Thanks for the memories
‘Respect’ explores Aretha Franklin’s life
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Biden: Aug. 31 still deadline for Afghanistan withdrawal By MADISON HIRNEISEN
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he remains confident the U.S. can meet its Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan.
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President Joe Biden said Tuesday he remains confident that the U.S. is on track to reach its Aug. 31 deadline of ending military involvement in Afghanistan and to complete evacuations before the end of the month. Speaking from the White House, the president told reporters that the completion of the mission is largely dependent on cooperation from the Taliban. While voicing confidence that the U.S. is “on pace” to finish by the Aug. 31 deadline, he said military leaders are prepared to “adjust the timetable should that become necessary.”
“We are currently on pace to finish by Aug. 31. I am determined to complete our mission,” President Biden said Tuesday. “The sooner we can finish, the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops.” The president told reporters that as of Tuesday, 70,700 people had been airlifted thus far in the evacuation effort. This effort has ramped up in recent days, with more than 12,000 evacuated out of Kabul over the course of 12 hours on Tuesday, President Biden said. The Pentagon on Tuesday said the pace of flights has increased to one every 45 minutes. The president’s comments at the White House came hours after he met virtually with a group of leaders in the G7, who were prepared
Supervisors to consider vaccine mandate for county employers By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
After lengthy deliberations Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will consider instating a vaccine mandate or testing requirement for all county employees. During the board’s regular meeting Tuesday, Supervisor Gregg Hart proposed the implementation of a vaccine or testing mandate for all county workers in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. As numerous organizations, businesses and even the Pentagon are unveiling new vaccination mandates following the FDA’s approval, Mr. Hart told the supervisors that now is the time for the county to adopt a mandate in the interest of community safety. “This policy will promote safety in the county workplace and among the general public because sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, building inspectors and many other county employees come into regular contact with members of the community,” Mr. Hart said. The mandate, if passed, would require that all Santa Barbara County employees either be vaccinated or undergo regular testing. Other specifics surrounding the mandate, including how frequently unvaccinated employees would need to be tested, were not specifically outlined during Tuesday’s meeting. After much discussion, the board voted 3-2 to direct staff from the County’s Executive Office to develop a policy for the implementation of
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The Santa Barbara Unified School District is tracking 20 COVID-19 cases reported within the first five days of school. In April, when the district witnessed the most cases, it recorded 26 cases in a month. Administrators discussed this data during the regularly scheduled school board meeting Tuesday evening. “When we have this much COVID In our community, it’s inevitable that people will be bringing it to school unknowingly,” Santa Barbara County Public Health Department school liaison Susan Klein-Rothschild said. “So even though school just started, I know schools are already seeing
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KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will consider instating a vaccine or testing requirement for all county workers during their meeting next week.
a vaccine/testing mandate among county employees. Board Chair Bob Nelson and Supervisor Steve Lavagnino were opposed to the measure. The board will vote whether to instate a vaccine mandate during its regular meeting next Tuesday. The board’s decision to consider a vaccine mandate came after a lengthy public comment period on Tuesday, where nearly 20 public commenters addressed the board in opposition of the impending vaccination mandate. A number of public commenters
positive COVID cases.” The district has a detailed protocol for each case that mandates quarantine length for students who test positive for the virus as well as close contacts. Factors such as vaccination alter the response. Santa Barbara County Public Health is considering drafting guidelines for school athletics and activities, such as music. The California Department of Public Health has plans to issue guidance, but local health departments have become impatient now that the school year has begun. “The California Department of Public Health has really emphasized our focus this year Please see SBUSD on A5
likened the potential vaccine mandate to “tyranny” or an “overreach” of authority, with some going as far to say the supervisors were operating similar to the “Nazi regime.” One public commentator, Michael Moore, told supervisors that he’s been with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department for 13 years, but would be willing to walk away from his job if the board moved to instate a mandate for county employees. During his comments, he told supervisors that
if a vaccine requirement is instated, they would be operating similar to “how Hitler and the SS ran Germany.” “This is tyranny, and it’s knocking on our doorsteps,” Mr. Moore said. “It’s unfathomable to me that any person can say it’s OK for them to force a medical procedure, a vaccine in this case, on another human being.” A number of other public commenters expressed anger Please see COUNTY on A5
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RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS
A kindergarten teacher at McKinley Elementary School leads an activity with students at their desks.
