Santa Barbara News-Press: December 06, 2022

Optimistic talk about Asia

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

When it comes to Asia, the news is good for Americans, according to Arthur Cyr, a global issues expert and author.

“The geostrategic situation has changed such that we no longer worry about military dimensions,” Dr. Cyr, the director of the Clausen Center at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc., told the Channel City Club and Committee on Foreign Relations during a brunch Monday morning at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

But “we end up worrying a lot about China,” said the Clausen distinguished professor and author, who writes a weekly global issues column for the Voices section in the Santa Barbara News-Press Weekend.

Dr. Cyr, a UCLA graduate and former president of the Chicago World Trade Center, told the large audience that despite being “technically the No. 2 economy in the world,” China falls behind Japan in terms of actual economic power, when population numbers are taken into consideration.

And Dr. Cyr, the former vice president of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, said he doesn’t believe China is the serious threat that many politicians and media outlets contend it is. He also said he believes the U.S. and its military remain an effective deterrent to China invading Taiwan, which China still regards as “a renegade province.”

“China is not an aggressive nation,” Dr. Cyr said.

He also noted that Taiwan in recent decades has greatly increased its lobbying in Congress

County drops murder complaint

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The attorney for a Lancaster man who had a murder complaint against him dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office charged Monday that he never should have been arrested in the first place, claiming the homicide he was accused of committing never occurred.

“Since early October, Rylen Svane-Morris has been locked in a cell for a death penaltyeligible murder charge — for an alleged violent attack that never happened,” Senior Public Defender Erica Sutherland told the News-Press.

“The prosecution dragged its feet on the investigation, delaying the recovery of evidence exonerating my

client,” she said. “He has been assassinated by the media, which published false information about a violent attack that never happened.”

On Oct. 8, 72 year-old Terry Lee Wilson was pronounced deceased near his home in Santa Ynez, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office said in a press statement released Friday. “His death has been under active investigation since then.

“Rylen Quinn Svane-Morris was arrested and charged with murder. Due to new information regarding Terry Wilson’s cause of death, the People cannot proceed with the homicide case against Rylen Quinn SvaneMorris at this time. Therefore, the People have dismissed the

Council to advance process of setting up Fire and Police Commission

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council today will take two steps to get the new Fire and Police Commission up and running in January: interviewing 24 applicants seeking five seats on the commission and hiring an outside independent consultant to help monitor citizen complaints.

The council will meet at 2 p.m. at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St.

Councilmembers also will hear reports from their Finance and Ordinance Committees which will meet earlier Tuesday, the former to consider a proposed fee structure for the outdoor dining parklets and the latter to consider ordinance amendments affecting accessory dwelling units.

Also earlier Tuesday, the full council will meet in closed session to discuss recruitment for the position of city attorney to succeed former City Attorney Ariel Calonne, who the council voted to fire effective this Thursday.

Mr. Calonne had been on paid administrative leave since July 25 following reports of a heated argument between him and another attorney in the City Attorney’s Office which was overheard by others and reported to Human Resources.

Assistant City Attorney Sarah Knecht has filled in at the City Attorney’s Office since his suspension, including appearing at council meetings.

Staff says two dozen people have applied to sit on the Fire and Police Commission, all from Santa Barbara and two with former law enforcement experience. The council is scheduled to interview the applicants today and to make their appointments to the board next Tuesday.

The council voted unanimously to create the

new commission and assign additional civilian oversight duties in an effort to improve transparency, accountability and public trust.

Barbara Andersen, senior assistant to the city manager, will serve as an independent police monitor who receives and processes complaints about alleged police misconduct, analyzes complaint trends, and prepares reports for the commission in coordination with the police department.

The council, however, is expected today to authorize the hiring of an experienced independent police monitor to advise Ms. Andersen in creating and implementing the new civilian oversight commission of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

After a comprehensive vetting process, the City Administrator’s Office is recommending Hassan Aden of The Aden Group, LLC to be retained for this purpose. Staff recommends the council authorize the city administrator to sign an agreement with The Aden Group for professional police monitoring advisory services, for up to $67,200, covering the period from Dec. 6 to June 30, 2023.

Mr. Aden, a 26-year-veteran of the Alexandria Police Department in Virginia, rising to the rank of deputy chief, and later serving as police chief of the Greenville Police Department in North Carolina, now serves as deputy monitor in the federal consent decree imposed on the City of Baltimore Police Department overseeing all of the accountability requirements and managing various aspects of the team.

He also serves as an associate monitor in the Chicago Police Department consent decree and oversees the supervision requirements. Additionally, he has served as the lead monitor

COUNCIL on A2

Public defender says man was arrested for alleged violent attack that never happened

News-Press columnist Arthur Cyr addresses Santa Barbara audience, says today’s challenges are more economic than military

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Dr. Arthur Cyr, director of the Clausen Center at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc., was in Santa Barbara Monday to give a talk about Asia.

Dr. Arthur Cyr delivers words of optimism during a brunch for the Channel City Club and the Committee on Foreign Relations at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

Records fall in Westmont women’s swimming’s final Fall meet

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

In the final meet of 2022, Westmont Women’s Swimming hosted Azusa Pacific in a dual meet on Saturday. The Cougars won the meet 151-90.

“It’s definitely a challenging meet for us being a smaller roster and coming off a taper meet and week off of training during thanksgiving,” said Westmont’s head coach Jill Jones Lin. “The team was tired but still managed to pull off some good swims.

“Bailey Lemmon suited up for her races since she was sick during the La Verne Winter Invitational and couldn’t swim. She won two individual events and beat her school record in the 50 yard butterfly.”

Lemmon posted a time of 26.17 in the butterfly, beating her previous school record by 0.48 seconds. She won the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 25.12, which meets the NAIA Championship provisional qualifying time.

At the end of the meet, leading off the 200 freestyle relay, Lemmon posted a time of 25.15 in the same distance.

“Ella Chaisson had a great 100 yard individual medley, swimming a lifetime best time and school record,” pointed out Jones Lin.

Chaisson’s time of 1:02.54 was 0.81 faster than her previous record set at the Azusa Pacific-Westmont meet a year ago.

“Daisy Marquardt swam the 1000 yard freestyle for the first time and came in second,” noted Jones Lin. “It was a pretty

good race for her, having no experience in the distance races.”

Marquardt posted a time of 11:44.19 in the 40-length event.

“We have a few more weeks before finals, then a short break before winter training,” observed Jones Lin. “The season goes quick after this, so I’m hoping we can hone in on areas to improve and aggressively improve them.”

The Warriors will next compete in the pool on Saturday, Jan. 14, when they host The Master’s and Simpson in a tri-meet.

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

Rental unit construction

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

One injured in semi collision

SANTA MARIA — The female driver of a semi-truck suffered non-life threatening injuries following a collision with a mail truck Monday afternoon, Santa Barbara County fire officials

said.

