Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Guard Hamad Mousa scored a game high 33 points – including sinking three successive free throws with three seconds to play to force overtime – but the Cal Poly men’s basketball program, after overturning an 18-point deficit with seven minutes remaining in regulation, dropped an 83-80 overtime home decision against Idaho Sunday evening to close the 2025 calendar year.

Fellow sophomore Cayden Ward finished with 22 points for Cal Poly (5-9), which trailed Idaho (8-4), 67-49, before closing regulation with a 24-6 run. With Cal Poly still facing a 71-65 deficit and 81 seconds to play, Ward converted a three-point play before Mousa cut the gap to one after knocking down a jumper with 11 seconds on the clock.

With Cal Poly forced to foul, Vandals guard Kolton Mitchell – who scored 31 points – sank two free throws to keep Idaho in front with nine seconds left, 73-70. Mousa though was fouled attempting a three-pointer with three seconds and sank all three attempts to deadlock the matchup at the buzzer, 73-73 (left).

Playing its first overtime game of the season, Cal Poly took its first lead of the game after sophomore guard Peter Bandelj opened the extra period with a pair of free throws. Cal Poly then scratched out a 78-75 advantage with two minutes left after Ward hit a three-pointer.

Idaho, however, answered with a jumper from guard Biko Johnson to close to within a point before Mitchell converted a four-point play to hand the Vandals an 81-78 lead with seven seconds to go.

Cal Poly trailed at the Sunday’s break, 29-26, despite a 25.0 (7-for-28) percent first-half shooting mark before Idaho opened the second half with back-to-back three-pointers. The Vandals led by as much as 19 points and were up 67-49 before the Mustangs produced a 14-0 run to shave their deficit to four points with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus Idaho Jan. 21)

Up Next:After an 11-day holiday break, Cal Poly plays its first New Year’s Day game since 1966 and resumes Big West action when welcoming defending conference champion UC San Diego on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m.A double-digit scorer in all 13 appearances, Hamad Mousa maintained the Big West scoring lead at 20.6 points per game.Mousa enjoyed his second collegiate double-double after co-leading Cal Poly with 10 rebounds.Cal Poly now features three of the Big West’s top seven scorers with Peter Bandelj (16.2) ranking sixth and Cayden Ward (16.1) seventh.Junior Kieran Elliott grabbed a Cal Poly best 10 rebounds against Idaho.Sunday’s matchup was Cal Poly’s first overtime game since a 112-100 home victory against UC Riverside (Feb. 22, 2025).

(Article courtesy Cal Poly Athletics).

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) The Light Up the Harbor Chanukah Celebration in Ventura was led by Rabbi Yakov Latowicz from Melbourne, Australia.

His wife Sarah seemed glad he would get to share his thoughts following the tragedy during the first night of Chanukah at a Bondi Beach celebration one week ago.

“All the Chabad Rabbis around the world are resolved not to cancel a single menorah lighting, to add menorah lightings, to add public menorahs,” said Yakov Latowicz.

Some people skipped the local celebration in wake of the deadly shooting that is being investigated as terrorism against Jews.

Latowicz said they want everyone to feel the light and love and hope of Chanukah.

“I want people to know that they shouldn’t be afraid, they should specially for the Jews, they should be proud to be Jewish, they’ve got to be bold, the kind of people who perpetrated the atrocity in Bondi they want us to cower, to hide, to hide under the bed to take our star of David, our Chai, take the mezuzah off the door, at times like this, we have to be prouder than ever, we’ve got to take our Judaism outside, not hide it indoors, very, very important and it is important to the non-Jewish community, we need you guys, we are part of your community and we need allies, we need friends, that is why we do public lightings,” said Latowicz.

He said he was sent to the local community by the worldwide leader of the Chabad movement.

“You counter random acts of violence with random acts of kindness and goodness and charity and that is the message we want to send out to everybody, be kinder than you were yesterday, be sweeter to another person than you where yesterday that is the message of Chanukah.”

Chabad Ventura invited Chris the Juggler to entertain the crowd in Ventura Harbor Village before the lighting of seventh candle on the menorah.

During the celebration children had a chance to make Chanukah cards that sparkled.

 Some people wore menorah inspired clothing including light blue Micky Mouse ears.

One dog owner dressed his four-legged-friend in a Chanukah outfit.

Chanukah began Sunday, Dec. 14 and ends at nightfall on Monday, Dec. 22.

For more information about Chabad Ventura at https://www.chabadventura.com

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT)  An interfaith vigil marked the longest night of the year.

Santa Barbara County workers invited people to come together to remember lives lost while experiencing homelessness.

They gathered for the annual Longest Night Memorial at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse arch.

The event offered space for reflection, remembrance, and community.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory host another successful Kids Day on Sunday.

It’s a day when the popular local business gives children in need free glasses, following free eye exams.

“We’ve been doing for, more than 30 years now and, and it’s all about the community,” said Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory President Gregg Feldman.

He has worked alongside his father Rick for years and together the Feldman family has been giving back for decades.

Optometrist Dr. Joshua Pe said Sunday was his first Kids Day.

“It’s a great way to give back to the community and, you know, really be active as a part of, the Santa Barbara community,” said Pe.

Feldman said they served about 100 kids.

Some of the children had never had an eye exam.

“We’re able to help the community. Help support the community in a special way. The kids really appreciate, sometimes for the first time, they get glasses that they didn’t know they needed,” said Feldman.

They had help on Sunday from a special Santa Claus who shared his own story.

