AltWeeklies Wire
The Fight for the California Bightnew

Fishermen and environmentalists square off over marine reserves in Southern California.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Ethan Stewart |
08-03-2009 |
Environment
Anti-'High Rise' Initiative Sparks Lawsuitnew
A Santa Barbara architect has filed a 95-page lawsuit challenging the use of the term "high-rise" by supporters of Measure B, a proposed Santa Barbara charter amendment that purports to save downtown Santa Barbara from "high-rise" development.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Nick Welsh |
08-03-2009 |
Housing & Development
Pet Psychic Gets Friendly With Dolphinsnew
A few weeks ago, a pod of dolphins was swimming around the surfers and I thought I would challenge myself to make friends with them.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Laura Stinchfield |
08-03-2009 |
Recreation
Former Michael Jackson Producer Demands Investigation of DAnew
The Santa Barbara County district attorney and sheriff's department are being threatened with a lawsuit by Marc Schaffel, who claims that county officials leaked to the media confidential information they had obtained during the course of the pop star’s molestation trial in 2005.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Matt Kettmann |
08-03-2009 |
Crime & Justice
The California Budget: Cuts, Theft and Accounting Gimmicksnew
I get the picture. Times are tough; everybody has to sacrifice. In this context, I can accept a serious shave and a haircut, even one with scalp burns. But a self-inflicted lobotomy? I don't think so.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Nick Welsh |
07-27-2009 |
Commentary
Santa Barbarans Team Up to Pen First Ever Yoga Textbooknew

It's all in the title, Yoga: For the Joy of It!. More than a tale about mind meeting body, this recently released hardback is the first ever college text all about yoga.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Alexandra Markus |
06-01-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Jens Lekman Says Goodbye Sweden, Hello Sunshinenew

Made up of baroque pop arrangements, deeply personal first-hand tales, and obscure samples aplenty, Night Falls Over Kortedala acts as both a near-perfect glimpse into Jens Lekman's world and a far cry from the life he's currently leading.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Aly Comingore |
06-01-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Santa Barbara Officials Mull Privatized Jail Mental Health Servicesnew
Santa Barbara County's jail mental health system officially is for sale. The prospective buyer -- a private Tennessee-based prison health company -- is already lined up with a July 1 move-in date.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Benjamin Gottlieb |
06-01-2009 |
Policy Issues
UCSB Gets Grant to Manipulate Electron Spinnew
Diamonds may be a key to revolutionizing the field of communications, according to researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCSB, who just won a $6.1 million government grant to pursue diamond-based quantum information processing.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Benjamin Gottlieb |
04-20-2009 |
Science
Gaviota, the Gone Land?new

With financial realities pushing historical agricultural operations to the side, long-running family ranches on California's Gaviota Coast are left with few options for survival.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Ethan Stewart |
04-20-2009 |
Housing & Development
Serious Guitars in the Airnew
Later this month, the Santa Barbara Symphony presents a citywide International Guitar Festival, a grand tradition begun two years ago and bigger and better the second time around.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Josef Woodard |
03-16-2009 |
Music
County Budget Bloodbathnew
A frightening look at what could happen if the County of Santa Barbara is forced to cut ten percent.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Chris Meagher |
03-16-2009 |
Economy
Tags: Santa Barbara, budget cuts
Carpinteria School Board to Decide Mascot Issuenew
After a year of community tension, the Carpinteria mascot controversy may be settled on Tuesday, March 17, when school board trustees are scheduled to review committee recommendations. Based on the committee’s findings, the images may be retained, removed, or altered.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Cathy Murillo |
03-16-2009 |
Race & Class
The Gender Jump: Understanding the Transsexual Communitynew

Jessa readily admits to the challenges of her transition. "Mentally, I have had a hard time making the transition," she said. "I am leaving behind an identity; it wasn't right, but it was still what I had been for 35 years."
Santa Barbara Independent |
Michael Seabaugh |
02-23-2009 |
Sex
Sowing the Future: International Seed Saving Daynew

Just as farmers in the developing world are facing challenges to their old way of cultivation, so are those in the developed world. With more and more of the seed for our major food crops being developed and sold by fewer and larger companies, the loss of diversity is just as troublesome here.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Virginia Hayes |
02-02-2009 |
Gardening