Santa Barbara News-Press: December 21, 2021

Buttigieg criticized over supply chain disruptions

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T U E SDAY, DE C E M BE R 21, 2 021

Calm before the storms Forecast: Partly cloudy skies today, rain on Wednesday

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

A DC-10 airtanker drops fire retardant on the hills above Mariposa Reina to contain the Alisal Fire near the Gaviota Coast on Oct. 15.

Aircraft were key to controlling the blaze.

Bucket Brigade mobilizes for Alisal Fire victims Nonprofits raise funds, clean debris

By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The families that lived along Refugio Creek didn’t know what to do as they stared at the piles of ashes and debris their homes had become after the Alisal Fire, Fire Safe Council Santa Barbara County President Paul Van Leer told the News-Press.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Omicron now in 46 states; 60 new COVID-19 cases reported in county

The full moon rises above the mountains Friday as seen from Stearns Wharf. It’ll be a different view Wednesday in Santa Barbara if the predicted rain starts to fall.

By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Two storm systems are expected to roll in later this week, potentially bringing in some widespread rain and high mountain snow for the holidays.

On Monday, people enjoyed mild highs with some clouds. It was 63 at the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, 57 in Santa Maria and a warmer 64 in Santa Ynez. There was a chilly high of 48 in Lompoc, 64 in New Cuyama and a nice 61 in Goleta.

Those numbers are from the National Weather Service.

On Monday night, it was expected to be below freezing at 26 in New Cuyama. The weather service also reported lows of 42 at the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, 45 in Santa Maria, 39 in Santa Ynez and a cold 35 in Goleta.

Other than rain later in the week, temperatures are expected to remain more or less the same. The weather service predicts highs today of 62 in Santa Barbara, 63 in Santa Maria, 63 in Santa Ynez, 63 in Lompoc, 66 in New Cuyama and 60 at UCSB. On Wednesday, light rain is predicted, expanding from the western Ventura County mountains northward into Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County by afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Heavier rainfall will likely begin Wednesday night into Thursday morning with most southern areas not getting the full storm system until daylight on Thursday.

Most coastal and valley locations will range from 0.5-1.5 inches of rain through Thursday night and are likely to remain under 0.5 inches per hour, according to the weather service.

It’s possible that a winter advisory may be needed for the foothills and mountains due to the combination of winds and snow at higher resort levels. Both the rain and snow could impact travel during the holiday weekend.

By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Omicron cases have been confirmed in 46 states and Washington, D.C. The variant now makes up 73% of new U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to data published by the CDC, omicron has displaced the previously dominant delta variant, which now makes up for about 26.6% of cases.

Some areas, such as New York and the Southeast, are estimating omicron is responsible for 90% of new infections.

Based on this rate, it is estimated that more than 650,000 omicron infections occurred in the U.S. last week.

The variant has reached 89 nations around the world and has spread rapidly in the U.S. It is still unclear how much milder omicron cases are, and CDC officials said they can’t yet ascertain how many hospitalizations or deaths are due to omicron.

The CDC maintains vaccinations are the best way to protect oneself from the new variant and urges those eligible to get the booster shot.

Santa Barbara County, meanwhile, reported 60 new COVID-19 cases Monday.

There is also one death to report. The individual was 30-49 years of age and had underlying medical conditions.

The death was not associated with a congregate care site.

The individual resided in Santa

email: fmcfarland@newspress.com

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Maria, according to the Public Health Department.

Of the new cases, the highest number, 15, was in Santa Barbara and unincorporated Mission Canyon.

Elsewhere, four cases were reported in Lompoc and nearby Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village.

Six cases were in Santa Maria.

Neighboring Orcutt had six cases.

Two cases were in the North County areas that include Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama and Guadalupe.

Three cases were in Isla Vista.

Santa Ynez Valley reported one case.

Five cases were in Goleta.

The location of six cases was pending.

Thirty-one patients are recovering in county hospitals.

Another 12 are recovering in intensive care units.

Santa Barbara County now has a total of 47,188 cases, of which 476 are still infectious. The total number of deaths is now 557.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported that 68.3% of the eligible 5-and-older population is fully vaccinated. The number is higher for those eligible in the city of Santa Barbara: 76%.

Of the entire county population, 64.2% is fully vaccinated.

The county also released numbers for Sunday’s and Saturday’s numbers.

SUNDAY Please see COVID on A2

LOTTERY

i nsi d e Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4

The Alisal Fire, which ravaged nearly 17,000 acres in mid-October, did not receive a disaster declaration from the State or Federal government.

The property owners, most of whom had lost insurance coverage after other wildfires raised carriers’ concerns, didn’t receive the grants or other Please see ALISAL on A3

Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 26-33-35-37-42 Mega: 18

Monday’s DAILY 4: 4-2-9-8

Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 21-32-38-48-62 Mega: 10

Monday’s FANTASY 5: 1-9-11-17-31

Monday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-09-04 Time: 1:42.00

Saturday’s POWERBALL: 2-6-24-51-61 Meganumber: 1

Monday’s DAILY 3: 7-0-5 / Midday 7-1-0

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SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

Challenges to vaccine mandate head to Supreme Court

By J.D. DAVIDSON THE CENTER SQUARE REGIONAL EDITOR

(The Center Square) — President Joe Biden’s mandate that all businesses with 100 employees or more require employee COVID-19 vaccinations is now with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Buckeye Institute, a Columbus, Ohio-based policy group, became the first to file a motion for an emergency stay with the court, less than an hour after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted the government’s request Friday to dissolve an existing administrative stay previously issued by the Fifth Circuit.

The Liberty Justice Center filed a similar motion Saturday with the high court on behalf of a Louisiana grocery store owner and six Texas employees of CaptiveAire Systems.

“If OSHA’s unlawful vaccine mandate is allowed to take effect – as the latest order from the Sixth Circuit would permit – it will cause irreparable harm to businesses and employees across the country, and will wreak havoc on supply chains that are already stretched to their limits,” said Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute and counsel of record representing Phillips

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Challenges to President Joe Biden’s mandate for COVID-19 vaccines for businesses with 100 or more employees have moved forward to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Manufacturing & Tower Company and Sixarp LLC against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) vaccine mandate.

“The Buckeye Institute strongly urges the U.S. Supreme Court to quickly issue an emergency stay and protect our clients and other businesses across the country from this extraordinary governmental overreach and the devastating economic fallout, which is sure to follow,” Mr. Alt said.

The 5th Circuit in New Orleans previously blocked the mandate,

citing “grave” constitutional concerns. Numerous lawsuits against the mandate were consolidated after that ruling and sent to the 6th Circuit.

The mandate requires employers with 100 workers or more to require employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, undergo weekly testing or face stiff fines.

“It is difficult to imagine what more OSHA could do or rely on to justify its finding that workers face a grave danger in the workplace,” the 6th Circuit Court wrote.

Memorial service to honor the homeless

Carbajal to discuss infrastructure law

SANTA BARBARA — The Longest Night Memorial, which is in honor of those who died while living on the streets or after recently being housed, will take place at 6 p.m. tonight in front of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St. The interfaith memorial service is being conducted by SB ACT and its partners in tackling the issue of homelessness. The service will honor those who died during 2020 and 2021.

Participants can attend the vigil in person or virtually at us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_nQlyfiNvQwKEBKkwydlwgQ?_x_zm_ rtaid=qRMfSG27RNGeJEaYOi-Msg.1640048 614677.19acbffa6f21ffe9864e072ab4a27c8b&_ x_zm_rhtaid=190. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/sbactnow.

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal today will address how the infrastructure law will improve access to public transit for Central Coast travelers and residents.

Rep. Carbajal supported the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, which was signed into law Nov. 15.

On Dec. 15, Rep. Carbajal announced that the first round of funds from the bill will produce more than $7 million to Central Coast airports and more than $4.86 billion to improve roads, bridges and highways.

Additional allocations from the bill will be coming soon and include funding for affordable internet access, improving clean water infrastructure and enhancing public transit, according to a news release from the congressman’s office.

See Wednesday’s News-Press for coverage of the congressman’s talk.

— Dave Mason

— Katherine Zehnder

The Sixth Circuit also denied The Buckeye Institute’s motion for a hearing in front of the full court Thursday.

