Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Bishop Diego has the ‘skills to pay the bills.”

The Cardinals have loads of experience and talent at the skill positions as they look to return to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs after they just missed out last season.

Quarterback Tua Rojas has plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal including star senior running back Oscar Mauia who will certainly play college football next fall.

Fellow running back Gabe Villa along with wide receivers John Michael Flint and Sam Crawford will produce plenty of highlights.

The big question mark for the Cardinals is the inexperienced offensive and defensive line.

If they improve through game experiences than Bishop Diego should be able to compete at a high level even in the rugged Marmonte League.

Last year the Cardinals were 4-5-1 and lost a handful of close games.

Bishop Diego plays four out of their first five games on the road including Friday’s opener at Lancaster.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – San Marcos liked the taste of going to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs and they are hoping to build on last year despite losing close to 30 seniors.

The Royals ended a 19-year playoff drought and they do not plan on being a one-hit wonder.

San Marcos has over 20 seniors on this year’s varsity team including a few top notch athletes from other sports that are playing under the Friday lights for the first time ever.

The Royals open the season this Friday, August 22nd at home against Del Sol of Oxnard. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

(Play the video as the Royals talk about the season).

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –

Girls Volleyball

Santa Barbara 3, Valencia 2

Santa Ynez 3, Dos Pueblos 0

St. Joseph 3, Laguna Blanca 0

Saugus 3, Ventura 1

Westlake 3, St. Bonaventure 2

Girls Flag Football:

Dos Pueblos 55, St. Bonaventure 0

(Alma Basave rushes for a DP touchdown as they move to 7-1 on the year. Entenza Design).

San Marcos 25, Lompoc 0

Santa Barbara 51, Cabrillo 6

Oxnard 44, Simi Valley 0

Moorpark 30, Oaks Christian 18

Rio Mesa 59, Hueneme 0

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Just days before his senior season begins, Malachi Johnston knows that his football days will not end after his high school games are done.

The Santa Barbara High School standout lineman verbally committed to Cal Poly.

“I am really grateful for that opportunity to get to keep playing football,” said Johnston. “I think I am a very, very lucky person to get to play football another 4-5 years.”

Johnston has been a team captain for the Dons ever since his sophomore season.

“Guys respect him,” began Dons head coach Nate Mendoza. “He is not afraid to be harsh on his teammates, he is not afraid to be harsh on his coaches. We love everything about him, high character, high intensity, great leader.”

Johnston has not allowed a sack over the past two seasons.

Santa Barbara plays at Camarillo on Friday, August 22nd at 7 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-The Santa Barbara City Council adopted the final reading of a $3.5 million loan agreement designated for affordable housing.

The money will go to the Local Housing Trust Fund.

It is part of a loan agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.

It will be used to develop the 400 block of W. Carrillo St.

The project will be secured by a deed or trust with a 90-year affordability control covenant.

For more information visit https://santabarbaraca.gov

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrew Gillies

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Stearns Wharf murder case was declared a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury on Tuesday. The jury voted 11 to 1 to convict, but a jury must vote unanimously for criminal verdicts.

Jiram Tenorio-Ramon, 25, of Santa Barbara was accused of fatally shooting Robert Dion Gutierrez of Camarillo in December 2022.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch told Your News Channel Tuesday night his office will move to retry the case.

On the night of Dec. 9, 2022, shots rang out at Stearns Wharf between two groups and an uninvolved Camarillo man, Robert Gutierrez, who was on a walk with his wife to celebrate their anniversary was hit.

Gutierrez died from the gunshot wound on December 20, 2022, while receiving medical care at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Four men and a 16-year-old were arrested the following month in connection with the fatal shooting and eventually three teens were also charged in connection with the shooting and being accessories after the fact.

“One group involved in the altercation has been identified as local Santa Barbara area residents with ties to a local Santa Barbara street gang,” shared the Santa Barbara Police Department in February of 2023. “The opposing group in the altercation has been identified as Ventura County residents with ties to Ventura County street gangs.”

One of the arrested men, Jiram Tenorio-Ramon, was charged alongside three other men in January of 2023 and all four faced special allegations that the crime was connected to criminal street gang activity.

By July of this year, the three other men had pled guilty to lesser charges leaving only Tenorio-Ramon to face charges of murder, personal and intentional discharge of a handgun causing death, and committing a penal code violation while on felony probation.

