Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A small fire was contained behind some Santa Barbara Eastside businesses Monday morning by the Santa Barbara City Fire Department.

A fire crew doused it quickly at 21 N. Milpas in a gated location.

The fire was burning in the area of a trash can, some stored paints, and other random items. All were next to a white van.

A witness said he saw what he thought was a trespasser leaving the area right after the fire began.

Firefighters had to use an absorbent on some of the runoff mixture of water and paints.

The structures were not impacted.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Alissa Orozco

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Sandy’s Deli-Liquor in San Luis Obispo is where millionaires are made.

Last week, the liquor store at 586 Higuera Street sold a Triple Red 777 scratcher with a winning jackpot of $1 million.

According the San Luis Obispo Tribune, the unnamed winner purchased two Triple Red 777 scratchers and another smaller ticket on the evening of April 6th, but didn’t check the winning ticket until the next morning.

Sandy’s Deli-Liquor Co-Owner, Wilson Samaan, says the winner has been a longtime customer who has been living on the streets.

“I was very happy for him for winning that much money. He deserved every penny of it. It is a big life changer for him. It is, he’s gonna be up on his feet again, living off the street,” Samaan says. The store will receive a $5,000 prize for selling the winning scratcher.

An Instagram post from Thrifty Beaches says the lottery winner and his wife have lived on the streets for a long time.

The winner of the million dollar jackpot has yet to be named and the California Lottery needs to confirm the win, which can take around 6-8 weeks.

Customers have visited the San Luis Obispo location to see and take photos of the winning ticket, proudly displayed in the store.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Thousands of small creatures washing ashore on the Central Coast beaches, called the velalla, have been seen on many beaches in the last few days.

They are also called By-the-Wind sailors, a type of jellyfish.

They have been seen along the Ventura coast, Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara, Butterfly Beach in Montecito and on the sands of Cayocos in San Luis Obispo County.

“I never seen that  before, this is the first time I’ve seen it. I thought it was rocks and I touched them and they weren’t rocks and they were like plastic,” said resident Salvador Arraiga while walking on Leadbetter beach.  “”Yea they look like mussels but touching them I thought that was what it was but it’s not.”

In the harbor, they were in the water and by the docks.  Cyrus Salahub said, “I didn’t know what I was seeing at first.  I thought it was some oyster chips floating in the water but they were blueish.”  It caught the eye of passersby.   “People were kind of circling around pointing checking them out.”

They sometimes arrive during windy conditions after an upwelling in the ocean.

You should not touch them because they can cause a minor irritation according to marine biologists. Velella toxins are harmless to humans.

In nearshore waters,  ocean swimmers tried to avoid them but the Velella were shifting with the wind and currents.

Jan Von Yurt came out and said, “we swam out,  we tried to find a spot where there weren’t that many on the beach they have sails.  They move really  quickly.”

If you have an inquisitive dog you are advised to keep them away as consuming the velella will likely make them sick.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On July 28th, 1980, Anthony Rodriguez’ life changed forever.

It was the day he became the victim of abuse at the hands of his uncle in Santa Barbara.

“It started when I was 5 years old until about 16 years old. Everybody says it was all my fault … well not everybody, my abuser said it was all my fault,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez grew silent.

After all, he was just a kid, and his abuser convinced him that if he spoke out, no one would believe him.

“You’re embarrassed, you feel disgusted, you feel scared, and you don’t want to hurt anybody. You’d rather take the pain, and that’s kind of how it was,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez withdrew from others.

His grades went down.

His feelings of isolation became overwhelming, leading him to gangs, drugs and even attempted of suicide.

“Because he threatened me, he always threatened me, he said he would hit my aunts or he would do something to my little cousins. So I decided to take the burden on myself,” said Rodriguez.

One day, someone at school noticed Rodriguez’ demeanor changed.

“And that person told a school employee and that’s how it got out. At first I was very angry but if it wasn’t for that person I don’t think I would be here,” said Rodriguez.

When Rodriguez met friends at a local church with a similar experiences, he decided to break his silence.

“I told my story for the first time here at church and it made me feel good that they were free. They felt free and I felt free,” said Rodriguez.

Now, Rodriguez is helping survivors with father Pedro Lopez through the Safeguard the Children Committee at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Barbara.

“And knowing how to protect and care for children and others, not only when they gather with us, but in their homes and their neighborhoods, in the schools so they would have a greater awareness know what to look out for … and how to respond to suspected abuse or if they should witness abuse,” said Father Pedro Lopez of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Father Lopez wants the support of everyone to create a safe environment for the community.

“Child abuse and Neglect impacts the development of a child’s brain, their social, emotional well-being and it impacts their ability to thrive. But the good news is that early intervention and prevention can make a huge huge difference,” said PIO and chief of strategy and community engagement Suzanne Grimmesey of the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.

