Latest Santa Barbara County, California Stories

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- What: "Repeal the Bill" Patriotic Protest March & Rally When: Saturday, March 27, 2010 Assemble: Santa Barbara: De la Guerra Plaza @ 2:45- 3:00 PM March: Begins @ 3:00 Rally: Santa Barbara County Courthouse @ 3:20 PM Cost: Free "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness....

NEW ORLEANS, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Vincent Armenta, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California, was named "Tribal Leader of the Year" by the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA). Honored at a ceremony held today at NAFOA's "Next Decade Finance" conference in New Orleans, the award is presented to a tribal leader who has displayed foresight and resolve in the financial advancement of their tribe. "Chairman Armenta exemplifies the type of...

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-18 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), was launched this morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. at 9:12 am PDT. "After several years of building, integrating, upgrading and testing DMSP F-18, our third Block 5D-3 spacecraft, it was enormously satisfying to see this morning's launch and hear that we have a healthy...

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-18 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), is undergoing final preparation for a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on October 18, 2009. "After several years of building, integrating, upgrading and testing DMSP F-18, our third Block 5D-3 spacecraft, we're eagerly anticipating this launch so that this satellite can carry...

Authorities in California said no serious injuries were reported when a small plane landed on a highway, colliding with two vehicles. A Santa Barbara County Fire representative said the single-engine plane, which was carrying the pilot and one passenger, made an emergency landing Sunday morning on Highway 101 in Goleta en route to the Santa Barbara Airport, the Santa Barbara (Calif.) Independent reported Monday. The plane was struck by two southbound vehicles and one automobile passenger was...

A source at the company that owns Neverland Ranch says the future of the former California home of the late U.S. singer Michael Jackson is up in the air. The unidentified source said Colony Capital LLC has yet to make an official decision about the 2,500-acre estate in Santa Barbara County, People.com reported Thursday. We are still doing renovations and rehabilitation to the property and I think it has a ways to go, the source said. As far as I know, absolutely no decisions have been made...

A friend of Michael Jackson's family says the late U.S. pop singer's coffin may be encased in concrete to prevent fans from digging up his grave. The Sunday Telegraph reported the burial as described by the unidentified source would take place immediately after Jackson's funeral. Details of the funeral have remained secret, but a memorial for Jackson is scheduled to take place Tuesday in Los Angeles. One of Jackson's brothers, Jermaine, said his family intends to bury the late singer at...

Michael Jackson will not be buried at his former California residence, Neverland ranch, despite the wishes of his family, sources say. Quoting an unnamed source close to the situation, the Los Angeles Times said Wednesday that even though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had agreed to help overcome state obstacles to the plan, it has been dropped as unfeasible because of legal restrictions. The source told the Times that Santa Barbara County officials were unable to find a path to quickly...

A planned auction of nearly 2,000 items belonging to U.S. pop star Michael Jackson has been canceled, TMZ said Tuesday. The Los Angeles Times said that among the items that were to have hit the auction block in Beverly Hills, Calif., starting next week, were the actual gates from Jackson's now-defunct Neverland Ranch, the sparkly glove he wore in the video for Billie Jean, arcade-style video games, fiberglass figures of servants and a carousel horse with an inscription from iconic actress...

Legendary retreat receives highest honor from the world's most discerning travelers SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual Forbes 400 list which ranks the best luxury hotels and resorts in the world has just named San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, as "America's Best Hotel." The selection was made by a board of elite luxury travelers including Peter Greenberg, Todd English and Arianna Huffington, as well as top travel professionals like Matthew Upchurch of...