Santa Barbara News-Press: February 22, 2023

Ant-Man’s latest adventure

Review: Marvel Studios film stands out for imaginative story - B1

Zoo’s 60th anniversary

Here’s a look at the Santa Barbara attraction’s history - B2

Storm hits state

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

A storm came down Tuesday to California from Alaska, and it’s expected to be the coldest storm this winter — if not the coldest one in several years.

The first sign of it was cold, fast wind Tuesday, and gusts up to 65 mph were expected Tuesday evening in Santa Barbara County.

While Tuesday was a dry day, the National Weather Service predicts rain will fall Thursday through Saturday in Santa Barbara County. Before the rain comes the cold. The weather service expects today’s highs to be in the low 50s throughout Santa Barbara County. Lows will be around the upper 30s or low 40s.

And that’s how the temperatures are expected to remain the rest of the week, although the highs on Saturday in Santa Barbara will be a bit warmer, in the mid-50s.

The National Weather Service said a strong cold front would move through southwestern California through this morning “with very windy conditions and rapidly falling snow levels. Cold, showery weather will persist until an unusual winter storm brings periods of heavy rain and heavy mountain snow to the region Friday through Saturday night. Improving conditions are anticipated by Sunday.”

The storm brings a high surf advisory from Santa Monica to Newport Beach. Winter storm warnings are in effect for mountainous areas from Big Bear down to Julian and much of Northern California with heavy snow in higher elevations.

The Inland Empire down to El Cajon is under a winter weather advisory. Elevations above 2,000 feet are forecasted to have up to 3 inches of snow. Boaters in California are advised to remain in port, seek safe harbor or secure sea vessels against dangerous conditions capable of overturning vessels.

Ventura Harbor entrances can also experience breaking waves. Ventura and Los Angeles counties can expect waves 7 to 14 feet high. The Central Coast may have 10- to 18- feet breakers with high seas peaking at 22 feet.

Ria Roebuck Joseph, a writer with The Center Square, contributed to this story.

Work near Gaviota Tunnel

Convicted rapist faces seven years to life in prison

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-STAFF WRITER

A Santa Barbara man convicted of breaking into a neighbor’s house and raping her while she was asleep in bed faces seven years to life in prison when he is sentenced in April.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced Friday that a jury on Thursday had found Virginio Gomez-Santillan, 49, guilty of assault with intent to commit rape or sexual penetration while committing a first-degree burglary, sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery. According to prosecutors, the crime occurred in the early morning hours of July 22, 2021, when the victim, identified as Jane Doe, was asleep in her bed with her young child.

She woke up to the defendant — her neighbor — on top of her. While she was asleep, the defendant had broken into her house, pulled down her pajamas, climbed on top of her, and

began to sexually assault her, prosecutors said.

The victim fought the defendant, and he eventually left her apartment, prosecutors said.

The Santa Barbara Police Department, led by Detective Adam Mik, conducted a thorough and extensive investigation, and placed the defendant under arrest. The prosecution team was led by Deputy District Attorney Lauren Franco.

According to District Attorney Savrnoch, “Jane Doe testified at the trial, where she exhibited extraordinary bravery.

“By reporting the crime, and testifying at trial, the jury was able to hold this defendant accountable for his actions,” he said.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 20 before Judge Pauline Maxwell.

Mr. Gomez-Santillan is currently in custody on $1 million bail.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Man arrested for allegedly threatening Santa Maria police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Maria man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of threatening the lives of Santa Maria police officers and their families, including targeting and stalking officers’ homes, police said.

The threat came to light on Friday at approximately 9:46 p.m., when the Santa Maria Police Department received information regarding Santa Maria Police officers and officers’ family members being threatened via social media posts, Sgt. Daniel Rios said in a police department news brief posted online Saturday.

Officers initiated an investigation, and a suspect, Albert Varelas, 34, was identified, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ social media account was also located.

Republicans urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to act to prevent gas price hikes

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — California’s Republican state legislators are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to take steps to ease the financial burden for California families as summer approaches.

In a letter dated Feb. 21, and signed by all of the party’s 18 Assembly members and eight state senators, the representatives asked for three actions to be

considered to ease the burden for Californians “struggling to afford the rapidly increasing cost of basic necessities.”

The letter asked for a stop on the gas tax hike, an extension of the diesel tax holiday and a delay in the fuel blend transition. The request comes as Gov. Newsom’s gas tax proposal is scheduled for a hearing today.The group argued that Californians already pay more than 50% above the national average for gas. An 8% increase

is expected to take effect in July 2023. The Republicans are asking for relief from the 2023 increase through a suspension of the gas tax increase.

On Tuesday, the price for gas was $4.738 a gallon in California and $4.723 a gallon in Santa Barbara County, according to the American Automobile Association.

The war in the Ukraine, begun in 2022, has pushed prices upward. In response, President Joe Biden made what the White

House calls “a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to serve as a bridge to greater supply” in 2022, but it was not clear from the start how significantly gas prices would be reduced by this course of action.

In November 2021, 50 million barrels of crude from the reserves were released in an effort to reduce the already high costs at the pump. Another 30 million

Please see GAS PRICES on A2

suspicion of making criminal threats but were unable to locate him.

That changed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when the Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau took over the investigation.

Detectives were able to track the suspect to a location in the Orcutt area near Foster Road and Hummel Drive.

At about 2:20 p.m. Saturday, Santa Maria police detectives, with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and the Santa Maria Police Patrol Division, were able to safely locate and arrest Mr. Varelas without incident, police said. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the criminal threats warrant, and he is being held there on $250,000 bail.

During the initial investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Mr. Varelas’ threats allegedly referenced previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, Sgt. Rios said.

Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Varelas on

Investigators are recommending that the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office review the case for related stalking charges.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Eduardo Servin at 805-928-3781, ext. 1362, or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928 -3781, ext. 2277. Sgt. Rios did not return the News-Press’ phone calls Monday or Tuesday seeking comment on a possible motive for Mr. Varelas’ alleged online threats.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

SONG /NEWS-PRESS Caltrans workers continue to install debris netting along a portion of northbound Highway 101 Friday near the Gaviota Tunnel.

Turkey coop destroyed by fire

BUELLTON — An early morning fire Tuesday destroyed a turkey coop at Pork Palace, 1400 State Route 1, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said.

The 15-foot-by-20-foot turkey coop was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived after 7:30 a.m., officials said.

The fire was knocked down 20 minutes later.

Firefighters kept the flames from adjacent structures.

An unknown number of turkeys succumbed to the fire, but multiple chickens were saved, officials said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

— Neil Hartstein

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

California bill would ban tobacco for future generations

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — A California bill would prevent future tobacco sales for those born on or after Jan. 1, 2007.

Assembly Bill 935, filed by Assemblyman Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, would make this change. If someone were born on Jan. 1, 2007, they would be 16 years old today.

“The impetus for the bill is really that we’ve known for 50 years that tobacco and nicotine products

cause cancer, are incredibly addictive and decrease quality of life,” Assemblyman Connolly told The Sacramento Bee.

The bill is similar to a law New Zealand enacted last year. The country’s law prohibits tobacco sales to those born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.

During his time as a Marin County supervisor, Assemblyman Connolly led an effort to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in his county.

Mr. Connolly’s bill has support from various organizations.

Supporters include the Union of American Physicians and Dentists; the American Academy of Pediatrics - California; SmokeFree Marin; African American Tobacco Control Leadership; Public Health Advocates; and International Youth Tobacco Control.

However, it also has opposition from the tobacco industry.

