Happy New Year!
Whether you were making a splash in the annual Santa Barbara Polar Dip on Jan. 1 or stayed home and watched three of the best college football playoff games in recent memory, 2026 is off to an invigorating start.
At Noozhawk, we’re energized — and it’s thanks in large part to you.
Several thousand Hawks Club members powered us well past our $125,000 End-of-Year Webathon goal, building on what was already a record-setting year of your support.
Your confidence in Noozhawk and belief in local journalism made it happen. We’re deeply grateful.
Here’s some of what’s ahead:
- New talent: In the coming days, we’ll be formally announcing the addition of a seasoned reporter-editor — someone we’ve long wanted to hire and who will immediately make our newsroom even stronger.
- New conversations: Next month, we launch our new speaker series in partnership with Spotlight Santa Barbara. The series opens Feb. 5 at the Lobero Theatre with CalMatters columnist Dan Walters.
- New roots: We’re finalizing an investor offering designed to expand and deepen our reporting, raise staff pay, and build the reserves that will keep Noozhawk financially healthy and independent for years to come.
Thank you for helping us start 2026 with such strong momentum — and for standing with Noozhawk as we get to work.
With that commitment in mind, it’s also worth noting just how engaged our community remains. Over the past week, 152,866 readers visited Noozhawk, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
And since it’s a new year, a reminder: this is my opinion column, not a news story.
1. Which Are the Most Affordable Grocery Stores in Santa Barbara?
Our story comparing grocery prices across Santa Barbara struck a timely, major chord with readers as local households look for ways to stretch their budgets in the new year.
With many people setting resolutions to cook more at home or save money, our Pricila Flores had the idea to answer a simple but opportune question: Where can shoppers find the most affordable groceries in Santa Barbara?
Over the course of December, she visited 15 grocery stores throughout the city, pricing a standardized list of everyday essentials without using store membership discounts.
Pricila’s list included white bread, potatoes, broccoli, eggs, whole milk, cereal, canned beans, pasta, ground beef and avocados — items chosen for their popularity in typical households.
Stores surveyed ranged from national chains to local markets, including Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, Gelson’s, Tri-County Produce, Smart & Final and several neighborhood carnicerías.
The results were clear. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, at 2840 De la Vina St. near Samarkand, was the least expensive overall, while Lazy Acres, at 302 Meigs Road on the Mesa, ranked as the most expensive.
Prices varied widely, even among stores located just minutes apart, reflecting the diversity of Santa Barbara’s grocery landscape.
Pricila noted that her survey represents a snapshot in time, with prices subject to change.
Still, her story resonated with readers navigating rising food costs and looking for practical, local guidance as they plan for the year ahead.
2. 2 Storms Bringing More Rain to Santa Barbara This Week
Although our Daniel Green previewed dual storms headed to Santa Barbara County after last week’s deluge, the one that arrived on New Year’s Eve dampened celebrations but caused no major incidents.
In a bit of a surprise, the skies cleared for a glorious New Year’s Day.
Given how soggy things have been around here, less surprising was Santa Barbara surpassing 100% of its normal water-year total, as our Giana Magnoli reported Jan. 1.
At 94%, the county was not that far behind.
As of Jan. 2, San Marcos Pass had logged a staggering 36.90 inches of rain for the rain year that began Sept. 1.
Gibraltar Reservoir has recorded 27.96 inches for the period, Lake Cachuma 23.73 inches, Santa Barbara 19.37 inches, Goleta 17.21 inches, Carpinteria 16.48 inches, Buellton 15.74 inches, Santa Ynez 15.29 inches, Lompoc 11.88 inches, and Santa Maria just under 10 inches.
The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly dry conditions until late on Jan. 2, when another rainstorm is due to arrive for the weekend.
The chance of rain is around 80% on Jan. 3 and 4, with hazardous beach conditions continuing through Jan. 5.
Daytime high temperatures in the low 60s and overnight lows in the 40s are expected.
Click here for the complete weather service forecast.
