Daily
Santa Barbara
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 31st of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Discover five local attractions in Goleta from free trails at Monarch Butterfly Grove (open October to mid-March) to ice skating at Ice In Paradise and weekend tours at the South Coast Railroad Museum, where locals can enjoy a scenic walk at Lake Los Carneros or explore neighborhoods in Old Town. Noozhawk
- ➤ Polar Dip returns on January 1 at 11:30 a.m. at Ledbetter Beach; participants arriving by 11 a.m. must sign waivers (and awards go to those diving without a wetsuit). Edhat
- ➤ 2025 marked a transformative year for Santa Barbara with a February business awards gala and the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, a May vote to phase out onshore oil and gas, and UCSB scientists receiving a Nobel Prize, while record rainfall and environmental challenges kept the community alert. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Skidmores toasted 2026 early by striking a saber through a chilled champagne bottle at Refugio State Beach campground — they shared resolutions to savor more bubbly and spend more time with family. KEYT
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reported a three-inch Joro Spider was spotted at a coastal business on Dec. 16 and experts safely captured it. They will monitor the site to ensure this invasive species does not become established. Edhat
- ➤ Heavy rains in Summerland have saturated hills, leading to a landslide that closed Greenwell Ave and triggered public works advisories, while officials in La Conchita caution residents about potential slides as reservoirs spill over (residents should monitor local updates). KEYT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara officials reported midyear tax results showing $17.7 million in transient occupancy fees, 3.2% above budget, including $15.3 million from hotels and $2.4 million from short-term rentals since July 1; they project a 2026 budget of $35.5 million to support city funds. KEYT
- ➤ Santa Barbara County Fire received a $157,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase three new battery-powered rescue tools (known as jaws of life) for fire stations 21, 26, and 31. The funding will help first responders deliver timely post-crash care to improve survival rates. Noozhawk
- ➤ Following a heavy holiday storm and flooding that closed Highway 1 (since Dec. 24), the road between Solomon Road and Black Road near Orcutt reopened at 10:05 a.m. on Dec. 29 to ease travel for motorists. County officials say several other routes remain under emergency restrictions. Edhat
- ➤ The federal government declared an aging oil pipeline interstate to shift oversight from state agencies to Sable Offshore Oil, changing the framework used by local leaders after the 2015 Refugio spill. Local officials and environmental groups filed a challenge, saying the move could undermine established safety measures. Santa Barbara Independent
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ The Isla Vista warming shelter will be open overnight from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. today through Friday, Jan. 2 at the Isla Vista Community Center — 976 Embarcadero Del Mar, offering a safe space for residents during colder hours. Noozhawk
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Dos Pueblos girls basketball beat Brea Olinda 55-31 on Monday with an early burst from Asha Nayak and will face Glen Wilson on Tuesday. Bishop Diego won 43-11 over Southlands Christian with strong defense led by Eden Wynne and will play Pacifica Christian and San Marino on Tuesday. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara High won 65-43 over Bishop Diego on Monday at J.R. Richards Gym in the SB Holiday Classic, backed by a strong second-quarter defense. Dos Pueblos and Oakland Tech also secured wins, with Tuesday matchups set for Santa Barbara High, Bishop Diego and San Marcos at local venues. Noozhawk
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Reading Skills 101 Workshop
2-4 p.m. — Santa Barbara Public Library — Free entry — A community workshop designed to empower families with essential reading skills and understanding for children across all grades.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Santa Barbara
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