Joshua Habursky, deputy executive director of The Premium Cigar Association, opposes the bill.

“These proposals are not based

on scientific evidence, but rather on a political agenda that seeks to demonize adult cigar smokers and restrict their freedom to enjoy a legal product,” Mr. Harbusky told The Sacramento Bee. “Clearly it is no longer a hidden agenda of the anti-tobacco groups to support full prohibition.”

The Premium Cigar Association urges people to contact their lawmakers, telling them to oppose the bill.

The bill may have a committee hearing as soon as March 17, according to LegiScan.

Vigil to honor victims of mass shootings

SANTA BARBARA — Members of the SB AAPI Solidarity Network, volunteers with the Santa Barbara Chapter of Moms Demand Action and residents will participate in a vigil Sunday to honor the victims and survivors of the recent shootings in Monterey

GAS PRICES

Continued from Page A1

barrels were disbursed in March 2022. Gas prices remained artificially low as a result with the introduction of reserves.

“Cutting costs at the pump should be a no-brainer, yet Californians are facing another gas tax increase,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones, R-San Diego. “Families can’t afford a summer of record-high prices again. We’re calling on the governor to act and suspend the tax increase before gas prices skyrocket.”

The cost of diesel is due to increase on Aug. 1. A partial diesel sales tax exemption last year lowered the price of consumer goods by reducing the cost of commercial transportation.

The letter asked that this exemption be extended for a further 12-month period to control inflation and deal with the high cost of goods. A recent report by Wallethub showed that three

Park and Half Moon Bay.

The vigil is set for 1 p.m. at the corner of State and Anapamu streets in Santa Barbara.

“These two mass shootings were shocking and devastating,”

member, said in a news release.

mourn and take action.”

The public is welcome to join this vigil, which will feature speakers and is designed to offer data-driven solutions for preventing further tragedies.

Juliet Velarde

Betita, SB AAPI Solidarity Network, committee

metropolitan areas in California topped the list for increased inflation.

The metro area of RiversideSan Bernardino -Ontario, the most affected area of California, has seen drastic increases in food, energy and rent costs ranking it the third highest in the nation for inflationary increases.

“With high grocery prices, outrageous utility bills, housing prices that force families to flee, and unbearable inflation, Californians need relief wherever they can get it,” said Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa. “No one should have to make the choice between filling up their tank and putting food on the table.”

Family budgets were strained last year when gas prices soared reaching as high as $7 per gallon in some areas of California.

The third fuel-related measure requested by the Republican representatives was a delay in the transition from the winter-blend gas to the summer-blend gas.

America has about 20 different blends of gas in an attempt to

“Our elders shooting our elders has brought us to the forefront of gun violence and mental health concerns. We need to address both in our Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities. We come together at this gathering to

control smog levels. Each blend adhering to different federal and state guidelines as needed to the varying climate of America’s different regions. The grades attempt to control the amount of volatile organic compounds that evaporate from gasoline. The less VOC emitted, the less smog is created from the combusting gas.

Winter-gas blends, which can be combined with other fuels that work well in colder weather, are less expensive than summer-gas blends when the weather is hotter and requires a more exacting blend.

California, which has some of the tightest standards for gas blends in the country and has reduced its own acquisition and manufacture of oil and gas, is particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions and price increases.

“Refiners can produce more of the winter-blend than the summer-blend, which results in lower gas prices. Californians cannot afford a repeat of the catastrophic price spikes they experienced just months ago,” the

letter said.

— Caleb Beeghly

“California drivers are struggling with high gas prices, and if the summer-blend mandate moves forward as planned, things will only get worse,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City. “We need greater flexibility to prevent gas prices from spiking. This simple step will provide that while reducing the burden on cashstrapped Californians.”

The request comes at a time when refineries are preparing to switch production from winter blends to summer blends.

Assemblyman Greg Wallis, RBermuda Dunes, said, “Delaying the switch to summer-blend fuel provides some much needed relief from the pocketbook pain we are experiencing at the pump in addition to soaring grocery store prices and utility bills.”

“California families are frustrated with high gas prices,” Assemblyman Wallis said.

News-Press Managing Editor Dave Mason contributed to this report.

Presidents’ Day weekend

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER . . . . .Co-Publisher

YOLANDA APODACA . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Operations

DAVE MASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor

HOW TO REACH US . . .

MAIN OFFICE 715 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 93101..805-564-5200

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102

NEWSROOM ADVERTISING

News Hotline 805-564-5277

Email...dmason@newspress.com

Life 805-564-5277

Sports 805-564-5 77 News Fax 805-966-6258

Corrections 805-564-5277

Classified 805-963-4391

Classified Fax 805-966-1421

Retail 805-564-5

Retail Fax 805-564-51 9

Toll Free 1-800-423-8304

Voices/editorial pages ..805-564-5277

HOW TO GET US . . . CIRCULATION ISSUES 805-966-7171

refunds@newspress.com newsubscriptions@newspress.com vacationholds@newspress.com cancellations@newspress.com

Mail delivery of the News-Press is available in most of Santa Barbara County. If you do not receive your paper Monday through Saturday, please call our Circulation Department. The Circulation Department is open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Mail delivery in Santa Barbara County: $5.08 per week includes sales tax, daily, and the Weekend edition. Holidays only, $3.85 per week includes sales

COURTESY PHOTO Santa Barbara County firefighters respond to a fire at a turkey coop in Buellton.

Visitors drink and dine Sunday at the Brass Bear Brewing & Bistro in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The city saw an influx of visitors — and resulting crowded sidewalks at the Santa Barbara waterfront — during the Presidents’ Day weekend.

Sports

UCSB women’s basketball team defeats Cal State Fullerton

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

FULLERTON — The UCSB women’s basketball team (18-8, 11-5 Big West) scored 21 of the game’s final 26 points Monday night to pull away from Cal State Fullerton (11-15, 6-11 Big West) and earn a 74-58 win in Titan Gym, something only four other teams have done all season.

Alexis Tucker scored 15 of UCSB’s 27 fourth-quarter points herself and finished with 26 in the game to lead all scorers.

Callie Cooper added 15 points of her own while shooting 4-4 from three-point range, setting new career highs in points and threepointers made.

The Gauchos have now won back-to-back games for the first time since January 21 and 26.

UCSB got a couple open looks from three-point range early in the first quarter and converted them both, but otherwise started the game slowly, falling behind, 1610, at one point.

The offense started clicking more with under two minutes left in the opening frame, with

Callie Cooper driving the lane and drawing the foul for a threepoint play. That kick-started a 14-4 Gaucho scoring run over the next four and a half minutes of game time, giving UCSB the lead, which the Gauchos would keep into halftime.

With 17 seconds until the break, Cooper put the Gauchos up nine, beating the shot clock with her third three of the half, only for Cal State Fullerton to hit a buzzerbeating three of its own to keep the difference to six as players headed for the locker room. That lead would only get narrower in the third quarter, with the Titans edging within one multiple times, eventually taking the lead themselves with two minutes left in the frame. The teams traded buckets to leave the score tied at 47 after three quarters and continued exchanging scores in the early minutes of the fourth, eventually arriving at a 53-53 tie with six and a half minutes to play.

Which is when Alexis Tucker took over.

She dropped in a layup to start, then drove the baseline for

an and-one the next time down. She buried a jumper on the next possession to cap off a 7-0 individual run.

Alyssa Marin joined in on the fun, hitting a three to make it a 10-0 Gaucho run in just two minutes of basketball.

