Author: KEYT

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT)- The News Channel 12 Turkey Drive concluded on Thursday with generous outpouring of community support throughout the Central Coast.

The annual fundraiser supports clients at Good Samaritan Shelter and SLO Food Bank. Beginning on Oct. 20, 2025 and concluding on Nov. 20, its traditional grand finale featured generous support at in-person drop-off locations.

Beginning at 6:00 a.m. and running through 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, donations rolled during the 13-hour time period.

There were three collection sites this year, including the News Channel 3-12 Santa Maria office, Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Lompoc and the SLO Food Bank headquarters San Luis Obispo.

Preliminary numbers show more than 400 turkeys were donated on the final day and approximately $35,000 was raised through financial contributions.

A final dollar amount raised won’t be known until early December when SLO Food Bank receives the total amount of Turkey Bucks sold at several participating local grocery stores.

Turkey Bucks will continue to be sold through month of November at California Fresh Market in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo and Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo and Los Osos.

While the drive may have officially ended, there is actually still time to donate. 

Click here to visit the official News Channel 12 Turkey Drive webpage.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Grinch-themed scavenger hunt kicks off in Santa Barbara.

The Granada Theatre hid free Grinch movie tickets inside six local businesses.

Theater representatives — along with the Grinch — are sharing clues to help families and shoppers track down the vouchers throughout the weekend.

The event aims to bring playful holiday spirit to the community ahead of December’s screening of The Grinch.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Some of the world’s top Paralympians are heading to UC Santa Barbara.

Paralympics Great Britain has chosen the campus for summer training ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“It’s a hugely important partnership for us,” said director of sports Penny Briscoe of the British Paralympic Association.

Athletes will live on campus, train in UCSB’s world-class facilities, and connect with the Santa Barbara community.

“It’s fabulous campus great facilities. It’s accessible and accommodation and dining opportunities,” said Briscoe.

“They want to be part of our campus community so when people see them working out, they’re going to be working out with our general student community when they’re in our facilities in our fitness centers they’re going to be at the students when they’re in our pools in our fields they’re gonna be with our students,” said executive director Stephen Byrd of the UCSB Department of Recreation.

“I think it’s really cool. I think the Paralympics are really cool because it allows for you know anyone from all walks of life to compete and be able to witness and experience their dream,” said student Quinn Ziegert of UCSB.

In just a few years, the athletes you’ll see going for gold in Los Angeles will be training on campus.

A wonderful showcase for Santa Barbara, our community and our commitment to disabled access,” said congressman Gregg Hart.

“I’m really excited to see the Olympians come I can’t wait to see them in person,” said student Ryan Valenzuela of UCSB.

From 2028’s future medalists to the Gauchos cheering them on—UCSB is now part of Paralympic history.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

High School Girls Basketball:

San Marcos 57, Righetti 52 (Schow 13 pts, Ahmad 12 pts)

Dos Pueblos 75, Moorpark 25 (Letendre: 30 pts, 8 stls, 7 ast)

Laguna Blanca 25, Dunn 23

Santa Ynez 47, Nipomo 32

Ventura 63, Saugus 43 (Brinley Anderson: 21 pts, 10 reb)

Trinity Classical Academy 55, Buena 28

Bird Cage Classic Day 2:

Bishop Diego 46, Lompoc 43 (Jaymi Coronado: 25 pts)

Santa Barbara 47, Valley Christian 42 (Amelia Lopez 19 pts, 8 ast, 6 reb)

Carpinteria 61, East Bakersfield 49 (Charlotte Cooney 23 pts, Jamaica Cook 16 reb)

Girls Water Polo:

San Marcos 13, Rio Mesa 5

Girls Soccer:

Ventura 8, Thacher 1

Boys Soccer:

San Marcos 2, Pioneer Valley 0

Laguna Blanca 5, Lompoc 0

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Mike Klan

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, (KEYT) – Sophomore guards Cayden Ward (28 points) and Hamad Mousa (26) each enjoyed new career scoring highs Thursday evening as the Cal Poly men’s basketball program sank 14 three-pointers to fuel a 92-85 victory at Utah.

Fellow sophomore Guzman Vasilic added a season best 13 points for Cal Poly (3-3), which took the lead Thursday after four minutes and failed to relinquish it after shooting a season best 50.0 (30-for-60) percent from the floor and 56.0 (14-for-25) percent from three-point range.