A day after The Buckeye Institute filed with the Supreme Court, a Louisiana grocery store owner also filed. Brandon Trosclair, who employs nearly 500 people across 15 grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi, along with a group of Texas employees, originally challenged Biden’s mandate in the Fifth Circuit.

“I’m proud to stand up on behalf of Americans and business owners who will be harmed by the federal government’s illegal mandate,” Mr. Trosclair said in a statement provided by the Liberty Justice Center, which represents the group. “It is time for our highest court to stop the Biden Administration’s relentless intrusion into Americans’ private lives and businesses.”

The Buckeye Institute also recently filed a motion demanding the White House produce all communications and records related to the initiation and development of Pres. Biden’s vaccination mandate.

The motion claims the White House imposed the mandate through OHSA to circumvent limits on federal power. It asserts the mandate had little to do with workplace safety but rather to increase individual vaccination rates.

Santa Barbara County reports weekend COVID-19 numbers COVID

Continued from Page A1 Santa Barbara County reported 100 new COVID-19 cases.

Of those, the highest number, 22, was in Santa Maria, according to the Public Health Department. Neighboring Orcutt had seven cases.

Elsewhere, 12 cases were reported in Lompoc and nearby Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village.

Sixteen cases were in Santa Barbara and unincorporated Mission Canyon.

Three cases were in the North County areas that include Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama and Guadalupe.

Six cases were in Isla Vista.

Santa Ynez Valley reported eight cases.

Nine cases were in Goleta.

The location of one case was pending.

SATURDAY Santa Barbara County reported 128 new COVID-19 cases.

Of those, the highest number, 26, was in Santa Barbara and unincorporated Mission Canyon, according to the Public Health Department.

Elsewhere, 15 cases were reported in Lompoc and nearby Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village.

Twenty-three cases were in Santa Maria. Neighboring Orcutt had 11 cases.

Three cases were in the North County areas that include Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama and Guadalupe.

Six cases were in Isla Vista.

Santa Ynez Valley reported nine cases.

Eleven cases were in Goleta.

The locations of four cases were pending. email: fmcfarland@newspress.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER DUIs up from 2020 DUIs have increased, according to statistics from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The year-to-date number for 2021 is 396, according to information provided to the News-Press.

In 2020, the number was 256.

The 2019 number was 217.

— Katherine Zehnder

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Container ships wait in the Port of Los Angeles. Transportation Secretary Pete Buitigieg has been criticized for his handling of the supply chain crisis in a new poll.

Poll: Voters unhappy with Biden administration’s handling of supply chain crisis

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

chain issues could last as long as the pandemic.

The survey was conducted Dec. 4-7 of more than 1,000 likely 2022 voters.

A poll from earlier this year found Americans have felt the pinch from supply chain problems.

“Sixty percent of U.S. adults say they have been unable to get a product they wanted in the past two months because of shortages, and 57% have experienced significant delays in receiving a product they ordered,” Gallup reported in August. “Seven in 10 Americans overall have had at least one of these issues, while 46% have had both.”

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

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(The Center Square) — Americans are unhappy with the Biden administration’s handling of the supply chain crisis, a new poll indicates.

Convention of States Action along with Trafalgar group released polling data showing the majority of Americans say they are unimpressed with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s work on the issue.

According to the poll, 55.5% of surveyed voters say Mr. Buttigieg “is doing a poor job of handling the supply chain crisis.” The survey found 14.8% say he is doing a fair job, 14.5% say he is doing a good job and 15.2% say he is doing an excellent job.

“Given that Secretary Buttigieg was very, very quietly on leave as this global crisis was brewing, we’re impressed that his numbers aren’t even worse,” said Mark Meckler, president of Convention of States Action.

“We believe this is due to the fact that many Americans aren’t even aware he is supposed to be doing something about the supply chain.”

Mr. Buttigieg was a top presidential candidate during the last Democratic presidential primary, and he is still considered a potential candidate in future races. His rating among independent voters, though, will likely need to improve.

The poll found 53.3% of Independent voters say Mr. Buttigieg is doing a poor job of handling the supply chain crisis.

Mr. Buttigieg said in October the supply

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The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade visits one of 13 structures destroyed by the Alisal Fire.

‘These people we’re helping are just barely hanging in there’ ALISAL

Continued from Page A1 assistance that come with such disastrous declarations.

So to help, organizations are raising money to clear the families’ properties of the toxic ashes.

“We thought it would be good to get it out of the way and begin the rebuilding process,” Mr. Van Leer said.

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade is heading the effort, named the “Alisal Fire Assistance Project.” Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Fire Safe Council, Community Environmental Council, Heal the Ocean and Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County are partnering with the brigade in what will hopefully rebuild homesteads — and protect the environment.

The debris left behind from the 13 burned structures contains hazardous materials, such as asbestos and “forever chemicals” that are known to not break down under ordinary circumstances and can leach into the land and water.

The affected properties are located beside or above Refugio Creek — a key source of water

for residents, both human and animals. Many ranches and residences in Refugio Canyon pull water from a well. If asbestosfilled debris contaminates the creek, the water would become unsafe to drink.

Ben Pitterle, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s science and policy director, said the creek is an “important wildlife habitat.”

It is a key channel for migratory steelhead trout.

When the project’s leaders saw rain in the forecast, they knew they had to act quickly to keep ash from the creek and ocean. Mr. Pitterle called Heal the Ocean President and Executive Director Hillary Hauser to get funding for the erosion-control materials he needed.

“She didn’t bat an eye,” he said.

“She offered to cover the cost of the supplies.”

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper dug trenches around the 13 destroyed structures and layed straw wattles, a tube-like roll of straw that keeps ash and other sediment within its confines.

Today, organizations are making sandbags at Lower Manning Park in Montecito beginning at 8 a.m. to deliver to the Refugio Canyon area. Volunteers are also placing tarps over the debris ahead of predicted rainfall.

Mr. Pitterle calls the effort the “tip of the spear” for what will be a battle to give the property owners a piece of what they lost.

The victims of the wildfire are currently living in various situations: Some are staying with neighbors; others left town, and one is housed in a homeless shelter, Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade Executive Director Abe Powell said.

“These people we’re helping are just barely hanging in there,” he said. “The first step is just to help them clean up.”

Professional contractors will properly dispose of the hazardous materials. The Bucket Brigade estimates the project will cost $147,000. So far, it has raised around $20,000.

If fundraising is successful, Mr. Powell said the brigade hopes to launch a campaign to help families rebuild their homes.

The loved ones of four families launched GoFundMe pages; three have grown stagnant without meeting their goal, including the fundraiser for Jack Rowe.

Mr. Rowe, the stable foreman for Circle Bar B Guest Ranch and Stables, evacuated the ranch’s 55 horses with the help of his autistic son but didn’t have time to grab any of his belongings. “​​It’s the only place we ever

lived since we’ve been here and you know, the hardest thing is, you can replace things but, when all we escaped with was the clothes on our back, you (have) to start over from true square one,” he told the News-Press in October.

An update on the GoFundMe page indicates that the Rowe family has established a temporary home on the ranch and is doing well.

The area’s residents were recently under an evacuation order during the last storm, and Santa Barbara County proclaimed a state of emergency. The County also proclaimed a local emergency during the fire. Days later, the State declared an emergency for counties recovering from recent fires — excluding Santa Barbara County, which had received a Fire Management Assistance Grant to cover some of the costs of fighting the fire.

“If you ask the people who had their houses burned down, it was a disaster. I don’t think it makes a difference if it was one house or 500,” Mr. Van Leer said.

To donate to the Alisal Fire Assistance Project, go to sbbucketbrigade.org/afap.

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GOP legislators push Newsom for water infrastructure funding

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — As California eyes a projected $31 billion budget surplus, Republican lawmakers are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to allocate funding to water infrastructure projects across the state.

California remains in the throes of a multi-year drought. Senate Republicans have asked the governor to use a portion of the budget surplus to spearhead a $3.2 billion investment in California’s water infrastructure. With this funding, lawmakers estimate the state could store an additional 1.5 million acre-feet of water during wet years to be dispersed during times of drought.