George Steele, an attorney representing Tenorio-Ramon during the murder trial, argued that the other gang members from Ventura County fired first and his client fired back in self-defense.

“All the other things that were basically designed to inflame your emotions and this one to make you think anything other than what was going on on that wharf was right or wrong,” stated Steele during the trial.

Final arguments were submitted and jury deliberations began on Wednesday of last week.

“You have to look at the gang evidence, you have to look at the text evidence. You have to look at the rap. You have to look at his actions and the statements in the days and weeks following the murder,” said Deputy District Attorney Tate McCallister who prosecuted the case. “If he [Tenorio-Ramon] was not down there looking for trouble why did he have a loaded 9 millimeter unserialized ghost gun on him? And why was he showing it to everybody that night?

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City Council responded to a Santa Barbara County Grand Jury’s 15 page report entitled “E-Bikes In Santa Barbara: What Will It Take to Make Them Safe?”

The report was issued in June and required a response within 90 days.

Councilmembers agreed with their staff recommendation to send a letter from Mayor Randy Rowse to the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury and Presiding Judge Patricia Kelly.

The Grand Jury took up the issue following social media posts about collisions and injuries the underscored complaints.

Most of the injuries tallies by the Grand Jury were the riders, but passengers and pedestrians have been hurt.

The numbers may be under-reported depending on whether officers are called to an accident.

The report stated the proliferation of e-bikes gave the issue a sense of urgency.

Santa Barbara city and council has paths for cyclists that now share the road with the faster moving e-bikes.

The reports recommended police focus on high-traffic areas that will achieve high visibility by Dec. 1.

The city council agreed that education, enforcement and community collaboration are essential to e-bike safety.

The city has already adopted an e-bike ordinance giving officers discretion while responding to unsafe behavior.

Officers recenty towed a so-called ‘pocket bike’ that was not street legal.

Following the Santa Barbara City Council meeting Mayor Rowse talking about enforcement.

“There are a zillion ideas but ordinances don’t always solve a problem because you can say these are the rules, but if you don’t enforce them what have you done, so the enforcement piece is really important.” 

Rowse has witnessed the increase in e-bike riders locally.

“The e-bike thing really blew up out of almost nowhere, it went from as few to now everybody’s got them and they are faster than they are supposed to be, ans all that kind of stuff, so we are still wrestling with the problem for now,” said Rowse, “but we had to respond to the grand jury and at least say we are working on things which we are and working on methods of enforcement or citation or perhaps even confiscation.”

The mayor shared an anecdote saying he was almost struck by an e-bike during an interview about the issue with News Channel reporter John Palminteri, not far from city hall.

At the farmers market on Tuesday e-bike riders and cyclists appeared to be on their best behavior.

People could see them walking their e-bikes on the sidewalk and riding them in areas where pedestrians were not in their path.

The city said the police department will be strategically deploying officers and will be giving the council quarterly reports.

The city has already implemented or parcially implemented some of the Grand Jury suggestions.

In conclusion, the city thanked the Grand Jury and said it “remains committed to supporting the safe integration of e-bikes into our transportation system.”

The city plans to share reports with the Santa Barbara Fire and Police Commission and share submitted reports on its website at https://docs.santabarbaraca.gov

The Santa Barbara City Council’s response will be posted on the grand jury’s website at https://sbcgj.org

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department regarding construction contract approval for Phase II of the Modoc Multi Use Path.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On August 19, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the construction contract for Phase II of the Modoc Multi Use Path. This $6.5 million project will complete an 8-mile-long Class I (multi-use) path network from Isla Vista to Arroyo Burro Beach and the City of Santa Barbara. It will also provide a more comfortable experience for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The new path will extend the existing Obern Trail from the western Encore Drive intersection to the intersection of Via Senda, where it will connect to the recently completed Phase I multi-use path section. The Board of Supervisors approved Phase I in 2022, and construction was completed in August 2023.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps said, “This beautiful path will allow more people to bike, roll and stroll from one part of our community to another — safely. It takes a village to make these projects come to life. I’m grateful to all the partners for sticking with this project and believing in the end goal.”

