As a former resident of Santa Barbara, I can say that Melinda Burns was fired because the new owner of the News Press, Wendy McCaw, is a billionaire (she divorced her hubby and got big bucks) who has purged the newspaper of every decent reporter in her feud with the community. It has been fascinating following this...try reading the website of the Santa Barbara Independent (google it!).

Wendy has fired almost everybody at the paper with any sense or integrity, and threatens to sue ANYBODY who disagrees with her. With her money, she can do it.

I won't say too much more, but I was a member of the League of Women Voters in Santa Barbara when they gave Melinda Burns our highest accolades for being dedicated and honest.

The "unionization" of the paper took place because McCaw was forcing her workers to do some very unethical things, firing anybody who disagreed with her....and so forth. She's a horrible example of money making somebody really abuse their power.

Cheers, PennyB