The accident occurred at 3:52 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Main Street near Santa Maria.

She was taken to the hospital. The mail truck driver was not injured.

— Neil Hartstein

Historic Landmarks Commission to discuss hotel

SANTA BARBARA —

The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission will review a four-story hotel planned for lower State Street during its

meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The panel will meet in the David Gebhard Public Meeting Room, 630 Garden St., Santa Barbara.

The commission is reviewing a plan to build a four-story, 66-room hotel at 710-720 State St. and 15 E. Ortega St. Plans call for the hotel to include a restaurant and bar.

— Dave Mason

Council to consider proposed parklet fee structure

for the Cleveland federal consent decree and as deputy monitor for the Seattle federal consent decree.

The Finance Committee, meanwhile, will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the David Gebhard meeting room, 630 Garden St., to consider and recommend a fee structure for an outdoor business facility (parklet) to use the public right-of-way on the State Street Promenade, including the 400 and 1300 blocks.

On Sept. 20, the council directed staff to present rate options for restaurants with dining parklets to the Finance Committee for members to consider before returning to the full council with recommendations and approval of a rate structure.

Rates would be charged on a per square foot basis at a level sufficient to generate enough revenue to pay for costs associated with ongoing maintenance of the State Street Promenade.

Promenade-related expenditures in Fiscal Year 2023 are estimated to be approximately $600,000, including daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning, as well as quarterly deep cleaning, staffing, contracting and equipment, staff said. Noting the current rate of inflation and impacts on costs and services, and the need for additional equipment, expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024 are expected to be approximately $675,000, staff said.

This could include the cost associated with employing a half-time code compliance officer, or similar, to provide regular enforcement of ADA requirements and, if needed, design requirements throughout the State Street Promenade, including the 400 and 1300 blocks of State Street and citywide parklets, staff said.

As of now, only ADA requirements are enforced on outdoor dining facilities and parklets.

In developing rate options, staff continue to account for various attrition rates,

understanding that several of the roughly 45 businesses with in-street outdoor business facilities will likely opt out of the program or reduce the size of their outdoor business facility.

Currently, approximately 14,000 square feet of public right-of-way is used for instreet outdoor business facilities, with approximately 9,500 square feet representing space immediately in front of businesses and an additional 4,500 square feet reaching beyond business frontages.

Assuming an overall attrition rate of 25 percent, the estimated total of remaining instreet outdoor business facilities would be approximately 7,125 square feet of frontage space and 3,375 square feet of additional space, staff said.

The proposed rate presented to the council on Sept. 20, was a graduated rate based on square footage starting at $5 per square foot per month. Businesses that expand beyond the width of their business frontage (property line) should be subject to a higher rate for use of the additional public space, as well as receive formal approval from the adjacent tenant(s) and property owner(s), staff said.

City staff recommended a graduated rate for the use of space beyond a business’ frontage as follows:

• A proposed rate of $5 per square foot for all space within property frontage (from one to 100 percent), leading to an estimated monthly revenue of $35,625 and an estimated annual revenue of $427,500;

• A proposed rate of $7.50 per square foot from 100 to 200 percent beyond the primary frontage;

• A proposed rate of $10 per square foot above 200 percent beyond primary frontage.

The combined annual total at a graduated rate starting at $5 per square foot is estimated to be $731,250 per year, staff said.

At the Sept. 20 meeting, council members mentioned possible rate structures based on the block on which businesses are located (different blocks pay different rates), the type of business (restaurant, brewery, coffee house,

etc.), and annual revenue generated based on business tax returns.

Noting the many complications involved with pursuing some of the various rate options and the desire to provide a business environment that encourages businesses to include outdoor business facilities as part of their business model, staff developed a rate option based on the type of outdoor facility the business decides to develop.

This model provides each individual business the opportunity to develop the outdoor business facility based on their particular needs. The rates are graduated and provide lower price points for outdoor business facilities that are portable and at-grade, meaning they do not have a platform.

A portable facility is one that can be completely removed from the street with 24 hours’ notice without the use of mechanized equipment. Portability allows for more regular cleaning by the business as well as through the city’s quarterly deep cleaning program. The more complex or permanent the structure, the higher the associated per square foot rate.

In other business, the Ordinance Committee will meet at 12:30 p.m. in council chambers. Staff is recommending the council adopt amendments to the Inland Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Zoning Ordinance for Accessory Dwelling Units.

New state legislation intended to increase production of ADUs necessitates updating the city’s zoning regulations, staff said. The changes proposed by the new state laws include an increase to the maximum building height limit and a number of technical changes intended to make ADUs easier to build.

Staff also is recommending several changes to further facilitate production of ADUs, consistent with the city’s Draft 2023–2031 Housing Element program recommendations regarding conversion of commercial portions of mixed-use buildings to ADUs and construction of two ADUs (double-ADUs) on existing multi-unit properties.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

A mini-storage rental facility, Kellogg Crossing Self-Storage, is being constructed at 10 S. Kellogg Avenue in Goleta, near the State Route 217 exit on the southbound 101. It is owned by 1784 Capital Holdings.

Quarter of Georgia voters have already voted in Senate runoff election

By T.A. DEFEO THE CENTER SQUARE CONRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — More than a quarter of Georgia’s “active” voters have cast ballots early for Tuesday’s U.S. Senate runoff, state officials said.

More than 1.8 million Georgians have voted, including more than 1.7 million who cast ballots in person. Additionally, the 352,953 Georgians who voted on Friday surpassed the previous one-day record of 252,715 voters for early voting, which the state recorded during the 2016 presidential election.

Republican Herschel Walker takes on Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote during the Nov. 8 election, setting up Tuesday’s showdown.

“Georgia has struck the perfect balance between accessibility and security,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement. “These historic turnout levels emphasize that any lawful voter who wants to cast a ballot can do so easily. Turnout and voter participation is excellent. Our elections division will continue working with county election directors to expand early voting opportunities in the future.”

Separately, Cobb County Superior Court Judge Kellie Hill ordered an extension of the deadline for some county voters to return their

As

Toddler revived from accidental fentanyl overdose underscores reality of crisis in U.S.

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – A toddler playing in a San Francisco public park was nearly killed from fentanyl poisoning. If paramedics hadn’t arrived as quickly as they had and administered Narcan, he would have likely died, authorities say.

The incident has shaken the community and led the San Francisco Chronicle to ask if the toddler’s near-death experience would be enough of a “wake-up call for S.F.’s leaders” to address the city’s “drug crisis.”

Tenth-month-old Sena Matkovic was crawling in the grass and playing with leaves at George Moscone Park in the Marina District last week when he suddenly began struggling to breathe and turned blue, his nanny, Wendy Marroqui, told local news outlets.

“I shook him, and I’m like, something’s wrong,” she told WRAL News. “I saw his face and he was dizzy. I thought he’s not breathing.”

