California Mid-State Fair begins much-anticipated 12-day run in Paso Robles

KEYT on July 16, 2025

Dave Alley

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – The California Mid-State Fair kicks off its much-anticipated 12-day run in Paso Robles beginning on Wednesday afternoon.

Over nearly two weeks, at least 400,000 fairgoers are expected to attend the annual gathering that includes headline concerts, thrilling carnival rides, wide assortment of food and drinks, livestock show and auction, home arts exhibits and much more.

“We’re very excited to bring you this year’s fair,” saids Colleen Boroquez, California Mid-State Fair CEO. “We’re excited to bring you all the fun things that the fair has to offer. The carnival, the food, and just the atmosphere of coming together and seeing everybody who you’ve only seen, only see once a year at the fair.”

The Mid-State Fair opens its doors at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, which will be preceded with an opening ceremony set for 3:45 p.m.

The first 100 visitors will receive one complimentary admission ticket that is valid on any other day of the 2025 Fair, an exclusive 2025 California Mid-State Fair commemorative button and a bag of kettle corn.

The theme of the fair this year is “Off to the Races!” which will be prominently seen and felt by fairgoers during their time inside the Paso Robles Event Center.

In a release, the fair said the theme will be heavily referenced around the fairgrounds, buildings and exhibits, as well as an exhibition in the Ponderosa Pavilion showcasing the days when the Paso Robles Event Center (then known as the San Luis Obispo County Fairgrounds) hosted horse racing.

As typical, the fair has lined up another big name lineup of entertainment to fill the Chumash Grandstand Arena.

Flo Rida will begin the festivities with a performance on Wednesday night and will be followed by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry over the next several days, including Jon Pardi, Cody Johnson, 311, Viva La Quebradita, David Lee Roth, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, along with Country Rodeo Finals and a Monster Truck Takeover.

With typical temperatures during the fair reaching into the 90’s and often times into triple figures, the Paso Robles Event Center has made a push this year to keep fairgoers as comfortable as possible with the addition of several new cooling features.

“We have our misty midway,” said Boroquez. “There will be a portion of our midway that we have misters to help in case it gets over 100 degrees. We also have a cooling area at the Headliner Stage.”

In addition, there is a new hydration station located by the Frontier Stage where fairgoers will be able to fill up plastic bottles with free water.

Fortunately for visitors, this year’s fair is shaping up to be one of the coolest in many years.

On Wednesday, the high only reached into the mid-70’s and the forecast through the rest of the fair has temperatures mostly in the 80’s, approximately 10 degrees below the normal average.

The California Mid-State Fair will be held from July 16 through July 27.

Gates open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight and from Friday to Sunday from noon to midnight.

For more information, click here to visit the official California Mid-State Fair website.

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Woman drops off old hand grenade found in the desert, authorities confirm it to be inert

KESQ on July 16, 2025

Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – First responders were met with a strange drop-off Tuesday after a woman went to turn over what she thought was just an old grenade that she found in the desert.

Police said the woman walked into the Riverside County Fire Station 37 on Pierson Boulevard to turn in the grenade. Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team was called in out of an abundance of caution.

HDT safely took possession of the device and were able to confirm that it was inert, or not live.

“While we’re relieved this had a safe and uneventful outcome, let this serve as a reminder: If you find something that even looks explosive, don’t touch it and don’t transport it yourself. Call us right away—preferably before making any surprise deliveries to the fire station,” reads a post by the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

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Santa Barbara Research Offers New Tools for Communities Facing Flood Risk

KEYT on July 16, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. ⁃ Rivers are powerful forces of nature shaping landscapes and impacting millions who live nearby. 

Now, scientists at UC Santa Barbara are shedding new light on why some rivers split into multiple channels while others stay on a single path.

“When we think of floods, we always think of the context of rising water levels, right but rivers are not stopping rivers move around,” said associate professor of geography Dr. Vamsi Ganti of UC Santa Barbara.

Ganti and his team used decades of satellite imagery to study 84 rivers around the world. 

Their findings could make a big difference in places like Santa Barbara, where local creeks often overflow during heavy storms.

“Understanding how rivers move is critical for how we manage flood risk on the banks of the rivers, and also trying to figure out how the river movement can change in the future,” said Ganti.

“And his research is helping us understand these forces of nature so we can better live with them,” said science communicator Harrison Tasoff of UC Santa Barbara.

Researchers believe this study could help guide smarter flood planning in the region and even around the world.

“What this means for the community is, we have a better idea of how rivers behave and when they’re aggressive, and when they’re docile,” said Tasoff.

These discoveries can be especially crucial in communities still recovering from past disasters, like the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides.

“My hope is that we start to incorporate … river movement into flood medication, such that we are better prepared,” said Ganti.

The team hopes their findings will be used by planners and emergency managers across California and beyond.A new UCSB study reveals why some rivers split into multiple channels.

For more information, visit: https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021948/rivers-choose-their-path-based-erosion-discovery-could-transform-flood-planning-and

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With Two weeks To Go – Old Spanish Days Leaders are Prepping for Santa Barbara’s Biggest Event

KEYT on July 16, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara’s biggest event, Old Spanish Days, will take place in about two weeks and thousands of people traditionally take part in the festivities.

Old Spanish Days Division Chief of Pageantry Casie Killgore said “personally, for me, Fiesta Friday is the best day of the year in Santa Barbara. ” She was born and raised in Santa Barbara and said, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. And I would never take a vacation on Fiesta Friday.  It’s a place to be.”

Although some summertime activities have seen lower turnouts in Santa Barbara County, including the just-completed County Fair, the Executive Board of Old Spanish Days is going all out for the event’s 101st year.

El Desfile Historico, the Fiesta Parade will again, be on Cabrillo Boulevard. The route at noon on August 1st will be direct from Castillo St. to Calle Cesar Chavez. It will not go past the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

The carriages are expected to return to Pershing Park on a route that includes Yanonali and Garden Street.

Overall it will be slightly different. “It is a little shorter this year, but we want to pack the people in. We have announcing booths every half block. We have kits and help do a live, broadcast. And we’re just excited to bring the fun back into Fiesta,” said Killgore.

There will be many Fiesta activities including Fiesta Pequena, Las Noches de Ronda, the Children’s Parade and the downtown Mercado are all in the preparation stages. Just added has been the Casa de la Guerra entertainment stage of dance and music.

In the next two weeks groups involved in floats for the famous parade will be spending hours decorating to their themes. That work will be done in the back lot of the Carriage and Western Art Museum in Santa Barbara.

In the next week, there will be other announcements about Fiesta activities, any special additions, and ways families and friends can take part in the largest and most celebrated event of the year in Santa Barbara.

El Presidente Fritz Olenberger said, “after 12 or 15 years of photographing it, Gretchen and I are going to be in it in a carriage, and our kids and grandkids are going to be in a wagon. They’re going to be in the circus wagon. So that’s like the family circus.”

Killgore says it will be a full parade. “We’re coming back with 58 entries. We will have 27 carriages and we’re returning to a very equestrian focused parade with a lot of charro groups coming out. And we’re just really excited to bring back that Fiesta flair and some fun. “

Second Vice President Tony Miller said support from businesses has been a key factor to the Fiesta budget and the way many events are offered for free. “Year in, year out. And no matter what happens, they come back and they support our community.   We can’t do this without them.”

The history of this parade and those who want to experience it every year have a way of bonding the community especially in challenging times.

Killgore said, “it’s one day for us to come together as a community and celebrate and, you know, enjoy all the horses and really just enjoy the day as a community.”

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Pets and smoke: How to keep your furry friend safe with poor air quality

KTVZ on July 16, 2025

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, smoke and air quality concerns are top of mind for many Central Oregonians. It’s important to remember to limit your time outdoors and think about your furry friends.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pets with cardiovascular or respiratory disease are especially at risk.

Here are a few signs to watch out for, according to the AVMA:

-Coughing

-Difficulty breathing

-Eye irritation or excessive watering

-Disorientation

-Reduced appetite or thirst

Here are some tips to protect your pets:

-Keep pets indoors as much as possible

-Keep your windows closed

-Avoid intense outdoor exercise

-Keep bathroom breaks outdoors short

 Here are some tips to protect your livestock:

-Provide plenty of fresh water near feeding areas

-Limit exercise

-Plan to give livestock 4 to 6 weeks to recuperate after the air quality returns to normal

Click here to learn more.

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Governor Kotek declares state of emergency for the rest of 2025 due to imminent threat of wildfire

KTVZ on July 16, 2025

Barney Lerten

Declaration allows responders to use all necessary and appropriate resources of the state to support wildfire response. 

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday due to the imminent threat of wildfire in an executive order that extends through the rest of the calendar year.

“Oregon is already experiencing a devastating wildfire season that will have lasting consequences. The summer is only getting hotter, drier, and more dangerous – we have to be prepared for worsening conditions,” Governor Kotek said.

“I am declaring a State of Emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season. All Oregonians should follow local instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.”

A link to Executive Order 25-16 can be found here.

Following ORS 401.165 et seq., Governor Kotek determined that Oregon is in a critical fire danger situation, threatening life, safety, and property because of extreme high temperatures. The state has already experienced wildfires this season resulting in six state conflagration declarations and two federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, several community evacuations, threatened and damaged structures, and critical infrastructure.

Oregon’s neighboring states of California, Idaho, and Washington continue to experience similar fires and weather. The extended weather forecast for Oregon predicts ongoing warm and dry conditions, creating an imminent fire threat across a large portion of the state.

This declaration directs Oregon state agencies to support access to and use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies, including the deployment of the National Guard, necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, lessen, or recover from conditions caused by this emergency and to meet requests by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and/or county and sovereign tribal nation emergency management to support response needs to respond to or lessen the effects of, the wildfire emergency as described in the state’s Emergency Operations Plan.

Those who believe they have been charged excessively high prices for essential consumer goods during this emergency are encouraged to report violations to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services, which has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices.

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“Young Frankenstein” Stars Preview Sold-Out Performances at SBCC

KEYT on July 16, 2025

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Coming to you LIVE from Transylvania, its Young Frankenstein!