“Over the course of four decades, state leaders have failed to build any new water storage, missing every opportunity to capture and store additional water while also failing to provide funding for the repair and restoration of various canals throughout the state, severely

limiting the state’s conveyance capacity,” lawmakers wrote in a letter sent Thursday.

“Our outdated and inadequate water infrastructure struggles to meet the demands of a population that has doubled over the same time period and Californians simply cannot endure further delays.”

The legislators called on Mr. Newsom to allocate $2.6 billion to fully fund the Sites Reservoir and $685 million for repairs to certain divisions of the California Aqueduct and the Friant-Kern/ Delta-Mendota Canals. With the future of California’s economy and drought still uncertain, lawmakers said it is “crucial to invest in our water while we still have the opportunity.”

The Senators also noted that allocating funds to state water projects could be a way to meet constitutional requirements under the Gann Limit – a 1979 initiative that established an appropriations limit on the state. The law, known as Proposition 4, was passed by voters to keep per-person

spending (adjusted for inflation) under 1978-1979 levels.

A recent report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) estimates the state will need to allocate about $12 billion to meet the requirements of the Gann Limit, which the state is expected to exceed in 2022-2023, according to the LAO. In the letter, Senate Republicans said spending the excess funds on water projects is the “most prudent way to allocate revenue expected to exceed the State Appropriations Limit.”

“We urge you to respect the will of the voters and invest their tax dollars for the expressed reasons they approved under Proposition 4,” the letter said.

A spokesperson from Gov. Newsom’s office told The Center Square that while the governor cannot disclose details about future funding at this time, “water infrastructure continues to be a priority” for the governor.

The spokesperson noted that under Gov. Newsom’s California Comeback Plan, more than $5.1

California alleges Walmart illegally sends hazardous waste, private information, to landfills

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — California officials have accused retail giant Walmart of violating state environmental laws by illegally disposing of hazardous waste.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside twelve district attorneys and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, filed a lawsuit Monday accusing Walmart of disposing of hazardous waste products – including alkaline and lithium batteries, pesticides,

aerosol cans, electronic waste, LED lights and latex paints – in landfills “not equipped or authorized” to receive this kind of waste.

According to the attorney general, the California Department of Justice estimates that the retailer, which has stores in Ventura and Santa Maria, illegally disposes of more than one million hazardous waste items in California each year.

“When one person throws out a battery or half-empty hairspray bottle, we may think that it’s no big deal. But when we’re talking about tens of thousands

of batteries, cleaning supplies, and other hazardous waste, the impact to our environment and our communities can be huge,” Mr. Bonta said in a statement Monday. “This lawsuit should serve as a warning to the state’s worst offenders. We will hold you accountable.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Walmart, which has about 280 stores in California, illegally disposed of “confidential customer information” in landfills.

The lawsuit is the second in just over a decade that the retail Please see WALMART on A4

billion was invested in drought support, water supply and natural habitat restoration projects, including $1.3 billion to advance access to safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

In addition, Gov. Newsom’s office announced a recent investment of $100 million in November to restore capacity to portions of the California Aqueduct and the San Luis Canal, the Friant-Kern Canal and the Delta-Mendota Canal, according to the state’s Department of Water Resources.

Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

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UCSB beats Florida A&M in men’s basketball Walmart execs call

By DANIEL MOEBUS-BOWLES UCSB SPORTS WRITER

The UCSB men’s basketball team (6-4) won its third straight home game Sunday night, defeating Florida A&M (2-9) 73-62.

Outside of a medley of highlight plays, the headline of the night was senior center Amadou Sow becoming just the fourth Gaucho to ever reach 1300 points and 700 rebounds in a career.

A nine-point, 10-rebound performance from Sow has propelled him to 1,351 points and 706 rebounds in his career, joining Alan Williams, Doug Rex, and Chris Devine in the 1300 point700 rebound club.

Four Gauchos notched double figures, with Ajay Mitchell leading with 13 points and Miles Norris, Ajare Sanni and Sekou Touré all scoring 10 Touré’s scoring line is his best performance since the 2019-20 season, going 4-for-5 from the

field, and his seven boards are a season-high.

Calvin Wishart added seven points and led all players with eight assists while Robinson Idehen had eight points, sending down a pair of highlight alley-oops.

UCSB outrebounded FAMU 41-30 and remained undefeated when winning the rebound battle.

The Gauchos outshot the Rattlers 60.0% to 42.3% in the opening period making 18 total field goals and holding the lead for over 15 minutes.

UCSB was hot out of the gate, jumping out to a 9-2 lead, but FAMU was quick to mount a run of its own, taking a 15-13 lead with 11 minutes to go.

That would be the final time that the Rattlers led in the Sunday evening battle, as the Gauchos won the final 10 minutes of the half by a wide margin.

UCSB rattled off a 28-6 run and stretched the lead out to as many as 20 to go into the

locker room up 18 at 41-23.

The visiting Rattlers won the second period, but it was not enough to overcome the first half deficit that the host Gauchos put in play.

FAMU cut the lead to single digits with under a minute to go, but the Gauchos managed to make a bulk of their crucial free throws, including their last nine-straight.

Sanni made four in a single trip thanks to a Rattler technical foul and also led the half in scoring for the Gauchos with eight.

UCSB now closes out the non-conference season at home Wednesday afternoon when the Gauchos host Idaho State (2-8) at 1 p.m. Big West Conference play begins on the road on December 30 at UC San Diego.

Daniel Moebus-Bowles works in communications/media relations at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

UCSB women’s basketball team takes on San Jose State

By MICHAEL JORGENSON UCSB SPORTS WRITER

The UCSB women’s basketball team (5-3) will host San Jose State (3-7) at 4 p.m. today at the Thunderdome.

The Gauchos have a perfect 30 mark during December. With two more wins over SJSU (today) and UC San Diego (Dec. 30), the Gauchos would complete their first undefeated month since January 2008.

The Gauchos have also gotten out to a perfect 4-0 start at the Thunderdome for the first time since 2002. That year, they finished with a perfect 15-0 mark at the Thunderdome.

San Jose State enters today’s competition having dropped four

straight, including two games to Big West teams. The Spartans were beaten by UC Irvine 74-66 last Wednesday and fell to UC San Diego 81-61 in early December.

Senior forward Cydni Lewis leads the team in points (13.0), rebounds (7.2), and blocks per game (1.4).

Meanwhile, with 14 points in the 89-80 win over Denver on Dec. 2 Danae Miller became the 28th member of the Gaucho 1,000 point club. She is also seventh alltime at UCSB with 388 assists, currently averaging 3.4 per game this season (7th in Big West). The Carson, Calif., native is third on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg) and second in three-pointers (9).

Junior center Ila Lane has picked up right where she left off from her 2019-20 freshman

campaign, leading the Big West in rebounding at 9.9 per game.

She enjoyed one of the greatest shooting performances in program history against Denver, scoring a career-best 27 points while making 13-of-14 (92.9%) field goals. The Gauchos’ leading scorer leads the Big West in field goal percentage (56.3%) and is 9th in the conference in points per game (12.1). Her performance against Denver led to the Gauchos’ first Big West Player of the Week award of the season.

Megan Anderson has been one of the Big West’s top shooters this season, shooting a superb 50% from range on 3.8 attempts per game. She put on a brilliant shooting display in a 74-63 win at Pepperdine (5-7 3FG, 20 pts) on

Nov. 20, resulting in UCSB’s first 20-point performance of the season and helping the Gauchos out to their first 2-1 start since 2008.

Fellow senior guard Taylor Mole has the highest three-point percentage (57.1%) on the team, having made 8-of-14 attempts from the outside.

The Gauchos have been one of the conference’s best at the foul line, currently ranking second in free throw percentage (74.3%) and makes (110). Alexis Tucker has made 22of-27 (81.5%), the most on the team, while Anya Choice has gone an extremely efficient 15-for-17 (88.2%).

Michael Jorgenson writes sports stories for UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

lawsuit ‘unjustified’ WALMART

Continued from Page A3

giant faces over alleged illegal dumping of hazardous waste in California. In 2010, Walmart reached a $25 million settlement with the state’s attorney general over such accusations.