She called 911 and paramedics administered Narcan, a medication used to quickly reverse opioid overdoses.

The toddler’s father, Ivan Matkovic, shared a copy of the hospital report with the Chronicle, which listed a fentanyl overdose as his son’s diagnosis. After

completing a fentanyl screening, according to Sutter Health’s CPMC hospital report, the diagnosis was listed as an “accidental fentanyl overdose, initial encounter” followed by “respiratory arrest.”

The synthetic opioid can be accidentally absorbed through skin contact and by breathing the powder. It’s odorless and can be undetectable by the naked eye.

Two milligrams of the illicit opioid, the weight of a mosquito, is considered a lethal dose.

“It’s not just dealers and people you don’t know who are impacted by this, it’s tipping over into the broader populace,” Mr. Matkovic told the Chronicle.

City Supervisor Catherine Stefani, whose district includes the neighborhood where the playground is located, told the Chronicle in a separate interview she was expecting city public health officials to provide answers.

“We don’t know for sure what happened in this specific case, but I think what it highlights is the fact that there are drugs everywhere in this city. It’s not just in the Tenderloin,” she said. “We see it in our neighborhoods. We see people constantly using drugs openly in our parks, on our sidewalks, in all corners of the city without enough consequences. It should be unacceptable.”

The news comes after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

recently issued its second public safety notice in roughly a year on the dangers of fake pills laced with fentanyl.

It also came after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warned about the dangers of illicit fentanyl being trafficked into the U.S. illegally by Mexican cartels and their operatives through the southern border.

Since last March, Texas law enforcement officers have seized over 352 million lethal doses of fentanyl in pill and powder form being brought in through the southern border – enough to kill everyone in the United States.

Florida law enforcement officers over a several month period this year seized enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Florida. That was after officers in a separate operation seized enough fentanyl from a Mexican cartel-related drug bust to kill half of Florida’s population.

Earlier this year, DEA agents in a three-month operation seized 10.2 million fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl across all 50 states – after they’d seized more than 20.4 million fake pills in 2021 – a 50-fold increase in three years.

“Often, users have no idea that fentanyl is in other drugs until it is too late,” Ms. Moody warned, also highlighting the dangers of rainbow fentanyl, bright colored

Newsom introduces ‘price gouging penalty’ on oil industry

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – A proposal backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to impose a “price gouging penalty” against the oil industry was unveiled by lawmakers on Monday, revealing details of the governor’s plan to send refunds to state residents. Lawmakers, however, are not likely to take substantive action on the proposal until January.

The proposal, backed by Gov. Newsom and introduced by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, would establish a maximum gross gasoline refining margin per gallon, which is still to be determined. Refiners who exceed the maximum gross gasoline refining margin could face an “administrative civil penalty,” which would be deposited into a Price Gouging Penalty Fund and returned via refunds to state residents. It’s unclear at this time how or when the refunds would be administered or their dollar amount.

In its current form, the bill does allow the California Energy Commission to grant a refiner’s request to be exempted from the maximum gross gasoline refining margin if the refiner shows a “reasonable cause.” The refiner could then be subject to “alternative maximum margins” set by the commission or other conditions. In general, the bill caps oil industry profits.

The proposal comes weeks after Gov. Newsom first announced that he would call a special session to discuss a “windfall profits tax” targeting the oil industry in the fall. After California saw gas prices spike $2.61 higher than the national average during the first week of October, Gov. Newsom accused the oil industry of engaging in “price gouging” and has repeatedly accused the industry of “ripping off” Californians.

“California’s price gouging penalty is simple –either Big Oil reins in the profits and prices, or they’ll pay a penalty,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “Big Oil has been lying and gouging Californians to line their own pockets long enough. I look forward to the work ahead with our partners in the Legislature to get this done.”

Gov. Newsom told reporters on Monday that he hopes his proposal will address and prevent future gas price spikes in the Golden State. During the last gas price spike in October, prices swelled to $6.42 per gallon on average.

The bill was introduced the same day lawmakers flocked to Sacramento for the start of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Legislators convened a special session called by Gov. Newsom, but don’t expect substantial discussion on the governor’s proposal until January.

“The Dec. 5 session was focused on the swearing in of new members and organizational matters, and included taking steps to establish and organize the special session,” the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins told The Center Square in an email. “We anticipate working with the Governor and his team on the special session/windfall penalty and rebate issue once we convene in January. We don’t anticipate anything substantive happening until January.”

Gov. Newsom’s fight with the oil industry has escalated in recent weeks as the governor has criticized refiner’s profits this year. The five major oil refiners who produce the majority of the state’s gasoline skipped out on a California Energy Commission meeting last week, drawing further criticism from the governor.

According to a report from Consumer Watchdog, the five large refiners in California took in per gallon profits ranging from 79 cents to $1.01 per gallon during the second quarter of the year. The five refiners made “three to ten times more in profits per gallon off their West Coast operations” in the second quarter compared to the same time period in 2021, the report states.

The Western States Petroleum Association did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for comment on Monday, but during last week’s California Energy Commission hearing, WSPA President and CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd pushed back on a price gouging penalty.

“You cannot tax your way out of this problem,” Ms. Reheis-Boyd said last week.

pills that look like candy to entice children and youth.

Gov. Abbott has called on President Joe Biden to designate the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, both primarily responsible for bringing in fentanyl to the U.S., as foreign terrorist organizations. Ms. Moody, leading a coalition of 18 attorneys general, has called on President Biden to classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.

The governors and AGs also have repeatedly called on President Biden to secure the border and stop the cartelorchestrated violence, human and drug trafficking that is inundating American communities. They’ve yet to receive a response.

absentee ballots following a lawsuit filed by several parties, including the ACLU of Georgia.

part of the order, the county will accept absentee ballots from residents whose ballot request was accepted by Nov. 26 to be returned to the elections office by Dec. 9 and must be postmarked by Tuesday. These voters can also

use a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot. “This order ensures that affected Cobb voters will be able to make their voices heard during this runoff election,” Rahul Garabadu, senior voting rights attorney at the ACLU of Georgia, said. “But it shouldn’t take legal action to ensure that voters can participate in their democracy.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

Herschel Walker, left, and Sen. Raphael Warnock.

Biden’s alleged ‘secret deal’ with Saudi Arabia oil leaders under scrutiny

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden raised eyebrows for his decision to drain the strategic petroleum reserve this year, but now lawmakers say President Biden made a deal with Saudi Arabia “to lower gas prices before the election” only to implement Green New Deal policies once the election was over.

Oversight committee Republicans are investigating, led by U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.

Mr. Comer sent letters to several Biden administration officials, demanding documents, records and communications on the the matter. One of those letters, dated Dec. 4, went to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, raising questions about President Biden’s Saudi Arabia trip over the summer.