Marin’s three-ball wasn’t the dagger with four minutes left to play, but UCSB never looked back, leading by nine or more for the rest of the game. With a minute and a half to go, it was Cooper to put the result beyond all doubt, hitting her fourth three-pointer of the night to reach a new career high in both points and threepointers made.

Tucker finished off her 26-point night with four trips to the freethrow line before the final buzzer sounded. The senior finished a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. Monday night was UCSB’s most efficient three-point shooting night in Big West play this season, hitting six of 13 (46.2%) from beyond the arc

Tucker’s 26 points are the most she has scored in a game since UCSB’s triple-overtime win against Southern Utah in

December. They are the most she has scored in regulation in her career

Callie Cooper is the first Gaucho to shoot 100% from threepoint range on three or more attempts in a game this season. Anya Choice is the only other Gaucho to be perfect on multiple attempts, hitting two of two from downtown against Cal Poly in January.

Ila Lane collected nine rebounds Monday night, bringing her career total to 853. She is now 12 away from ranking fifth in program history for career rebounds

UCSB continues its road trip on Thursday, traveling to an even tougher place to play: Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid. There, the third-place Gauchos will take on the conference-leading Beach in a potential Big West Championship preview.

Thursday’s game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be live on ESPN+

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB. sports@newspress.com

Cal State Fullerton beats UCSB men’s basketball team

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB men’s basketball team (20-7, 11-5 Big West) were back in The Thunderdome Monday night as the Gauchos hosted the Cal State Fullerton Titans, who they last played in the opening game of Big West play on Dec. 29.

After Monday’s game, the Gauchos did not have the same result, losing 74-60 to the Titans.

The Gauchos came out strong, scoring the first basket of the game thanks to a three-pointer from Calvin Wishart. But even

with the momentum to start the game, Cal State Fullerton battled back and couldn’t seem to miss a shot. This helped the Titans go on a run in the first half to have an 11-point lead heading into the half.

Once both teams were back on the court, the Gauchos began to chip away at the lead but not without a battle from the Titans.

Cal State Fullerton fought with UCSB to keep the lead it gained in the first half. Despite the home team’s best efforts, they weren’t able to pull out the win, dropping this Big West contest 74-60. On a bright note, the Gauchos’ Miles Norris had a phenomenal

great night that led to him hitting two career milestones. Before the end of the first half, Norris grabbed his 500th career rebound.

Once he came back on the court for the second half, he hit a three-point field goal that led him to hit his 1,000th career point in the same night. By the end of the game, he led the team in both of those stat categories, grabbing 17 points and nine boards.

And the Gauchos’ Calvin Wishart had his best night of the season as he registered 16 points. On his way to this season-high, he went 7-of-12 from the field while tallying an assist.

Andre Kelly also finished with double-digit points, putting up 11 points on the night. He shot at a 50% clip while grabbing seven rebounds and snagging a steal.

The Gauchos will return to The Thunderdome on Thursday to host Long Beach State. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. with a live stream available through ESPN+ and live stats through ucsbgauchos. com.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB. sports@newspress.com

Oregon State defeats UCSB baseball team

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB baseball team’s trip to Arizona did not end how the Gauchos (2-2, 0-0 Big West) would have liked against Oregon State (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12) on Monday afternoon.

UCSB threatened to score early, but played from behind for nearly the entire game and were ultimately doomed by a rough third inning. The Beavers won, 11-0 in eight innings. Tyler Bremner took the loss in his collegiate debut.

The game started well for UCSB, with Ivan Brethowr’s firstinning double down the left field line putting Gauchos on second and third with only one out. Those runners never made it home, and UCSB’s luck turned for the worse in the bottom of the inning.

With a runner on first and one out, Bremner induced a tailormade double play ball to short, which would have ended the inning, had the runner not been stealing on the play. The Beavers turned that extra life into two runs with three straight singles plus a UCSB throwing error.

Things started to look up for the Gauchos when Nick Oakley ended the inning with a quick throw to home to beat the runner on an attempted double steal.

Then UCSB got another runner to third with only one out in the top of the second. A double play ended that scoring threat, but Bremner had a solid bottom of the second, retiring the Beavers in order, including his first two collegiate strikeouts.

The third inning was a different story. Oregon State hit six straight singles to start their half of the inning, scoring five runs and putting an end to Bremner’s afternoon. The second Gaucho error of the day didn’t help.

Hudson Barrett stepped in in relief, but the Beavers added another run before the inning was over. Barrett worked around a pair of walks to keep OSU off the board in the fourth, but gave up a solo homer in the fifth before being relieved by Nick Welch.

Welch was one of two UCSB pitchers to keep Oregon State off the board, setting down the side in order in the sixth. In the seventh inning, Sam Whiting gave up a hit but struck out a pair of Beavers to put up a zero in the frame.

Unfortunately, UCSB’s hitters could not pay off their relievers’ strong work. From the third inning on, only two Gauchos reached base, via a walk and an error.

Oregon State’s two-run double in the bottom of the eighth ended the game early on the NCAA’s run rule.

With the first weekend in the books, Ivan Brethowr stands as the Gauchos’ best man at the plate, swinging a red-hot bat through his first four games in blue and gold. The Arizona State transfer went 1-3 with a double on Monday, his third extra-base hit of the year, and boasts a .533 batting average.

Nick Welch’s perfect sixth inning gave him the Gauchos’ prettiest pitching line from Monday’s game: 1.1 innings, zero hits, zero runs, a strikeout and no walks.

Despite going 0-3 at the plate Monday, freshman Corey Nunez has had an impressive start to his collegiate career, slashing .385/.467/.538 through four games. Sam Whiting bounced back after his shaky start to the season on Monday. After giving up three runs on three hits to Minnesota in the season opener, Whiting held Oregon State to one hit and no runs in his one inning of work, adding in a pair of strikeouts

While the Gauchos won’t see Oregon State again this year (unless they meet in the postseason), their next opponent is the Beavers’ in-state rivals, the Oregon Ducks. UCSB is set to host

Oregon for a four-game series at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium this weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch times are set for 5:05 p.m. Friday, 1:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. Saturday, and 12:05 p.m. Sunday, but are subject to change.

Children ages 12 and under receive free admission to all Saturday and Sunday games at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium throughout the 2023 season. For fans who cannot make it to the ballpark, all four games will be live on ESPN+.

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB. sports@newspress.com

Westmont’s women’s basketball team wins Regular Season Championship

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

In the final regular season game of the 2022-23 season, the seniors led the way to an 81-44 Golden State Athletic Conference victory by the No. 5-ranked Westmont women’s basketball team (23-2, 16-2 GSAC) over Jessup (14-13, 9-9).

Stefanie Berberabe produced her third triple-double of the season and the fourth of her career, tallying 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Fellow senior Sydney Brown notched a double-double of 13 points and 18 rebounds, 11 of which were from the offensive glass. It was Brown’s fifth double-double of the season. Combined with her performance against Menlo on Thursday, Brown collected 35 rebounds in the final two games of the regular season.

“Our seniors have been leading the way in so many unseen ways all year such as the little things they do, their commitment, and their choice to stay here for a fifth year,” said Westmont’s head coach Kirsten Moore. “Both of them have had such a passion to teach the ‘Warrior Way’ to the next generation of Warriors. That has been their biggest goal. Obviously, they wanted to win another championship and to be able to clinch on senior night is pretty

special for them.”

With the win, Westmont claimed sole possession of the GSAC Regular Season Championship, the No. 1 seed in this week’s GSAC Tournament, and an automatic berth into the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

“No one is more deserving than those two of any accolades that come their way,” said Moore of Berberabe and Brown. “It is so fun to see that when you are about the right things, the results follow. That is what we saw on the court tonight — both in how they played and how their teammates played for them. They have loved their teammates well and you could see the amount of love that our team played with them.

