Looking forward to Fiesta
Infrastructure bill moves ahead
La Presidenta Stephanie Petlow talks about what makes Old Spanish Days special - B1
Senate advances legislation; Carbajal vows to seek money for Central Coast - A2
Our 166th Year
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El Mercado de la Guerra canceled
Fiesta board cites concerns over increase in COVID-19 cases By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Old Spanish Days Board of Directors announced Thursday that the iconic Mercado de la Guerra has been canceled. Citing concerns about the spike of COVID-19 cases in the region associated with the Delta variant, the board made the decision to cancel the event. In a statement, Fiesta La Presidenta Stephanie Petlow said this was a very “difficult decision,” but a necessary one to keep the community safe. “We are concerned about our families, grandparents, children, and visitors in the community and we want to make sure everyone remains healthy,” Mrs. Petlow wrote in a statement. “Mercado is
important to all of Santa Barbara as a backbone of Fiesta, providing memorable moments for our families, visitors, and friends, stages for our dance groups, and a platform for the nonprofits.” “The Mercados are the heart of Fiesta; however, based on the spike of the COVID-19 Delta Variant cases and based on our extensive review with health officials, it is important that we keep our families, visitors, and community safe.” A favorite among Fiesta attendees, El Mercado de la Guerra featured live music performances, food vendors and a variety of booths from local nonprofits. To support the nonprofits that were signed up to participate in the Mercado, Mrs. Petlow said
Old Spanish Days will post a list of nonprofits on its Facebook page and encourage the public to donate online. Despite the cancellation of the Mercado, Ms. Petlow said the staff at Old Spanish Days is looking forward to a vibrant week of events and expects an exciting return of the Mercado in 2022. “We’re just looking forward to everyone enjoying Fiesta, spending time with family, eating at the different restaurants, just rallying together and continuing to have a good Fiesta spirit,” Ms. Petlow told the News-Press Thursday. The Fiesta is set for Aug. 4-8. For more information, go to www. sbfiesta.org. email: mhirneisen@newspress.com
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
El Mercado de la Guerra has been canceled for this year’s celebration due to spiking case rates associated with the Delta variant, the Old Spanish Days board announced Thursday. The photo here shows the event in 2019.
Scaling back for cleaning
Biden enacts rules to increase vaccinations
School districts return to pre-pandemic protocols
Measures require vaccinations or testing for federal workers and contractors By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
President Joe Biden announced Thursday that all federal workers and contractors will be required to self-attest their vaccination status or undergo weekly testing as part of a new set of measures to increase the vaccination rate across the nation. Under the new guidelines, any of the nation’s 4 million federal workers who do not attest their fully vaccinated status will be required to wear masks, physical distance and comply with weekly COVID-19 testing once or twice per week. “If you want to do business with the federal government,
McKinley Elementary School in Santa Barbara will soon open a new multi-use space on its second floor.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The pandemic has amplified parts of schools that previously didn’t prompt much discussion at school board meetings, such as maintenance. Recently, districts have been reviewing facilities plans heading into the 2021-2022 school year — including a switch away from cleaning protocols established early in the pandemic. Both Santa Barbara Unified and Lompoc Unified school districts have the same policy: Use pre-pandemic cleaning products unless a COVID-19 case is identified. Janitorial staffs made a stark shift at the start of the pandemic, identifying cleaning products
most likely to stop the spread of the mysterious virus. Lompoc Unified purchased foggers to thoroughly disinfect the classroom, coating everything. At the time, public health authorities hadn’t yet identified the virus as an airborne threat. As community members stressed over rinsing off Amazon packages, school districts zeroed in on disinfection and ventilation. Santa Barbara Unified retrained all its schools’ janitorial staffs and standardized procedures across the district’s schools. It also hired custodians from a third party to assist in the extensive cleaning. “The main drawbacks of constant disinfecting to keep Please see CLEANING on A3
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RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Students will return to the classroom mid-August with new CDC guidance for the school year. Above is a McKinley Elementary School classroom that was in session last spring.
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
President Joe Biden has announced a number of new measures aimed at increasing the nation’s vaccination rate.
L O T T E RY RESULTS
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get your workers vaccinated,” President Biden said during a briefing Thursday at the White House. The new guidelines for federal workers come as the latest effort from the president to slow an increasing wave of infections associated with the highly contagious Delta variant. During Thursday’s briefing, President Biden also announced a number of other measures his administration will take to increase the vaccination rate nationwide. These additional measures include directing state and local governments to offer a $100 vaccine incentive to anyone
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 20-24-32-35-39 Meganumber: 25
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 0-1-0-4
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 2-35-36-54-64 Meganumber: 11
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 13-17-22-35-38
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-07-06 Time: 1:40.74
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 25-30-53-59-60 Meganumber: 5
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 6-2-6 / Thursday’s Midday 4-3-8