In the decade since the settlement, Mr. Bonta said the company has continued to “conduct operations in California in violation of state laws,” allegedly evidenced by findings during inspections starting in 2015.

Between 2015 and 2021, 58 inspections across 13 counties found dozens of hazardous waste articles, medical waste and confidential consumer records disposed of illegally, according to Mr. Bonta.

This led the attorney general and a dozen other district attorneys to allege the company violated the Hazardous Waste Control Law, the Medical Waste Management Act, the Customer Personal Information Law, and the Unfair Competition Law in Monday’s lawsuit.

“Californians expect and deserve that our laws will be enforced consistently and against all who violate them, including big business,” Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said in a statement Monday. “This cooperative enforcement action represents a critical first step in putting

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Mostly cloudy and Cloudy and cool cool INLAND

A spectacular sunset is seen above Stearns Wharf.

Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

LOCAL FIVE-DAY FORECAST TODAY

Nature’s light show

offenders on notice and holding them accountable for violations of our environmental protection laws.”

Shortly after Monday’s announcement, Walmart executives called the lawsuit “unjustified” in a statement, claiming that California is “demanding a level of compliance regarding waste disposal from our stores of common house-hold products and other items that goes beyond what is required by law.”

“Walmart is a responsible corporate citizen in California and everywhere we operate,” the retailer said in a statement. “We take our obligation to protect the environment seriously and have industry leading processes in place to comply with local, state and federal environmental laws.”

In its statement, the retail giant noted that since 2010, California regulators conducted more than 3,800 environmental inspections and did not impose any fines for violations of the state’s Hazardous Waste Control Law. In addition, Walmart claims that audits of its trash compactor overseen by the attorney general only contain “at most 0.4% of items of potential concern.”

Walmart said it intends to defend the company in this lawsuit.

Morning rain; cloudy, cool

INLAND

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly cloudy and Showers possible cool

INLAND

INLAND

INLAND

61 37

58 50

57 41

55 39

51 36

59 42

59 49

58 43

57 40

58 41

COASTAL

COASTAL

Pismo Beach 58/44

COASTAL

COASTAL

COASTAL

Shown is today's weather. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows.

Maricopa 59/44

Guadalupe 60/43

Santa Maria 61/44

Vandenberg 59/45

New Cuyama 64/35 Ventucopa 62/39

Los Alamos 61/39

Lompoc 60/44 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

Buellton 59/38

Solvang 59/36

Gaviota 56/46

SANTA BARBARA 59/42 Goleta 60/42

Carpinteria 60/46 Ventura 61/46

AIR QUALITY KEY Good Moderate

Source: airnow.gov Unhealthy for SG Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Not Available

ALMANAC KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Santa Barbara through 6 p.m. yesterday

TEMPERATURE High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

57/35 64/40 80 in 1953 30 in 2016

PRECIPITATION

BARNES, Bessie “Betsy”

Bessie “Betsy” Barnes passed away on December 1, 2021 after a long and happy life. Born in 1925 in Stillwater, OK, she was the second child of Ray and Annie Kitchen. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Guy, and husbands Dancil “Dan” Cooper and Elbert “Don” Barnes.

Betsy graduated from Levelland High School (TX), attended Hardin-Simmons University and earned her B.A. and M.A. from Texas Technological University and University of Southern California.

A lifelong advocate for education, she was a reading specialist with the Santa Barbara City Schools for many years. One of the founding members of the local chapter of the Alpha Delta Kappa Educational Sorority, she was a member and supporter of her sorority until the end of her life. %HWV\ ORYHG PXVLF ÀQH DUWV KRUVHV DQG WUDYHO 6KH DQG KHU EURWKHU *X\ OHDUQHG YLROLQ at an early age performing in local community recitals. It especially brought her joy praising God through music at the First Baptist Church. A supporter of the Santa Barbara Philharmonic, local plays, and art events her enthusiasm and pleasure were evident throughout her long life. She traveled extensively in the United States and Europe collecting and sharing many interesting and often humorous stories.

Betsy graced everyone with her high standards and generous, good-natured spirit. She is loved and will be greatly missed by her friends and acquaintances, only child and remaining survivor Bruce Cooper and his partner Evelyn Morabe.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, December 21st, 1pm at Santa Barbara Cemetery.

CHACON, Perfecto

Perfecto “Pete” Chacon died peacefully at Sarah House in Santa Barbara, CA on November 25, 2021. He was born in Santa Barbara and spent his entire life of 94 years in the community that he so loved. Pete was the eldest of 6 children and attended local schools. Just before graduating from high school, he decided to join the US Army where he spent one and a half years stationed in Guam.

After returning from serving his country, Pete married his beloved wife of 64 years, Guadalupe (Gonzales) Chacon. He worked and retired as a supervisor clerk from Delco Electronics after 35 years. Pete treasured his home, enjoyed gardening and collecting things. An avid Dodger fan, he loved and cherished his entire extended family. His family was the most important thing.

Pete is survived by his children: William (Rachael) Chacon and Rose (Danny) Soliman; grandchildren, Jacob, Rebecca, Jason and Nicole; siblings, Lydia Martinez and Ricardo (Mary Ellen) Chacon; 7 great-grandchildren. His grandchildren were Pete’s greatest joy. +H ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK ORYH DQG GHOLJKW ZKHQ KH ZDV DEOH WR VHH WKHP DQG WKHLU VSRXVHV The funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church followed immediately by the committal service at Calvary Cemetery where the Military Honor Guard will recognize Pete’s service to his country.

Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo de Rey Funeral Services.

ALEXANDER, Jesse

Jesse Alexander, 92, a photographer who documented the golden age of motorsport, passed away on December 14, 2021, in Santa Barbara. He was comfortable and at home, with his beloved wife, Nancy, by his side, holding his hand.

Jesse was born on April 15, 1929, in Santa Barbara to Florence Louise Lyman and Junius Beverly Alexander.

Jesse grew up in Montecito where he attended The Howard School, then went to boarding school in Massachusetts at Fessenden, and then Pomfret in Connecticut. Jesse returned to California for college at UCSB, where he studied photography and met his Àrst wife.

They moved to (urope with the Àrst of their four daughters, where Jesse would document the international motor racing scene as a photojournalist from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, counting its players as his closest friends. His pictures captured the on tracN danger and glamorous spectacle, deÀning the sport for a generation of fans.

Jesse’s ability to feature the human element of motorsport made his images more than just a record of thrilling events and elegant machines but also evocative Àne art. His photographs have been published in countless publications and now hang in the homes of collectors, galleries, and museums.

After all of his professional success and global acclaim, Jesse most loved being a “Happy Snapper,” documenting the everyday beauty of life in his hometown, Santa Barbara. Jesse’s kindness, grateful spirit, and persistent sense of wonder will live on in the hearts of all those who knew him. And the legacy of his empathetic eye will be shared by everyone he reached but never met.

Jesse is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy Alexander, and their son, Jess. And his Àrst wife, Patricia Beckham, and their daughters, 5ori, Heidi, Andi, and Susie. Along with nieces and nephews, his many grandchildren, and most recently, the Àrst great grandchild.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch.

All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street.

The deadline for Tuesday through Friday’s editions is 10 a.m. on the previous day; Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s editions all deadline at 12-noon on Thursday (Pacific Time).

Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at news@newspress.com. The News-Press cannot accept Death Notices from individuals.

24 hours through 6 p.m. yest.

Month to date (normal) Season to date (normal)

0.00” 2.38” (1.56”) 3.59” (3.56”)

City Cuyama Goleta Lompoc Pismo Beach Santa Maria Santa Ynez Vandenberg Ventura

STATE CITIES Bakersfield Barstow Big Bear Bishop Catalina Concord Escondido Eureka Fresno Los Angeles Mammoth Lakes Modesto Monterey Napa Oakland Ojai Oxnard Palm Springs Pasadena Paso Robles Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo Santa Monica Tahoe Valley

58/42/c 58/36/c 50/22/c 53/26/pc 59/52/c 51/45/r 66/43/c 49/46/r 57/43/c 68/48/c 38/21/c 55/46/c 62/53/c 52/46/r 54/50/r 66/42/c 61/46/c 70/49/c 67/48/c 59/40/c 49/44/r 64/49/c 55/52/r 59/51/r 62/44/c 64/47/c 43/28/c

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 59/49/r 59/49/r 59/52/r 59/54/r 59/53/r 58/50/r 58/53/r 57/53/c

46/38/r 44/34/pc 40/19/pc 62/40/s 61/31/s 62/43/s 79/61/t 22/8/sn 45/37/s 46/35/pc 70/48/c 47/43/c 50/24/s 37/23/pc 44/41/c 48/35/pc

POINT ARENA TO POINT PINOS

Wind north-northwest 4-8 knots today. Waves 2 feet or less with a west-southwest swell 1-3 feet at 14 seconds. Visibility clear.

