Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – After a plan to go with a Metrolink addition to the train service in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties failed, a new option is about to get rolling in the next few months.

The targeted ridership is commuters, who are often part of the ongoing congestion during peak periods.

At the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the members learned the Metrolink plan is not going to work as expected but they have been able to pivot.

Amtrak service is in line to have additional trains, especially where it’s needed to get workers out of their cars and off the freeway.

An update on agreements to get the process rolling is in the final stages, after many years of planning.

LOSSAN handles the San Diego-Los Angeles- San Luis Obispo corridor – that’s over 300 miles of train tracks.

Executive Director Jason Jewel said, “we are excited about the potential to bring expanded service not only to the Santa Barbara and Ventura county regions, but all the way up to San Luis Obispo and the entire corridor so we really think this is a great opportunity. “

Aaron Bonfilio with SBCAG said this solution came up quickly when Metrolink was out.

“In November they got the direction to proceed with that proposal and priorize it over other options,” he said to the SBCAG board.

For commuters who are coming from Ventura county to Santa Barbara and Goleta every day, and who are fed up with freeway construction and traffic, this will save them on gas and wear and tear on their car.

A price for a monthly pass has not been worked out but it is expected to be around $150.

Jewel said, “additional train service is vitally important to be able to provide commuters a way to travel to get to where they need to go and provide alternative options from the 101.”

The timing would be in line with the morning workers coming out of Ventura County around 6:30am -7:00am and have the final stop in Goleta before 8:30 a.m. There would be new options going south in the 2 o’clock hour and other choices later in the evening.

The upgraded train service plan is especially lining up for Goleta with its newest addition to the train stops on the Central Coast.

Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I look forward to having this happen sooner than later as soon as we can because we have a train station in Goleta now almost ready and we want to trains rolling through.”

Union Pacific owns the tracks and is in line with adding the routes.

Agreements could be ready to put it all in motion in April with other service changes ahead.

Jewel said, “we are really excited to not only restore services, but also this proposal to possibly expand services throughout our corridor.”

Adding more train options would reduce freeway traffic and for those traveling on day trips or longer vacations, they can go car free.

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.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The San Marcos High School girls water polo seniors were all smiles before the game during a pregame ceremony and Dos Pueblos didn’t do anything to dampen their spirits.

The Royals celebrated Senior Day by crushing the Chargers 18-3 turning this rivalry game into a rout.

USC-bound senior Charlotte Raisin scored four of her game-high six goals in the opening quarter to set the tone as San Marcos clinched at least a share of the Channel League title.

(Raisin scored :20 seconds into the game).

Michigan-commit Sophie Yonker scored in the first quarter as did sophomore McKenna Stuart as San Marcos jumped out to a 6-0 lead.

(Senior Sophie Yonker scored 4 goals in the game).

Harvard-bound Bethany King finished off the first quarter by blocking a penalty shot to keep DP off the scoreboard. King, a senior, also scored two goals while she was in the field.

Raisin added two more second quarter goals before sitting out most of the second half. She also added three assists and three steals.

Junior Shea Estabrook and sophomore Jade Pattison finished the game each with two goals.

The Royals led 12-0 at half and built the lead to 16-0 before the Chargers scored their first goal late in the third quarter.

The two teams are expected to meet in a few weeks in the Channel League Tournament.

Besides King, Raisin and Yonker, San Marcos also celebrated seniors Kate Crowder, Lily Gallardo, Anna Jacobsen and Loen McKenzie.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Sophomore Hamad Mousa finished with a team leading 17 points Thursday evening, but the Cal Poly men’s basketball program was kept to its second lowest scoring output of the season during an 86-66 setback to Hawai’i inside Mott Athletics Center. 

Guard Peter Bandelj added 11 points for Cal Poly (7-12, 3-4), which trailed Hawai’i (13-3, 5-1) at the break, 41-36, before the Rainbow Warriors opened the second half with a 13-4 run. Hawai’i, ranked ninth among 361 NCAA Division I programs in points allowed per game, failed to relinquish its double-digit advantage the remainder of the night. 

Sophomore Cayden Ward (above) finished with 10 points and team best nine rebounds for Cal Poly. 

Hawai’i opened Thursday’s matchup shooting 66.7 (12-for-18) percent from the floor, but carved out just a 31-28 lead after 15 minutes. The Mustangs, who twice cut their deficit to a single point down the first-half stretch, faced their five-point gap heading into the locker room following a buzzer-beating jumper from Hawai’i forward Gytis Nemeikša.

Into the second half, Bandelj knocked down a jumper three minutes into action to help Cal Poly close its deficit to 46-40. Hawai’i, however, scored on its next three possessions to pull away. 

Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus Hawai’i)

Cal Poly kept three of the Big West’s top three scorers with Cayden Ward (15.0) ranked eighth and Peter Bandelj (14.8) in 10th.

Up Next: Cal Poly enjoys a week break before renewing its rivalry with UC Santa Barbara when visiting the Gauchos on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tip time from The Thunderdome is 6 p.m.

Hamad Mousa maintained his streak of double-digit scoring through all 18 appearances and retained the big West scoring lead at 21.6 points per game.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KEYT) – Colin Smith scored a game-high 16 points to lead UCSB to a regular season 2-game sweep over Cal State Bakersfield 75-69.

The road win snaps a 3-game Big West losing streak as the Gauchos improve to 10-7 on the year and 3-3 in the Big West.

Zion Sensley came off the bench to score 13 points and grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.

Miro Little added 12 points as UCSB outscored the Roadrunners 30-6 from the three-point line.

Sensley and Little each made 3 three-pointers as UCSB went 10-of-26 from beyond the arc.

The Gauchos led 38-29 at halftime and went up 64-49 with less then 7:30 left in the game.

But the Roadrunners cut the deficit 3 at 72-69 with :32 seconds left.

UCSB was able to hang on with two free throws from Smith and one by CJ Shaw.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – UCSB shot a sizzling 60% from the floor and they finally pulled away from Cal State Bakersfield in the fourth quarter in an 82-67 win at the Thunderdome.

Olivia Bradley led the way with 27 points as she made 11-of-14 of her shots.

Zoe Borter was 7-of-10 from the floor for 20 points as the Gauchos improved to 13-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Big West.

UCSB outscored the Roadrunners 22-12 in the fourth quarter to secure another victory.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

High School Girls Basketball:

Dos Pueblos 46, Oxnard 38: Carly Letendre had 19 points for the Chargers who are 6-2 in the Channel League.

(Kindah Ahmad-Reda scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds as DP improved to 12-10. Entenza Design).

San Marcos 68, Santa Barbara 20: Jada Ahmad scored a game-high 19 points and three other Royals scored in double-figures as they improved to 6-2 in the Channel League.

Ventura 79, Buena 13: Kai Staniland 26 points for the Cougars who lead the Channel League at 8-0.

Bishop Diego 61, Santa Clara 10: Jaymi Coronado and Alyssa Chrestenson each scored 17 points for the Cardinals who are 17-2 on the season.

Laguna Blanca 30, Dunn 25: Charlotte Carpenter scored 11 points for the winning Owls.

St. Bonaventure 85, Thacher 13: Sophia Fernandez scored 26 points for the 15-2 Seraphs.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Eternal Flame set the tone — a quiet moment of reflection at the heart of campus.

For many students, the message wasn’t about history alone — it was personal.

“I want to celebrate the legacies of my ancestors who have fought in the past. I hope to continue to fight on campus and when I go into the world to pursue my career,” said student Michiah Woods of UC Santa Barbara.

“The Ark of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Today we come together to celebrate a fight for freedom and moments that feel like the arc is being pulled back,” said a speaker at the event.

The gathering also recalled UCSB’s role in the civil rights movement, tied to a 1968 protest at North Hall.

“Realize that there is still hope and that hope can last eternally, and that the fight can continue to go on as long as we all stand together,” said Woods.

The Eternal Flame burns, a witness to the work that still remains.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – One of the largest murals on the Central Coast is getting some much needed TLC.

It is located in Oxnard’s Colonia Park.

Original artist Judy Suzuki and Horacio Martinez are hard at work restoring the beloved mural.

Civil rights icons Cesar Chavez, Robert F. Kennedy, and MLK Jr. are featured in the mural.

It also includes boxing champion Robert Garcia, Native Americans, farm workers, and locals.

The mural has been an important landmark in the community.

Most mornings Suzuki can be found in the park, carefully mixing paints to match the original colors.

“I really feel that it’s an honor and I just want to do the best I can because this mural lasted for what, almost 30 years or so, I think. And I would like it to continue carrying the message of what happened, how it was. And so yeah, I feel grateful to be part of this.”

Longtime locals came out to see the progress made and reminisce on the original creation, first painted in 1999. One local said the mural was community project, with everyone offering a helping hand.

“So all the young people in the neighborhood came out and helped, and it was such a joy to see everyone giving all their best and their effort,” said community member, Chuy Rocha. “And most important, Horacio Martinez working on it, he was one of the young people that contributed with the ideas.”

Horacio Martinez, owner of Downtown Tattoo in Oxnard, was one of the neighborhood children who helped bring the mural to life. Martinez overcame substance abuse and credits art with helping him find purpose.

“It means a lot to be to be here working on the mural, one because I was a part of it when it first started, but I never actually got to paint it,” said Martinez. “But now that I’m older and it needs help, I’m honored to be here working with Judy and restoring the mural.”