“For Stef to finish with a triple double was fitting, in the sense that she does everything on the court. As the senior introductions mentioned, at five-foot three, she is in our top-five all time in offensive rebounds (257). Not to mention, she is our career leading scorer (1,658 points), second in assists (581) and second in steals (316). She has done everything here, and she is such a wellrounded player that the tripledouble is super meaningful on Senior Night.

“With Syd rebounding pretty much every shot that was missed

out there, I’m not sure how there were enough rebounds left for Stef to get 10. Syd has learned a knack to go get the ball and not be deterred from that. I am proud of her toughness and aggressiveness.” Brown’s 807 career rebounds ranks third in the Warrior record books.

“A third senior, who wasn’t on the floor, has been so impactful and that is Ebun Kalejaiye,” noted Moore. “She has been the epitome of what a servant leader looks like. She has primarily been a manager on our team, but stepped in during COVID and became a roster player that led our team in assistto-turnover ratio at 5-1.

“She did everything. Her attitude of being willing to do whatever the team needs is contagious and admirable and has taught our team so much.

“Those three are special young women and it was fun to be able to cut down nets on their Senior Night.”

Of course, Berberabe and Brown weren’t the only two Warriors on the floor. Laila Saenz went seven of 11 from beyond the arc to lead the Warriors in scoring with 21 points. Bailey Fong added another 13 points, nine of which came courtesy of the long-range shot.

For the game, Westmont made 15 of 34 3-point attempts, collecting more than 50% of their scoring total from long distance.

The Warriors outrebounded Jessup 49-26, with 25 of Westmont’s boards coming on the offensive end of the court. They also took care of the ball, committing just five turnovers while producing nine steals.

The GSAC Tournament, which will be held at Menlo in Atherton, gets underway on Thursday with fifth-seeded The Master’s (169, 10-8) taking on number four Hope International (21-7, 13-5) in a quarterfinal match-up. Thursday’s other quarterfinal game will see third-seeded Menlo (19-8, 135) facing off against #6 Arizona Christian (14-14, 9-9).

On Friday, Westmont will take on the winner of the fourfive game, beginning at 5 p.m. Vanguard (21-5, 14-4), the tournament’s No. 2 seed, will play the winner between Arizona Christian and Menlo in the tournament’s other semifinal game.

Saturday’s championship game will be played at 6 p.m.

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

Westmont athlete named Player of the Week

By RON SMITH

WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Westmont’s Stefanie Berberabe

has been named the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Player of the Week in recognition of her performances in the final week of Golden State Athletic Conference play.

“Stefanie has continued to be a difference maker in the GSAC on both ends of the floor and on the boards,” said Westmont’s head coach Kirsten Moore. “She leads the conference in steals and ranks first in the GSAC in assistto-turnover ratio at 4.3. She leaves her mark all over the court and, with two must win games last week, she did it all and led our team to our fourth straight GSAC Championship.

“One stat that shows her heart and hustle is that though she is 5-4, she ranks fifth in career offensive rebounds at Westmont.”

On Thursday, Berberabe tallied 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals to lead Westmont (23-2) to a 66-57 victory over Menlo (19-8) as the Warriors clinched a share of the GSAC Championship.

Then on Saturday, Berberabe notched her third triple-double of the season, and the fourth of her career, in Westmont’s 8144 win over Jessup (14-13). The senior guard tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.

As a result of Saturday’s game, Westmont clinched the GSAC Regular Season Championship outright, claimed the No. 1 seed in the GSAC Tournament, and secured an automatic berth into

the NAIA National Championship.

“Stef is an all-around player who cares more about making her teammates better than her own scoring,” said Moore. “She is the only player in the conference to have recorded any tripledoubles this season and she has three. She does so many different things to help our team win and, honestly, her intangible qualities of grit, work ethic, and love for her teammates are even more impactful.

“Stef and Sydney Brown came back for their fifth years so that they could pass on to a

new generation what it means to be a Warrior. That has been their primary goal this year and through so many big and little things, their impact on the success of our team will last long after they have graduated. “

A two-time, first team AllAmerican and the 2020-21 NAIA Player of the Year, Berberabe rewrote the Westmont career scoring record and continues to do so every time she takes the court. She currently has 1,658 points.

She is also second in career assists at 581, second in career steals at 316, and fifth in career

offensive rebounds at 252.

As a result of winning the conference title, the Warriors, have secured a bye in the quarterfinals of the GSAC Tournament which begins on Thursday at Menlo in Atherton. Friday, Westmont will begin play in the semifinal round by taking on the winner of the quarterfinal game between Hope International and The Master’s.

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Warriors win fifth straight to close out regular season

By JACOB NORLING

WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

The Westmont men’s basketball team (17-10, 10-8) remained redhot on Saturday, ending its regular season with their fifth-consecutive win.

This time, Westmont prevailed over Jessup (16-12, 10-8) by a score of 85-78.

“The league is so deep,” said Westmont head coach Landon Boucher. “It’s one thing to win five league games in a row in any league, but in this league, it says a lot about who we are. It says a lot about who we are as teammates, and it says a lot about our character to take a complete 180 from where we were a few weeks ago.

“For me, the San Diego Christian loss wasn’t a crazy loss, or an embarrassing loss. Still, from that low point, to go to where we are now, it says that there’s something special about this group.”

Westmont’s day both ended and began in celebration, with the club honoring four graduating seniors before tip-off. This year’s graduating class from the Westmont men’s basketball team was Cade Roth, Cly Griffith Jr., Tone Patton Sr., and Kyler Warren.

Roth’s graduation is a particularly noteworthy one for Westmont basketball fans, as the now fifth-year senior has been a staple of the program since arriving on campus in the fall of

2018.

“We don’t just want to play with each other, we want to play for each other,” revealed Boucher. “Today, our team played for each other and for the seniors.”

In the first half Westmont slightly out-paced Jessup in a shootout, going into intermission with a five-point lead at 44-39. The home-Warriors shared the basketball extremely well, dishing out 10 assists during the period.

With that, four Warriors led the club with eight points at half: Griffith, Roth, Amir Davis, and Drew Ramirez.

During the opening period Westmont out-rebounded Jessup 23-17, with Davis leading the club after pulling down six boards.

After making only two 3-pointers in the entire half, Westmont drained three triples in the first five minutes of the second, stretching its lead to double-digits at 57-47. With under 10 minutes to play Jessup cut into Westmont’s lead to make it a two-possession game, but with 9:56 left, Roth buried Westmont’s fourth 3-pointer of the period to put the club back up 67-56.

Jessup refused to go away easily, once again cutting the lead to 7267, this time with 5:43 remaining going into a timeout. Thirty seconds later, Roth hit yet another three, putting Westmont back up eight, but a basket later, Jessup remained within six at the fourminute mark.

In the final minutes Patton began to put the finishing touches on his senior day with back-to-back buckets that put Westmont up 8172. At that point, with 90 seconds remaining, Jessup called timeout to draw up one final plan to salvage the day.

Jessup got back within five in the final minute of action, but ultimately, Westmont hung on to win their fifth in a row by a score of 85-78.

“I’m proud of the determination and focus from everybody to put together this run,” said Boucher. “These have been really tight games against quality opponents, and tonight we took care of business and played our game.”

The four Westmont players with eight first-half points all ended with double-figures, with Patton leading the club with 16 points. Patton also grabbed nine rebounds, with Davis, who contributed with 12 points, leading Westmont with 11 boards.

