county Santa Barbara: Last News

The Santa Barbara News-Press, which bills itself as the longest running daily newspaper in Southern California, has ceased publication.

Kevin Costner’s complicated divorce proceedings with estranged wife Christine Baumgartner continued this week, as the “Yellowstone” star requested that his ex pay him $100,000 in legal fees related to their ongoing court battle.

Kevin Costner's complicated divorce proceedings with estranged wife Christine Baumgartner continued this week, as the star requested that his ex pay him $100,000 in legal fees related to their ongoing court battle.In legal documents obtained by ET and filed on Thursday, Christine asked the court to deny Kevin's request to pay $100,000 of his legal fees, claiming he wouldn't have incurred them if she had moved out of the Southern California home — which has been a major point of contention in the couple's messy divorce — in a timely manner.Christine argues that Kevin could have avoided the legal fees by simply waiting for their pre-determined November court date, rather than filing an additional motion in July, requesting that she move out of their house earlier than Aug. 31, a date Christine had previously agreed to.

More rumours have been swirling recently that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage could be on the rocks. Mounting financial pressures and the loss of their multi-million pound deal with Spotify have increased stress on the couple, it’s been reported.

Nick Benedict, who was a key part of such major soaps as All My Children, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, died July 14 of complications following emergency spinal surgery. He was 77 and died in Arizona.

EXCLUSIVE: Freestyle Digital Media has picked up North American rights to the sports documentary Big Crow from director Kris Kaczor, slating it for release on VOD platforms on August 1. 

McKinley Franklin editor Judith James, producer of “Quiz Show” and “Mad Dog Time” and Richard Dreyfuss’ longtime collaborator, died in Santa Barbara after a bout with cancer. She was 86. James’ friend, Alex. B Block, confirmed the news to Variety. James’ was an accomplished producer who worked alongside Dreyfuss on projects including “Funny, You Don’t Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville,” “Prisoner of Honor” and “The Lightkeepers.” “From the minute I met Judy James at the Mark Taper Forum, I knew I had found someone who had the same passion for storytelling that I did,” Dreyfuss said in a statement. “In all the years we were producing partners, we were of like mind, not gender, and we always found a way to agree and wouldn’t have done anything without each other’s approval. She was a wonderful woman and a great friend.”

McKinley Franklin editor Laird Koenig, who wrote “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane,” died in Santa Barbara on June 30, Jamie Dixon, the son of Koenig’s collaborator Peter L. Dixon, told Variety. He was 95. Koenig was an American author and screenwriter whose novel was adapted into the 1976 Jodie Foster-led horror movie “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.”  He was born on Sept. 14, 1927, in Seattle, and would go on to attend the University of Washington. Koenig worked in advertising before being approached by Peter L. Dixon, whom he would collaborate with extensively throughout his career, and went on to write for the adventure television series “Flipper.” 

Judith James, a film, TV and Broadway producer who was Richard Dreyfuss’ producing partner for many years and worked on such projects as Quiz Show, Mr. Holland’s Opus and Eleanor: In Her Own Words, has died of cancer in Santa Barbara, CA. She was 86.

Meghan Markle reportedly 'broke a rule' when she was out visiting a local farmer's market at the end of last week.

Kevin Costner is drawing a line in the sand between himself and his estranged wife, Christine, even deeper.

Kevin Costner filed new divorce documents against Christine Baumgartner to insure "an orderly process" as she vacates their shared beachfront estate outside of Santa Barbara, California. In new documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Costner's legal team filed an ex parte application to "prevent Petitioner (Baumgartner) from removing Respondent’s (Costner) separate property from his home, and to insure an orderly process for the removal of her separate property (if any)." The "Yellowstone" actor argued in the application that "under the PMA (pre-marital agreement) there is no community property." Baumgartner was ordered by a judge last week to vacate the separate residence of their $145 million Carpinteria compound by July 31.  "Petitioner’s counsel has stated, in writing, that Petitioner 'plans' to remove many items which are not Petitioner’s separate property," documents stated.  "Petitioner refuses to sign a Stipulation that she will not do so unless and until there is a written agreement between the parties." Costner purchased the property before their marriage, and a pre-marital agreement allegedly stipulated that she would not only move out of the home within 30 days, but also no longer live in any of his properties if they divorced.  Her team argued that the Santa Barbara housing market made it difficult for her to find a new home adequate to suit the needs of her three children, but Judge Thomas Anderle denied Baumgartner's request to move out of the residence by Aug.