“When I was a young man, my family was very poor. And there was an elderly gentleman in our neighborhood that used to bring gift, one year I asked him what he would like from me in return for his kindness and he told me when I got older, I d like you to pay this forward,” said Santa.

Kids Day helps children see clearly in school and life.

“There’s a real need for, for the, the kids and families. Some of which just can’t afford glasses. And, when when kids can’t see, they can’t achieve their potential,” said Feldman.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

Tournament of Champions:

JSerra defeated Camarillo 52-35 to win the championship in the Gold Division.

Earlier in the day in the semifinals JSerra routed Oaks Christian 82-41 while Camarillo knocked off Orcutt Academy 56-39.

In the third place game Orcutt Academy beat Oaks Christian 57-50 while Thousand Oaks edged St. Joseph 52-51 in the consolation final.

Arroyo Grande took home the Green Division title with a 39-35 victory over Paramount.

AG had beaten Mission Prep 35-30 and Paramount knocked off San Luis Obispo 51-41 in semifinal action.

Westlake won the consolation final with a 61-35 victory over Pacifica.

Dos Pueblos lost to St. Joseph 72-45 but beat Mission Prep 59-30 later in the day.

Senior Carly Letendre scored 22 points versus Mission Prep and became the Chargers all-time leading scorer. The guard now has 1,148 points and counting.

DP is now 7-7 on the season.

San Marcos defeated San Luis Obispo 54-35 and lost to Thousand Oaks 51-29.

Santa Barbara lost a pair of game, 48-31 to Westlake and 41-19 to Buena.

Jim Bashore Holiday Cage Classic in Carpinteria:

Dos Pueblos defeated Santa Ynez 56-53 and will play Pasadena Poly in Monday’s final at 7pm. Poly beat Foothill Tech of Ventura 59-37.

The DP Chargers were led Wyatt Gardiner who scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double in the tournament.

Coulter Jay also put up double-figures in points and rebounds with 14 and 12 respectively.

Santa Ynez got 17 points from Jude Pritchard and will play in the third place game against Foothill Tech on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Host Carpinteria will play at 2:30 p.m. against Channel Islands in the 7th place game while Cabrillo meets Arroyo Grande at 4 p.m. in the consolation final.

Girls Water Polo Bill Barnett Invitational:

San Marcos beat Foothill 7-4 and Corona del Mar 20-11 to finish in fifth place.

Mater Dei won the tournament with a 10-9 victory over Newport in the championship game.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) A journalist known for covering Ronald Reagan for decades has died .

Lou Cannon called Summerland in. Santa Barbara County home.

His journalist son Carl Cannon said his father died Dec. 19th in hospice care, following a stroke.

Cannon served as White House correspondent and wrote a number of book about President Reagan.

Cannon was also friend to KEYT-TV.

The respected journalist always welcomed reporters into his home to video his comments on complex and timely issues.

He kept writing about politics with columns online.

Cannon is survived by his wife Mary and a number of children and grandchildren.

Lou Cannon was 92.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) A Roper Romp took place in the Ventura Harbor.

A Roper Romp involves fans of the 1970’s sitcom “Three’s Company” dressed up as the iconic Mrs. Helen Roper.

Its has turned into a nationwide phenomenon.

Some groups raise money for local charities.

The Mrs. Ropers walked around Ventura Harbor Village that also had a number of free holiday events going on.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The Kidz Matter Toy Giveaway took place at Legacy Martial Arts in Oxnard.

Co-founders said every child deserves the magic of Christmas.

They also said when they asked people to help Merry Christmas they delivered.

It turned out to be a heartwarming day of joy.

Brandy Beesley said they are focused fighting poverty and the future of the children.

“In the future in 2026 we are looking to just kind of touch families get into the youth give them leadership mentorship and a lot of things that a lot of them don’t have and sometimes they just need one person who believes in them and shows them a different path of life so that they believe in themselves,” said Beesley.

The giveaway was open to children of all ages and children had a chance to choose their own gifts.

Families including those with newborns posed for photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and The Grinch.

For more information visit https://oxnardmartialarts.com

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The 2026 annual waterfront permits are now on sale in Santa Barbara.

The artwork features a Great White Shark chosen by the public through a social media survey.

The sea lion was favored by 20 percent of those responding and the shark was 22 percent making it the majority.

The permits are valid from the day of purchase. Those who have purchased the passes this month have had an added savings for the coming year. In some cases 13 months.

The cost is $145.00 each.

They are available on line or in person at the Waterfront Department office in the harbor.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Parents will be able to give the gift of sight for the holidays in Santa Barbara.

This Sunday for the 31st year, the Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory is hosting its Kids Day.All children 18 and under with their parent or guardian will be able to get a free eye exam along with a free pair of glasses.The store has stocked up on special frames and styles the children will be able to choose from.They include some of the trendy and fashionable looks the kids like. For the owners this is a commitment to make sure all kids can see well for school, home and leisure activities.

Gregg Feldman is the The Eyeglass Factory President and gives credit to his dad Rick who started the program more than three decades ago.

He enjoys describing the reaction from children when they get their glasses. “The ones that get the most satisfaction when they put on glasses and they literally don’t know what they have been missing and they needed glasses. Their face brightens up and they see the difference literally. “

He says they have enjoyed their relationship with the customers and neighbors where they have stores. “We love to give back and give the kids what they really need.”

The kids day will take place only at the Eyeglass Factory store on Milpas Street in Santa Barbara..It will take place from 9 a.m. To 2 p.m. Extra staff will be on hand to process all the orders for the children. Parents can also check out the many choices of glasses for themselves, but this holiday special is just for the kids.

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