Star makes cost cuts
The Ventura County Star said Feb. 18 that it will cut employees’ pay by as much as 5 percent, freeze wages and pension plans, and quit matching 401(k) contributions. The paper said the changes don’t affect its staffing levels. The cuts were announced a day before E.W. Scripps Co., which owns the Star, was slated Read More →
No felony charges in Tea Fire
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced Feb. 13 that no criminal charges would be filed against the 10 people linked with starting the November Tea Fire in Montecito. However, the group will face arraignment in Superior Court March 2 on charges of trespassing, building a campfire and failure to obtain a permit required Read More →
Meltdown in SLO – Problems drain $120M from troubled county businesses
Scandals, shady dealings and projects gone wrong have swamped San Luis Obispo County. In the last year, major homebuilders in the county and their financiers have gone belly up, triggering a flurry of criminal investigations. Bankruptcy filings say thousands of creditors — many of them small-time investors who put up their savings — are on Read More →
Business looks bright – Lampshade shop has outshined big boxes for 20 years
[Editor’s Note: This is the first story in an occasional series from the Business Times called "Stories of Survival."] For local niche businesses looking to stand up against the competition of big box stores, there’s a lamp glowing at the end of the tunnel. That’s because Santa Barbara Lampshades, a custom lampshade store that has Read More →
Test Form
Green Business The Business Times’ annual Green Edition profiles leaders in energy efficiency, recylcling and other “green” areas. It also takes a look at companies who are doing their part to reduce their own carbon footprint. Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2009 The Business Times is always on the lookout for “green” companies to watch. If Read More →
Long term, budget deal could fall short
California’s newly minted budget compromise is a step toward resolving the current gridlock, but it may not fix problems for the longer haul, warned Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters. Speaking at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Economic Forecast Project’s Ventura County forecast in Thousand Oaks on Feb. 19, Walters said that when the full Read More →