“The New York Times reported that Biden Administration officials believed President Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia in August 2022 ‘could shore up a Saudi commitment to convince OPEC

to increase oil production.’ Instead, on October 5, 2022, Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its affiliates (OPEC+) slashed production by two million barrels a day. According to press reports, this decision infuriated the Biden Administration officials who sought the deal to provide temporary fuel price reductions before the November midterm elections,” the letter said. “If the Administration is brokering secret agreements to the detriment of American energy producers and for campaign purposes, the American people deserve to know.”

Gas prices hit record highs this summer, surpassing $5 per gallon for regular gasoline, before dipping down again. The average price for regular gas nationwide is $3.40 per gallon, helped by about 200 million barrels of oil released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Prices, though lower than the peak in June, are still much higher than when President Biden took office.

President Biden reportedly hoped

those reserves and cooperation from OPEC would get prices down and help Democrats fend off midterm losses. OPEC announced it would cut production, which was expected to increase prices, but not until November. Whether intentional or not, this delayed most price increases until after election day. Notably, gas prices have steadily dropped in recent weeks, regardless of OPEC’s decision, at least for now.

Biden officials are reportedly looking at buying oil to restock the reserves, though at a high cost to taxpayers given the elevated prices. Critics say President Biden used foreign relationships and American tax dollars to artificially lower gas prices before the midterm elections.

“Joe Biden released millions of barrels from the strategic reserve because in his mind, there was a huge emergency: Democrats were at risk of losing the Senate,” said Daniel Turner, head of the energy workers advocacy group, Power the Future. “And now America has perilously low reserves, and Biden will have to refill them at a premium, but this

threats we face are mostly commercial and industrial, not military’

face are mostly commercial and industrial, not military,” Dr. Cyr said.

to maintain its influence in Washington, D.C.

The last time Americans fought Chinese troops directly was during the Korean War.

During the Vietnam War, China provided military support to North Vietnam but did not send troops and withdrew its military support in 1968.

While saying another war is possible in Asia, Dr. Cyr said he would be very surprised if that war involved China.

He expressed confidence in today’s American military forces. “Should conventional war break out in Asia or elsewhere, we can feel reasonably secure that we will be able to perform effectively.”

He also said, “If God forbid we (the U.S.) go into a war, the nuclear threshold is much smaller today than it was after World War II and through much of the Cold War.”

“Despite the world’s problems in Ukraine, North Korea and elsewhere — and some of you may disagree with me — the threats we

He noted Cambodia today has a growing economy and that Vietnam and Laos both have stock markets.

Dr. Cyr discussed the history of Southeast Asia, beginning in the 1950s. He praised President Harry Truman for making the courageous decision to defend South Korea.

He noted the Eisenhower administration considered using nuclear weapons. The Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed it, but President Dwight Eisenhower told them, “You boys must be out of your mind!” The president warned that in light of Hiroshima, using nuclear weapons for the second time against Asians would lead the U.S. to lose the Cold War.

Dr. Cyr also discussed foreign policy and the televised 1960 debate between presidential candidates (and future presidents) John F. Kennedy and RIchard M. Nixon.

“They were two extraordinarily intelligent and talented, persuasive, quite young politicians

talking at length about policy,” Dr. Cyr said.

“Nixon looks resentful and irritable because Nixon often looked that way,” Dr. Cyr said.

“This debate was supposed to be about domestic affairs, but Kennedy unashamedly kept bringing up the Soviet Union.

“The Soviet Union was an enormous threat. Communism was a serious threat back then,” Dr. Cyr said. “There were persuasive reasons why the U.S. was in Vietnam.”

He said President Lyndon Johnson agreed with his Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara about the need to be in Vietnam because of the risk of communism spreading into Indonesia.

Today, Dr. Cyr said, Southeast Asia is a different place. And he noted that while diplomatic summits have a lot of public relations fluff, they do lead to cooperation among nations, which have built on that momentum since the end of the Cold War.

He noted that President Joe Biden recently met with Chinese President Xi JInping.

After Dr. Cyr’s talk, he

all makes sense when you understand all Biden has ever cared about is power.”

President Biden has defended his energy policies, pointing out he got gas prices down from record highs earlier this year.

“Gas prices have declined by an average of $1.60 a gallon over the past 173 days and are now back to the levels they were at in early February,” President Biden said. “That’s great news.”

Republicans and the energy industry have been blasting President Biden for his energy policies, but climate change activists have praised President Biden’s steps for the environment.

The investigation is one of several from Republican lawmakers emboldened by their new majority in the House of Representatives.

“Oversight Republicans have pushed senior Biden Administration officials for answers and will continue to seek their plans to reverse energy policies detrimental to the American people and our national security,” Rep. Comer said.

“With the power of the gavel, we will hold

answered questions from the audience. The program’s emcee was Erin Graffy.

After Dr. Cyr’s talk, Monday’s luncheon ended on a holiday note with Christmas songs performed by the Montecito Union School Sixth Grade Chorus.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Prosecutor cites ‘new information’ surrounding case

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First Amended Complaint” against him.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Lara Clinton declined Monday to elaborate on the “new information” that has surfaced regarding Mr. Wilson’s cause of death, or the reasons why her office dismissed the murder charge against him.

“I can’t add anything further at this time,” she said. “There is still an active, ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Terry Wilson’s death. Releasing further information could compromise this investigation. I anticipate being able to release

more information when it is complete.”

Ms. Sutherland, however, said the District Attorney’s Office made a rush to judgment against her client.

“Last Friday the prosecution admitted it never had enough evidence and dismissed the murder charge, but the damage to Mr. Svane-Morris is already done,” she said. “This has been an extremely traumatic experience for someone who attacked no one. I urge the media and the community to be skeptical of allegations made against anyone before evidence is presented.”

Mr. Svane-Morris, 26, was accused of killing Mr. Wilson, the father of a young woman he had been dating, whose body was discovered around 4 a.m. near a neighbor’s door in the

1000 block of Jason Way in Santa Ynez.

He pleaded not guilty at his Oct. 13 arraignment to charges of murder, assault with personal use of a deadly weapon, and dissuading a witness by force or threat, all felonies.

Mr. Svane-Morris was arrested two days earlier in Santa Cruz by officers acting on a tip. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office arrested him without incident on an outstanding homicide warrant.

Investigators believed he fled the Santa Ynez area in a stolen vehicle, which was recovered by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and released to the owner.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

City

a critical industry that provides the American people affordable energy and good-paying job opportunities.”