In his final game in Murchison Gym, Roth finished with 14 points and five assists.

“I really want to credit Tone,” Boucher said. “He had nine rebounds, and five of them were offensive. Amir had eight assists and only one turnover, to go with 11 rebounds. Amir played one of his best basketball games of the season.

“Drew Ramirez was really gutsy. Of course he had 14 points and five rebounds, but he did a really

good job on Myles Corey, who is an All-American type player in our conference. We basically mirrored Drew’s minutes with Myles’, and he did an amazing job.”

Westmont will now turn its focus to Thursday night, when it competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference Quarterfinals at Hope International in Fullerton.

Westmont’s winning streak propelled the club to the GSAC’s four-seed, meaning the Warriors’ first match-up will come against fifth-seeded OUAZ on Thursday at 5 p.m.

If Westmont defeats OUAZ in the Quarterfinals, the Warriors will test #2 Arizona Christian in the GSAC Semifinals on Friday night at 5:00 p.m.

Links to live coverage for the GSAC Tournament will be available at athletics.westmont. edu.

“We don’t want it to be over,” said Boucher. “The most special teams that I’ve coached are the ones where at the end of the year, you’re sad that it’s over. Going into the postseason, I’m hoping we can get better every single day, which has been our motto since September.

“Right now, we’re playing our best basketball of the season. I’m hoping we can further our season day-by-day.”

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

SHAW, Edwin “Koury”

Edwin “Koury” Shaw was born on July 5, 1932, to William and Malvina Shaw in Santa Barbara, California; the youngest of 6 sons. Koury passed on February 10, 2023, at the age of 90, with laughter and peace in the company of his nephew, Rudy. He attended school until the time of his enlistment in the Army where he went on to serve in the Korean war. Koury was a renowned figure in Santa Barbara. He is a descendent inducted into the Santa Barbara Trust of Historic Preservation with precious Barbareno Chumash ancestry. Koury was a successful plastering contractor by trade and had many interests in cars and service organizations. Later in life he owned the historical Laguna Store & Deli, till his retirement. If you didn‚Äôt catch, Koury cruising down the road to his favorite breakfast spots to meet up with his best friend George Mattis , then you could catch him at the casino winning big. He was truly a lucky charm, with a smile so vibrant and a heart so generous. He was the king of silly sayings and could always make you laugh. If you told him to meet you at a time, he would always certainly be early! He loved to watch all the westerns in his downtime and call all his family on FaceTime. He will live in our hearts forever.

Ed is survived by his children: Edwin Shaw (Son) and Julie Shaw (Daughter), along with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren a well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Family was the world to Papa Koury and his best days, and our best memories are the times we gathered, whether one on one or with family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents: William and Malvina; his son, Craig, and brothers: Harvey, Harold, Russell, Rudolph and George. He left as sharp as he arrived and we will all miss him until we meet again.

Graveside service at Calvary Cemetery Santa Barbara is set for 12 pm, Friday February 24, 2023 in the outdoor chapel. A gathering is being planned immediately following the service. For additional information please email ERS0705@icloud.com

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com

To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch. All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street. The deadline for Weekend and Monday’s editions is at 10a.m. on Thursdays; Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time).

Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at news@newspress.com. The News-Press cannot accept Death Notices from individuals.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Stephanie Berberabe of Westmont College impressed fans and Westmont’s head coach Kirsten Moore with her performance in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

Life theArts

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2023

CALENDAR

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.

TODAY

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/ museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

Never too small to save the day REVIEW

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is easily the most imaginative of the three “Ant-Man” films.

And in terms of danger and scope, it’s also the biggest.

This time around, hero Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie (now played by the talented Kathryn Newton) is older and smarter, and she’s found a way to connect with the Quantum Realm that Scott (Paul Rudd) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) have visited as the second and first Ant-Man respectively.

Cassie wants to be able to watch the universe from inside the safety of a lab. There’s no need to do something dangerous like, say,

shrinking to subatomic size and actually going there.

But of course, something goes wrong. And Cassie; Scott; Hank; Hank’s wife Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the first Wasp; and Hank and Janet’s daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly), aka the second Wasp, all are suddenly shrunk to subatomic size and pulled quickly into the Quantum Realm, which they learn is populated by various sentient species and the villainous Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

Like the previous “Ant-Man” movies, “Quantumania” combines some great humor with intense drama and heart-tugging emotions. At their core, “Ant-Man” movies are about a family and what the members of this family will do for each other.

But there’s always the bigger

George Clinton to perform at Chumash Casino Resort

SANTA YNEZ — George Clinton — the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, songwriter, band leader and one of the foremost innovators of funk music — will perform at 8 p.m. March 4 at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom.

The resort, which is an age 21-and-older venue, is located at 3400 State Route 246 in Santa Ynez. Tickets are $49 to $69. To purchase, go to www.chumashcasino.com.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Nothing was bigger last weekend at the box office than “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

As expected, the third Marvel Studios movie about heroes with the ability to get really small was No. 1 in North America during its opening weekend. The film grossed a whopping $105.5 million. That’s a lot higher than the $57.2 million that the first “Ant-Man” movie grossed on its opening weekend. The second film, “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” took in $75.8 million on its first weekend.

The success of “Quantumania” left “Avatar: The Way of Water” in a distant second place with $6.45 million. But that sequel has consistently done well in the box office since its Dec. 16 release and recently moved past “Titanic” to become the thirdhighest grossing film of all time. The highestgrossing film is the first “Avatar” movie, and the second is Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame.” Last weekend, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 at the box office,

with a gross of $5.46 million.

MARVEL STUDIOS

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” jumped to fourth place from fifth with $5.31 million.

“Knock on the Cabin,” a thriller about a hostage situation and the possible end of the world, dropped to sixth place from fifth with $3.97 million.

“80 for Brady,” the comedy about four women determined to get to the Super Bowl and see their hero Tom Brady, dropped to sixth place from fourth. It grossed $3.75 million.

The 25th anniversary release of “Titanic” placed seventh with $2.4 million. It’s the fourth-highest grossing film of all time, and like “Avatar: Way of the Water,” the movie was directed by James Cameron.

“Marlowe,” starring Liam Neeson in a film noir story featuring characters created by Raymond Chandler, opened in eighth place to the tune of $1.8 million.

“Missing” placed ninth with $1.75 million.

“A Man Called Otto,” starring Tom Hanks as a curmudgeon with friendly neighbors, rounds out the top 10 with $1.6 million.

email: dmason@newspress.com

During the 1970s, Mr. Clinton revolutionized R&B, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-1960s rock acts including Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Sly Stone.

Today, at 81 years old, the “godfather of

funk” is touring as “George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic” and performing the iconic songs “Flash Light,” “One Nation Under a Groove” and “Give Up the Funk” — to name a few, which influenced post-disco and post-punk music groups in the 1980s and ’90s.

Mr. Clinton’s vast influence on hip-hop and rap music is seen in many artists’ sampling of his music. As one of the most sampled artists of all time, it’s estimated that segments and snippets of his music have been used hundreds of times by artists over the decades, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Warren G.

— Katherine Zehnder

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www. sbhistorical.org.

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

7 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson will perform at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to lobero.org/ events/jack-johnson.

FEB. 23

10 a.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 24

7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa. org or call the box office at 805922-8313.

FEB. 25

1:30 and 7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 26

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

MARCH 2

7:30 p.m. The Miro Quartet will perform at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Admission is $20 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers.

— Dave Mason

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

‘Ant-Man and Wasp’ sequel tops box o ce with $105.5 million

Michelle Pfeiffer returns as Janet Van Dyne in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which topped the box office in its fi rst weekend.