Kevin Faulconer, a candidate in the gubernatorial recall election, stopped in Lompoc and Santa Maria Tuesday as part of his California Comeback Tour. He chose the Santa Barbara County cities because of a connection to Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Chair Bob Nelson. The two met several years ago when Mr. Faulconer was speaking on his work addressing homelessness as the mayor of San Diego. Chair Nelson later visited San Diego to see the policies in action. Mr. Faulconer established homeless shelters with wraparound services and an emphasis on law enforcement. “I fundamentally believe that every human being has a right to shelter. But I also believe that when we provide it, you have an obligation to use it,” he told the News-Press. In January of 2020, Mr. Faulconer’s last year as the mayor, homelessness was down 6% in San Diego County but grew much worse throughout the rest of the year. A self-proclaimed “California Republican,” he thinks he can unify the coastal cities with rural Californians. “I’m somebody who can actually bring people together with solutions, solve homelessness, and I really phrase things not so much as partisanship, but it’s common sense,” he said. “It’s common sense that we have safe neighborhoods; it’s common sense that we should remove tent encampments off the street, and it’s common sense that we have to make California more affordable. “When you phrase it in those terms, people understand that. They agree with that, and they’ll vote for you.” Some of his other platform points include strong law enforcement and tax breaks for the middle class. “I had hundreds of protesters out in front of my house this past summer yelling at me and my family, screaming to defund the police. I didn’t defund the police; I increased the budget,” he said. “Because I know what I think most Californians know is that if you don’t have safe cities, you don’t have anything.” Of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s challengers, conservative radio host Larry Elder is leading the polls despite controversial stances. Mr. Faulconer called for Mr. Elder to remove himself from the race after Mr. Elder said employers should be able to ask women if they intend to have children. “He was attacking working women and their opportunity to work in the workplace and raise a family, and that’s just wrong,” Mr. Faulconer told the News-Press. “That’s not who we are as Californians. I’m going to stand up for the opportunity for women to have successful careers and to raise families. “I’m a proud dad of a daughter. And I’m going to ensure as governor that California’s daughters have the same opportunities as California’s sons.” The deadline to register to vote before the Sept. 14 recall election is Monday. To assist new voters, Santa Barbara County elections offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Paper applications are available at most U.S. Post Offices or the Department of Motor Vehicles, or registration is available online at registertovote.ca.gov. email: ahanshaw@newspress.com
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Recall candidate Kevin Faulconer visits Lompoc, Santa Maria By ANNELISE HANSHAW
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email: mhirneisen@newspress.com
Former San Diego mayor keeps contact with County Board of Supervisors Chair Bob Nelson
SB Unified considers air purifiers amid high COVID-19 cases By ANNELISE HANSHAW
to apply pressure to extend the deadline for evacuation. The president, however, remained strong in his position of reaching the end of the month deadline, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. “Our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives. He confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by Aug. 31,” Ms. Psaki said in a statement regarding the president’s conversation with the G7. During the G7 meeting, leaders of the seven nations agreed to continue to back the efforts of the United Nations as the organization coordinates humanitarian aid in the region.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A6
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 12-22-36-44-47 Mega: 20
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 7-1-7-0
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 17-18-26-52-67 Mega: 19
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 2-18-21-22-24
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 06-05-08 Time: 1:49.41
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 16-28-36-39-59 Meganumber: 4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 8-7-0 / Midday 7-0-3