Guard Pewter Bandelj finished with 11 points for Cal Poly, which secured its first and only win against a current Big 12 program since defeating Arizona State on Dec. 2, 1949.

Ward (above) also led the Mustangs with eight rebounds Thursday as Cal Poly dealt Utah (5-1) its first defeat of the year.

A Mousa tip-in handed Cal Poly the 7-5 lead four minutes into action before three-pointers from Bandelj and Vasilic stretched the early advantage. Two Ward free throws midway through the half handed Cal Poly its first double-digit lead at 22-12.

A transition three-pointer by Vasilic furthered Cal Poly’s lead to 30-19 with eight minutes remaining in the opening half. The Mustangs, who led by as much as 15 points, shot 54.8 (17-for-31) percent from the floor and knocked down nine first-half three-pointers to lead at the break, 50-39.

Individually, Ward and Mousa were a combined 12-for-13 from the floor during the first half with 18 points apiece.

An early second-half three-pointer from Vasilic pushed Cal Poly’s advantage to 55-41 before Utah countered with a 7-0 run. The Mustangs, however, required just two minutes to regain the double-digit lead with a Bandelj three-pointer placing Cal Poly up 60-50 with 16 minutes to play.

Cal Poly still led 73-62 with 10 minutes to go before Utah produced a 12-3 run to cut its gap to 76-74 with six minutes remaining. A Bandelj free throw and two more from Davis kept Cal Poly in front before a reverse Davis layup made it a three-possession game with four-and-a-half to go.

A Bandelj layup reaffirmed the double-digit lead with three minutes to go as Cal Poly led by as much as 12 down the stretch.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics).

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Andie Lopez Bornet

The fourth and final system on the Central Coast has moved past north county this afternoon. As we head into Friday, the system spins back toward Ventura and partially Santa Barbara county, resulting in 30%-50% chance of rain.

There’s a chance for thunderstorm development on Friday for localized mountains and beaches. Heavy rain and hail can quickly happen and end as well as gusty winds from the east. National Weather Service warns of a chance of small tornados forming in LA County through Friday, so if you’re headed in that direction, be sure to be safe and stay cautious. LA county will see the bulk of the lingering storm on Friday.

Temperatures on Friday will still be brisk and remain in the 60s. As we head into the weekend, high pressure begins to form and temperatures will slowly get to near normal for this time of year. Warming is in the forecast and Thanksgiving is looking to be dry and warm.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The cast of Jagged Little Pill is ready to take the stage for a second weekend of performances inspired by Alanis Morissette’s award-winning album.

For it’s 15th anniversary season, Out of the Box Theatre Company is putting on a production of Jagged Little Pill, “an original story about pain, healing, and empowerment.” Centered around normal-looking All-American family who struggles with communication – the musical teaches audiences about perseverance, and the love that keeps families together.

Director Samantha Eve and cast member Will Muse previewed the show on Your Morning News ahead of this weekend’s performances.

For the first time in the Santa Barbara area, Jagged Little Pill was brought to life at Center Stage Theater at Paseo Nuevo.

“The cast has about 18 people, I believe, which is a pretty big cast. It’s a lot of different talented people to work with,” said Muse. “It honestly feels like even more than that because we have so many other people even off the stage helping us out like our choreographer, our intimacy coordinator, our ASL interpreter, so it’s been a lot of different people involved in putting this whole thing together. And it’s been a really amazing time so far.” 

Jagged Little Pill was Alanis Morissette’s third studio album, but the first to be released worldwide. The album confronts truth about addiction, identity, trauma, and pain – topics many unfortunately relate to.

“I found Alanis Morissette probably at about 14, which I think is a really good time for an angsty teenage girl to find Alanis Morissette. Nobody gets that music like a middle schooler,” said Eve.

You can purchase your ticket to Jagged Little Pill here, with performances happening all weekend starting at 8:00pm.

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Alissa Orozco

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Today, a Lompoc judge dismissed a felony case against Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard, one day after she appeared in court on her felony charge of false imprisonment.

Buzzard was charged with false imprisonment after reports that she refused to let a man named Tyler Brewer leave her Vandenberg Village home. In a conversation with your News Channel, Brewer claimed she became agitated when he mentioned a location along a three-day drive Ashlee took with Melodee across several states, and refused to let him leave.

