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Santa Barbara News-Press: December 17, 2022

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DeGeneres, wife buy property in Carp

Santa Rosa Island ranching

Purchase is largest real estate deal in South Coast history - A5

Rancher’s descendant tells story in new pictorial book - B1

Our 167th Year

NEWS-PRESS SPECIAL REPORT

Debate over Flightline Restaurant City of Santa Barbara says it settled suit simply to avoid costs of a trial; restaurant owner says ‘dream opportunity was squashed unnecessarily’ By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Newly appointed City Attorney Sarah Knecht has flatly rejected claims by Flightline Restaurant owner Warren Butler that Santa Barbara settled a lawsuit with the restaurant because city officials feared going to trial and losing. She denied Mr. Butler’s contention that the city chose to settle the case only because a Santa Barbara judge denied the city’s motion for summary judgment to dismiss Flightline’s lawsuit. Her ruling opened the door for the lawsuit to be heard by a jury, which could potentially award Flightline and co-plaintiff High Sierra Grill a lot more than the $225,000 agreed to in the Nov. 15 settlement. “The settlement represented a nuisance value settlement to avoid the cost of a trial,” Ms. Knecht told the News-Press. “The settlement had nothing to do with the summary judgment motion, which are rarely granted and was made in an attempt to narrow the legal issues to be tried. “The city wanted a restaurant at the location, and the property is still available for lease.” The Santa Barbara City Council voted to settle the case with Flightline for $225,000 and a pledge by both sides not to pursue further litigation. Flightline had accused the city of acting in bad faith by refusing to reassign the restaurant the lease given to High Sierra Grill at 512 Norman Firestone Road, the former site of the Elephant Bar restaurant, at the Santa Barbara Airport. This ultimately caused the restaurant to fail and have to close, which it did in late 2019. Mr. Butler, brought in originally to manage High Sierra Grill, had changed the restaurant’s

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By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – House Republicans have made it clear they plan to use their newfound majority to investigate the origins of COVID-19. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer, R-Ky., and House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent a string of letters to Biden administration officials demanding records, communications and interviews. “Mounting evidence points to the virus originating from a leak at the Wuhan lab,” Rep. Comer said. “EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S. National Institutes of Health grantee, passed taxpayer funds

to the Wuhan lab to conduct gain of function research on bat coronaviruses – research that may have started the pandemic. Dr. [Anthony] Fauci was warned early on that the virus appeared man made and pointed to a lab leak and instead of blowing the whistle may have attempted to cover it up.” House Republicans will have new teeth for their investigations with the majority next year. Lawmakers have highlighted three major investigations going forward: COVID’s origins, Hunter Biden’s laptop, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the related chaos and deaths. U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, ROhio, a member of the House Please see HOUSE on A3

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Warren Butler stands outside the old High Sierra Grill & Bar building at the Santa Barbara Airport. Mr. Butler, who owned the Flightline Restaurant, accused the city of Santa Barbara of acting in bad faith by refusing to reassign the restaurant the lease given to High Sierra Grill. Flightline sued the city, and the two parties have settled for $225,000.

theme to one that celebrated aviation, and wanted to take over the operation, doing business as the Flightline Restaurant and Lounge. Instead, the restaurant has sat empty for three years in an increasingly dilapidated condition. The city agreed to settle after Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Donna Geck denied the city’s request for a summary judgment against Flightline, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial. Please see FLIGHTLINE on A4

Warren Butler peeks inside the old High Sierra Grill & Bar building.

Angela Miller-Bevan has been training since July for her new role as executive director of Unity Shoppe. She’s been working on site with Tom Reed, who is retiring at the end of this year as executive director. “I grew up in Santa Barbara, and I have known about Unity Shoppe my whole life,” Ms. MillerBevan told the News-Press. “My mom was a single mom, and we were low income.” Ms. Miller-Bevan knows the difference Unity Shoppe has made in the lives of many individuals and families and is looking forward to her new position as the leader of the unique Santa Barbara nonprofit. “Having this opportunity is amazing,” she said. “It feels like coming full circle, and it is the highlight of my career. “I have been involved with

Angela Miller-Bevan

COURTESY PHOTO

philanthropy my whole life, and I love what Unity Shoppe does. I was on a telethon last year as a Please see SHOPPE on A3

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House GOP plans for ongoing inquiry into origins of COVID

Miller-Bevan ready to lead Unity Shoppe

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