POINT CONCEPTION TO MEXICO

Wind north-northwest 4-8 knots today. Waves 2 feet or less with a west-southwest swell 1-3 feet at 14 seconds. Visibility clear.

SANTA BARBARA HARBOR TIDES Date Time High Time Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 23

9:46 a.m. none 12:32 a.m.

10:21 a.m.

1:18 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

LAKE LEVELS

5.6’

Low

3:31 a.m.

5:28 p.m.

4:10 a.m.

6:07 p.m.

4:59 a.m.

6:46 p.m.

3.4’ 5.4’ 3.5’ 5.1’

2.8’ -0.4’ 2.9’ -0.3’ 3.0’ -0.1’

AT BRADBURY DAM, LAKE CACHUMA 62/52/r 64/47/c 53/31/c 54/37/c 60/51/c 56/52/r 65/49/c 54/41/r 57/52/r 62/55/c 41/35/sn 57/52/r 61/55/r 53/50/r 58/51/r 61/49/c 58/51/c 71/54/c 64/52/c 57/50/r 52/49/r 64/53/c 58/51/r 60/53/r 61/53/r 59/53/c 40/34/sn

NATIONAL CITIES Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Miami Minneapolis New York City Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, Ore. St. Louis Salt Lake City Seattle Washington, D.C.

Wind from the west at 4-8 knots today. Wind waves 2-4 feet with a west swell 2-4 feet at 8-second intervals. Visibility clear.

TIDES

LOCAL TEMPS Today Hi/Lo/W 64/35/c 60/42/c 61/42/c 58/44/c 61/44/c 61/37/c 59/45/c 61/46/c

MARINE FORECAST

SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

55/32/s 42/28/r 33/26/s 65/47/pc 62/33/pc 71/55/s 76/57/s 30/23/pc 47/32/c 48/30/pc 71/54/c 49/39/sh 42/31/s 41/34/sh 49/38/sh 50/28/pc

At Lake Cachuma’s maximum level at the point at which water starts spilling over the dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by 10 people in an urban environment.

Storage 92,069 acre-ft.

Elevation 711.55 ft.

Evaporation (past 24 hours) 4.1 acre-ft.

Inflow 17.7 acre-ft.

State inflow 11.9 acre-ft.

Storage change from yest.

-18 acre-ft.

Report from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Last

New

Dec 26

Jan 2

WORLD CITIES

Today 7:02 a.m.

4:53 p.m.

7:09 p.m.

9:14 a.m.

First

Jan 9

Wed. 7:02 a.m.

4:54 p.m.

8:09 p.m.

9:54 a.m.

Full

Jan 17

Today Wed. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Beijing 42/31/s 41/23/pc Berlin 34/25/c 32/26/c Cairo 63/50/s 65/55/s Cancun 81/64/t 79/61/pc London 43/33/s 43/40/c Mexico City 69/42/pc 70/43/s Montreal 26/19/pc 32/12/sn New Delhi 68/45/pc 69/49/pc Paris 38/26/s 38/33/c Rio de Janeiro 83/72/s 88/74/pc Rome 56/42/pc 54/44/c Sydney 83/70/s 79/69/t Tokyo 57/44/s 53/42/s W-weather, s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

PAGE

B1

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 21, 2 0 21

REVIEW

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Editor’s note: The following review contains plot spoilers.

Details will become more specific as you read farther down the review.

A hero’s journey

Peter Parker/Spider-Man become better defined in ‘No Way Home’

T

he best part of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is the return of familiar faces from past “SpiderMan” films to the big screen as everyone crosses over through the multiverse.

Villains (and the actors who originally played them) return from the movies starring Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire as SpiderMan. Fans knew that would happen because of the trailers, but there’s a surprise that will be discussed at the end of this review in the interest of fully cautioning readers about plot spoilers.

The latest “Spider-Man” movie has a lot of heart, and it’s ultimately about compassion, second chances, what it means to be a friend and whether rules should be broken despite the best intentions. This film examines unexpected consequences of risky actions.

That’s a lot to pack in this character-driven movie, but “No Way Home” manages to make it work.

Overall, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is a successful movie that gives fans reason to applaud at specific moments, but the second movie of the trilogy, “SpiderMan: Far From Home,” remains a better film in terms of action.

But “No Way Home” is the better film in terms of character development because ultimately it defines the kind of hero SpiderMan will be.

If you’re a Marvel fan, you should see “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” If you’ve loved the SpiderMan films since Mr. Maguire first started swinging, you absolutely should see it.

“No Way Home” picks up from the cliffhanger at the end of “Far From Home” in which SpiderMan (Mr. Holland) is accused of murder. And journalist J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons, reprising the character he played in Mr. Maguire’s era), has told the whole world Spider-Man is Peter Parker.

That flips Peter’s life upside down, and soon police are questioning him, his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).

That plot is wrapped up quickly. There’s apparently not enough evidence to press charges, but be sure to watch for an Easter egg involving another Marvel superhero. He’s there briefly.

The movie then proceeds to its main story: Peter doesn’t like living in a world where everyone knows he’s Spider-Man. It’s causing problems for him, MJ and Ned. He asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to make people forget he’s SpiderMan. Then, as Doctor Strange is creating the spell, Peter asks him to undo it.

If creating a spell can cause problems, ending it midstream can make things even worse. And that sets the stage for villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Electro (Jamie Foxx), The Lizard (Rhys Ifans) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) to cross over from their universes.

(Digital de-aging means Mr. Molina and Mr. Dafoe look like they did when they acted in the movies starring Mr. Maguire.)

Soon Peter faces the moral dilemma of whether to send the villains back to die, as they originally did, or to take out the evil in them and give them a second chance in their universes.

Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) acts as Peter’s conscience, reminding him that heroes are here to help people and save lives. It’s a simple and bold truth, but it comes with risks, and Mr. Holland’s Spider-Man evolves into a more mature hero because

COURTESY PHOTO

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” leaves Peter Parker with morality questions, and his answers to them define him as a hero.

of his final decisions.

If you’ve read this far, you know enough about whether to see this film. One of the major plot spoilers is in the next paragraph.

The best moment for fans is the placement of Mr. Garfield, Mr. Maguire and Mr. Holland together as the three SpiderMen from three universes meet.

It’s fun seeing them compare their differences, including the puzzling fact that Mr. Maguire’s Spider-Man can shoot webbing directly from his wrists. Mr. Holland’s and Mr. Garfield’s Spider-Man had to create mechanical web shooters, as

did Peter Parker in the original comics.

Director Jon Watts had the challenging task of pulling many characters and morality themes together in a story that succeeds on the big screen but might have succeeded even better as a six- or seven-episode series streaming on disney+.

That would have allowed more time to explore the characters and have a trial for Peter Parker.

Within a movie, the murder accustation had to be dealt with and dismissed quickly — well, viewers know Peter’s innocent — in order to move on to the bigger

story.

But overall, “No Way Home” is a successful look at SpiderMan finding his way home to what matters: his heart, his courage, his dedication to doing the right thing even when it’s the hardest thing in the world to do.

As mentioned previously, the second film, “Far From Home,” has better action, but nothing in the “Spider-Man” movie franchise beats “No Way Home” for seeing Peter Parker use his brains (math over magic) and listen to his heart.

As always with Marvel movies, be sure to remain after

the credits to see what’s next for Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, who will return in next year’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Filming has already been taking place in Los Angeles.