66/45/s

Pasadena 61/43/c 59/42/s

Paso Robles 56/40/sh 57/32/pc

Sacramento 55/35/c 54/36/pc

San Diego 63/49/c 63/45/s

San Francisco 54/43/c 53/44/pc

San Jose 54/37/c 56/40/pc

San Luis Obispo 58/39/pc 58/37/s

Santa Monica 62/45/c 60/43/s

Tahoe Valley 34/10/c 34/17/s

76/65/c 73/64/t Denver 52/26/c 48/24/pc

Houston 81/67/pc 81/68/pc

Miami 83/70/pc 83/70/pc

Minneapolis 28/16/pc 24/15/pc

New York City 56/52/r 59/49/r

Philadelphia 55/52/r 60/50/r

Phoenix 65/51/sh 65/43/pc

Portland, Ore. 44/39/c 47/41/c

St. Louis 50/42/sh 52/46/c

Salt Lake City 39/23/c 35/24/c

Seattle 43/39/c 44/41/c

Washington, D.C. 51/48/r 61/53/c

Beijing 41/19/pc 42/22/c

Berlin 37/35/sn 38/32/c

Cairo 72/58/c 71/57/s

Cancun 83/74/s 83/74/pc London 44/33/pc 40/28/pc

Mexico City 75/51/s 74/51/s

Montreal 43/40/sh 46/36/sh

New Delhi 74/50/pc 75/50/pc

Paris 41/33/c 42/34/c

Rio de Janeiro 77/72/sh 82/72/r

Rome 64/48/c 63/49/s

Sydney 73/60/s 83/63/c

Tokyo 49/42/r 55/44/s

the Biden Administration responsible for recklessly attacking

COURTESY PHOTO

President Joe Biden

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

“Despite the world’s problems in Ukraine, North Korea and elsewhere — and some of you may disagree with me — the threats we face are mostly commercial and industrial, not military,” said Dr. Arthur Cyr.

Pam Herzog directs the Montecito Union School Sixth Grade Chorus during its performance following Dr. Arthur Cyr’s talk.

‘The

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life theArts

CALENDAR

‘Devotion’ soars to inspirational heights

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@newspress.com.

DEC. 7 4 p.m. The Hoodlum Friends will perform at 4 p.m. at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. The concert is free. 5 to 7 p.m.: A free candlelight concert series takes place on the steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. 7:30 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 8 7:30 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 9 4:30 to 6 p.m. A reception for the “Wings” juried exhibit will take place at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club, 2375 Foothill Road.

7 p.m. The Grace Fisher Foundation will present “A Winter Music Showcase” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The fifth annual showcase will feature everyone from the Santa Barbara Folk Orchestra to Jackson Gillies, WIll Breman, State Street Ballet Professional Track Dancers, the Westmont Chamber Singers, UCSB Maurice Faulkner Quintet and more. Tickets cost $18 to $60. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

8 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 10 4 and 8 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40-$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-9655400.

DEC. 11 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 36th annual Holiday Parade of Lights will feature a full day of activities at the Santa Barbara Harbor, topped with the parade of lights and its theme, “Deck the Hulls.” Activities including the lighting of the Stearns Wharf Christmas tree at 5 p.m. For more information, go to santabarbaraca. com/events/36th-annual-holidayparade-of-lights-at-the-harbor.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Jesse Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first black aviator, demonstrated his courage during the Korean War.

Another part of that true story is Ensign Brown’s friendship with Lt. Tom Hudner, a Navy aviator. The two worked together to serve America, and their inspirational story is told in “Devotion.”

The Columbia Pictures movie is based on the book by Adam Makos. In their adaptation of “Devotion,” writers Jake Crane and Jonathan A.H. Stewart tell a straightforward narrative from Ensign Brown’s and Lt. Hudner’s points of view. Director JD

Dilliard, who’s also one of the film’s executive producers, stays true to that approach and makes the film compelling.

Most of all, stars Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell do a great job. As Ensign Brown, Mr. Majors shows the pilot’s love for his country and family, and the film deals with the racism that Ensign Brown faced in the world at large and sometimes within the Navy.

Mr. Powell previously showed his talent for playing heroes when he portrayed astronaut John Glenn in “Hidden Figures,” the 2016 film based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book about Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) — the brilliant and heroic black

women whose mathematical skills helped to put Mr. Glenn in Earth’s orbit and bring him back safely.

In “Devotion,” Mr. Powell uses a similar approach to playing Lt. Rudner and, with a bigger role than what he had in “Hidden Figures,” shows how much Lt. Rudner cared about his friend. In fact, as the movie later explains, the families of Lt. Rudner and Ensign Brown have remained close friends to this day.

“Devotion” shows Ensign Brown’s family life in careful detail. He had a wife and young daughter. Christina Jackson does a great job in showing the emotions and personal strength of Daisy Brown, Ensign Brown’s wife.

Thomas Sadoski (HBO’s “The

Newsroom”)

The film demonstrates the heroism of Ensign Brown and Lt. Rudner with clarity and accuracy. By the end of “Devotions,” it’s easy to see why Ensign Brown became such a great inspiration for the many other black individuals who followed him into the air as pilots in the American military.

email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI

“Devotion” is now screening at Paseo Nuevo Cinemas on lower State Street, Santa Barbara (metrotheatres. com), Camino Real Cinemas, 7040 Marketplace Drive, Goleta (metrotheatres.com); Regal Edwards Santa Maria, 100 Town Center East, Santa Maria (regmovies.com); and Movies Lompoc, 227 W. Barton Ave., Lompoc (playingtoday.com).

For more about Ensign Jesse Brown and Lt. Rudner, read “Devotions” by Adam Makos, which is available at bookstores and amazon.com. You also can find a summary of Ensign Brown’s life and naval career at 1dayforthekia.org/ensign-jesse-lbrown.

2 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 12

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: The Downtown Community Holiday Mixer will take place at the Broad Street Oyster Co., 418 State St. The $25 ticket price includes a drink and appetizers.

DEC. 14 5 to 7 p.m.: A free candlelight concert series takes place on the steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

ZACH BRAFF PHOTO Mark Capri stars as Ebeneze Scrooge in the Ensemble Theatre Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” which runs through Dec. 18 at the New Vic in Santa Barbara.

stands out among the supporting cast as Dick Cevoli, the division leader for Lt. Hudner and Ensign Brown. Cmdr. Cevoli served as the executive officer in Fighting Squadron 32 on the USS Leyte aircraft carrier. The squadron provided air support for the American ground troops fighting the Chinese during the Korean War.

Film tells the heroic story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first black aviator, and fellow pilot Lt. Tom Rudner

ELI ADE/SONY PICTURES

From left, “Devotion” tells the story of U.S. Navy pilots Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), Tom Hudner (Glen Powell), Dick Cevoli (Thomas Sadoski), Carol Mohring (Nick Hargrove), Bill Koenig (Daren Kagasoff), Marty Goode (Joe Jonas) and Bo Lavery (Spencer Neville). Ensign Brown and Lt. Hudner became close friends., and the friendships between their families have continued to this day

At left, Jonathan Majors stars as Ensign Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the U.S. Navy’s fi rst black aviator. At right, Daisy Brown (Christina Jackson) and Ensign Brown spend time together before he’s deployed overseas. “Devotion” shows Ensign Brown’s love for his wife and their young daughter.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ still tops box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” continues to rule the box office.