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.

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The city of Santa Maria is streamlining their online community reporting platform called Neighborhood Connect.

The interface is devoted to communicating with locals about non-emergency issues.

First launched in 2023, Neighborhood Connect saw immediate, notable results, and locals who have used the platform have helped the interface improve via their feedback.

Last Friday, a newer version of the app and website was officially released, featuring faster processing times and new categories.

“We’ve added things like better aerial imagery so that people can pinpoint where the problems are,” says Dawn Scott, Geographic Information Systems manager at City of Santa Maria. “And then a lot more categories. So we’ve really doubled the number of categories of issue that people can report about. So all kinds of things like if you’re in a park now and there’s a broken water fountain or something like that.”

Locals can use the system in English or with Spanish translation.

People can report repair issues like potholes or broken sprinklers on city property.

“I think that it provides a better customer service experience and it helps the city staff help the public with addressing any concerns that they have,” says Erin Luton, a City Code Enforcement technician.

There are also links to city code enforcement for issues on private property.

And, there’s a new category — reporting a business selling alcohol or tobacco products to a minor.

“It’s anonymous, if they wish to be,” says Scott.

Users can also include new ideas for the city’s Public Art Master Plan.

“If you have general feedback about a particular issue in the city or maybe an idea or positive feedback, that’s always welcome. But any kind of issue that you’d like to be heard,” says Scott.

Locals who’ve used the platform say there’s a notable difference in response times to reports, and some issues are even handled on a same-day basis.

“The residents also get feedback,” says Scott. “That’s an important thing. They’ll get emails that describe the status of their report and what’s being done about it.”

Reports go directly to the most appropriate department and office, rather than being passed through the entire city administration team.

“I know that it’s been a game changer in a lot of ways,” says Luton. “People see things around the city, they see issues that need to be addressed, but sometimes they don’t know who exactly they need to report it to.”

Since its initial launch two years ago, an estimated 3,000 reports from the community have been processed.

You can even report a problem after hours.

You can check out the platform and even report a problem after hours by clicking this link to visit the site.

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.

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Cailf. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria Valley Chamber will unveiled plans Thursday afternoon that are currently being developed to help in boost tourism in the region in the coming years.

The plans were announced during a two-hour Chamber event that was held at the recently renovated Homewood Suites by Hilton Santa Maria.

“This is our Santa Maria Valley Tourism Celebration,” said Jennifer Harrison, Santa Maria Valley Chamber Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “It was at the request of our Tourism Marketing District Advisory Committee. We are about ten years into the formation of our district and thought it’d be a great time to reflect on our big wins, as well as any accomplishments we have in a look ahead.”

During her presentation, Harrison spoke about current state of tourism in the valley, revealed key market insights and performance data, as well as showcase future plans and strategic initiatives that are currently being designed and implemented.

“We’re excited about what there is ahead,” said Harrison. “We have launched new campaigns that we think are very family centric, which I think speaks to the community as a whole. We’re excited to see where it’s going. We have seen the impacts of the work that we’re doing.  I think what makes us really special and unique is that we’ve always been affordable, which is intriguing to families. They can visit destinations outside of the valley, and really have fun in a regional sense, but stay here at our affordable hotels and lodging, so we’re able to offer that.”

A key element of the presentation was to share the amount of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), also known as “bed tax” that was generated in 2025 through overnight stays.

“TOT revenue is coming in at about $3.5 million,” said Harrison. “Our highest year ever recorded was about $4 million, and so we’re seeing a little bit of a leveling out, but we’re certainly 30% up since the formation of the district. What we have seen across an industry is a little bit of a leveling out. We fared fairly well during Covid, and then we had a couple of really high years in terms of revenue and receipts, and then it’s has started to level out a little, which is what we’re seeing industrywide, but we’re still seeing unprecedented numbers in terms of life span of program.”

There’s optimism numbers will increase in the years to come, especially since the city has a number of new attractions, businesses, events and other changes on the way.

“A lot of great things are happening in this community,” said Harrison. “We’re currently at the Homewood Suites now, which is recently renovated and rebranded. We have another hotel just across the street that’s going to be breaking ground soon. We have the Radisson that is currently in the works of renovations and getting their property rebranded. We have the Planes of Fame (museum) that’s coming and who we’ve been working with. We we’re going to have somebody here from the (Santa Maria) Fairpark, discussing some of the things they have coming up, as well as the (Santa Maria) airport, talking about their new flights and possibility of expansion there and how well that service has been doing. In addition to that, we are going to announce some added value to the Santa Maria BBQ Festival this year. We have been working with the event promoter there to expand it to a three-day event with multiple facets in there.”

Click here to follow the original article.