As a pioneering online-only local news site, Noozhawk has had its share of unexpected twists and peculiar turns over the last 17 years.
Here’s another one: Our @noozhawk Instagram account was hacked and held hostage in a half-assed ransom attempt earlier this week.
While Instagram and its parent company, Meta, have not yet bothered to actually respond to our reporting of this illegal activity on their platform, the hacker is proudly advertising it for sale … on Instagram.
Incredibly, the secretive social media Pentaverate’s bot has refused to even remove his account even though he is demonstrably violating Instagram’s stated terms.
While we continue to try to retrieve our account, we’ve filed a complaint with state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to help us get Instagram’s attention. And these internet behemoths wonder why they’re regarded with such universal disdain.
In the meantime, if you have contact information for a non-cyborg Instagram or Meta sentient being, please email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com or DM me on, yes, Instagram at @bill.macfadyen.
In far more positive news, I’m excited to announce that we’re partnering with CalMatters on an Oct. 14 election forum to discuss statewide ballot propositions and local initiatives.
CalMatters partnerships manager Dan Hu will be here to lead the forum, along with Noozhawk journalists.
We’ll have all of the details next week but we do know that space will be limited.
And speaking of details, Noozhawk had an audience of 171,809 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over the last seven days. In other words, this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. Man Wearing Body Armor Arrested in Santa Maria Courthouse Explosion
A 20-year-old Santa Maria man is facing federal charges for allegedly attacking the Santa Maria courthouse complex on Sept. 25.
As our Janene Scully first reported late on Sept. 26, however, U.S. authorities say the suspect, Nathaniel James McGuire, had even more disturbing intentions, including killing a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge and sheriff’s deputies.
McGuire is to make his initial appearance the afternoon of Sept. 27 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on at least one charge: maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive.
The drama all began at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 25 when McGuire allegedly threw a bag past a security screening station in the lobby of the courthouse at 312 E. Cook St.
At least five people were injured when the bag detonated.
Undersheriff Craig Bonner said McGuire was quickly apprehended by court security, a sheriff’s deputy and California Highway Patrol officers as he attempted to run to his car.
McGuire, who was wearing body armor under his jacket, reportedly shouted anti-government rhetoric and obscenities as he was taken into custody in the parking lot.
Authorities say a search of his Ford Mustang revealed weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, including 10 Molotov cocktails.
Further investigation at his Henry Avenue apartment, off South Bradley Road a few blocks south of East Betteravia Road, uncovered materials for making explosives and a list of grievances on his laptop computer.
“After throwing the bag, McGuire intended to go back to his car … to get a shotgun, a lever-action rifle and Molotov cocktails,” the federal criminal complaint states.
“McGuire then intended to re-enter the courthouse to kill a judge.”
During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, the complaint says, McGuire expressed his intention to kill sheriff’s deputies, reportedly shouting, “Liberty or death!”
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick said detectives concluded that “McGuire’s motivation appeared to have stemmed from a recent arrest by the Sheriff’s Office.”
McGuire, it seems, was arrested July 28 for carrying a concealed, loaded firearm that was not registered to him. He was scheduled to be arraigned the day of the attack.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the bombing, emphasizing the severity of McGuire’s alleged actions.
“This defendant’s alleged misconduct was chilling,” he said. “Not only did he injure five people and traumatize many more, but he possessed a cache of weapons that would have allowed him to wreak even greater destruction had he not been stopped.
“Attacks on our courts, law enforcement officers and other public servants are unacceptable, and it is critical that those who carry out such assaults be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
The identity of the judge McGuire allegedly intended to kill was not disclosed.
If convicted on the federal charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison up to a statutory maximum of 40 years.
McGuire was transferred to federal custody on Sept. 27 from the North County Jail, where he had been held without bail on charges of suspicion of attempted murder, using an explosive device in an attempt to kill someone, and possession of an explosive device.
The FBI and the Sheriff’s Department are jointly investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s confidential tip line or the FBI’s online tip portal.
All five people hurt in the bombing were treated for minor injuries, including burns, and released from Marian Regional Medical Center.
An attorney who was outside the courthouse that fateful morning said he heard a boom, then saw smoke blowing out of the building and people scattering.
“It was certainly different from the run-of-mill Wednesday,” defense attorney Michael Scott said.
The incident led to the evacuation of court buildings and the closure of nearby businesses and schools.
The Santa Maria courthouse remained closed Sept. 26 for the ongoing investigation, cleanup and repairs. Sept. 27 is a state holiday.