The Marvel Studios sequel was No. 1 once again, this time picking up $17.6 million last weekend. It was the superhero movie’s sixth consecutive weekend at the top.

“Violent Night,” an R-rated film about Santa Claus (David Harbour) defending a wealthy family against mercenaries, opened in second place with $13.3 million.

The animated “Strange World” dropped to third place in its second weekend. It grossed $4.9 million.

“The Menu,” a horror thriller, placed fifth with $3.56 million.

“Devotion,” based on the true story about Ensign Jesse Brown and Lt. Tom Hudner during the Korean War, was in fourth place with $2.8 million.

“I Heard the Bells,” the story behind the Christmas carol and writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, opened in sixth place with $1.8 million.

“Black Adam,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the antihero, placed seventh with $1.67 million.

“Bones and All” placed ninth with $1.91 million.

Placing 10th was “Ticket to Paradise,” starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. The romantic comedy grossed $849,825.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Solvang Chamber of Commerce brings Christmas cheer to local businesses

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Solvang Chamber of Commerce has been working with the Agin Family to provide freshcut trees to the Solvang business community. Trees are available for purchase at $100 for a tree only or $125 with a Christmas tree stand.

The fresh-cut trees are delivered by Sal Orona on the Solvang Horse Trolley (using their oldfashioned wagon drawn by horses) throughout the Solvang business

community.

Agin Family Christmas Trees are available to purchase in two locations — 3450 Baseline Road in Santa Ynez and 270 Industrial Way in Buellton. The Agin Family Christmas Trees are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until all trees are sold out. The Solvang Chamber of Commerce has been celebrating 100 years of serving and

FYI

For more information about Solvang’s Julefest festivities, which end Jan. 7, visit solvangjulefest.org.

supporting the local business community of Solvang throughout the year. As its annual “hoorah” Nov. 30, the chamber distributed 100 Christmas trees down the streets of Mission, Alisal and Copenhagen drive and other local businesses throughout the “village of lights.”

Solvang is known as the most “Christmassy” town in the United

Congregation B’nai B’rith to devote morning to good deeds

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Congregation B’nai B’rith will give back to the community during Mitzvah Day, set for Dec. 18 at the congregation, 1000 San Antonio Creek Road, Santa Barbara.

Doors will open at 9 a.m. with a breakfast, followed at 9:30 with a welcoming address. The community projects will start at 10 and are slated to be completed by noon.

Ten goodwill projects will take place at Congregation B’nai B’rith and throughout the community.

Projects at the congregation site include:

• Writing notes of support and love to Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines and/or supporting the Lviv medical volunteers, who urgently need items for the soldiers. A local Santa Barbara family is shipping these items to Lviv. For a wish list, see cbbsb.org/ mitzvah.

Items being sought include medications, bandages, sleeping bags, fleece jackets, tactical boots and more.

• Donating blood to help replenish the local banks through Vitalant.

• Creating festive candy bars to give to children fighting cancer in time for their holiday party. The project is being coordinated by the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.

• Assembling lunch bags and basic needs items for the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. Completed bags for the Lunch for the Hungry program will be distributed at the temple’s Wednesday Neighborhood

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

7:30 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 15

7:30 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 16

8 p.m. Johnny Mathis will perform

Navigation Center at the Rescue Mission.

• Scrap-booking for Dreamers. The Dream Foundation serves terminally ill adults and their families by making end-of-life dreams come true. You can help create beautiful scrapbook pages as a memento for families.

• Working on the Animal Mitzvah. You can make treats, toys and warmers for animals in local shelters.

• Creating Hanukkah treats and candles for seniors at local retirement homes.

• Participating in Operation Gratitude, a nationwide nonprofit providing Americans with opportunities to honor the military. You can help make paracord bracelets that are added to care packages and have proven to be life-saving.

Off-site projects include: • Tree Gleaning. You’re welcome to join nature lovers to glean trees at private homes and donate the produce to local food charities.

• Instant Choir. You can join Cantor Mark Childs for a visit to Vista Del Monte Retirement Community to share Hanukkah and other Jewish songs.

Mitzvah Day project leaders include Eric and Stacy Baron, Mr. Childs, David Gaynes, Laura Habecker, Jen Lewis, Phoebe Light, Nancy Sinai, Annie Sostrin, Franny Taran, Sandy Toye and Florie Wachtenheim.

Sponsors include Montecito Bank & Trust, Heat Culinary and Events by Rincon.

For more information, visit cbbsb.org/mitzvah.

email: dmason@newspress.com

at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom, 3400 State Route 246, Santa Ynez. Tickets for the Santa Ynez concert are $69 to $109. To purchase, go to www.chumashcasino. com. The Chumash Casino Resort is a 21-and-older venue.

8 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 17

Noon to 3 p.m. The free Big Brass Tuba Christmas Concert will take place in Storke Placita, which is between 722 and 724 State St. and is adjacent to De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara. The Youth Makers Market will be in the

States, and many visitors drive from all over the area to view decorated business storefronts and the Christmas wonders of Solvang.

Solvang began its holiday cheer with Julefest festivities the first week of December. Julefest kicked off with a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Dec. 2 at Solvang Park, 1630 Mission Drive, and the Julefest parade was held Dec. 3. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

Christmas tree to be lighted on wharf

SANTA BARBARA — The Christmas tree on Stearns Wharf will be lighted at 5 p.m. Sunday, just before the start of the Parade of Lights boat parade.

The lights will be turned on the 25-foot green white fir to open the holiday season for the Santa Barbara waterfront.

Then at 5:30 p.m., the parade of light will start, featuring 30 boats motoring, sailing and paddling the coastline. Judging for the parade

same block.

2 and 7 p.m. State Street Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara High School student Olivia Pires will play Clara at the 2 p.m. matinee. Professional State Street Ballet dancer Emma Matthews will portray Clara at the 7 p.m. show.

Tickets vary from $38 to $121, with a discounted price of $26 for children 12 and younger in select price zones.

To purchase, go to granadasb.org. A student discount is also available for purchase in person at The Granada’s box office.

8 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or

takes place from the east side of Stearns Wharf.

Parking is available on Stearns Wharf — provided you park your car before 3:30 p.m. The first 90 minutes of parking is free.

There’s also parking at the Chase Palm Park and Garden Street parking lots.

For more information, visit stearnswharf.org.

call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 18

2 p.m. State Street Ballet will perform

“The Nutcracker” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Dos Pueblos High School student Sophia Kanard will play Clara. Tickets vary from $38 to $121, with a discounted price of $26 for children 12 and younger in select price zones. To purchase, go to granadasb. org. A student discount is also available for purchase in person at The Granada’s box office.