3. Lake Cachuma Water Releases Begin as Runoff from Major Storm Fills Reservoir
With more rain in the forecast, officials are closely monitoring Lake Cachuma after the reservoir reached capacity and spilled following last week’s powerful storms.
As our Rebecca Caraway and Tom Bolton have been reporting, the 193,300-acre-foot reservoir has climbed to about 98% of capacity this week, prompting proactive releases to manage inflows and reduce the risk of downstream flooding.
The lake briefly spilled as runoff surged into the Santa Ynez River watershed, and officials say additional rain could quickly refill it again.
Santa Barbara County water officials are coordinating closely with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Bradbury Dam, to balance water supply needs with flood protection.
Controlled releases are being used to match inflow and outflow, keeping the lake near full while avoiding sudden, larger discharges that could affect communities downstream, including the Santa Ynez Valley and Lompoc.
Boat docks at Cachuma rose roughly 15 feet during the storms, underscoring the rapid rise in lake levels.
“As of right now, flows are manageable for all the downstream communities,” Walter Rubalcava, deputy director of the Santa Barbara County Water Resources Division, told Rebecca.
The early season storms have significantly boosted regional water supplies, and officials said it is unusual — and encouraging — to see Lake Cachuma full this early in the rainy season.
4. New Laws Taking Effect in 2026 in California
It’s a new year, which means another torrent of new laws and regulations imposed on us by our betters in Sacramento.
Fortunately for me, our Nick Forselles wrote a roundup of the new statutes so I don’t have to.
But if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “There ought to be a law …,” you’ll want to read his story — because, in California, chances are there is one.
5. Woman Injured When Vehicle Plunges Off Highway 154 Near Santa Barbara
A woman survived a dramatic crash the evening of Dec. 30 after her car plunged off Highway 154 in the mountains above Santa Barbara.
As our Tom Bolton reported, just after 5 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters reached the driver, who was the sole occupant, after her sedan ended up roughly 150 feet below the highway near Windy Gap.
Using a rope rescue system, crews safely brought her back up to the roadway.
Despite the severity of the incident, the woman suffered only minor to moderate injuries, fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.
The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was transported by an American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the wreck.
• • •
Good Reads
Here are six more stories that are worth a read:
» A Look Back: Noozhawk’s Most-Read Stories in 2025 — We covered a lot this past year, and staff writer Pricila Flores rounds up the headlines, many of which involve truly tragic circumstances.
» Crews Battle Residential Structure Fire in Eastern Goleta Valley — Editor in chief Tom Bolton mops up after a fierce house fire near San Marcos High School.
» Kids Can Now Train Like Ninjas in Santa Maria — Budding, pint-sized ninjas sneak up on staff writer Nick Forselles.
» Judy Foreman: New York City the Perfect Last Stop on Whirlwind Year of Travel — Before popping the champagne to ring in the new year, 93108 columnist Judy Foreman takes a bite out of the Big Apple.
» Local Standout Student-Athletes Grace Noozhawk All-South Coast Football Team — Sports editor Diego Sandoval assembles a powerhouse All-South Coast Football Team for Noozhawk.
» Mark Patton: Home Court is Where the Heart Is for College Basketball Coach Shantay Legans — Sports columnist Mark Patton catches up with Shantay Legans, the Dos Pueblos High School and Goleta Boys & Girls Club alum who is now head basketball coach at the University of Portland.
• • •
Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Goleta Pedestrian Dies After Vehicle Collision in Old Town.
• • •
What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Feb. 5 — Noozhawk is partnering with Spotlight Santa Barbara on a 2026 speaker series and I’ll be moderating a Q&A with Dan Walters, the legendary gold standard of California political writers. His topic at the Lobero Theatre? California politics — past, present and future. Click here to purchase tickets online.
• • •
Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Almost a year later and the Palisades Fire scandal is still smoldering: A New View of 2 Critical Days That Set the Stage for Devastating Palisades Fire.
• • •
Best of Bill’s Instagram
I had a very Merry Christmas in my Instagram feed this past week.
• • •
Watch It
This fisherman otter get a better negotiator. He’s getting stone scammed. HT to Best of Bill reader Kirk Newhall.
