Author: KEYT

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Anyone can be a victim of a financial scam, but the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has made scammers even smarter, and victims even more vulnerable. The ability to create convincing videos and photos – and even mimicing voices is exactly what makes AI scams hard to catch.

Santa Barbara County DA Chief Investigator, Kristina Perkins, sat down with your News Channel to discuss how one can be on the lookout for scams and how to protect yourself from becoming the victim of a fraud.

Perkins says scams using artificial intelligence are on the rise, with scammers using fake videos and/or videos to convince you to send them money. Scammers can intimidate celebrities, family members, members of law enforcement, and even political figures as part of the hoax – creating a story so good, it’s hard to detect what’s real or not.

“So scams have been around for a very, very long time. And whenever there’s a new technology that emerges, the scammers will always try and find a way to take advantage of that. But with AI, what is different is that AI allows the scammers to reach a lot more people and it’s a lot more difficult to detect,” Perkins says.

Everyone is at risk, but Perkins says the elderly and those not so familiar with the latest technology are especially vulnerable. Known as the “Grandparent Scam,” scammers will target the elderly by posing a grandchild, spouse, or another family member in need of help – use computer-generated phone calls to steal thousands of dollars out of victims. Scammers get that information from social media accounts.

So how does one avoid this? Perkins says to always be cautious, and always be skeptical.

“If someone’s asking you for money, verify that information. And if it doesn’t feel right, just bounce it off a friend or family member and ask them for advice.”

Perkins says while catching scammers on a local level can be difficult, there is a federal task force dedicated to stopping fraudsters all around the world.

If you suspect you or someone you know may the be victim of a scam, or for more information contact the Santa Barbara County’s Scam Hotline at (805) 568- 2442.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – An urgent drive has begun to make sure the unhoused and others in need have warm clothing and bedding this winter in Santa Barbara County.

The County Public Defender’s office is collecting new and lightly used sleeping bags, gloves, jackets, shoes, scarves and backpacks. They are also stocking up on socks and underwear.

This will all be distributed on December 12th in front of the Public Defenders offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

The county says there are 2,400 people currently experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.This year, there is a collaboration with the non-profit Adam’s Angels with a place to make a financial donation on their website that will go towards the purchases of these items for winter protection.

Donation information:

Tax-deductible financial donations may be made through the Public Defender’s partnership with Adam’s Angels.

Visit the Adam’s Angels donation portal and click “Donate.” Select “Sleeping Bag Drive” from the drop-down menu to direct your gift to this effort. Funds will be used to purchase new sleeping bags and undergarments.

Items may also be donated virtually through the event’s Amazon Wishlist.

Distribution Events:

To receive donated goods, individuals must attend one of the following events on Friday, December 12, 12-2 p.m.:

Outside the Santa Barbara Courthouse at 1100 Anacapa Street

At the Santa Maria Public Defender’s Office at 312-P East Cook Street, Building A

County Public Defender’s Office:

Santa Barbara: (805) 568-3470

Santa Maria: (805) 346-7500

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – It’s Wynter time for Pepperdine Beach Volleyball.

Bishop Diego High School senior Wynter Thorne-Thomsen signs to play for the Waves who have won two sand volleyball national titles in their program history.

“They like how I am a physical blocker,” began Thorne-Thomsen. “I’m tall, but I also play big, I use my height. I think that’s what drew them towards me, and then also being a good partner, it takes a lot to be with you and your teammate throughout everything, good and bad, you have to still look like you’re winning out there.”

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Local county and city officials say preparations are in place ahead of this week’s upcoming storm.

In Santa Maria, the Public Works Department has been getting set for the precipitation that is expected to fall over the next few days.

“We’re looking at two to three inches coming into Santa Maria,” said Brett Fulgoni, Santa Maria Public Works Director. “Luckily, it’s going to be spread out, but nonetheless a good a good rain event, so our crews, when this happens, we go out and pre-stage different equipment around town, get ready to close roads if needed, make sure storm drains are cleared and, make sure that any road hazards are highlighted.”