It certainly did for Rodriguez who, with the help of his church community, learned how to break his silence.

“People that abuse others don’t stop until you stop them. They won’t stop. They think it’s easy.”

For all those who are suffering, this survivor wants them to know, you are not alone.

“I believe in you … you’re worth it. It’s not your fault. It’s never your fault,” said Rodriguez.

Organizations in our community that can help include: Calm, Behavior WellnessDepartment of Social Services, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

From the County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness:

As we observe Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness joins with its partners and community in reaffirming a shared commitment: to protect the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of every child.

The trauma of abuse and neglect can have lasting impacts on a child’s development, relationships, and overall mental health. However, with early support and safe, stable environments, healing is possible—and so is prevention.

Prevention begins with connection. Each of us can make a difference by checking in on families, lending a helping hand to overwhelmed caregivers, being present for the children in our lives, and reporting concerns when something doesn’t seem right. These simple acts help build a strong safety net around our most vulnerable. 

Every member of our community can be a part of the solution—learn the signs, support local organizations working with children and families, and speak up for those who may not have a voice. Together, we can foster a culture of care, where all children are safe, valued, and have the opportunity to thrive.

The Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Crisis and Access Line can be reached by calling 888-868-1649.

Suzanne Grimmesey, MFT

PIO/Chief of Strategy and Community Engagement

Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness

Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch says violent crime has risen county-wide.

“Jails are expensive. I mean, the debt that is the reality. So our prosecutors, so our public defenders, everything is more expensive that we’re doing salaries go up, inflation goes up. The cost of everything from the whatever logistical supplies we need to do the job to salary, his continues to rise,” said Savrnoch.

The County says one of the biggest financial challenges when it comes to setting this year’s budget is the fact jail costs are outpacing revenue growth.

Public safety typically accounts for the largest portion of the budget.

But Defense Attorney Addison Steele says the way to address the growing need for public safety is by putting that money into social services.

“I firmly believe that money going into social services and by that I mean that are aiding addicts, that are aiding the mentally ill, that are aiding the poor, are going to save money on jail beds. You put that money into jail beds. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy because then that money is not used for those services. Those people end up cycling through the jail and now you fill the jail beds. It’s a misallocation of funds,” said Steele.

The County’s preliminary budget is $1.69 billion dollars, but the potential volatility in state and federal funds has many on edge.

Monday, different county departments, including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, gave presentations outlining their budget, emerging issues, accomplishments, and goals.

But, the county says the public has a critical role to play in the final decision. The next budget workshop is scheduled for Wednesday. Final budget decisions will be made in June. The fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th.

Evan Vega

PISMO BEACH, Calif. – Special needs children and their families hunted for eggs in Pismo Beach on Saturday.

Thousands of eggs were scattered across Spyglass Park.

100 eggs were tied to helium balloons for those in wheelchairs to grab.

The hunt was followed with carnival games, food and activities.

The sensory-friendly annual egg hunt is hosted by Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County.

Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Kenny Loggins and his wife, Lisa, are combining two of their passions — pickleball and helping others — in a new fundraiser for the Unity Shoppe.

“We thought this would be a great way to do a fundraiser for the Unity Shoppe,” said Loggins, who has supported the local nonprofit for decades, including through the annual Unity Shoppe Telethon that airs on KEYT.

“Instead of doing a concert or something like that, which I’ve done once or twice, I figured let’s play pickleball and make fun out of it,” he said. “Let’s call it ‘Pickleball in the Danger Zone.’”

The tournament will raise money to help families and individuals who were forced to relocate due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year, while also continuing to support local residents in need.

More than 400 people have signed up to participate in the sold-out, three-day tournament, which runs Friday, May 2, through Monday, May 5, at the Santa Barbara Municipal Pickleball Courts.

On Saturday, a Celebrity-Pro exhibition match will feature stars like Duane Henry, known for his role on NCIS, competing against professional pickleball players.

“I have a great time playing,” said Henry. “It’s the sneaky passion that snuck up on me, and I wasn’t expecting to be as addicted as I am!”

Participants will also have the chance to pay-to-play in matches with celebrity guests.

Loggins encouraged the community to come out and support the players but reminded spectators to consider biking or using a rideshare service.

“Parking will definitely be a challenge — there is no parking,” said Lisa Loggins.

There is a $50 entrance fee to attend the tournament. Tickets are available through the Unity Shoppe website.

Caleb Nguyen

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – Paso Robles police are searching for a man after he shot someone twice just after 8:00 p.m. on the 3500 block of Park Street Saturday.

The victim went to a local hospital for his two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and provided limited details on the shooter, according to the PRPD.

PRPD officers later found shell casings in the road and confirmed the shooting took place.

PRPD police are now looking for a slender man wearing a black ski mask, a blue hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.

This remains an active investigation and those with information are asked to contact the following number.