2 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40-$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

— Dave Mason

MARVEL STUDIOS

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” topped the box office for the sixth consecutive weekend.

— Dave Mason

MATTHEW HAWK PHOTOGRAPHY

The Christmas tree on Stearns Wharf will be lighted before the start of the Parade of Lights boat parade on Sunday.

Thought for Today

“Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.” — Sigmund Freud

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com Tuesday, December 6, 2022

ARIES — You’re certainly in a strange mood today, Aries. True, things have been going smoothly for the past few days but be careful not to be fooled. Pride goes before a fall, as they say. Today you should be wary of your behavior toward your lover. Your partner’s attitude may dismay you, but you’re the one who has strayed from reality.

TAURUS — It will be as though you’re in a new and hopeful world today, Taurus. The people you meet will be cordial and caring, and the future will seem like a bright, attractive place to live. In other words, it’s like a fabulous dream, and the alarm clock is bound to wake you up soon. True, the glorious feeling won’t last long, so take advantage of the day.

GEMINI — Because you tend to brood over everything right now, Gemini, a day like this can’t be anything but beneficial. It has been difficult for you to find satisfaction within the realm of the known world lately, but today offers you a journey into another perception, one that’s intangible and unreal. You may find it gratifying, especially if you try some artistic, esoteric, or religious activity.

CANCER — There are days when you feel wonderful without being able to attribute the feeling to any real event. Of course, your rational mind will search for a reason for your happiness. But if you count the number of times when you do things against your will, it becomes obvious that logic and reason don’t always apply to this world.

LEO — The day ahead should be excellent, Leo. For the past several days you’ve been searching for meaning in life. There have been changes in your chief occupation, new relationships, bursting ambitions. Today you can let all of that soul-searching go. You’re likely to whip up a huge mixture of the whole experience and be grateful for the thrilling life you lead right now!

VIRGO — You will probably be perfectly in tune with the day ahead, Virgo. Of course, it’s tempting to run away from the reality and hardships of the moment. But at other times, when you’re so compassionate and find it easy to listen, like today, life is really rewarding. People find your company soothing and pleasant, and they’re likely to thank you for

it. Aren’t days like this great? LIBRA — Don’t try to control what happens today, Libra, because you won’t be able to fathom what’s going on. How could it be otherwise when collective currents are interfering with your life? You may do some soulsearching because you may feel that you’re only a grain of sand in a vast universe. Don’t spend too much time staring at your belly button.

SCORPIO — This kind of strange day doesn’t come around often, Scorpio. It will seem as though you no longer know what you want. Do you have a yen to take off for the other side of the globe? People won’t understand you, and you will think that explaining yourself is pointless. The best thing to do may be to unplug from your usual activities and go for a walk.

SAGITTARIUS — Do other countries represent real openings for you? This is a question that you will soon have to answer. This may be true, but it may also be an illusion that gives you a simplistic explanation for the dissatisfaction you feel now in your professional life. Think about it because some important decisions you’re about to make depend on it.

CAPRICORN — You’re going to think this is a strange period. It isn’t, Capricorn. It’s just that today won’t be like others. Look around and you will see that people are either depressed or trying to keep up a good façade. It’s as if lots of people - you in particular - are being confronted by their dreams without being able to act on them. This isn’t an easy situation to be in.

AQUARIUS — Today, Aquarius, you might get the chance to take a trip around the world to visit fabulous palaces and experience a timeless love, and all - get thistotally free! This could be called a sensitivity test to the universe of Walt Disney. Goodness knows that you aren’t a total stranger to it! By now, you’ve learned from hard experience that fantasyland is for Mickey Mouse.

PISCES — You will float today, Pisces. You won’t talk, you will be sleepy, and your mood won’t be the best. OK, perfect! Get back into your novel, take several siestas, and do as little as possible, because that’s what you want to do. Don’t worry, busy beaver, this period will pass. And you know what? You aren’t alone here. It happens to everyone from time to time. Flow with it.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Today’s West was the dreaded Grapefruit, my club member with a disposition like an untipped waiter. He badgers his partners mercilessly. Against South’s six spades, Grapefruit led his singleton club: four, ten, king. Declarer drew trumps and led a club. When Grapefruit showed out, South took dummy’s ace and returned the jack, ruffing East’s queen. He led to the king of hearts and cashed three clubs, pitching diamonds. He lost one diamond at the end, and Grapefruit told East he was so dumb he probably thought he couldn’t listen to AM radio in the afternoon.

QUESTIONABLE

“Your opening lead was poor at best,” East growled.

Grapefruit informed the kibitzers that East needed to sue his brain for non-support.

When East played the ten of clubs, he made it easy for South to set up the suit. If instead East plays low, South wins with the nine, but he must draw trumps and then lacks the entries to use the long clubs. Even with the ace of diamonds onside, he wins only 11 tricks.

bid two diamonds and he returns to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: This decision is close. Your partner could have as many as nine points or as few as six. To pass might be a winning action, but if partner has a maximum, game is possible. If you’re vulnerable, with more to gain, bid 2NT to try for game.

9 8 3 K 9. You open one spade, your partner responds 1NT,

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language.

Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance.

All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

Report: New York power grid at risk

By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – A nonpartisan advocacy organization for upstate New York is raising concerns about the state’s future power grid after a report found that demands could stress the system, especially during extreme weather.

Upstate United said in a statement Friday, the state’s future seems “problematic” after the New York Independent System Operator released its 2022 Reliability Needs Assessment last week.

The coalition of business and trade groups cites a push by New York officials to implement a zeroemissions policy by 2040.

The assessment found New York will transition from being a peak summer usage grid, to a peak winter grid by 2034, which is consistent with previous NYISO forecasts.

“This is where things become very problematic for upstate consumers,” Upstate United said in its statement. “On average, winter temperatures for upstate counties reach approximately 20 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NYISO’s winter margins fall into negative territory in just six years under a scenario with extreme cold and a gas shortage. That scenario becomes even more disastrous in the following decade.”

The assessment also raises concerns about New York City’s grid in the coming years. However, the metropolis is expected to have more power availability starting in 2026, as the Champlain Hudson Power Express comes online and starts providing power from Hydro Quebec in Canada.

Construction of the nearly 340 mile transmission line began last week. When finished, the project will provide enough power to cover more than a million homes, and reduce the state’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the new power line will create billions of dollars in economic benefits for the state while fueling a cleaner future.

However, Upstate United said if construction on the power line is delayed by more than two years, New York City would not have enough power to meet its future demands.

“Residents across the state have every right to be concerned about the future of the grid and the state’s energy policies,” the group said. “Millions of New Yorkers rely on the grid every day to power their lives. Without a reliable and resilient grid, the security of New York’s residents and economy are at risk.”

Upstate United said in a statement Friday, the state’s future seems “problematic” after the New York Independent System Operator released its 2022 Reliability Needs Assessment last week.

