Month: May 2025

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The City of Santa Barbara shut down the historic La Casa De La Raza building on Friday, citing safety concerns and code violations.

Dangerous building conditions at 601 E. Montecito Street have made continued operation of the building unsafe, according to a statement from the city of Santa Barbara. 

An inspection took place on May 7 for any building, safety or fire code violations within the building which revealed several concerns for occupants in the building, according to a city statement.

This building shutdown took place due to several fire risks before a bankruptcy auction for potential buyers to inspect the property, according to a City statement.

Lack of proper exit signs and lighting, lack of exit door hardware, blocked access to the public for required exits, unsafe electrical wiring and unsafe gas piping are some of the issues within the structure, according to a City statement. Red tags placed on the building Friday afternoon cite insufficient egress and gas and electrical issues.

Casa donation manager Jennifer Sanchez issued the following letter on the sudden stop of operations:

While we are still processing this abrupt and forceful actions, we remain committed to serving out community. As a result, our community events, including the upcoming Mother’s Day Brunch will be relocated to Café La Fonda, 129 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

Jennifer Sanchez, Casa Donation Manager

Casa Volunteer Jacqueline Inda told Your News Channel that she had hoped a potential buyer might help with the building’s financial situation.

Inda also wrote that the City’s actions had grave consequences for the region’s migrant community.

In its press release, the city of Santa Barbara said it has been informed that Casa De La Raza no longer owns the building and hasn’t operated there since 2021. The building is owned by La Casa Founders Holding Company, which formed after Casa De La Raza struggled with mounting debts and a foreclosure on the building.

The city’s assertion that Casa De La Raza doesn’t operate at 601 E. Montecito Street is harder to pin down. The nonprofit organization has for decades been a cultural center for the city’s Chicano and Latinx communities and still uses the building for various events, including assistance, resources and advocacy for undocumented immigrants. Casa De la Raza’s website is Lacasafounders.org and lists the La Casa Founders Holding Company and the historic building’s address on the website.

The building’s sudden closure comes after a string of noise complaints made by neighbors, according to Your News Channel’s Tracy Lehr.

A condo owner and resident who preferred to remain anonymous told Your News Channel’s Tracy Lehr that neighbors have listed 70 excessive noise incidents since 2022.

The City of Santa Barbara ended its statement on the abrupt change with the following quote:

The City understands that this facility is used as a resource center for undocumented families and acknowledges the heightened concern among our immigrant and Latino communities related to official enforcement actions. The red tag action is being taken purely to protect lives and prevent a potential tragedy. In the spirit of transparency and support, we refer back to the January 2025 statement from City Administrator Kelly McAdoo regarding ICE activity, City Administrator’s Statement on ICE.

We echo that message today: The City of Santa Barbara and its public safety personnel remain committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for all residents, regardless of immigration status. We do not support any action that causes fear, distrust, or displacement in our community.

The City thanks the community for its continued partnership and understanding as we take urgent action to protect public safety while honoring and supporting the important work that occurs in our neighborhoods every day.

Bryan Latchford, Public Information Officer, City of Santa Barbara

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Mike Klan

FRESNO, Calif. – Westmont Baseball (41-12) defeated the Sharks of Hawai’i Pacific (32-22) by a score of 5-3 on Friday afternoon to win the PacWest Tournament Championship in the Warriors’ first year of eligibility.

Sophomore Joey Rico (5-2) started on the hill for the Warriors and earned the win. He pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Rico struck out five and did not issue any walks.

Zach Yates tied the Warriors’ single-season saves record by pitching the final two innings. He did not allow a run, gave up just one hit, and struck out two.

The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run blast by Tyler Dunn over the fence in left-center field. The home run drove in Daniel Patterson who had singled through the left side to start off the inning.

Hawai’i Pacific tied the game in the top of the third with two runs of their own. After Noah Hata was hit by a pitch, Kan Taguchi doubled off the fence in right field to plate Hata. A sacrifice bunt by Skyler Agnew advanced Taguchi to third before Noah Blythe drove an RBI-single into left.

The damage was limited, courtesy of a heads-up play by Rico. With Blythe at third and one away, Daniel Johns hit a low line drive up the middle. Rico reached down and snagged the missile, then fired to third to retire Blythe who could not return to the bag on time.

The tie did not last long. With one out in the bottom of the third, Grant Yzermans powered a solo home run deep over the left-field fence, putting the Warriors on top 3-2.

Neither team scored again until the top of the sixth when Blythe delivered a lead-off homer to left-center, tying the game at three runs apiece.

The tie was broken in the bottom of the seventh. Westmont catcher Shane Hofstadler led off and hit the first pitch he saw deep, but left of the third-base foul line. He then produced an unexpected bunt single down the third base line. Zach Mora followed with a sacrifice bunt, moving Hofstadler to second.

One out later, Hofstadler stole third without a throw. After Soper walked, the Sharks’ pitcher was called for a balk, scoring Hofstadler and moving Soper to second. Bryce McFeely then singled up the middle and Soper sped home to put the Warriors up 5-3.

Up by two runs with two innings remaining, Svagdis called for Zach Yates to close out the game in the final two innings. The senior retired the first two batters he faced, before giving up a single to Daniel Johns. A deep fly ball by Bronson Rive to center field had Warrior fans holding their breath, but Jack Bollengier settled under the ball near the warning track and pulled it in to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Yates struck out Tyler Arnold before Troy Harding reached on an error. That brought up Keanu Spense to pinch hit for Frankie Pera. Spense struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt. When the ball skipped away from Hofstadler, Harding broke for second. Hofstadler retrieved the ball which was to his left, then fired to second base. Mora covered the bag, caught the ball and tagged Harding for the final out of the game.