Modoc Road is a high-speed minor arterial in unincorporated Santa Barbara County with speed limits of 45 mph, no continuous ADA-compliant pathway, and Class II bike lanes primarily used by experienced bicyclists. This project provides a safety benefit by creating a pathway where bicyclists and pedestrians are separated from motor vehicles. This project also provides several new pedestrian crossings for residential neighborhoods to cross Modoc Rd. in order to reach the Modoc Path, Modoc Preserve and Obern Trail. This project is identified in the Eastern Goleta Valley Community Plan, County Active Transportation Plan, and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Regional Active Transportation Plan.

The project is funded by the County General Fund ($1.1 million), a State Active Transportation Program. Grant ($2.6 million), the County Service Area 3 Special District ($1 million), Measure A ($1.3 million), and the State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account ($500 thousand). Construction is expected to begin this fall. For more information on this project, visit www.countyofsb.org/modocmup

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Tony, GRAMMY, and Emmy Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo will be receiving some local recognization from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival later this year.

The Wicked star will be honored with the Kirk Douglass Award For Excellence in Film during a formal black-tie event taking place on December 4th, 2025. The formal event acts as both an award tribute ceremony and a fundraiser for SBIFF’s educational programs.

Named after the American actor and filmmaker, the Kirk Douglass Award For Excellence in Film recognizes longtime cinema contributors – now entering its 18th year. The award praises actors who have had a major impact in the world of film, in front of the camera, behind, or both. 

Erivo has protrayed numerous notable characters during her career. She received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of American singer Aretha Franklin, a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her role as Harriet Tubman, along with multiple nominations for her most recent role of Elphaba in Wicked.

“Cynthia Erivo is a singular talent whose depth, range, and fearless commitment to her craft embody the spirit of excellence my father championed throughout his life. It’s entirely fitting that she receives the Kirk Douglas Award, which celebrates bold artistry and enduring impact in film,” states Michael Douglas.

Erivo’s Wicked co-star Ariana Grande was honored with a Virtuosos Award during the 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival earlier this year.

Past honorees of the Kirk Douglass Award are Will Ferrell, Ryan Gosling, Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Dame Judi Dench, Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange, Forest Whitaker, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris, and John Travolta.

For more information on the event, visit the SBIFF.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Health Department says it is using all of its protocols and outreach to make sure required immunizations are given and to identify any gaps in the system.

This comes after a report from the County Grand Jury.

On May 29, the report came out entitled “Do Vaccination Rates in Santa Barbara County Create a Public Health Risk?”

It brought up issues related to the lack of County vaccination rate data for homeschooled children, adult populations and high-risk settings, including the Sheriff’s Department jail.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps  who sits as the chair said, “the Grand Jury did a great job of highlighting  potential vulnerabilities and we always need to be vigilante. I think that’s what they were trying to point out.”

A Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Health Director Dr. Mouhanad Hammami said for home schooled children, obtaining data is challenging. There is currently no reliable study. In place of that, the department created a worse-case scenario based on the number of home school children ages 5-17.  If there were an issue it would not be out of the range of the acceptable “herd immunity target” and could be addressed.

New requirements will help with the most accurate numbers. Hammami said, “any pediatrician,  anybody who gives a vaccine, is going to report it and this is how they are going to establish the rate.”

He said the department has a team that mobilizes whenever there is a concern over, for example, a measles outbreak.  They identify where it came from and who was exposed.  The plan has been effective when used in the past.

In the jail Dr. Hammami said at intake, a health care related process is conducted. The department’s response to the Grand Jury reads:  

The Sheriff’s Office has established protocols for isolating inmates who exhibit signs and symptoms of infectious disease. Isolating incarcerated persons solely because they are unvaccinated would potentially violate these individuals’ rights.

Where there are unvaccinated inmates the department is offering catch-up vaccinations in accordance with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and based on identified risk factors. 

Hammami said, “every now and then we see maybe a Covid outbreak or we see something that is not related to childhood immunizations.” He says there is a rapid response plan in place. “We have what is called an IDER,   Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan, which is countywide in case, God forbid, we have another outbreak or pandemic and these are all in place.”

Capps has a serious concern based on recent trends. “We’re living through a time in history where our federal government is dismantling our vaccination system so we have a lot to be concerned about.”

She believes in the effectiveness and reliability. “We live in the state of California where we have a strong vaccination system and we need those systems in place.”

(more details, photos and video will be added later today)

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.