.