And if you read to the end of this review, fear not. There were other major plot spoilers that were not revealed here. See the film for those. email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI “Spider-Man: No Way Home” screens at Metro 4 in Santa Barbara and Camino Real Cinemas in Goleta; see metrotheatres.com. It also screens today at Edwards Santa Maria & RPX (www.regmovies.com) and Movies Lompoc (playingtoday.com), as well as the West-Wind Drive-In in Goleta (www.westwinddi.com) and Hi-Way Drive-In in Santa Maria (playingtoday.com).

“Spider-Man” is not currently streaming. For now, theaters are the only place you’ll find this film.

B2

NEWS

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

‘Spider-Man’ swings into action with a half a billion dollars in box office receipts around the world

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

The packed theater screenings in the Santa Barbara area made it clear “Spider-Man: No Way Home” was popular.

And that proved to be the case around the world with the latest Peter Park movie making the third biggest cinematic debut in history. “No Way Home” grossed more than a half a billion dollars ($587.2 million).

Of that, $260 million came from North America, where “No Way Home” easily topped the box office.

The only movies that did better in its global debut were the two

most recent “Avengers” films that included Spider-Man (Tom Holland).

Industry observers didn’t expect “No Way Home” to do this well because of COVID-19 concerns.

But wearing masks, people came.

Disney’s “Encanto,” the animated musical about a Colombian family and its magic, was far behind Spidey in second place with $6.5 million.

Director Steven Spielberg’s version of “West Side Story,” the previous weekend’s No. 1 winner in the box office, fell to No. 3 with $3.42 million. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” was right behind “West Side Story” with $3.4 million for fourth place.

“Nightmare Alley” opened in fifth place at $3 milloin.

“House of Gucci” grossed $1.9 million for sixth place.

“Pushpa: The Rise — Part 1” placed seventh at $1.3 million.

Coming in eight place was Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” with $1.2 million.

“Clifford the Big Red Dog” is still wagging his big red tail at the box office. The movie placed ninth with $400,000.

“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” came in 10th with $280,000.

All figures are from boxofficemojo.com. email: dmason@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Guest violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will perform Jan. 15 and 16 with the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Symphony to perform ‘Fandango Picante’

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform “Fandango Picante” with guest violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 and 3 p.m. Jan. 16 at The Granada, 1214 State St. “We are thrilled to welcome Anne back to play with the Santa Barbara Symphony,” said Nir Kabaretti, music and artistic director of the Santa Barbara Symphony, in a news release. “I had the incredible chance to see her perform ‘Fandango’ in its world premiere at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA

Philharmonic, and was blown away! Her mix of energy, grace, and pure talent is so captivating to watch and hear, and we can’t wait to have her on stage with us again.”

“Fandango,” inspired by the Spanish dance for which it’s named, is a new piece written specifically for Ms. Akiko Meyers by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez.

Regularly performing on the world’s leading stages, Ms. Akiko Meyers has made close to 40 recordings, many of them debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

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“Greatly looking forward to returning to my friends of the Santa Barbara Symphony, to perform Arturo Márquez’s epic mariachi-inspired concerto, Fandango! What an incredibly energetic and joyful start to the new year!” Ms. Akiko Meyers said in the news release.

In addition to “Fandango,” the symphony will perform Mr. Márquez’s Danzon No. 2, which Maestro Kabaretti said is the composer’s most famous piece.

To purchase tickets, go to thesymphony.org.

— Dave Mason

Do You Need Your Floors Cleaned?

DAVID BAZEMORE PHOTO

My Bluegrass Heart performed last week at the Arlington Theatre.

My Bluegrass Heart at Arlington SANTA BARBARA — My Bluegrass Heart, which stars Grammy-winning banjoist Béla Fleck, performed last week at The Arlington Theatre.

The concert was part of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ “Creating Hope” initiative.

“They nearly always come back,” Mr. Fleck said in a news release. “All the people that leave bluegrass. I had a strong feeling that I’d be coming back as well.”

That return is shown in “My Bluegrass Heart,” the album by Mr. Fleck and his band of the same name. It was released on Sept. 10 by Renew Records.

In addition to Mr. Fleck, My Bluegrass Heart features mandolinist Sam Bush, fiddler Stuart Duncan, dobro player

Jerry Douglas, bassist Edgar Meyer and guitarist Bryan Sutton.

“My Bluegrass Heart” is a third in a trilogy of albums that started with “Drive” (1988) and continued with “The Bluegrass Sessions” (1988).

“I don’t come from the South, and I always felt like there were people who were more truly focused on doing that bluegrass thing really well,” Mr. Fleck said.

“What I tended to want to do more was expand the banjo’s role and look for new things to do with it. Despite that, I was always a bluegrass guy first and foremost.

That was certainly the root of my musical soul.”

“I like taking that instrumentation, and seeing what

I can do with it – how I can stretch it, what I can take from what I’ve learned from other kinds of music, and what can apply for this combination of musicians, the very particularly ‘bluegrass’ idea of how music works, and what can be accomplished that might be unexpected, but still has deep connections to the origins,” he said.

Mr. Fleck said it’s the musicians that make the difference in whatever genre he’s playing.

“That’s my dirty little secret,” he said with a laugh, “that I don’t play that differently from genre to genre. It’s about who I surround myself with. Bluegrass, though — it’s central to everything I do.”

— Dave Mason

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ASAP Executive Director Alana Yañez enjoys her time with the cats at the Goleta shelter (asapcats.org).

(805) 717-1678

DynamicGreenCarpetandFloorCleaning.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Shelters seek homes for pets

Local animal shelters and their nonprofit partners are looking for homes for pets.

For more information, go to these websites: • Animal Services-Lompoc, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org.

ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org.

BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement

Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook.com/capaoflompoc.

CAPA works regularly with Animal Services-Lompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation, sbcanimalcare. org. (The foundation works regularly with the Santa Maria Animal Center.)

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services in Goleta: countyofsb.org/ phd/animal/home.sbc.

• Santa Barbara Humane (with

campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton, syvhumane.org.

• Shadow’s Fund (a pet sanctuary in Lompoc), shadowsfund.org.

• Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals in Lompoc: vivashelter. org.

— Dave Mason

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

B3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

Diversions HOROSCOPE s PUZZLES

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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INSTRUCTIONS Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s Life section.

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Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet.

Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance.

All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

8QVFUDPEOH WKHVH -XPEOHV RQH OHWWHU WR HDFK VTXDUH to form four ordinary words.

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WSOHE DUELSG GANROD

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By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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Answer here: <HVWHUGD\·V

Now arrange the circled letters WR IRUP WKH VXUSULVH DQVZHU DV suggested by the above cartoon.

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give you the same satisfaction as those who are richer or more famous.

LIBRA — If your daily life seems disorderly, change it.

Don’t delay. You say that the hustle and bustle of life has you running in a thousand different directions. You’d really prefer to live in peace and quiet in the country. It’s possible to make such a dramatic change. Take advantage of your great adaptive powers!

SCORPIO — You don’t like to be held back. You can’t wait quietly until you reach your objectives. Know that occasionally the unpleasant tasks have to be done before you can enjoy yourself. This is the case today. Fortunately, the day promises to be calm with periods of concentrated effort.

Now you can prepare for the future.

SAGITTARIUS — Is this the day you’ll meet someone new?

It’s possible! The astral aspects are going to make it a lot easier for you. Given the wonderful energy you have at the moment, someone fascinating may be attracted to you. Take advantage of this wonderful day.

It’s tailor made for you!

CAPRICORN — You can expect to have a calm, efficient day. Whatever projects you’ve initiated in your public or private life should start taking on an interesting shape. Little by little, uncertainties will vanish. Have confidence in time, because it’s currently working in your favor.

AQUARIUS — A serious day lies ahead. It feels a bit lonely as all those around you concentrate on their own needs in silence and isolation.

But you’ll enjoy a great feeling tonight after you solved so many problems and gotten so much done. Ultimately, this will be a very positive day, one you will end feeling very proud of yourself!

PISCES — You’re cleaning, sweeping, and tidying up your relationships as never before.

More remains to be done, but in the end, your relationships will take on completely different forms. Today, for example, someone in your group will back up your ideas. You’re in the process of changing. Everyone who matters is going to support you.

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HOROSCOPE ARIES — Great rivers are born from drops of water.