Fulgoni added drivers will need to be especially careful in many of the newly repaved streets that have been worked on over the past several weeks.

“We’ve certainly had a lot of construction around town,” said Fulgoni. “There’s new traffic patterns on on various roadways and there’s new chip seal on roads, so the way the road has reacted in the past may not be the way the road is going to react in the storm, so just take it easy and be careful. We do expect Black Road to flood. That will likely be closed, but otherwise there’s just so much construction happening around the city that it’s important for people to just take care and and be careful around those construction zones.”

In San Luis Obispo County, officials there are also keeping a close eye on the forecast and are ready to react should any weather-related situations warrant a response.

“What the county’s really doing at this point is just trying to get people prepared,” said Anita Konopa, San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services Coordinator. “It’s kind of our same messaging that we always give before a significant storm, but really hoping that people are listening to that message, so be aware of your surroundings. If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, now’s the time to go get those sandbags and get them filled up and get them in place. If you’re going to have to travel during the weather, make sure that you have gas. Make sure that your windshield wipers are working. If you don’t need to be out on the road, maybe don’t travel this evening and through this weekend, so just some of those things that that we encourage people to do before every storm.”

As for any particular geographic area that could see more impacts than others, Konopa indicated the North Coast may receive more significant rainfall that other county locations.

“There are two different areas that we’re kind of looking at what National Weather Service is telling us is that, the highest intensity of rain and the most amount of rain could be in the Santa Lucia mountains, so kind of looking at the North Coast and Cambria, those areas tend to get more rain in general,” said Konopa. “That is supposed to prove true for this storm as well. Depending on which outlook you’re looking at from the National Weather Service, we could be looking at upwards of three inches in the Cambria area, so people in that area should definitely be prepared for potential flooding should that forecast come true.

“What National Weather Service is telling us is that, the highest intensity of rain and the most amount of rain is kind of be in the Santa Lucia mountains.”

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John Palminteri

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) – A town hall meeting brought out many sides of life in Isla Vista Wednesday night where a proposed ban on amplified music was discussed.

It would go into place the week after the Spring Break during an unpermitted event known as Deltopia. It draws thousands of locals and out-of-towners every year to the densely packed community.

Many residents are UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College students, but there are year-round permanent residents and families who have built a life in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County. It is not a city.

The Isla Vista Community Services District, The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, and UC Santa Barbara – both student leaders and staff realize Deltopia is a massive event with few barriers.

The 72-hour proposed ban on amplified music being advanced by the Sheriff’s Department is on a timeline to go to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in January to be on the books by the time the event takes place in the Spring.

Many of those commenting said it would have a negative effect and impact the “spirit of Isla Vista.”

One speaker said these events are organic and make the area special for the time they are living there.

Some long-time residents say it is hard to live with these massive events, for their families and just generally getting in and out of their homes.

There were also historic information listings on arrests, citations, thousands of dollars in costs every year, injuries, and deaths.

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

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Jarrod Zinn

LOS ALAMOS, Calif. (KEYT) – The small town of Los Alamos is gearing up to put itself on the map in bold!

After a successful Halloween event this year called “Boo On Bell,” the owner of Los Alamos Coffee And Tea is taking the lead to bolster local businesses through collaboration.

“We are in a small town of about 1200, give or take, and we have kind of been a sleepy town for quite some time and we are seeing some growth,” says Alison Height, Los Alamos Coffee And Tea’s owner. “We just had 58 homes built in the area. And so that’s kind of bringing in more families, more young kids, more young adults. And I just feel like we needed more collaboration with all the businesses.”

The Los Alamos Merchants Association is approved by the state of California as a nonprofit organization. While they await the IRS’ final stamp on their 501(c)(6) status, they’re open for at least five additional business owner members.

“We’re still working on the bylaws, so that’s something we’re currently talking about,” says Height. “But I’d like to have as many merchants as possible be on the board. I want to be all inclusive.”

Some of the association’s potential annual and seasonal events include Snow In Ferrini Park, Summer Movies In The Park, a pumpkin patch, and corn maze experience.

Not to mention concerts, beautification projects, and yearly ‘Santa’s Village’ holiday merchant fairs.