A recording presented in court today proves this was not true.

A judge dropped the charges after a recording taken by Ashlee did not reflect Brewer’s side of the story that same day. An audio recording showed no locations were mentioned, there was no change in demeanor, even Ashlee opening the door for Brewer to leave her home.

While the judge acknowledged not wanting to make light of anxiety disorders, which Brewer does have, his story is not an accurate depiction of what happened that day as shown in the recording.

Ashlee was cleared of all charges and is no longer required to wear an ankle monitor as previously mandated.

Buzzard has been under intense scrutiny for being uncooperative in the search to find her daughter Melodee, who has not been seen since Oct. 9th near the Colorado-Utah border.

Detectives confirmed Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7 in a white 2024 Chevy Malibu bearing a California license plate, and traveled as far as the state of Nebraska. Surveillance images from the Lompoc rental car dealership on Oct. 7 shows the last known pictures of the little girl, with both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs. Ashlee returned without Melodee.

Melodee is described as a 9-year-old girl, standing four feet, six inches tall, 60 pounds with brown curly hair and brown eyes.

Detectives are asking anyone who has seen Melodee or has information about her whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s Office through one of the following methods:

· Detectives Line: (805) 681-4150

· Anonymous Tip Line: (805) 681-4171 · Online Tips: SBSheriff.org

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Heavy equipment has been plowing sand into a wall of protection at the Santa Barbara waterfront since Wednesday afternoon.

The City of Santa Barbara is activated in many areas with crews focused on prevention and protection in areas prone to flooding. This includes the waterfront, downtown, Funk Zone and airport.

Last weekend, with intense rains over a long duration, many streets were overwhelmed including the heart of downtown. State Street looked like a creek. Mission Creek, however, was able to handle the flow without spilling its banks.

There were clogged drains that contributed to urban street flooding. Those have been cleared especially in problem locations like the lower Santa Barbara City College parking lot and lower Anacapa St. near the railroad tracks that, at times, can fill up with rain run off.

Saturday night several cars were swamped when drivers went into flooded areas and stalled out.

Passengers at the Santa Barbara Airport were arriving with only light coats and in some cases no hats.

One dog walker Serkan  Durna with a Husky said,  “I think he’s still enjoying, maybe even more, today because it’s a little colder. Yeah, I think Huskies, like the cold more, so it seems pretty happy today. “

In blustery conditions we did find two people fishing with little fish that may be a bigger catch by the end of the day.

Jorie Jorgensen said, “And it’s these little teeny hooks. It’s all in a row. And we’ll catch a couple of them at a time. And, after we catch them, we put them in a bucket right here. And we had about 14 today. “

From there, “we put them on a bigger line and we cast them back out there, and we use them as live bait to try to catch something bigger.”

On the hook in the past she says, “we’ve caught bat rays before, and we’ve also caught thorn back rays. Hopefully one of these days it’ll be halibut.”

Asher Littlejohn was using two fishing poles at once. “The rain generally makes it better for fishing. And it’s true not a lot of other people come out here. Since I’m the only one out here, I do have the best chance!”

Forecasters say the rain will be light to steady all day and into the overnight hours before clearing Friday morning.

(More details, photos, and video will be added here later today.)

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The annual News Channel 12 Turkey Drive is concluding on Thursday with donations being collected at three in-person drop-off locations.

The day will culminate the four-week long campaign to help raise funds for Good Samaritan Shelter and the SLO Food Bank.

The Turkey Drive has been an important outreach campaign for News Channel 12 for more than 20 years, and has helped provide a traditional holiday meal for thousands of families and individuals over the past two decades.

In-person donations will be accepted at at the News Channel 3-12 Santa Maria station, Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Lompoc and SLO Food Bank warehouse in San Luis Obispo.

At the News Channel 3-12 station in Santa Maria – located at 1211 West McCoy Lane – drive through service for donations is taking place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition, online donations are still being accepted through the official Turkey Drive webpage. Donors can choose which of the two non-profit organizations they would like direct their financial contribution towards.

Another way to contribute is through the purchase of a “Turkey Buck” at participating area markets, including California Fresh Market in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, and Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo.

Turkey Bucks purchased in San Luis Obispo County will be directed to the SLO Food Bank, while those in Santa Barbara County will go to Good Samaritan Shelter.

For more information about the NewsChannel 12 Turkey Drive or to donate, click here.

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