Minimum wage to rise in California
Josh Groban to perform at Santa Barbara Bowl
Inflation triggers increase to $15.50 an hour, starting in 2023 - A2
Grammy-winning singer talks to the News-Press about music made more poignant by the pandemic - B1
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Mayor: State Street needs help now
Interest rates rise another 0.75% Fed chair announces increase, but says U.S. is not in a recession By RICHIE MALOUF
Randy Rowse calls on Santa Barbara City Council to take action soon
THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced Wednesday the Fed’s decision to hike interest rates another 0.75 percentage points. He also said he does not think the U.S. economy is in a recession, but said that further interest rate hikes may be required as the Fed continues its efforts to curb inflation. “Today, the FOMC raised its policy interest rate by threequarters of a percentage point,” Mr. Powell said Wednesday. “(The FOMC) anticipates that COURTESY PHOTO ongoing increases in the target Fed chair Jerome Powell range for the federal funds rate will be appropriate.” think the U.S. economy is in a With inflation at 9.1%, the recession right now.” highest since 1981, the Fed’s Some, however, disagree aggressive attempt at bringing and say the economy is in a down inflation recession. has led some “We are in a to worry about recession, and the possibility it’s going to get of a recession. worse.” Fox Mr. Powell The Congressional Budget Office Business host said he does says the federal debt is on its way to Larry Kudlow not think that doubling the nation’s Gross Domestic said. the economy Product by 2052. A3. The U.S. is currently Bureau of experiencing a Economic recession. Analysis is expected to release “This is a very strong labor its latest quarterly Gross market,” Mr. Powell said. “(With) Domestic Product data today. 2.7 million people hired in the GDP shrank in the first quarter, first half of the year, it doesn’t and a second quarterly report make sense that the economy showing a decline would would be in recession with this indicate the U.S. in a recession, kind of thing happening. I don’t as defined by economists.
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DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
The Santa Barbara City Council this week approved a master plan for lower State Street, but Mayor Randy Rowse wants immediate action to improve conditions around parklets.
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The new “visionary” State Street Master Plan — and its promise of revitalizing Santa Barbara’s downtown economy over the next 30 to 50 years — ran smack dab into reality at Tuesday’s City Council meeting,
when Mayor Randy Rowse raised a question and insisted on an answer. He asked what the city would do about the pedestrian promenade and dining parklets now lining lower State Street. Not in the future but right now. Mayor Rowse said something has to be done — and soon
— to deal with the issues of parklet portability, parklet rent and regulations, as well as the need for stormwater drainage, security, lighting and deep cleaning around and beneath the popular outdoor eating spots. He praised the State Street Advisory Committee for its work
on the master plan, saying “the work done by the committee and staff is fabulous.” But he also noted that even after the 16- to 18-month planning process is completed, the city still has to figure out how to find the funding needed Please see HELP on A3
Councilmember Kristen Sneddon apologized at Tuesday’s council meeting for the lack of action by an ad hoc committee, but said its recommendations would go before the council in September. Mayor Randy Rowse, who sits next to Ms. Sneddon, said, “We’ve fallen down on the interim plan. I’m not sure if anyone is satisfied with the state of State Street.”
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Judge: Female football player’s lawsuit can proceed By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A Title IX lawsuit, filed on behalf of a female wide receiver who plays for the Cuyama Valley High School football team, has survived the defendants’ motion to dismiss. On Monday, Judge Maame Ewusi-Menash Frimpong of the U.S. District Court of Central District California ruled the suit could proceed to its next stage. The lawsuit was filed last September by the girl’s mother, Sonya Herrera, when Valley Christian Academy in Santa Maria refused to play against Cuyama Valley High School due to the football team having a female wide receiver. The athlete is being identified as “E.H.” The lawsuit is against Valley Christian Academy, First Baptist Church and Joel Mikkelson, superintendent of the school and lead pastor of the church. The oral arguments took place before the judge on March 24, according to Stuart Bernstein of Nesenoff & Miltenberg LLP working out of the Palo Alto. Mr. Bernstein is one of the lawyers familiar with the case along with Andrew Miltenberg. He said the judge’s ruling to permit the suit to proceed is favorable for young women as a whole. “Not many courts have made a decision like this,” Mr. Bernstein told the News-Press Wednesday.
“The overall importance of this case is that a teenage girl was told, ‘You can’t come to our campus because you are a young lady.’ We are hoping this lawsuit will (demonstrate) that such discriminatory practices are not acceptable.” Passed by Congress in 1972, Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal money. The defendants argued that the Paycheck Protection Program loan the Valley Christian Academy received was not sufficient to qualify as federal financial aid assistance. The PPP loans were sent out by the federal government during the pandemic. The defendants’ argument didn’t sway the judge, who ruled the Title IX lawsuit could proceed. “The next step is the discovery process. Depositions and document discovery will take place,” Mr. Bernstein told the News-Press. During the discovery process, the plaintiff’s attorneys hope to uncover information regarding the PPP loan, as well as practices in regards to athletics at Valley Christian Academy. According to Monday’s ruling: “Plaintiff E.H. is Ordered To file a Second Amended Complaint within 30 days of the date of this Order if she still desires to pursue any of the claims being dismissed with leave to amend.” email; kzehnder@newspress.com
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Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 4-2-7-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-29-60-63-66 Meganumber: 15
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 3-13-25-30-31
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 07-11-06 Time: 1:49.87
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 4-5-2 / Wednesday’s Midday 5-8-5