“When the merchants collaborate allows for cross promotion and that increases foot traffic,” says Brittney Vanderleigh, Old Orcutt Merchants Association’s President. “It also allows for coordinated hours, which is a huge thing for us here in Los Alamos because there is quite a bit of a dark time, dark windows in this town. We want to avoid that as much as possible, especially during the summer months.”

In late December an announcement will invite locals and tourists to January’s stamp card challenge, in preparation for a Valentine’s Day raffle prize.

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News Channel 3-12

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KEYT) – The public is urged to prep for a second round of rain, looking to hit the Central Coast starting Thursday morning. Sandbag locations are being set up to help protect property from possible flood damage.

The City of the Santa Barbara has announced Sandbag Stations for the public:

Sandbag Stations (Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m):

City Annex Yard – 401 East Yanonali Street

City Fire Station 7 – 2411 Stanwood Drive

The city says the stations are self-serve, and are available to residents free of charge. Bring your own gloves and shovels and be prepared to fill the bags you need.

Learn how to fill and store sandbags.

Fill your sandbags halfway so they are not too heavy to lift and can be stacked properly. Residents are reminded to bring their own gloves and shovels, and can take no more than 20 sandbags per trip.

For information on Sandbag Stations throughout Santa Barbara County click here.

For information on Sandbag Stations throughout San Luis Obispo County click here.

For information on Sandbag Stations throughout Ventura County click here.

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Patricia Martellotti

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – The Coalition for Family Harmony is celebrating 50 years of supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault in Ventura County.

What began as a single phone line has grown into a county-wide network offering counseling, legal aid, and emergency housing.

The organization operates the only rape crisis center in Ventura County and a shelter dedicated to Indigenous-language speakers.

Now, as it marks its 50th anniversary, the Coalition is expanding once again — with plans to open a new shelter in 2026.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – It was announced Thursday that actor Stellan Skarsgård is the recipient of the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Montecito Award. Skarsgård will be honored for his performance in his latest film, Sentimental Value, along with his decades-long career in the film industry.

The Swedish actor is one of the most notable faces in Hollywood, making his mark in major franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor and Avengers films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Mamma Mia. In his newest film, Skarsgård stars alongside Elle Fanning, Renate Reinsve and Inga Lilleaas where he plays Gustav Borg – a once celebrated film director hoping to reunite with his estranged daughters, while trying to reclaim his lost fame.

“I’ve been a big fan of Stellan since his work in Lars Von Trier’s Breaking the Waves. From that point on, I was drawn to his performances because of his versatility and his deep emotional delivery. He makes it look easy to embody both complex protagonists and nuanced villains with gravitas and an ability to convey profound emotional depth,” said SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling.  

Named after one of the beautiful places in Santa Barbara, past recipients of the Montecito Award include: Angela Bassett, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o, Melissa McCarthy, Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, and Javier Bardem.

Skarsgård will receive the award on the evening of February 11th, 2026 at the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.  

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Joey Vergilis

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara Humane dropped by your Morning News with Shorty, an 2-year-old mix!

Shorty was transferred to SB Humane in late October. He’s a affectionate, active and a great companion for another dog.

You can visit Shorty and see if he’s the right fit for your family at SB Humane’s Santa Barbara campus located at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111.

This Sunday – weather permitting – join SB Humane for a free, family-friendly car show and donation drive at their Santa Maria Campus benefiting animals and our community pet food pantry.

Los Viejitos Car Club will showcase their classic cars, bringing a one-of-a-kind display for car lovers of all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring much-needed donations – including dog and cat food, cat litter, and toys for pets in need.

SB Humane’s mission is to be champions for animals and the people who love them, helping to nurture and support the human-animal bond.

The non-profit has been finding animal’s Fur-ever homes since day 1 and as this year wraps up, SB Humane is closing in on their 2025 goal of placing 2,000 animals into new homes.

They only need to place about 300 hundred more animals to reach their goal that’s well within reach.

Help them go beyond their goal for 2025 by heading to their website or visit their Instagram.

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