In the last 48 hours, Janene and our Giana Magnoli have been reporting exhaustively on the fast-developing case — writing, rewriting and continuously updating their stories as new information was disclosed and additional sources surfaced.
They both have been doing fantastic work, and I think you’ll agree that their almost round-the-clock coverage has been smoothly thorough for all of the unknowns of an ongoing, multilevel criminal investigation.
Well done, Janene and Giana!
2. Wrong-Way DUI Driver in Fatal Highway 101 Santa Maria Crash Faces Murder Charge
A bartender from Santa Maria has been charged with murder in the wrong-way, head-on collision on Highway 101 that killed 53-year-old Alma Alcorta of Santa Maria and severely injured Alcorta’s husband.
As our Janene Scully reported, 34-year-old Kendra Cordova initially was arrested on DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges stemming from the Sept. 8 wreck on the southbound side of the freeway between Betteravia Road and Santa Maria Way.
She now faces more serious charges after investigators discovered she had completed alcohol awareness training that is required of bartenders.
According to the California Highway Patrol, more than two dozen 9-1-1 callers reported a car speeding north in the highway’s southbound lanes, starting just north of Los Alamos at 5:13 a.m.
Less than 10 minutes and 13 miles later, Cordova’s Mazda CX-9 slammed head-on into a Chevy Silverado driven by 63-year-old Cecilio Camacho.
The critically injured Camacho had to be extricated from his mangled pickup truck and was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Alcorta, his wife and passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene by Santa Barbara County firefighters.
Surveillance video from Cordova’s workplace, the 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos, reportedly shows her drinking alcohol throughout her shift for a weekend wedding and for several hours afterward.
“Video surveillance shows them drinking multiple bottles of champagne and Cordova pouring herself more cocktails,” according to a CHP investigator’s declaration in support of her Sept. 18 arrest warrant.
Cordova and two co-workers remained at the hotel until 4:30 a.m.
Four hours after the crash, investigators say, Cordova’s blood-alcohol content was 0.26%, more than three times the legal limit.
Cordova reportedly told CHP officers that, within the last year, she had taken the “Responsible Beverage Service Training Program” class provided by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for bartenders.
In addition to murder, Cordova has been charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a 0.08% blood-alcohol level causing injury.
She also faces a number of special allegations or sentencing enhancements.
The CHP said Cordova was taken into custody the afternoon of Sept. 26. She is being held without bail in the South Coast Jail.
A GoFundMe account established to assist Alcorta’s family with her funeral costs as well as Camacho’s medical expenses has raised nearly $12,000 as of Sept. 27. Click here to make an online donation.
3. County Panel to Decide Miramar Project, Skipping Montecito Planning Commission
In an extraordinary turn of events, the contentious housing and retail project proposed at Montecito’s Rosewood Miramar Beach will bypass the Montecito Planning Commission and instead go directly before the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.
As our Josh Molina was first to report, the decision — announced by county Planning & Development Department director Lisa Plowman — quickly ignited a fierce debate over local oversight and affordable housing regulations affecting the unincorporated community.
As proposed, Miramar owner Rick Caruso’s project includes 26 affordable-housing units for hotel staff, eight market-rate units and 17,500 square feet of high-end retail space at the 4½-acre property at 1555 S. Jameson Lane.
In a letter that accompanied her announcement, Plowman said Caruso’s development team informed the county that the “affordable housing” project falls under the protections of the state Housing Accountability Act.
As a result, she said, the county Planning Commission has jurisdiction, not the Montecito Planning Commission.
The project is included in the county’s Housing Element to meet Sacramento’s demand for more housing, which the county commission will take up on Oct. 9.
First District Supervisor Das Williams, who is in his final three months on the Board of Supervisors, supports the decision, citing legal requirements and the need for expedited review of affordable housing projects.
“My decision on this project, if it comes to me, will be based on the law and what represents the greatest needs in the community,” he told Josh.
“… Trying to delay it for more months is contrary to the intent of the state law and could get us into trouble with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.”
But the move has drawn criticism from Marshall Miller, the Montecito Planning Commission chairman, and Supervisor-elect Roy Lee, who thwarted Williams’ re-election plans and will take his seat on the board in January.
Lee and Miller both want to maintain local input.
“I am disappointed at an attempt to change its original venue of the first hearing,” Miller said. “… This is why the MPC exists and why it was created.”
Lee agreed.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to give input and improve the future of their neighborhood,” he said.
“Engaging the community almost always results in a better project with buy-in from locals.”
To address concerns, Williams and Plowman are pitching a “compromise:” After the varsity commission reviews the project on Oct. 9, the Montecito junior varsity can express its opinions at an Oct. 18 meeting, and the varsity will vote on Nov. 1.
