Jackson Friedman

Carlos Arturo Gomez, 60, is out on bail on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for alleged sex crimes involving minors.

More than half of district students failed to meet grade-level standards in reading and math, but the district scored well in other areas, including chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness, and high school graduation rates.

The Santa Barbara Police Department is seeking information from victims whose vehicles were vandalized last Friday in the Skyline Circle area of Santa Barbara. On November 29, police responded to reports of several vandalized vehicles in the neighborhood, where victims reported their car windows and side mirrors had been broken and tires slashed. Following an investigation, officers identified and arrested suspect Nolan Gregory Zemanski, 30, of Santa Barbara. Zemanski was booked in Santa Barbara County Jail for felony and misdemeanor vandalism. As of Tuesday, he remains in custody on $20,000 bail, according to court records.Any victims associated with this incident who have not completed a police report yet are asked to contact SBPD Detective Sarkis at (805) 897-2426 or [email protected]

A male motorcyclist died after crashing on the southbound Highway 101 in Montecito on Friday night, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The crash occurred around 9:47 p.m. near the San Ysidro Road off-ramp, CHP said. Montecito Fire Department, which also responded to the crash, stated that the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and no one else was hurt in the collision. The right-hand lane of the southbound 101 from Olive Mill Road to San Ysidro Road and San Ysidro off-ramp were closed until around 3:30 a.m. the following morning, according to CHP. The identity of the man will be released by the Coroner's Bureau after his family has been notified. CHP is investigating the crash and asks that anyone with information to call its Santa Barbara office at (805) 770-4800.

A mountain biker was airlifted to the hospital Saturday afternoon after going over the side of Romero Trail above Montecito and landing about 150 feet down the hillside. Firefighters with Montecito Fire responded to the incident around 12:37 p.m. With the assistance of Santa Barbara County Fire's Air Support Unit and the sheriff's Search and Rescue team, first responders were able to perform a hoist rescue and airlift the 59-year-old man to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital's emergency room for injuries related to the fall. The man's identity and current condition have not been released.

Spectators alit at Butterfly Beach in Montecito over the weekend to witness the splashy spectacle.

Our associate editor shares his favorite stories of the year.

Two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Hollister Avenue at the Magnolia Avenue intersection on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. One of the two died of his injuries later that night in the hospital. | Credit: Google Maps A Goleta man died after he and another pedestrian were struck by a vehicle while crossing Hollister Avenue in Old Town Goleta on Christmas Eve. The two pedestrians were headed north across Hollister toward Magnolia Avenue — an intersection without a marked crosswalk — shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Raquel Zick. As they were crossing the street, a driver traveling westbound on Hollister at approximately 25 mph failed to see them and struck both with the driver's vehicle, significantly injuring one man who was knocked unconscious. The driver remained on the scene, and first responders soon arrived to render aid and transport the two injured pedestrians to the hospital. After being admitted to the hospital, the unconscious pedestrian — later identified as 76-year-old Goleta man Ricardo Hernandez — succumbed to his injuries at around 10:49 p.m., according to Zick. His next of kin was present at the hospital and notified of his death. The identity and current condition of the other pedestrian has not been released. The driver, who has also not been identified, was not arrested and has been cooperating with investigators, Zick said. She noted that neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor in the fatal collision. The Sheriff's Major Accident Response Team is continuing its investigation into the collision. Anyone who might have information is encouraged to call Senior Deputy Jeff Farmer at (805) 961-7514.

SoCal Edison is considering a Public Safety Power Shutoff for the areas in orange above beginning this Saturday afternoon, January 4. | Credit: SCE Southern California Edison is considering a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Santa Barbara County this weekend due to heightened wildfire risk. According to SCE, the shutoffs being considered could affect more than 2,500 customers from Eastern Goleta Valley up to Paradise Road starting as soon as 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 4. For more information, call Southern California Edison at (800) 611-1911 or visit

Credit: Chalabala - stock.adobe.com Santa Barbara Police responded Tuesday afternoon to a report of an armed robbery at a Santa Barbara bank near the Milpas Street roundabout. The robbery was reported at 2:21 p.m. on January 14 at a bank on the 900 block of Carpinteria Street, police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Kerr said. The 900 block is the location of Mechanics Bank's Milpas branch. “The suspect approached the teller while brandishing a black handgun,” Kerr said, and “the teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash.” The suspect fled on foot before officers arrived. No injuries were reported during the robbery, Kerr said. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 5'7″ tall, with a medium build. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled over a dark-colored baseball cap, a dark-colored cloth mask covering his face, blue jeans, and light-colored shoes. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Barbara Police Department at (805) 897-2376. The investigation remains active and ongoing.