Texas continues to lead U.S. energy production powered by oil and natural gas

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Texas continues to lead the U.S. in energy production, led by the oil and natural gas industry.

In 2021, Texas crude oil accounted for 43% of all U.S. production and 25% of all marketed natural gas production.

Texas also has the greatest number of crude oil refineries and the greatest refining capacity of any state in the U.S. Texas’ 31 petroleum refineries can process a combined nearly 5.9 million barrels of crude oil a day (b/d) – 32% of America’s refining capacity, as of January 2021, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Texas also produces more electricity than any other state, the EIA reports. In 2021, Texas accounted for about 12% of America’s total electricity net generation.

Btu is short for British thermal unit, which measures the heat content of fuel or energy sources, EIA explains. “A single Btu is very small in terms of the amount of energy a single household or an entire country uses. In 2021, the United States used about 97.33 quadrillion Btu of energy.”

Fossil fuels – petroleum, natural gas, and coal – accounted for roughly 79% of total U.S. energy production in 2021, according to the EIA.

Texas’s oil and natural gas industry also led the U.S. in energy production even during its historic lowest point in 2020.

According to EIA data, Texas generated 23,329.1 trillion Btu of energy in 2020. No other state came close. Overall, the U.S. generated 95,710.9 trillion Btus – nearly one fourth of it was generated by Texas.

But COVID-related lockdowns and less demand for gasoline forced U.S. crude oil production to drop by 8% in 2020, the largest annual decrease on record, the EIA reported, hitting Texas hard.

By March 2020, the industry experienced a “bloodbath.” By April, the WTI was negative $40 a barrel for the first time in history. Prices at the pump reached historic lows as U.S. crude oil production

Texas’ 31 petroleum refineries can process a combined nearly 5.9 million barrels of crude oil a day (b/d) – 32% of America’s refining capacity, as of January 2021, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

saw the largest annual decrease on record in 2020.

To stop the hemorrhaging, crude oil operators shut in wells and limited the number of wells brought online. They laid off large numbers of workers, all of which resulted in significantly lower output. Texas oil and natural gas companies soon led the nation in number of bankruptcies filed, The Center Square reported in 2020.

Since then, industry job gains have helped Texas lead the nation in job growth and its workers continue to produce more oil and natural gas than any other state.

“Texas oil and natural gas producers are steadily adding jobs as our state’s economy continues to strengthen even amidst high inflation, a testament to our state’s free-market principles and the oil and natural gas industry’s commitment to producing the fuel and products that power modern life,” Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, said. “Even as global unrest persists, this industry’s focus on providing energy security and economic strength for our state and nation remains steadfast.”

Despite Texas’ resilience in continuing to lead U.S. energy production, the Biden administration, United Nations and others are pushing for energy production to transition to “clean, renewable energy.” It’s a misguided approach, Oil & Gas Workers Association board member Richard Welch told The Center Square.

“Texas oil and natural gas workers pulled the U.S. out of a diesel shortage and our natural gas is what’s lighting and heating European homes this winter after their politicians’ socialist and so-called green energy policies failed,” he said.

“Fossil fuels make possible every aspect of our lives. The world relies on and runs on diesel, not windmill juice.

“When Europe’s energy crisis hit, where did countries turn for help? Texas,” he added. “And we delivered, and we’ll keep delivering. Texas oil and gas workers proudly produce the cleanest energy in the world. We already comply with strong regulations to ensure our workers and environment are safe. As Texans, we’re proud to maintain our heritage as the powerhouse that fuels America and the world.”

In the first half of 2022, the U.S. became the world’s largest LNG exporter, the EIA reports, led by Texas.

As Europe faced an energy crisis due to several factors and reduced reliance on Russia, fuel needs were met “largely thanks to Texas energy production and export infrastructure,” and because of the Port of Corpus Christi, Texans for Natural Gas explains.

“Texas energy – from our wells in West Texas to our ports along the Gulf of Mexico – enabled America to meet European gas needs in a time of crisis,” TIPRO president and TNG spokesperson Ed Longanecker said. “Without American natural gas, Europe would have been at the mercy of aggressive foreign powers.”

If Texas were its own country, it would be the world’s third largest producer of natural gas and fourth largest producer of oil.

In 2019, total U.S. annual energy production was greater than total annual consumption for the first time since 1957, led in part by Texas production. Production also exceeded consumption in 2020 and in 2021, according to the EIA.

‘Just transition’: Seattle opens climate portal to track city’s Green New Deal

By TIMOTHY SCHUMANN THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The City of Seattle has released a new One Seattle Climate Portal to “monitor Seattle’s collective progress towards achieving our One Seattle Climate Justice priorities.”

“Seattle’s climate work is firmly rooted in the Green New Deal and the One Seattle Climate Justice Agenda” the site goes on to say.

The stated purpose of the portal is to “track progress towards the just transition priorities.” That phrase, “just transition,” or variations thereof, appears ten times throughout the portal’s copy.

It notes that “emissions affect some people more than others.” The site highlights data from the city’s race and social equity index to show disparities that may arise in different neighborhoods, and draws some “connections between environmental and human health.”

Peppered with quotes extolling the virtues of tracking climate data, and promising “neighborhood-level emissions data to track progress towards healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities,” the climate portal offers several dashboards to track CO2 emissions for transportation, buildings, and waste.

The dashboards will help track progress on Seattle’s Green New Deal, which would include Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s recent $6.5 million proposal to reduce CO2 emissions, as previously reported by The Center Square.

The Green New Deal was both a resolution passed by the city council and an executive order signed by then Mayor Jenny Durkan on Jan. 8, 2020. It has the stated goal of “mak[ing] Seattle climate-pollution free by 2030.” Then councilmember Mayor Harrell also voted in favor of the resolution.

The portal, updated quarterly, notes that the website is subject to change. It is managed by the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment.

The stated purpose of the portal is to “track progress towards the just transition priorities.”

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220002785 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as SANTA BARBARA SERVICES: 913 WEST CHERRY AVE, LOMPOC, CA 93436, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: CARLOS P MANZO: 913 WEST CHERRY AVE, LOMPOC, CA 93436. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220002657 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as KO.LA CREATIVES: 665 DEL PARQUE DR, UNIT E, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: KAYLA B SCHWARTZ: 665 DEL PARQUE DR, UNIT E, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 10/27/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Oct 26, 2022. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable.

NOTICE:

2022--58868

and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recommendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remissión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/04/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 02, 2022. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) NOV 15, 22, 29; DEC 6 / 2022--58841

CASE NUMBER: (Numero del Caso:) 22CV02877 The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara 312 C-East Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección, y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Seth Harris, Esq.; McCarthy & Hothus, LLP; 2763 Camino Del Rio South, Ste 100 San Diego CA 92108; (619) 685-4800

DATE: (Fecha) 7/26/2022