The Theatre Group at Santa Barbara City College opened its 80th season with this musical comedy, adapted from the hilarious book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan.

Following the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania and brings to life a monster just like his grandfather’s! Along with some friends, Frankenstein sets off on a wild goose chase when the monster ultimately escapes.

Two stars of the popular adaption, Dillion Yuhasz who plays Frederick Frankenstein and Kate Brody-Adams who plays Igna, joined your Morning News to talked about the must-see musical comedy.

“This is just amazing. This has been a lot of work to put this show, from everything – the costumes, the tech side, Santa Barbara City College always just does such a good job with their shows. We are just lucky to get to be the actors in the show,” Yuhasz said.

The show features music and lyrics by Brooks and original direction and choreography by Susan Stromans.

“I think we’re doing a great job of lifting each other up, and that’s, I think that really is the most fun. I mean, getting up there and singing and acting and dancing is wonderful,” said Brody-Adams.

As of Wednesday morning, tickets for upcoming shows are sold out, but ‘stand-by’ tickets may be available to those who show up at the theatre an hour prior to showtime.

Performance times are Thursday through Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 2pm from July 9-25 at the Garvin Theatre.

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Indio police seize 1,500 pounds of illegal fireworks over holiday weekend

KESQ on July 16, 2025

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Indio police arrested nine people for alleged possession of illegal fireworks and three others for DUI during an Independence Day weekend enforcement operation that also resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,500 pounds of fireworks, police announced today.

Officers received more than 150 calls regarding fireworks on July 4 and 5. The operation led to 28 citations, six drone-based captures for unspecified reasons and two arrests related to firearms.

“Based on the noticeable decline in illegal fireworks activity compared to last year, we believe these outreach efforts made a meaningful impact,” Sgt. Abe Plata said.

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Local student starts school supply drive helping Coachella Valley families

KESQ on July 16, 2025

Kendall Flynn

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The school year is just around the corner, and school supplies are anticipated to be the most expensive in years. But one local student, Natalie Barrios, is determined to make a difference for her community with a school supply donation drive.

“I just feel like every kid should be prepared for the first day of school, and they shouldn’t be struggling to have new school supplies,” Barrios said.

According to Savings.com, families plan to spend a record-high $628 per child on clothing, supplies and tech, which is up 4% from last year. Overall, 71% of families plan to spend more than last year.

Knowing the rising costs, Natalie and her mother came up with the idea for a supply drive. Now, Natalie and her brother are working to collect school supplies and backpacks for local students. Something that was inspired by the community need she’s seen in her own classrooms.

“I have seen kids who sometimes don’t have pencils or notebooks or just like the necessary things for basic school day,” Barrios said.

Barrios is a student with the Palm Springs Unified School District, and while the donation drive is not affiliated with any organization or district, PSUSD said drives like these from their students are inspiring.

Jessica Whiteman is the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction at PSUSD and was formerly a principal. She said she’s seen how PSUSD aids students with supplies each year, but the community drives are big help as costs rise.

“That’s heartwarming because it shows that desire and need to support one another and come together as a community to help anyone in need, but our students and our future,” Whiteman said.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more of what you need to know for school supplies this year from PSUSD officials, and the story of a local student hoping to help.

For information to help Natalie Barrios with her donation drive see:

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Palm Springs Public Library delays relocation for renovations due to HVAC issues

KESQ on July 16, 2025

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Public Library will delay its closing to the public for three weeks following HVAC issues at a set temporary location. 

The Palm Springs Public Library was set to close July 19 for renovations with normal operations taking place at Rimrock Plaza on E. Palm Canyon Drive. Despite the changes, Jeannie Kays, the director of the Palm Springs Public Library, said they’d would rather have the issues now instead of after they move in.

“Actually it’s a good thing because the landlords are being proactive with checking all of the systems in the new facility,” Kays said. “We’re going to get new carpet in the facility, new paint. It’s going to be a beautiful space.” 

The Palm Springs Library reported that their closing will be delayed until August 9, due to HVAC issues at the temporary location but still plan to celebrate their renovation and closing party July 19 from 2 p.m.- 4p.m. They now plan to open the temporary location August 25.

The last day the library will be open to the public is August 8, closing at the regular time of 5:00p.m. The library says that during the time of transition when the space is closed for moving all checkout dates will be extended and ask that the public hold items for return until the temporary library location opens.

Even with the renovation schedule being pushed back, Kays said it’s not a concern.

“We’re not worried about the timeline. We always have to be a little bit flexible,” Kays said. “Things can happen but we definitely roll with it.”

The Friends of the Palm Springs Library are set to continue selling books at the original location until the new closing date. They plan to hold regular book sales at Rimrock Plaza in addition to the relocation to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Ramon Road where they will resume accepting book donations beginning August 11 by appointment. 

The library renovations are set to last 18-36 months with regular operating hours being held at the temporary space. Programming will continue at various locations around the City including but not limited to the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, Mizell Center, and more locations to be announced.

For more information visit www.palmspringslibrary.org or call 760-322-READ (7323)

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates. 

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