The shift in venue could potentially accelerate the Miramar project’s approval before Williams leaves office, which also doesn’t seem to be going over well in Montecito.
Stay tuned for the next episode of As Montecito Turns.
4. BizHawk: Santa Barbara’s Harbor Restaurant Ready to Return to Its ‘Glory Days’
The Harbor Restaurant, a Santa Barbara landmark out on Stearns Wharf, is back in business after months of renovations.
As our Josh Molina reported, the new owners — Olesya and John Thyne III and Carolina Jimenez and her husband, Gene Sanchez — have revitalized the venerable establishment with a fresh paint job, new carpeting and an exciting culinary direction.
Executive chef Gonzalo Del Pino will offer an international coastal cuisine menu, blending global recipes with local ingredients.
Raising the refreshments bar, general manager Rich Holowell has crafted an appealing drink lineup to complement the dining experience that already is accompanied by what Thyne calls “the best views in town.”
The restaurant, along with the upstairs Longboard’s Grill, was bought by the two couples in 2023.
For now, its opening hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
5. Construction Shifts to Santa Barbara Portion of Highway 101
The Highway 101 widening project has entered its $700 million fourth phase, extending a half-mile west between Olive Mill and Hermosillo roads in Montecito.
As our Daniel Green reported, this stage will expand the freeway to three lanes in each direction, accompanied by additional nearby improvements such as roundabouts and bike paths.
Current work involves vegetation removal along the southbound side between Butterfly Lane and Olive Mill Road, with potential day and night activity.
Ongoing construction continues in other areas of the overall 20-year project, which is widening an 11-mile stretch of freeway between Milpas Street in Santa Barbara and the Ventura County line east of Carpinteria.
Among the larger pieces are pavement reinforcement in the Padaro Lane section and bridge support work in Montecito.
“The Carpinteria segment is complete, the Padaro segment is finishing up work in the median, the Summerland segment is being landscaped, the Montecito segment is building new bridges and ramps, and we are now underway in Santa Barbara south,” Caltrans District 5 director Scott Eades said.
The Santa Barbara portion is divided into north and south sections, with the southern part underway and the northern section awaiting funding. Officials anticipate hearing about additional funding by next summer.
The entire project, which began in 2008, is scheduled for completion by 2028.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories that are worth your time:
» Cottage Health Pursuing 2 Housing Projects for Its Employees — Staff writer Daniel Green reports on a momentous house call by Cottage Health.
» Goleta Lemon Festival Squeezes in Fun to Celebrate City’s Zesty History — Contributing writer Julia McHugh has a sweet preview of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s annual Goleta Lemon Festival this weekend at Girsh Park. The festival is bushels of fun, but the lemon meringue pie from Anna’s Bakery is the #bestofbillrecommendation.
» Santa Barbara to Lose State Funding for Homelessness as Numbers Rise — South County editor Josh Molina digs into the enigma of local homelessness numbers. With the situation getting worse here, the State of California is cutting the City of Santa Barbara’s assistance funding by 50%. Of course, this is the same California that can’t account for $24 billion in homelessness funding under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s incompetent leadership while statewide numbers continue to skyrocket under his watch.
» Santa Maria Woman Named as Victim of Fatal Crash on Highway 135 — North County editor Janene Scully is on the beat of what seems to be a disturbing — and deadly — trend on Santa Maria-area roadways.
» Dave Bemis a Keystone of Community in Santa Ynez Valley — Noozhawk is proud to sponsor the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s Champions of the Valley Awards Celebration on Oct. 13. The list of honorees is amazingly impressive but I’ve got to give a special shoutout to Dave Bemis, my good friend, a former longtime colleague and my old neighbor. He plays like a champion every day and I’m so happy he’s being recognized for it.
» James Barker Farr of Goleta, 1945-2024 — Jim Farr and I saw eye to eye on … almost nothing really, but we could both appreciate the axiom, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Jim played an instrumental role in helping me set up Noozhawk’s advertising strategy in the first months of our existence back in 2007, and I will always be grateful for his counsel and perspective. Although sometimes often usually curmudgeonly, he had a heart of gold and I was honored to be his friend. R.I.P., Jim.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Landscape Worker Struck, Killed by Hit-Run Driver in Goleta.
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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.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Gee, what were the odds of this? Legalizing Sports Gambling Was a Huge Mistake.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
I don’t mean to convey a trace of ostentation, but my Instagram feed was held up at a peacock checkpoint in Arcadia this past week. You should’ve been there.
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Watch It
No. 1.