George Clinton revolutionized R&B in the 1970s and became known as the “godfather of funk.” He continues to perform today at age 81.

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ succeeds with its biggest story to date

MARVEL STUDIOS PHOTOS

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) fi nds himself suddenly back in the Quantum Realm in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

Please see ANT-MAN on B2

Jonathan Majors plays Kang the Conqueror, a villain who does

calmness.

Santa Barbara Zoo’s milestone

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara Zoo is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The popular zoo is held close to the hearts of not only community members, but zoo employees as well.

“The zoo was born in 1963 with Edward or ‘Ted’ McToldridge, who was the park’s superintendent/ director until 1997. In 1963, Mr. McTolridge was essentially the only employee of the zoo,” Rich Block, CEO of the Santa Barbara Zoo, told the News-Press. “Mr. McToldridge built a zoo that people came to love with minimal resources and sweat equity. He was pretty creative and built a lot of the zoo with limited resources.

“I came along in 1998 and had more significant resources, which allowed us to build exhibits to the standard of accredited zoos,” Mr. Block continued. “Twenty-five years ago I was in the application process for this position. In January 1998, I saw a position announcement so I checked to see if it was reasonable to apply. I was heavily encouraged by my wife, whose family was rooted in Santa Barbara.”

“The most amazing thing is that this community built a zoo, which is no small feat and is a real tribute to the community. This is a zoo that has really evolved,” Mr. Block continued. “The Junior Chamber of Commerce worked with the city parks department to create the zoo. The property the zoo is on was an estate. At the time of her passing, Lillian Child deeded the estate to the Santa Barbara Foundation, which stipulated that it needed to be turned into a park.”

“About 30 years ago, the community supported the zoo by visiting as well as providing financial support,” Mr. Block said. “The zoo became a good investment for a lot of philanthropists. Philanthropy has allowed the zoo to create spaces for the public as well as the animals. I had a lot of financial support for the projects we were creating for the zoo.”

which is helping to shape young lives. Additionally, in 2002 we joined the California Condor Recovery Team,” he said.

“Dr. Estelle Sandhaus is the director of our conservation and science program, which took off in 2006. She is incredibly brilliant and has a thirst to continue to learn. She has been the foundation on which we have built which is a program with federal partners,” Mr. Block said. “That is part of this legacy, a network of conservation partners we have created and in which we are actively participating. I credit Dr. Sandhaus and her skills in building relationships that have taken it to the level it is at now. Most people don’t appreciate the magnitude and the scope of that program.”

FYI

In celebration of the Santa Barbara Zoo’s 60th anniversary, the zoo is launching a 60thanniversary fundraising campaign. The community is encouraged to make one-time or monthly donations of $6,000, $600, $60, or $6 to commemorate this milestone at sbzoo.org.

The zoo is located at 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara.

my brother. When he passed in 2018 the funds went to the zoo. The funds were earmarked for the Kallman Family Playground & Children’s Garden.”

Amy Pryor was also heavily involved including donating, fundraising, and designing for the Kallman Family Playground & Children’s Garden.

COURTESY PHOTOS

At top, Little Mac was an Asian elephant who arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo from India in 1972 with her companion Sujatha. Little Mac lived to be 48. Above, Gemina was a Baringo giraffe with a crooked neck who lived at the zoo for 20 years, until her death at the age of 21 in 2008. No one knows why her neck gradually became crooked. She was born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1986 with no known medical issues, did not appear to be in discomfort and was treated as a normal member of the herd. Gemina’s rearticulated spine and skull have been put on display in the Zoo’s Discovery Pavilion.

The News-Press asked Mr. Block about the zoo’s legacy.

“We have a 28-acre facility with beautifully landscaped grounds,” he said. “We have a lot of programs in place now, some of which are incredibly popular including zoo camp, which has been around for over 40 years. Some of the programs are pretty significant.

“We have the first licensed outdoor preschool in the state,

“The institution is well-loved by the community as a safe place to go with a fun experience,” Mr. Block said. “I call it stealth education. There is a lot here, and it is really exciting simply because there isn’t a limit to where we can go. Programs are a heavy part of that because we are on 28 acres.”

Another aspect of the zoo that has improved is the quality of animal care, according to Mr. Block. “We will be integrating best practices and the ever-evolving knowledge of the care and well-being of animals.

“One thing we have done for a long time and is part of our legacy is bringing in consultants to work with the animal care team,” he said.

“We have an animal kitchen that prepares diets every single day. The ability to communicate, move and share data has been a huge boost to animal management and health. People really don’t see or understand that the level of sophistication and intensity of care is remarkable. We invest that in even some of the smallest animals we care for.

“We do everything we can to treat and care for animals,” Mr. Block said. “Our board of directors understands the importance of the well-being of the animals we care for, and they have never hesitated to invest in what is necessary financially. It’s a different world.”

Derek Shue, chair of the zoo’s Board of Directors, told the NewsPress, “The past 60 years have been a remarkable journey for the Santa Barbara Zoo, and looking ahead is even more exciting, “Today, we’re home to hundreds of animals and are continually paving the path for the future of endangered species. The zoo

team is working at the forefront of conservation from right here in our backyard, leading collaborative research projects and actively supporting local and national conservation partners,” Mr. Shue said. “The Santa Barbara Zoo was also the first zoo on the West Coast to be designated a Certified Autism Center in 2018, and in 2022, the zoo’s ‘Early Explorers’ program became the first licensed outdoor preschool in California, providing one of the most unique educational experiences available. As we look to the future, we hope to continue to lead the way in the preservation and conservation of the natural world, and inspire future generations to be stewards of our planet and its natural resources.”

The Kallman family is another significant part of the zoo.

Carol Kallman currently serves on the community relations committee and supports the zoo.

Ms. Kallman has served previously on the board of directors when the community relations committee started.

“The committee hosts events to bring community members, businesses, educators, and political people to the zoo, not so much for fundraising but to let them know what we are doing,” said Ms. Kallman.

Ms. Kallman’s late father, Robert Kallman, was one of only six “honorary directors” for the zoo. Mr. Kallman eventually served on the zoo board for decades, and his wife served on numerous committees.

The Kallman family legacy being entangled with the zoo does not end with Carol however. Her daughter, Deedee Conrad, works remotely for the zoo doing grant writing. Carol and her brother Kris grew up volunteering with their parents at the zoo. “My parents decided to try to leave something to the zoo when they passed on. They set up a charitable trust, with the passing of

“I think that the garden experience was the heart of the reason I wanted to be on the board,” Ms. Pryor told the News-Press. “I knew the project was coming up, and they asked me to create a design. I submitted it to the garden committee, and everybody liked it. It became a passion project for me. I got to dig holes, plant plants and watch my kids enjoy it. I give to the zoo, and the zoo gives back to me. The love that I give, I feel like I get it in return.”

Mr. Block also spoke about the high quality of the staff at the zoo.’

“I love the fact that everybody is trying to up their game. We have a wonderful and dedicated team of people. No one is satisfied with meeting standards, everybody wants to exceed those. This is what drew me into it.

“I wasn’t going to be a zoo guy. I went back to grad school, and a close friend ended up going to Cincinnati Zoo to work where I went to visit him a lot. What that did was introduce me to the potential of zoos in the area of public education and conservation, which is the heart of the community. That is what won me over, and it is amazing to see zoos and aquariums striving to fill that potential.

“I would love to take every single guest through an experience to see things up close and learn more about what we are doing, but we just don’t have the resources to do that.

