Santa Maria News

Singer Michael Jackson departs the courthouse after listening to closing arguements in his child molestation trial at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse June 2, 2005 in Santa Maria, California.

Hundreds of people hosted a Tea Party in Santa Maria Saturday. Participants say it was the perfect opportunity to honor members of the military and speak out against government spending.

's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.

Share + Jul 3, 2009 12:45 pm US/Eastern Event for Pop Icon Will Be Held at Staples Center; 11,000 Tickets to Go to Public LOS ANGELES 1 of 2 Michael Jackson prepares to enter the Santa Barbara County Superior Court to hear the verdict read in his child molestation case June 13, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif.

Promising to create hundreds of jobs, the $47 million Santa Maria River Levee repair project funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a big step closer to starting this fall.

Television documentary producer Martin Bashir arrives as a witness in the Michael Jackson trial at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse March 1, 2005 in Santa Maria, California.

A Los Angeles judge on Monday named Michael Jackson's mother as temporary guardian of his three children, four days after the pop star unexpectedly died at his rented estate.

Michael Jackson waves as he arrives at the Santa Barbara County courthouse in Santa Maria, California Michael Jackson's family said Saturday they are seeking a private, second autopsy to figure out what caused the sudden death of the American pop icon Thursday at his Los Angeles home.

Michael Jackson's family wants the singer's mother, Katherine, to have custody of his three children.

File - Michael Jackson walks with his father Joe, right, after a day of testimony in his child molestation trial in this May 25, 2005 file photo, in Santa Maria, Calif.

Michael Jackson goes through security as he arrives at Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria, Calif.

Jun. 26, 2009 7:47 a.m. It's happened again. For the fourth time this week, I have a direct connection to a major news event, making me feel like, instead of 6 degrees of separation, it's more like 1. I have been watching since last weekend the demonstrations and violence filling some of the same streets I drove and walked on in Tehran, Iran, where ...

Michael Jackson gestures as he announces plans for Summer residency at the O2 Arena at a press conference held at the O2 Arena on March 5, 2009 in London, England.

Michael Jackson , Joseph Jackson and attorneys enter Santa Barbara County Superior Court for the continuation of Jackson's molestation trial in Santa Maria, California, March 10, 2005 Michael Jackson is mobbed by fans after he watched a performance of Oliver! with his children, at Drury Lane in central London Photo: SPLASH Singer Michael Jackson ...

Santa Maria 'hams' will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities June 27 and 28.

A 16-year-old boy has admitted setting last year's 9,544-acre Gap Fire in the Santa Barbara County foothills, investigators said.

APPARENTLY 85 DEGREES is not hot enough to worry about the health and safety of workers.

Accusations of fraud continue to be leveled against Mike L. Wilson, a 55-year-old Santa Maria mortgage business owner with many San Luis Obispo County clients and real estate investments.

Pre-sale discount tickets are now available for the 118th annual Santa Barbara County Fair, which will run from July 15 through 19 at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

Testimony given Friday at the preliminary hearing of David Lopez, 21, accused of attempted murder, indicated that he fired three shots into a yard full of people and might have continued shooting had his gun not jammed.