2/22/22 proves to be a special date for this family
Van Gogh and the artists who influenced him
Santa Maria hospital reports birth of twins on ‘Twosday’ - A2
Our 166th Year
Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosts special exhibit - B1
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W E D N E S DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 3 , 2 0 2 2
Russia invades Ukraine, U.S. responds with sanctions President Biden authorizes troop movement in Baltic nations after Russian troops move into separatist-controlled Ukrainian regions
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Russia has invaded Ukraine, raising concerns about the possible start of a new Cold War. After Russia sent troops into eastern Ukrainian areas controlled by Russian-backed separatists, President Joe Biden responded Tuesday by moving more troops and F-35 Joint
Strike Fighters to Europe. At the same time, President Biden stressed he has no plans to send U.S. troops into combat with Russia and that the military buildup in Europe was strictly defensive. President Biden said he authorized the movement of U.S. forces and equipment to help Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in face of Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s refusal to withdraw forces from Belarus. Earlier on Tuesday, national media sources reported that President Biden announced sanctions against Russia in response to Mr. Putin’s decision to order troops into separatistcontrolled regions of eastern Ukraine. Those troops have gone into those areas. President Biden said
President Putin’s deployment of troops signals the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine, which President Biden said would be met with sanctions. On Tuesday, he made that official with sanctions targeting the Russian financial institutions, and President Biden said more sanctions could follow. But Tuesday’s sanctions fall Please see UKRAINE on A4
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Russian troops have gone into eastern Ukrainian regions that separatists have controlled since 2014.
Universities’ housing crisis Legislators announce proposal to speed up development
Expect cold weather tonight
County sees windy, then calm, Tuesday
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Clouds loom over the Santa Barbara Airport during blustery conditions Tuesday.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
UCSB students protest the lack of on-campus housing last fall. A new legislative proposal is designed to accelerate construction to alleviate a statewide shortage.
By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER
(The Center Square) — To address an ongoing housing shortage at California’s public universities, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, announced new legislation on Tuesday that aims to streamline the development of on-campus and faculty housing. The legislation, contained in Senate Bill 886, would allow California Community Colleges, the University of California and California State University systems to bypass an existing state review process under the California Environmental Quality Act when building on-campus housing for
students and faculty. Under CEQA, state and local agencies must disclose significant environmental impacts for approved projects and outline ways to mitigate the effects. Neighborhood groups have used the law to block or delay housing development on college campuses across the state. This issue gained prominence last week when UC Berkeley sent letters to thousands of potential students informing them that the school’s enrollment could be capped due to a court order stemming from a CEQA lawsuit. Berkeley officials announced that the university would have to reduce its incoming class size by one-third, or about 3,050 students,
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because of the order to cap enrollment. “What is happening at UC Berkeley, has been happening for a long time, and we’re seeing the damage that’s been caused by the lawsuits,” Sen. Wiener said during a news conference at San Francisco State on Tuesday. Sen. Wiener noted Tuesday that his bill would accelerate housing production for students and faculty across the state when many campuses are in desperate need. The senator added that the lack of available housing at California public universities and community colleges leads to high rates of homelessness among students. In Santa Barbara County, the crisis has been felt at UCSB, where
the housing shortage set the stage for student protests, uncertainty for students living in hotels, a criticized residence hall design and a lawsuit by neighboring Goleta. Last fall, the Goleta City Council directed its attorneys to file a suit against UCSB for, in the city’s words, “failing to provide student housing for its burgeoning student population.” Students protested at UCSB against the lack of housing in September and again in November, this time against the proposed, largely windowless Munger Hall. “No window, no way,” said one of the signs carried by a student. The protests came during a Please see HOUSING on A4
If you’re going outside tonight, wear a really warm coat. Expect lows in the mid- to upper 30s everywhere in Santa Barbara County as a cold system sweeps the area. That’s according to the National Weather Service, which predicted there was a slight chance of a thunderstorm with small hail Tuesday night in the county. Nothing that dramatic struck when the News-Press went to press. (This story will be updated by 8 this morning at newspress.com in case a thunderstorm struck after press time). Tuesday began with furious winds, but by late afternoon, that was replaced suddenly and maybe mysteriously by perfect calm. The calm before the storm? That’s what residents found out Tuesday night. In addition to a possible thunderstorm, the weather service predicted snow at low elevations in the mountains for Southern California. During the daytime portion of Tuesday, sprinkles were reported in various locations. A minuscule amount of rain, nothing worthy of an umbrella, fell on Goleta, and 0.02 of an inch was reported in Santa Maria and 0.03 of an inch
in Santa Ynez. That’s according to the weather service. Meanwhile, you don’t need your umbrella today on the South Coast and the Santa Ynez Valley, where the National Weather Service doesn’t predict anything more dramatic than partly cloudy skies. It’s a different story for Lompoc and Santa Maria, where the forecast calls for showers. Anywhere in Santa Barbara County, you’ll need a jacket, and the need increases as you head north. According to the weather service, today’s highs will be 60 in Santa Barbara, 58 at UCSB, 56 in Lompoc, and 54 in both Santa Ynez and Santa Maria. As stated previously, lows are expected in the mid- or upper 30s throughout the county. Later this week, it’ll feel more like Southern California. Nothing but sunshine is expected by the weather service Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but it won’t get much warmer. But on Sunday, the entire county will see mostly cloudy skies. Then on Monday, it’ll be sunny again. For a day. Expect Tuesday to be partly cloudy, the weather service said. One trend is clear, if the weather service is right: Not much rain. But keep your jacket handy. email: dmason@newspress.com
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L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 3-12-24-30-36 Meganumber: 6
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 7-8-9-5
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 1-2-7-12-30
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-07-02 Time: 1:44.71
Monday’s POWERBALL: 2-36-37-45-69 Meganumber: 3
Sudoku................... B3 Sports . .................... A3 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 4-0-6 / Wednesday’s Midday 6-3-8