“Most people walk through the gate and have a fun experience because our animals are in very nice exhibits and are well cared for. It’s about the ability to share that and make people feel inspired in a safe space where people can share experiences together. We are creating experiences.”

Ms. Pryor concurred about the caliber of zoo staff. “I strongly feel that we are the best board in town. I feel the zoo staff is remarkable and do their job so well so it makes our job pretty easy. Spending time with staff and board members became part of my life; it became my parttime job.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

ANT-MAN

Continued from Page B1

question of what must be done to save the world or in this case, the Quantum Realm from the tyrannical Kang, whom Mr. Majors makes sinister with a disturbing calmness. Meanwhile, Mr. Rudd continues to bring a down-to-earth likability and genuine nobility to Scott, who demonstrates the extent of his devotion to his daughter. And as Ant-Man, Scott shows his suit’s power for not only getting really

small but gigantic (in relation to everything else in this subatomic universe).

Ms. Pfeiffer continues her dynamic, no-nonsense approach to playing Janet, who was stuck for 30 years in the Quantum Realm and serves as the guide for her family in this strange land.

As always, Mr. Douglas, whose father was the late, legendary Montecito star Kirk Douglas, plays Hank with intelligence, humor, compassion and honesty. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role.

And there’s a great scene with Bill Murray as …. well, you’ll see.

The imaginative story in “Quantumania” is credited to writers Jeff Loveness and Jack Kirby, the late, brilliant Thousand Oaks resident who co-created AntMan with the late Stan Lee and Mr. Lee’s younger brother Larry Lieber, now 91. Peyton Reed, who directed the first two “Ant-Man” movies, returned to direct “Quantumania,” which is a major reason for this film’s success. Mr. Reed has a knack for making cosmic stories down-to-earth.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Scott’s daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) tackle the dangers of the Quantum Realm.

At left, Marta was born Aug. 6, 2021, to parents Ajax and Kasha. Marta was the first Amur leopard to be born at the zoo in more than 20 years. At right, African lioness Felicia walks with her first cub Pauline, who was born at the zoo on Nov. 5, 2020. Pauline was the first lion to be born at the zoo since 2005.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

Thought for Today

— Lao Tzu

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

ARIES — If you’re involved in the study of a particular subject, Aries, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as you can. This is good, because your concentration is especially good. Go to the library or a private room where you won’t be distracted and hit the books.

TAURUS — This isn’t the day to make investments, Taurus. You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you’re interested, consult a professional before investing money. Even after you’ve talked to an expert, it’s still a good idea to wait a day or two before you make the investment.

GEMINI — Does a love partner appear to be moody today, Gemini? One moment your friend may be enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and the next moment overcome with gloom. Don’t let this get to you, and certainly don’t get overly upset with your partner. Listen rather than talk, and be patient.

CANCER — Are you working two jobs, Cancer? Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other. You tend to be very conscientious and responsible, so this might bother you, but don’t let it get to you. The day may come when the situation is reversed.

LEO — Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Leo. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically. You’re suffering from low biorhythms, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re turning into a lazy bum. Relax today, and tomorrow you will be your usual energetic, inventive self.

VIRGO — The urge to stay in and rearrange your furniture might hit you today, Virgo. You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications. This may be a lot of work, but it will also be a lot of fun. Get other members of the household to help and turn it into a party.

LIBRA — Are you expecting

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

If you asked Cy the Cynic for his views on patience, he would say it’s a virtue — which means few people have it. Cy certainly has none: As declarer, he seizes on the first line of play he sees.

As today’s South, Cy appreciated the potential of his hand when he leaped to six spades. West led a high club, and Cy took the ace and promptly ruffed his ten in dummy. He next took the A-K of trumps.

When East discarded, the Cynic was doomed. He conceded a trump, ruffed West’s club return and cashed two more trumps. East-West discarded carefully, and Cy won only 11 tricks.

HEART RUFF

I would define patience as the art of concealing — and suppressing — your impatience. Cy should lead a heart to dummy’s ace at Trick Two, ruff a heart and take the K-A of trumps. He discards a diamond on the king of hearts and ruffs a heart.

Cy can then (only then) ruff a club in dummy. He takes the good fifth heart to discard another diamond. West’s high trump wins the defenders’ only trick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: K 10 9

10. You open one spade, your partner responds two

an important communication, perhaps business related, Libra? If it comes today, it will probably come late. If you feel you must sit around and wait for it, find something else to do in the meantime or you will drive yourself crazy. If it doesn’t arrive by the end of the day, resign yourself to waiting. Don’t panic. It will come soon enough.

SCORPIO — A check you’ve been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Scorpio. It’s nothing to worry about. Chances are it got hung up at the post office and will arrive soon. Don’t waste your time worrying needlessly. If you feel it necessary, make contingency plans for getting by. Your money is coming. Hang in there.

SAGITTARIUS — You may not be your usual cheery self today, Sagittarius. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life. No matter how promising a career, romance, or money matter seems, you think the worst. Treat yourself today. Get a massage, relax in a hot tub, and rub and soak out those doubting spirits.

CAPRICORN — Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Capricorn, and you may wonder why. Something or someone you’ve encountered in the past few days may have reminded you of this person. It’s nice and it isn’t an accident. What personality trait of yours does your grandparent call to mind?

AQUARIUS — A meeting may take place today that you don’t want to attend, Aquarius. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen. Colleagues will want to discuss the issues with you afterward, and you might learn something in spite of the boredom. Think of it this wayit’s only an hour or so.

PISCES — A project could be successfully completed today, Pisces. Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren’t inclined to think about that, at least not right away. You will want to bask in your accomplishment and relax for a while. No one can blame you for that, so don’t worry if you don’t go to brainstorming sessions.

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Saturday’s Life section.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

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.

PUZZLE

hearts, you rebid two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have a little extra high-card strength, a sixth spade and good spade intermediates. Your hand is too promising to stop below game.

A bid of three diamonds now would suggest your 6-4 pattern but would suggest a minimum hand. Jump to four spades and hope to buy a reasonable dummy.

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

Classified

Congress spends over $100 billion in Ukraine aid

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Friday marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in well over $100 billion in American taxpayer dollars being set aside to help the Eastern European country fend off its aggressor.

Congress committed more than $113 billion in support for Ukraine across four major spending packages in 2022 alone, with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget saying more is likely to come.

“Of the $113 billion approved in 2022, about three-fifths ($67 billion) has been allocated toward defense needs and the remaining two-fifths ($46 billion) to nondefense concerns such as general Ukrainian government aid, economic support and aid for refugee resettlement,” the CRFB said in a statement.

While these funds have already been set aside, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the money won’t be fully spent for years.

handed weapons, not just cash, directly to Ukraine. For example, the Department of Defense in January announced about $3 billion worth of “security assistance” with $225 million from the State Department for “Foreign Military Financing to contribute to the long-term capacity and modernization of Ukraine’s military.”

To accomplish this, DOD emptied out part of its weapons reserves for Ukraine.

“The Presidential Drawdown is the 29th such drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine that the Biden Administration has authorized since August 2021,” the DOD said.

Here are some of the military assets handed over in the January package, according to the DOD:

• 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition.

• 100 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers.

• 55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs).

support vehicles.

• 70,000 155mm artillery rounds.

• 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds.

• 1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems.

• 36 105mm towed Howitzers and 95,000 105mm artillery rounds.

•10,000 120mm mortar rounds.

• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

• RIM-7 missiles for air defense.

• 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets.

• Approximately 2,000 antiarmor rockets.

