Author: KEYT

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – E-bikes are surging in popularity among Santa Barbara’s young riders, and police say safety can’t be left in the dust.

Students traded class for a crash-course in e-bike safety at la Colina Junior High School in Santa Barbara.

“In response to just concerns about E bike ridership that police department has started reaching out to schools and doing a brief E bike safety presentation to the kids,” said traffic ergeant Douglas Klug of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Officers from Police Department led hands-on demonstrations in the school parking lot.

“To teach the kids to ride safely to “behave responsibly and not create problems in traffic,” said Klug.

During the presentation, officers gave demonstrations aimed at preventing injuries.

“I hope that people don’t crash on it and like they could be safe … It’s important because like lots of people get hurt on it and they’re kind of like helping people not getting hurt,” said student Peyton Collins of La Colina Junior High School.

Officers plan to bring similar sessions to other local campuses.

“I hope it is by starting with little kids with young kids we could teach them from the beginning to be more responsible riders as they grow up,” said Klug.

Small lessons, big payoff.

The presentation comes amid growing concern about speeding, helmet use, and risky riding habits among teens.

The department hopes the lessons will not only reduce violations under the city’s new e-bike safety ordinance but also save lives.

Police are urging parents to reinforce the message at home and make sure every rider wears a helmet before taking off.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

Girls Volleyball: San Marcos 3, Santa Barbara 0

There was no late drama this time between Channel League rivals Santa Barbara and San Marcos.

The first place Royals made short work of Santa Barbara in a sweep 25-16, 25-11, 25-20 to stay undefeated in league at 12-0.

Earlier in the season the Dons took the Royals to five sets before just falling short.

San Marcos was led by Charlotte Hastings who blasted a match-high 15 kills.

Other results: Ventura 3, Oxnard 0; Dos Pueblos 3, Buena 1; Cate 3, Carpinteria 0; St. Bonaventure 3, Bishop Diego 2; Laguna Blanca 3, Thacher 0

Girls Flag Football: San Marcos 48, Santa Barbara 8; Dos Pueblos 48, Buena 0; Oxnard 28, Ventura 25

Girls Golf: Dos Pueblos 11, San Marcos 7

Boys Water Polo: San Marcos 17, Ventura 6; Santa Barbara 13, Rio Mesa 10; Carpinteria 17, Channel Islands 1

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Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG VILLAGE, Calif. – Two people received medical care for their injuries after a car crash near Vandenberg Village just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

One person received a helicopter airlift for major injuries and another person had minor injuries in the crash. Crews helped both patients to Marian Regional Medical Center, according to the SBCFD.

The SBCFD received help from Lompoc Fire, California Highway Patrol, CalStar, and AMR.

Updates on this emergency will be provided as they become available to Your News Channel.

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Central Coast airports are continuing to operate as normal during the ongoing government shutdown despite impacts now beginning to happen at other airports across the country.

On Monday, the Hollywood Burbank Airport operated without air traffic controllers for several hours due to a shortage of workers.

The Southern California airport joins a growing list of U.S. airports that are experiencing a shortage of federal workers.

According to CNN, personnel shortages at other airports such as Chicago, Washington DC, Phoenix, Denver, Newark, New Jersey, Jacksonville, Florida, and Indianapolis have been so short-staffed, it has caused some travel disruptions.

Meanwhile, on the Central Coast, all three commercial airports are reporting their air service has been business as usual.

“As of right now, everything is remaining open,” said Joe Goble, San Luis Obispo County Airport (SBP) Public Information Specialist. “Operations are functioning as normal. TSA is working right now and will remain open and our air traffic control will also remain open as well.”

Management at both Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) and Santa Maria Airport (SMX) said Tuesday they are also continuing to operate as normal and have not experienced any disruptions to air service.

Since Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers are considered essential workers, they are required to work through government shutdown without pay.

ABC News reports an estimated 13,294 controllers will continue to work without pay during the shutdown. 

For Central Coast passengers traveling on Tuesday, they were relieved the three local airports are remaining open and have yet to feel any direct impacts caused by the shutdown.

“100% yes, we appreciate it,” said Jared Tartaglia of Atascadero, who flew into SBP from South Carolina on Tuesday. “It made things so much easier. It is definitely good to travel at the moment.” 

With the shutdown remaining in place with no known end date, SBP is advising air travelers to check with the their airlines for up-to-the-minute flight information.

“SBP is continuing to monitor the situation and transparency is really key for us,” said Goble. “Any updates that we receive or that we know about, we will forward to the public and they will make sure that that’s known about before travel ensues.” 

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John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – The residents of Goleta have had a chance to talk one-on-one with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s department assigned to their area.

It was part of a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ program with a special emphasis on Goleta, the Sheriff’s Office is contracted as the police department.

The event was held at the McDonald’s on Fairview which donated all the coffee for those attending.

The issues were widely distributed.

Public Information Officer Raquel Zick said, “we talked about homelessness, we talked about the (housing) program across the street that addresses some of the homeless issues in this area, we talked about e-bikes, we talked about traffic safety with some of the changes in the speed limits.”

One of the groups to come forward was Mom’s Demand Action, Sarah Penna said, “we were building relationships with the police department here in Goleta. We were talking to them about safe storage of firearms, so we hand out a lot of gun locks in the community.”

The department had several members of the command staff on hand.

Upcoming there will be a special ‘Coffee with a Cop’ program that will focus on Isla Vista issues and events including the unsanctioned spring festival known as Deltopia that draws thousands of visitors.

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Caleb Nguyen

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (KEYT) – Two people died following a car crash and subsequent vehicle fire near Arroyo Grande just before 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to the SLO Tribune.

The crash occurred on the Highway 101 and Traffic Way off-ramp; however, the car fire posed no threat to vegetation or grass nearby, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

The CHP SLO division originally mentioned major injuries from the crash, but later displayed the incident as a fatality on its incident page.

The car that caught fire was the only vehicle involved, and the San Luis Obispo CHP asked drivers just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to expect delays and choose alternate routes, according to CAL Fire SLO.

More information on the incident will be provided as it becomes available to Your News Channel.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County workers chanted outside the administration building early Tuesday morning, worried about layoffs and patient services as federal funding cuts loom.

The potential reductions stem from the Trump administration’s proposal to scale back funds tied to undocumented immigrants in the county’s healthcare system. That could leave thousands without access to care, and county employees uncertain about their jobs.

“These are lives on the line. People will die if this happens,” said one worker. “They are indicating that 7,500 people are going to seamlessly transition to other overburdened clinics in the community, and that’s just not a realistic situation.”

Union members from SEIU Locals 620 and 721 rallied outside the county building, holding signs and calling for job protections. Many said the cuts would not only strain families already living paycheck to paycheck, but also leave vulnerable patients without the support they rely on.

“Sad because they’re family,” one employee said of their co-workers. “We’ve been together for the longest, and we work together as a team.”

Inside, Santa Barbara County Supervisors heard from more than 50 speakers, including healthcare workers, patients, and community leaders, urging the county to find alternative funding and preserve critical services.

Supervisor Steve Lavagnino pressed public health officials on whether every patient would still receive care.

“Are you confident that with a warm handoff, each person will be able to get the services that they need?” Lavagnino asked.

County Public Health Director Dr. Mouhanad Hammami said that work is underway to reassign all affected patients.

“That means that everybody has now a provider,” Hammami said. “Now the heavy lifting of coordinating with that provider, ensuring that those patients are getting an appointment, ensuring that they are receiving the care they need, that’s why we are looking at other alternatives. We’re looking at urgent care as well.”

Hammami added that local health systems and free clinics have been supportive of efforts to expand access through “phase two” planning.

Still, community advocates warned that the county’s plan remains uncertain.

“This is a premature plan with more questions than answers,” said Eder Gaona with the Fund for Santa Barbara.

Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto, also with Future Leaders of America, said the transition could have devastating effects for those who depend on county doctors.

“What does this mean for the chronically ill patients who have built trust with county doctors?” she asked. “The real-world consequence is that thousands of patients will be cut off from the county’s healthcare systems.”

The county is delaying any final decision until November 18, the last possible date to issue layoff notices before the end of the year. Until then, officials say they’ll keep exploring solutions to protect both patients and employees.

“Nothing is going to prevent the communities from still seeking these services,” one worker said. “The work is still going to be there.”

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Two people were arrested in the Santa Maria riverbed over the weekend for allegedly having drugs and ammunition.

This is an example of the multi-agency operation for keeping the riverbed cleared.

Around 8:30 Saturday morning, police officers were called to the Santa Maria riverbed to check on possible drug sales in the area.

Two residents of Santa Maria were contacted, at least one of them a transient living in the riverbed.

“Our city rangers are monitoring the riverbed on a daily basis,” says Santa Maria’s Assistant City Manager Chuen Wu. “You do see some camps in there, but it’s not nearly the extent of what we had a year ago.”

Officers say the man and the woman had more than half a pound of methamphetamine, nearly three ounces of fentanyl and other narcotics as well as ammunition for a .22-caliber firearm.

“The person that was arrested is actually a transient,” says Lt. Nate Totorica with the Santa Maria Police Department. “They don’t have a current residence. However, they’re known to be inside the city, frequent the city shop at our local businesses, and they’re contacted or have been contacted in the past several times.”

No firearm was located, but the residents were booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail on multiple violations related to narcotics and for possession of the ammunition.

“This is one aspect of public safety and but it’s also a community issue,” says Wu. “We still expend a lot of public safety resources and services on typical patrol and traffic.”

City officials say the problem of riverbed encampments is certainly better than it was a year ago, but more resources are needed to combat the issue in full.

“We ultimately want to direct people to resources if there is addiction that they’re dealing with,” says Wu. “So I think it’s a balanced approach of both helping people and applying the law.”

City leaders say they are doing their best to balance public safety with providing help and resources to those who need them, as often the core of the problem can be deeply personal.

Police and city officials encourage the public to promptly report any suspected narcotics activity.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Two professors from the University of California, Santa Barbara have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their incredible work and research in quantum physics.

UC Santa Barbara’s John Martinis and Michel Devoret were selected, alongside UC Berkeley physicist John Clarke. The three minds are credited with “the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit.” Developing a series of experiments in 1984 and 1985, they built an electronic circuit of superconducting materials – each separated by a thin layer of insulative material, creating what is known as a Josephson junction.

“What a profound thrill, and a moment of exceptional pride for our campus, to congratulate our UC Santa Barbara professors John Martinis and Michel Devoret on winning this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics, alongside UC Berkeley’s John Clarke,” said UCSB Chancellor Dennis Assanis. 

The physicists’ findings helped to create major technology advancements, such as the creation of cellphones, data storage devices and LED lighting.

John Martinis graduated with his doctorate in physics from the UC Berkeley in 1987 under the guidance of Clarke, before coming to UC Santa Barbara in 2004. In 2014, Google Quantum AI hired Martinis and his team to build a quantum computer to take on a problem considered too difficult for normal computers. He joined Australian startup Silicon Quantum Computing in 2020 before co-founding the quantum computing company Qolab, where he serves as Chief Technology Officer.

Devoret graduated from the University of Paris, Orsay in 1982 with a doctorate in condensed matter physics, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Clarke’s lab at UC Berkeley from 1982-1984. He served as the director of research, head of the Quantronics Group at CEA-Saclay in France from 1995-2002, then went on to teach applied physics at Yale University from 2002-2024. Devoret ultimately joined faculty at UC Santa Barbara and is the Chief Scientist at Google Quantum AI.

“It is wonderful to be able to celebrate the way that century-old quantum mechanics continually offers new surprises,” said Olle Erikkson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics. “It is also enormously useful, as quantum mechanics is the foundation of all digital technology.”

Dr. Martinis shared his thinking with students before a UCSB news conference about the award.

“It has been a long time, it’s not going to happen, so this year I just forgot about it more or less,” said Martinis.

Martinis said his wife had stayed up late reading a book when the phone starting ringing with the news”

“She let me sleep in until 5:30 because she knows I need my sleep,” said Martinis.

He also said a math teacher when he was young deserves some credit for his success.

“The mathematics teacher in high school, Mr. Iverson was great because he taught, you know, a nice advanced calculus, the thing he did for me; he wouldn’t give me credit unless I organized my material, he forced me to be very methodical and logical in how I solved my mathematical problems.” 

The winners will share a cash prize and be recognized at a ceremony in Sweden on Dec. 10.

For more information visit https://www.science.ucsb.edu and https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2025/

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Learning to read can be tough.

But a new California law aims to help children before they struggle.

“We are the 41st state to adopt a reading risk screener this is a universal screener it’s quick… it’s a way of checking in with the kids and flagging any students who show signs of being at risk for reading difficulties,” said parent and teacher Natalie Wilkes at Monte Vista School.

Starting in the 2025–26 school year, all kindergarten through second-grade students will be screened for early signs of reading difficulties.

“As a parent I was reassured … I like knowing our state is also concerned about students who need early intervention,” said Wilkes.

“It really holds people accountable in terms of people really looking at students and whether they’re struggling, and identifying where their needs might be,” said curriculum and instruction TOSA Allison Heiduk of Hope School District.

School administrators hope this new law will help close the reading gap for all kids.

“I’m hopeful in that just again it gives us more information identifies ways in which we could support our students,” said Heiduk.

Students will be tested in their primary language, and parents will receive results within 45 days.

The screenings can flag traits linked to dyslexia, though they do not diagnose the condition.

Districts are also required to follow up with targeted literacy instruction, tutoring, or further evaluation for students found at risk.

“It’s another valuable data point that we will have as teachers to help us understand our students in our classroom and to give them the support that they need,” said Wilkes.

Teachers hope early support and responsive teaching will build confidence — one reader at a time.

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