Opportunity isn’t lacking in your life at the moment. This is a great time to buckle down in your personal and professional lives. You’ve never shied away from hard work. You embrace it. You’ll end the day feeling the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Congratulations!

TAURUS — Are you deeply satisfied with your love life?

Several of the aspects will push you to take stock and develop some solutions if needed. A big issue could be your possessiveness. Try an experiment. Give your partner more freedom. It may seem risky to you, but it isn’t. Loosen the reins a bit.

GEMINI — Loving someone is no guarantee that one day that person won’t leave. You must give your love freely and without strings. If you approach people always asking for guarantees or protection, you’ll make them feel that you don’t trust them.

In turn, they won’t trust you. It’s a vicious cycle. The only way out is through giving your heart unconditionally.

CANCER — You need a guide.

This is a time to learn from the master of a domain, even if it means putting yourself in the role of disciple. This is a wonderful change for you, especially because you’re often the one teaching others. This kind of exercise can do you a world of good. If there’s a new subject you want to study, now is the time to embrace it.

LEO — This is a meditative day. It will help you take stock of how you feel inside, which you haven’t had time to do for a while. You’re in the process of abandoning the burden of always doing your “duty.”

Miracle of miracles, you’ll finally realize that you can’t work all the time! Take a break.

VIRGO — Old demons and dreams are on the agenda today.

Do you want to be an artist? Are you sure? If you’re an artist, would you like to be more prominent or rich? Be wary of such daydreams because they take you away from enjoying your life. Live in the here and now. Embracing what you already have will ultimately

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“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” — Reinhold Niebuhr

Horoscope.com Tuesday, December 21, 2021

CODEWORD PUZZLE

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: CLOWN ABATE EXHALE SNEEZE Answer: 6KH ZDV OHDUQLQJ WR XVH 0LFURVRIW·V VSUHDGVKHHW SURJUDP DQG WKRXJKW LW ZDV ³ (;&(//(17

B4

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

NEWS / CLASSIFIED

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

Kentucky to get nearly $900M for roads, bridges from infrastructure bill

Classified To place an ad please call (805) 963-4391 or email to classad@newspress.com

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Feed/Fuel FIREWOOD

Full cord of Oak for $340 Full cord of Eucalyptus for $200 Free delivery to Santa Barbara area (805) 722-8038 or (805) 729-5546

Free Delivery!

Selling Oak Wood (Weekends only!)

805-689-5734

OAK FIREWOOD 234-5794. Quality, well slit, dry oak 1/2 cords $245 plus delivery. Full cords avail.

Advertise Here For As Low as

$5.97*

Per-Day! *Rate Based on 30 day consecutive run.

Service Directory Concrete FINE FINISH Pavers, Flagstone, Concrete, Block Work Fencing, & Painting 805-258-6937 Lic. 986030

Hauling %XPRESS (AULING

&2%% %34 !.9 $!9 *5.+

"253( #,%!. 9!2$ '!

2!'% 42)- 42%%3 #%-%.4

-%4!, $)24 *!#5::) ,)&4 '!4% (!.$9-!. 636 573

Call 805 963-4391 to place your home or business service listing.

OPEN HOUSE DIRECTORY Please submit your Open Home in an easy-to-use form that can be found at newspress.com Click on “SPECIAL EDITION” then click on “OPEN HOME” Deadline is 5p.m. on Wednesdays for the following weekends publication.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us: openhomes@ newspress.com

By STEVE BITTENBENDER

PUBLIC NOTICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003214. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: LITTLE CORNER STORE, 701 BATH ST., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara.

Full Name(s) of registrants: DIPMALA RAJUL PRAJAPATI, 701 BATH ST., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/22/2021 by: E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Jan 01, 2020.

Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) DEC 7, 14, 21, 28 / 2021--57790

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003258. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: GOODLAND BBQ, 5725 HOLLISTER AVE, GOLETA, CA 93117, County of Santa Barbara.

Full Name(s) of registrants: GOODLAND BBQ LLC, 205 SAN NAPOLI DR, GOLETA, CA 93117.

This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, STATE OF INC.: CALIFORNIA. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/30/2021 by: E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 27, 2021.

Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) DEC 7, 14, 21, 28 / 2021--57797

A.P.N.: 055-111-005 Trustee Sale No.: 2021-1821 Order No: 1974320CAD NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 2/7/2018.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. Will sell at a public auction sale to the highest bidder, payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States, by a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: GLORIA J. BURNS, A WIDOW Duly Appointed Trustee: S.B.S. TRUST DEED NETWORK, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION Deed of Trust recorded 2/16/2018 as Instrument No. 2018-0006447 in book XX, page XX of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Santa Barbara County, California, Date of Sale: 1/12/2022 at 1:00 PM Place of Sale: AT THE NORTH DOOR OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 1100 ANACAPA ST, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93101 Amount of unpaid balance and other reasonable estimated charges: $289,624.80 Street Address or other common designation of purported real property: 1047 LA VISTA ROAD SANTA BARBARA, CA 93110 A.P.N.: 055-111-005 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the trustee within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien.

If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property.

You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call FOR SALES INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (855) 986-9342 or visit this internet web-site www.superiordefault.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2021-1821. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet web-site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction if conducted after January 1, 2021, pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code.

If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call FOR SALES INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (855) 986-9342, or visit this internet website www.superiordefault. com, using the file number assigned to this case 2021-1821 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid, by remitting the funds and affidavit described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. Date: 12/13/2021 S.B.S TRUST DEED NETWORK, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION 31194 La Baya Drive, Suite 106, Westlake Village, California, 91362. Phone: 818-991-4600 By: Colleen Irby, Trustee Sale Officer (TS# 2021-1821 SDI-22498)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003324.

First Filing.

The following person (s) are doing business as: CORTONA POINT APARTMENTS, 100 CORTONA POINT DRIVE, GOLETA, CA 93117, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: CORTONA CORNER APARTMENTS LLC: 100 CORTONA POINT DRIVE, GOLETA, CA 93117. This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, STATE OF INC.: DELAWARE. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 12/09/2021

by E35, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Oct 13, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) DEC 21, 28/2021; JAN 4, 11/2022 --57839

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003058. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: KB PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, 50 SUNSHINE LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: TREVOR J KNUDSEN, 50 SUNSHINE LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, BETH E BADRAK, 50 SUNSHINE LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105. STATE OF INC.: CA. This business is conducted by: A MARRIED COUPLE. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/02/2021 by: E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Oct 28, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003248. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: TURKIA TOURS, 4870 CALLE REAL #322, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: MARIA CARIDAD YEPEZ, 4870 CALLE REAL #322, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111, FRANCISCO JAVIER GALINDO, 4870 CALLE REAL #322, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111. This business is conducted by: A MARRIED COUPLE. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/30/2021 by: E20, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 1, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

NOV 30; DEC 7, 14, 21 / 2021--57784

DEC 7, 14, 21, 28 / 2021--57791

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT HEARING BOARD The California State Legislature recently passed, and the Governor signed, Assembly Bill (AB) 361 (Rivas, 2021), which amends the Government Code to allow Brown Act bodies to continue to meet remotely after September 30, 2021, if there is a proclaimed state of emergency and the State or local officials recommend measures to promote social distancing.

Based on the proclaimed state of emergency and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer’s recommended measures to promote social distancing in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, notice is hereby given that the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board will hold a REMOTE VIRTUAL public hearing to consider the following matter on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, via Zoom.

(The Center Square) — Kentucky is in line to get nearly $900 million in federal transportation funds for the current fiscal year thanks to the infrastructure bill signed into law last month, and the state’s lone Democratic congressman said funding will be “transformative” for the state.

“Not just for our infrastructure and improving transportation safety, but in driving our economy and creating good jobs along the way,” U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, said in a press release.

Rep. Yarmuth was the only Kentucky lawmaker to vote for the bill in the House, with the state’s five Republican congressmen voting against the bill. In the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, was one of the 19 GOP members in that chamber to back the bill.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last week the state-by-state allocations for the 2022 fiscal year, which started on Oct. 1. The $880.2 million Kentucky will receive – out of $52.5 billion for all 50 states and the District of Columbia – includes more than $495.6 million in National Highway Performance Program Funds and $241 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant money.