• Sniper rifles, machine guns, and ammunition for grenade launchers and small arms,

• Claymore anti-personnel munitions.

• Night vision devices and optics.

• Spare parts and other field equipment.

humanitarian assistance remained relatively constant over the course of the year, while the share of financial and military support pledges grew,” the group said.

Some experts say the funds help keep Russia at bay and send a message to discourage China from similar aggression.

“There is a clear strategic advantage for the United States in the defeat of Vladimir Putin’s barbaric war on Ukraine, both in terms of preventing future Russian aggression in Europe and deterring Chinese expansionism by demonstrating Western resolve and lethality,” Victoria Coates, an expert at the Heritage Foundation, told The Center Square.

Some Republicans have hesitated to support the large aid packages to Ukraine, saying that money could be better spent at home. They’ve raised questions about how the funds are being spent.

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 días, 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 más 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 recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión 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. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, 1100 ANACAPA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93121-1107 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): TRISTAN P. ESPINOSA, ESQ. (CA BAR NO.: 312481), REESE LAW GROUP, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No.

CBO estimates that threequarters of the funding will be spent by the end of fiscal year 2026.

The Biden administration has

• 138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs).

• 18 155mm self-propelled Howitzers and 18 ammunition

But the U.S. isn’t alone in this support. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German group tracking aid to Ukraine, European Union nations and groups have allocated nearly $60 billion to Ukraine.

“Overall, pledges of

“We must halt Ukraine war funding,” said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. “The Biden administration is dragging us into major war rather than seeking diplomatic solutions.” Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

FBI has until March 1 to turn over information of probe targeting parents

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona have until March 1 to turn over documents to the House Judiciary Committee about alleged FBI investigations into parents attending school board meetings in response to a memo Mr. Garland issued 17 months ago.

Since October 2021, Republican members of the committee have sent more than 100 letters to Biden administration officials “requesting answers about how the administration used federal counterterrorism resources against American parents,” the committee said in a news release earlier this month.

“Whistleblowers have disclosed how, shortly after Attorney General Garland formally directed the FBI to take action, the FBI’s Counterterrorism and Criminal Divisions created a specific threat tag for school board-related threats and even opened investigations into parents simply for speaking out

on behalf of their children,” the committee said.

Attorney General Garland’s directive was issued after the National School Boards Association sent a letter to President Joe Biden “urging him to weaponize the Patriot Act against parents. Emails later showed how the Biden White House had advance knowledge of this letter and its contents and raised no objection,” the committee said.

Mr. Garland’s memo referred to a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff,” and directed FBI and other federal law enforcement agents to monitor activities of parents and school boards nationwide.

Soon after Attorney General Garland issued the memo, he was called to testify before the committee. He said he issued the memo because there were “reports of violence and threats of violence.”

In a news release at the time, he also said, “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values. Those who dedicate their time and energy

to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”

He testified before the committee, “I can’t imagine any circumstance in which the Patriot Act would be used in the circumstances of parents complaining about their children, nor can I imagine a circumstance where they would be labeled as domestic terrorism,” saying the Department of Justice wasn’t targeting parents. The DOJ continues to maintain this claim.

Shortly thereafter, a coalition of attorneys general called on Attorney General Garland to produce evidence to support his claims. They argued the DOJ targeting parents is unconstitutional and an abuse of power and said Mr. Garland must revoke his directive, which he has yet to do. The AGs received no response to their requests and sued last March.

Meanwhile, an FBI whistleblower came forward, and by May 2022, Republican U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Mike Johnson of Louisiana sent a letter to Attorney

General Garland, stating the whistleblower provided evidence that contradicted his testimony. The FBI was, in fact, investigating parents, according to an Oct. 20, 2021, email made available to the committee.

The FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and Criminal Division announced it created a new threat tag for its internal system to label parents, called “EDUOFFICIALS,” and directed FBI personnel to apply the tag to all “school boardrelated threats,” according to their letter.

The FBI maintains it hasn’t and isn’t targeting parents or investigating speech at school board meetings.

After the whistleblower information was made public, Florida-based Moms for Liberty founders Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich said, “We now have proof of what many of us suspected and some of us knew: that the Department of Justice was using counterterrorism authority under the Patriot Act to investigate parents of schoolchildren who were exercising their First Amendment right to petition their local government for a redress of grievances.”

Supreme Court cancels oral arguments on Title 42

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — The U.S. Supreme Court canceled oral arguments scheduled for March 1 in a case filed by Arizona and 18 other states against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and several federal officials and agencies.

President Joe Biden has said the national public health emergency issued by former President Donald Trump over COVID-19 will expire May 11. Once the national public health emergency expires, so will Title 42 enforcement. The public health authority was implemented to curtail the spread of the coronavirus by expanding expulsions of illegal foreign nationals.

On Feb. 16, the court removed the case from its calendar for March 1 after the Biden administration filed a motion arguing the lawsuit was moot.

Last December, Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay of a lower court’s ruling requiring the termination of Title 42 pending the court’s decision after it heard oral arguments scheduled for March 1. This was after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last May attempted to terminate Title 42 but were halted from doing so by a federal judge after attorneys general led by Arizona sued. While Title 42’s been one tool used by Border Patrol agents to expel foreign nationals, it was never designed to be used in lieu of enforcing

federal immigration laws, critics have argued.

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, has pointed out that Title 42 hasn’t really been effective in preventing illegal entries as a record number of people have been unlawfully released into the U.S. by the Biden administration, at a rate of 7 to 1. He told Fox News last December, “for every one person that’s sent back for Title 42, you have got seven people that are released into the United States.”

Title 42 has been “better than nothing,” he said. “But the whole

problem is actually the policies that have been implemented by the Biden administration, and that have caused this tremendous influx” of illegal foreign nationals into the U.S.

Rep. Gimenez, like Texas and Arizona congressmen, has called for Secretary Mayorkas to be impeached.

CBP officials have said they’re preparing for an unprecedented deluge of people arriving at the southwest border and overwhelming Border Patrol agents once Title 42 ends. Their plan includes releasing those entering the U.S. illegally en masse into local communities. Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria Chavez said she was working with local NGOs to facilitate moving them north into Texas and the U.S.

Since President Joe Biden’s been in office, more than 5 million foreign nationals have been apprehended or reported evading capture from law enforcement, including over 3.3 million in fiscal 2022 alone. While Secretary Mayorkas repeatedly claims “the border is closed,” he’s also announced a plan to increase the processing and release of even more people into the U.S. once Title 42 ends. The president also said he plans to make it easier for people to get here, using an “asylum” phone app.

When meeting with the presidents of Mexico and Canada in early January, he said his administration was working “to make it easier for people to get

here.”

In a speech in Mexico City, he said, “Right now, the cartels make a lot of money, which they use for drug trafficking as well. People make it through jungles and … a long journey to the border. Many are victimized, not only in terms of what they have to pay, but victimized physically in other ways. We’re trying to make it easier for people to get here, opening up the capacity to get here, but not having them go through that … awful process.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proposed five policies the president could implement to secure the border immediately and called on him to designate Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Gov. Abbott says he hasn’t heard back.

In the federal government’s absence, Gov. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission, in March 2021, and the state legislature also allocated more than $4 billion for border security efforts. Gov. Abbott has made border security an emergency legislative item this legislative session, including allocating nearly $5 billion to border security over the next two years. His plan includes passing legislation to impose a mandatory minimum jail sentence for anyone caught smuggling people in Texas, enhancing the minimum penalty for operating stash houses to a third-degree felony, enhancing penalties for foreign terrorist organizations operating in Texas, among other measures.

COURTESY PHOTO Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas