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Prehistoric Forest makes roaring return
Sheriff: Crime rates up, but threat ‘very limited’ By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Popular dinosaur exhibit now permanent at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Although certain jurisdictions experienced a significant percentage increase in crime in 2020, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown maintains that the threat to the average person remains “very limited.” The Sheriff’s Office released its 2020 crime statistics on Thursday, which showed that serious offenses were up 18% compared to the year prior. Overall, Part 1 violent crime was up 7%, and Part 1 property crimes were up 20%, compared to 2019 for areas policed by the Sheriff’s Office, which includes unincorporated areas of the county and the cities of Buellton, Solvang, Goleta and Carpinteria. Crime rates were up in Carpinteria (65%), Buellton (53%), Unincorporated areas (18%), Goleta (11%) and Solvang (10%). This includes a 350% increase in
Visitors to the Prehistoric Forest were greeted by a Tyrannosaurus rex, who growled and moved its head and tail. The Prehistoric Forest is now a permanent outdoor exhibit at the museum.
Carbajal backs President Biden’s stimulus plan
By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Tread lightly, there’s a dinosaur behind that tree! In a wooded area behind the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, five life-like animatronic dinosaur figures are yet again evoking awe and wonder from visitors in the museum’s reinstalled exhibit, the Prehistoric Forest. During the museum’s reopening Saturday, children shrieked while walking through the museum’s Jurassic Park-like forest, coming face to face with prehistoric species like the Tyrannosaurus rex and the Stegosaurus. Audrey Grode, 7, and her sister Esme Grode, 5, visited the museum Saturday to see the dinosaurs up close, excited to see the life-like figures in action. As frequent museum visitors, the Grode sisters have seen the majority of the exhibits the museum has to offer, but the dinosaur exhibit is one of their favorites. “It’s the funnest thing there is here,” Audrey told the News-Press. Other young visitors were intimidated by the realistic dinosaurs at first, but became more comfortable after spending more time at the outdoor exhibit. Luna Weung, 5, was afraid of the towering T. rex figure when she saw Please see dinosaurs on A7
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By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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U.S. Rep Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, held a virtual town hall on Thursday night to hear from his constituents, share information about the work being done at the federal level and to express his support and optimism for the Biden administration. During the town hall, Rep. Carbajal said he was confident that the Biden administration “will do everything in their power” to help heal the nation, not only from the recent divisiveness but also from the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to impact the Central Coast, the nation and the world at large. The congressman explained that the new administration has started to address the COVID-19 vaccine supply and distribution inadequacies experienced locally and throughout the country, while also developing a national plan to tackle the crisis.
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Emma Jones, 4, shrieks in excitement at the sight of a Tyrannosaurus rex (not pictured) while a Parasaurolophus looms in the background during the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s reopening Saturday.
On several occasions, Rep. Carbajal made it clear that he is in full support of President Joe Biden’s proposed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package aimed at speeding up the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. The proposed plan is expected to include a $1,400 stimulus payment, extended unemployment funds, resources for small business, additional rental assistance and increased funding for food security programs. The plan also calls for $130 billion for K-12 schools to safely reopen. “Solving the issues we face today will take a concerted and coordinated effort from federal, state and local governments,” he said. “If we expect state and local governments to provide for their struggling residents, Congress must ensure they are receiving Please see CARBAJAL on A6
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property crimes in the Buellton area, as well as a 91% increase in violent crimes in Carpinteria. Though while the percentages “look pretty alarming,” Sheriff Brown said it’s important to take into account the number of crimes that occurred that caused the percentages to increase so rapidly. “Like Carpinteria, for example, had a 65% increase in overall crime; a 91% increase in violent crime, but that was 10 additional (violent) crimes … it sounds as though the sky is falling but less than one additional crime per month shot the numbers up by that percentage,” he said. “So it’s really important to understand that and to look at both the percentage increase and the base number that you’re talking about as well.” In 2020, there were seven more property crimes in the Buellton area compared to 2019. Sheriff Brown said that areas like Carpinteria and Buellton Please see crime on A6
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PHORUM 2021
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