The remaining $143.6 million will go to various programs, including funding for railway crossings, traffic congestion and

highway safety improvement.

“Providing states with information on their apportioned funds today is an important first step in using the resources provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make transportation systems across the country safer and more resilient,” Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said in a statement. “We look forward to working with transportation agencies and the communities they serve to use these resources to build a better America.”

In his press release, Rep. Yarmuth noted the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Kentucky a C-minus on its 2019 infrastructure report card and noted that the funding from the infrastructure bill will help the state make necessary repairs on highway and roadway projects. In addition, funding will also go to projects designed to make roads safer.

The $880.2 million is not the only money Kentucky is in line to get from the bill. The state is also going to receive $40 million for airport projects and $112 million for water line upgrades and improvements.

In addition, Rep. Yarmuth said the federal government plans to announce funding to fix up to 10 of the country’s “most economically significant bridges.” One of the projects that could receive funding from that is the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati at the Ohio River.

REMOTE VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION INFORMATION TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING PC, Laptop or Phone: https://tinyurl.com/APCDJanHB Password: 407389 Telephone: US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 408 638 0968 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 852 4281 9049 Passcode: 407389 Public participation details will be included in the agenda.

Reconsider the Circumstances of the COVID-19 State of Emergency The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution District Hearing Board will hold a public meeting to reconsider the circumstances of the COVID-19 state of emergency, consider whether state or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing, find that the legislative body has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of emergency, and that State or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing. In addition, the Hearing Board will provide direction to staff to continue to notice and hold hearings as remote hearings consistent with Government Code § 54953(e)(3).

Case No. 2020-04-M1 – (Modification of Final Compliance Date and Conditions)

Beacon West Energy Group, LLC 1145 Eugenia Place #101 Carpinteria, CA 93013

Hearing – To consider a Petition for Modification of Regular Variance from District Rules 325.

E, 331.D - I, 359.D.2.b, and 206, Part 70 Permit to Operate 9109-R4 Conditions 9.C.1.b.v, 9.C.1.b.vi, 9.C.2.a, 9.C.2.b, 9.C.2.c, 9.C.2.d, 9.C.6.b.ii, 9.C.6.b.iii, 9.C.6.b.iv, and 9.C.9 submitted on December 6, 2021, for maintenance and monitoring requirements.

The Petitioner is currently operating under Regular Variance Order 2020-04-R, which provides relief through January 7, 2022, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first. Per Health and Safety Code §42356 and §42357, the Petitioner is requesting a Modification of Final Compliance Date for Variance Order 2020-04-R to extend coverage through January 4, 2023, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first, and Modification of Conditions to remove three permit conditions that are instead being addressed through a District permit modification. If granted, the variance would provide continued relief from emission control, maintenance, and monitoring requirements.

The Petitioner operates the equipment described in the Petition at Platform Houchin, located on offshore lease tract OCS-P-166, approximately 7 miles southeast from the City of Santa Barbara.

The Platform is not operational and is idle at this time, awaiting Platform decommissioning. The Modification of Regular Variance, if granted, will allow the Petitioner enforcement relief from the date the decision is made on the Variance, through January 4, 2023, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first.

Case No. 2020-05-M1 – (Modification of Final Compliance Date and Conditions)

Beacon West Energy Group, LLC 1145 Eugenia Place #101 Carpinteria, CA 93013

Hearing – To consider a Petition for Modification of Regular Variance from District Rules 331.D – I, 359.D.2.b, and 206, Part 70 Permit to Operate 9108-R4 Conditions 9.C.1.b.v, 9.C.1.b.vi, 9.C.1.c.i, 9.C.2.a, 9.C.2.b, 9.C.2.c, 9.C.2.d, 9.C.6.b.ii, 9.C.6.b.iii and 9.C.6.b.iv submitted on December 6, 2021, for maintenance and monitoring requirements.

The Petitioner is currently operating under Regular Variance Order 2020-05-R, which provides relief through January 7, 2022, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first. Per Health and Safety Code §42356 and §42357, the Petitioner is requesting a Modification of Final Compliance Date for Variance Order 2020-05-R to extend coverage through January 4, 2023, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first, and Modification of Conditions to remove three permit conditions that are instead being addressed through a District permit modification. If granted, the variance would provide continued relief from emission control, maintenance, and monitoring requirements.

The Petitioner operates the equipment described in the Petition at Platform Hogan, located on offshore lease tract OCS-P-166, approximately 8 miles southeast from the City of Santa Barbara.

The Platform is not operational and is idle at this time, awaiting Platform decommissioning. The Modification of Regular Variance, if granted, will allow the Petitioner enforcement relief from the date the decision is made on the Variance, through January 4, 2023, or the date compliance is achieved, whichever occurs first.

Said Petitions are on file with the Clerk of the APCD Hearing Board and available for public inspection. Interested persons may submit written evidence, arguments concerning this matter, or make arrangements to view said Petitions before the hearing by contacting the Hearing Board Clerk at: variance@sbcapcd.org, or 260 North San Antonio Rd., Suite A, Santa Barbara, California 93110.

DEC 21, 28 / 2021; JAN 4 / 2022 -- 57840

DEC 21 / 2021 -- 57807

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Missouri schools seeking low-interest bonds must pledge to end masking, quarantines

By JOE MUELLER THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — – If public school districts are in legal disputes with Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt regarding COVID-19 health restrictions, Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick said litigation costs could prevent the districts from meeting future financial obligations.

Mr. Fitzpatrick is requiring school districts that want to participate in a low-interest bond program through his office to sign a document pledging they will follow Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green’s order on Nov. 23 stopping state and local agencies from issuing pandemic health orders. On Dec. 7, Mr. Schmitt sent a letter to all Missouri public school districts threatening legal action for any district acting contrary to Judge Green’s ruling and enforcing health restrictions, such as mask mandates or quarantines.

Six school districts on the verge of closing on the low-interest bond agreements received notification from Mr. Fitzpatrick on the new requirement, created after Mr. Schmitt’s threat of legal action. Four districts signed the agreement, according to a spokesperson in the Treasurer’s office.

“Due diligence is always done in preparation for a financial transaction and the disclosure of pending or threatened investigations or litigation is a material consideration when making the determination whether to engage in a financial transaction with any party,” Mary Compton, communications director for the Treasurer, wrote in an email to The Center Square. “The Attorney General has made clear he intends to pursue litigation against school districts who fail to adhere to the directives in his letter.”

Two districts, including Affton School District in St. Louis County, applied for the bond program but haven’t returned the compliance certificate.

“We are exploring the potential impact this could have on our district,” Erica Chandler, director of communications for the Affton School District, wrote in an email to The Center Square.

Mr. Fitzpatrick, a Republican,

is running for State Auditor while Schmitt, also a Republican, is running for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.

While many school districts are following the order, some are following the lead of Lee’s Summit School District in questioning Mr. Schmitt’s threat of lawsuits.

“First, you have no legal authority to direct the District to cease and desist what it is doing to mitigate COVID,” wrote W. Joseph Hatley, legal counsel for Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.

“You cite no such authority in your letter, because there is none.”

Mr. Hatley stated Judge Green’s ruling doesn’t apply to school districts. He also emphasized a school district’s actions aren’t dependent on any state or local health department.

“The Missouri Legislature has expressly granted local boards of education wide-ranging power to manage and govern their own affairs, power that you have no authority to interfere with,” Mr. Hatley wrote.

Some district boards of education in the St. Louis area this week voted to end mask mandates when students return to school in January or when the first semester ends in mid-January.

Some school districts included stipulations in their policies to return to mask requirements based on the percentage of students and staff testing positive for COVID-19.

Mr. Schmitt’s office on Friday distributed a news release that said it received 7,500 emails to an inbox it created for complaints and photography from parents and students regarding alleged violations of mask requirements and quarantine orders. The release said the attorney general sent “52 cease and desist letters to school districts around the state” after receiving information via email.

“My Office has worked diligently to identify non-compliant school districts and send cease and desist letters to those districts,” Mr. Schmitt said in the release. “We will continue to fight these mask mandates and quarantine orders and enforce the law.”

Joe Mueller covers Missouri for The Center Square.