In a press conference after the game attended by Svagdis and the four senior captains (Yates, Patterson, Bryan Peck and Ryan Humphreys), the Warrior coach credited the Sharks for their effort. “Hawai’i Pacific had to go through the losers’ bracket, so you’d think it would be to our advantage from a pitching standpoint. They did a great job making us feel like that wasn’t the case. Their pitchers did a great job and (head coach) Dane Fujinaka had a really good plan with his pitchers. They kept us off balance, so hats off to him. They are a strong hitting team as well.”

Speaking for the captains, Yates said, “It means everything to be a captain on this team. We are all four-year – at least – guys. We have grown up in this program and seen so many seniors before us who have led so well in their own individual ways. We have had a lot of success during our time at Westmont. It is a privilege to go out and compete in games like this and bring home more wins as captains leading this team. It is an honor for us.”

“This program means the world to me,” said Humphreys. “I don’t think there is anything cooler than this program that we get to be part of. These guys are my best friends.”

“We would be remiss not to mention Robert Ruiz who recruited these guys to my right and to my left,” said the coach. “He established the culture of this team. I am blessed to take over the program for someone like Robert.

“Of course, Tyler LaTorre took these guys from Robert’s tutelage and culture and continued to maintain that and foster his own culture. Being able to follow in their footsteps is a privilege and honor for me. I have a lot of respect for both those guys.”

With the win, the Warriors receive the conference’s automatic qualifier berth in the NCAA DII National Tournament. On Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m., the NCAA will announce the 56-team bracket, which begins with regional play. Westmont anticipates being named a host for one of the two West Regionals. Play will begin on Thursday, May 15.

(Article courtesy of Westmont Athletics).

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Andie Lopez Bornet

GOLETA, Calif.  Another bear was seen early Friday morning at Ellwood condos, a short distance from the Ellwood school in western Goleta. Ring camera footage was sent to Your Newschannel and it shows a bear at the front door of a home at Sanderling Lane and Hollister. It’s unclear if it is the same bear from Thursdays encounters near Isla Vista elementary school.

 We talked to a co-founder of the local animal rescue team who says bears typically roam far and wide.

“Typically our California black bears have a thirty to forty mile roaming range per day,” said Julia DiSieno, Animal Rescue Team co-founder and director. “They’re not lost, they’re just out roaming around and doing their thing. And sadly, a couple of them wound up in Goleta and tragically, we lost the in Montecito and we don’t want to see that again. And our wardens and our biologists are doing everything they can.”

DiSieno is referring to a bear that made its way from the Goleta Valley to the beaches of Santa Barbara in mid-April, but then appeared to have been hit and killed by a car on highway 101.

DiSieno also says it is possible some of the bears could be displaced from the recent Lake Fire that happened a year ago. 

Friday bear ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant shared insight with UCSB’s The Current saying the bears may yearlings.

“it’s spring,” said Rae Wynn-Grant. “In the lifecycle of a young bear in its second year of life, springtime is when it detaches from mom to figure out what territories it’s going to independently inhabit.”

Anyone who sees the bear is urged to call law enforcement and report it to the Department of Fish and Wildlife under their online Wildlife Incident Reporting System.

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Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including spoofed phone numbers and impersonations of law enforcement officers, to defraud people.

Locally, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has seen a surge in “warrant scams,” where scammers pose as law enforcement officers and call victims claiming they missed jury duty, have an outstanding warrant, or owe fines—and will be arrested if they don’t pay.

In one recent case, a local woman named Ashley received a call from someone claiming to be with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, stating she had failed to appear for jury duty.

“So now you have two charges against you,” Ashley recalled the scammer saying. “One for contempt of court and one for withholding evidence. So obviously I was terrified.”

At first, the call seemed convincing—until the scammer used Ashley’s maiden name.

“Excuse me, I’ve been married for a while now. Why did you just call me by my maiden name?” she asked. “And he said, ‘They’re very similar. That might have just been a typo.’ I thought it was a typo.”

The scam escalated when the caller instructed her to withdraw $5,000 and post bail at a specific location in Goleta, but mispronounced the city’s name—a red flag for Ashley.

“Sergeant, excuse me, how long have you worked in the county?” she asked.

“And he said ten-plus years, which matched what I found on his LinkedIn profile that I had Googled while speaking to him.”

Ashley continued questioning the caller, and soon realized the judge overseeing the alleged case was her own aunt. She immediately texted her.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t know I was supposed to appear in your court on August 8 or whatever it was at 9 a.m. Is this real?” she asked.

“She said, ‘I didn’t have court that day.’ And I said, ‘Someone told me I am in contempt of court for not coming to your courtroom as an expert witness.’ And she said, ‘Hang up the phone immediately. This is a scam.’”

Kristina Perkins, chief investigator with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, shared Ashley’s story on her weekly podcast Scam Squad.

“These scammers are getting more sophisticated,” Perkins said. “They spoof phone numbers to make it look like a legitimate call from the Sheriff’s Office. They keep you on the line and coach you through withdrawing money and handing it over.”

Perkins advises residents to hang up immediately if they receive a call demanding payment for missed jury duty or an arrest warrant.

“Law enforcement will never call and demand money over the phone,” she said. “If you’re unsure, look up the verified phone number of the Sheriff’s Department and call them directly to check.”

State data shows that scams are affecting all age groups, with nearly half of scam victims under age 20 reporting financial losses. Seniors over 80 lose the most money on average.

Perkins encourages all scam victims to report the crime—even if they feel embarrassed.

“Please don’t be ashamed,” she said. “Anyone can be a victim. Reporting helps us stop it from happening to someone else.”

To report a scam, call the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Scam Hotline at 805-568-2442.

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