her $129,755 per month in child support — half of what she originally wanted.Baumgartner, 49, “only wants to take care of and support her children,” an inside source told People on Thursday.“The divorce is not their fault,” the source continued. “She doesn’t want them to suffer, or experience negative life changes because of it.”The insider also divulged the alleged toll that this has taken on the mom.“It’s all stressful for Christine, but she is trying to stay positive,” the source told the outlet.The Post reached out to representatives for both Costner and Baumgartner.In early May, the couple filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” — but it has quickly turned into a tense and vicious legal with a battle over their Santa Barbara, California, home and claims of lavish spending.The couple wed in September 2004.

SANTA BARBARA – Christine Baumgartner, Kevin Costner's estranged wife, appeared in a Santa Barbara courtroom Wednesday as a judge ruled on a tentative child support agreement for the couple. The "Yellowstone" actor will pay the former purse designer $129,755 per month in child support for their three children.  Baumgartner initially requested $248,000 monthly in support or "in the alternative, at the guideline rate of $217,300 per month, payable on the first day of each month." Costner was offering $51,940 per month. Judge Thomas Anderle granted an evidentiary hearing, and pending the hearing, Costner and Baumgartner will each be required to pay 50% of their three children's health care expenses, sports and extracurricular activities.

Who’s really to blame for how nasty Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgautner‘s divorce has gotten? Well, it might depend whom you ask…

the Daily Mail. “This isn’t about the house, it’s about making Christine’s life a living hell for actually going through with the divorce.”The 49-year-old handbag designer and the 68-year-old actor and director had filed for divorce in May, citing “irreconcilable differences” after an 18-year marriage.The split quickly turned ugly, with the couple butting heads over child support payments along with the $145 million Santa Barbara mansion that they once shared, which she now has 48 hours to vacate.“Christine said she wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin had her escorted off the property by police,” the pal claimed.For the uninitiated, Costner had been pushing to get Baumgartner to leave the marital property for weeks, citing a premarital agreement they both signed in 2004 that stipulated she would blow within 30 days in the event of a split.However, Baumgartner argued that she would leave on her own terms as the Academy Award winner had “no legal basis” to kick her out.

Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce from Kevin Costner in May after 18 years of marriage. Since filing her petition on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences," Christine has battled against Kevin both in legal documents and in the courtroom for her fair share of assets acquired since they married in 2004.

that was seen by The Post.The couple will be required to each pay 50% of their children’s private school tuition, extracurricular activities and unreimbursed health care expenses under the interim ruling made by Judge Thomas Anderle. However, per TMZ, the child support order is temporary and there will be a full hearing over the next few months, which means that the monetary amount is subject to change.

Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying dialed up the romance with a once-in-a-lifetime performance on his wedding day. The 31-year-old baritone tied the knot with Mark Manio over the weekend and marked the occasion with an original song. In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, Hoying grabs the mic for an intimate performance of «Four» — which he wrote for his new husband.

Scott Hoying is married!

Kevin Costner's estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, may face an uphill battle in their divorce following the Oscar winner's courtroom victory Wednesday.  A judge ordered Baumgartner to officially vacate their Santa Barbara-area estate by the end of the month despite her request to remain in the family home through August. In addition, Judge Thomas Anderle sealed portions of the premarital agreement. Kevin and Christine were married for 18 years and have three children together.