Author: KEYT

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ashlee Buzzard was arraigned at Department 9 of Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria today.

Buzzard was accused of shooting her 9-year-old daughter Melodee and leaving her body in Utah.

In custody but dressed in a blouse, Buzzard had her attorney enter a plea of not guilty, causing a stir among community members in attendance.

Buzzard’s 9-year-old daughter Melodee was reported missing in October after a three-day road trip with her mother, and was found dead in Utah in early December, having been shot in the head.

“I was just angry,” says one of Buzzard’s Vandenberg Village neighbors, Khristiana Valrie. “I mean, I just don’t understand it.”

Buzzard was arrested on Tuesday, and was arraigned in Santa Maria the day after Christmas, where she had her attorney, public defender Adrian Galvan enter a plea of not guilty, and denial of additional allegations.

“Surprised me and the whole people that were there!” said Melodee’s grandmother Lilly Denes.

Galvan also made a motion for a gag order against Santa Barbara County sheriffs, advising them not to release any evidence or materials not in public record. Judge John F McGregor signed the motions and set Ashley’s trial date for January 7th. 

“We have no idea about the services,” says Denes. “They will let me know right away when the body’s going to be at the funeral parlor. Then we go from there and see about services.”

The D.A. office has advised against seeking the death penalty.

“Yeah, maybe that’s better,” says Valrie. “So that she can… She’ll have to think about this every day of her life. Sitting in that cell. I think it’s better. The death penalty is just the easy way out, I believe.”

Melodee’s grandmother Lilly Denes, who works with your News Channel, says she’s most certainly upset, but will patiently await court proceedings to see how the case progresses.

She is also advising the public not to give any money to any GoFundMe’s which are fake, as the Meza family is not asking for financial assistance.

“Please don’t send any money to none of those GoFundMe’s, because, you know, we really don’t need it,” says Denes. “It’s already covered by the state. So whatever is left, if there is any money that they need, I got the money I can pay for it and my family.”

Members of Buzzard’s Vandenberg Village neighborhood say the not guilty plea confuses and upsets them, and some feel Buzzard is receiving special treatment.

“Her not wearing the jumpsuit, the makeup,” says Valrie. “And then she’s just, like, emotionless. I hope she spends the rest of her life in prison, in misery.”

The community is nevertheless breathing a sigh of relief that Buzzard is still being held without bail.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – It was the busiest time and the worst time to have an emergency at the Santa Barbara Airport but heavy rain impacted all flight operations on Christmas and early this morning.

It took hours to resolve the situation.

At 9:20 a.m. the airport reopened after it was shut down off and on since yesterday including all of last night starting at 4 p.m.

Extremely heavy rain cells in the area caused flooding on the runway and issues with a nearby creek.

Emergency crews worked around the clock to control the flooding and clear the runways.

Since last year, the airport has worked on solutions following past rain related closures.

The airport staff says this included: deploying inflatable Tiger Dams, installing k-rails, staging a 16-inch Gator pump, and clearing v-ditches and drainage channels.

Despite these efforts, the volume of rainfall and runoff from the nearby creek proved to be too significant and exceeded capacity. 

A message released from the airport’s staff says, “we appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers, airline partners, and the community. We expect to be open for normal operations throughout the remainder of the busy holiday travel weekend.”

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Jarrod Zinn

OCEANO, Calif. (KEYT) – Travelers from all over the country are keeping their traditional Central Coast destination, in spite of one of the largest rainstorms the holiday has seen in recent memory.

For anyone who lives in the midwest or mountain regions, the usual warmth of the Central Coast has significant drawing power for the Christmas holiday.

But this year was certainly different.

On Christmas Eve the rain pounded many areas of the coast.

The aftermath is ankle-deep or more in many places across Santa Barbara and SLO counties, and more rain fell on Christmas day.

“This is probably the second wettest that we’ve seen it down here, especially during this week or two time period,” says Chas Stricker, comes here every Christmas from his home in Montana.

Locals are marveling at the rainfall, saying they can’t remember the last time Christmas day saw this kind of weather.

“But this is a gorgeous day,” says area local “Pismo Mike” Bulen. “People complain about the crowds. This is the perfect day to come to the beach. There’s no crowds. It’s empty. Sure you got a bundle up, but it’s the beach. You know, you do what you got to do to keep warm.”

Pismo Beach and the Oceano Dunes remain a traditional holiday destination for many travelers from parts of the country that see snow during the winter.

“It’s been really nice weather,” says Stricker. “I mean, other than a little bit of rain, it’s been nice and toasty. I mean, we’ve seen it down here where it’s close to 32. And this year, I think our lowest was like 51. So we’ve had the windows open and wear as little as I can without getting arrested.”

A portion of Highway 1 just north of Guadalupe has been shut down due to standing water and thick mud.

The closure occurs at the intersection of Oso Flaco Lake Road, and one vehicle appeared to have veered off the road.

Cal Trans officials said it would remain closed overnight, and be re-assessed Friday morning.

Travelers still say the rain doesn’t phase them, and it is still worth the trip from inland portions of the country that are seeing conditions worse than this.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Volunteers who are lending a helping hand and some food to those in need are finding time to help others despite the rain and their personal schedules.

Monday the non-profit Adam’s Angels prepared about 300 special necessity bags in a human conveyor system.Each bag has several items including water, nutrition bars, and food snack packs.The group puts these together every week.Then they are sent out with volunteers to pass out the bags to those on the street who need a boost if they can’t get to a shelter or a food distribution.

Adam McKaig is the founder and he was flanked by a fast moving team that can pack plastic tubs with the to-go bags in about 20 minutes.

“Our volunteers have been so loyal regardless of holidays, regardless of rain. Come rain or shine they help our underserved,” he said.

Wednesday evening at Pershing Park, the volunteers have a dinner for those in need.It’s a weekly part of the outreach.They also gave out tarps and other wet weather protection to help out with the foul conditions.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Chocolate lovers, brace yourselves — your favorite treat is feeling the heat.

Think chocolate’s a sweet gig?

Try crafting it while cocoa prices explode.

Inside Menchaca Chocolates, a hidden factory hums in Santa Barbara’s heart—where liquid gold turns into pure craving.

“We are bean-to-bar… we source beans from Ecuador… and Guatemala,” said chocolate maker Pete Menchaca of Menchaca Chocolates in Santa Barbara.

This is chocolate the slow way — roasted, ground, and tempered to perfection.

Dark chocolate–dipped mango, finished with a spicy twist to warm winter hearts.

“Dipped in 60% cacao dark,” said Menchaca.

“Well chocolate brings people together because there’s not a lot of people in the world that doesn’t like chocolate, you know,” said chocolate maker LeAnne Iverson of Menchaca Chocolates in Santa Barbara.

“That’s what it takes to make chocolate you gotta feel the chocolate and connect with it,” said Menchaca.

But lately, these chocolate makers are racing the clock.

Worldwide cocoa shortages have sent prices soaring, driven by climate change, droughts, and supply disruptions.

“Cacao butter is the real thing that’s gone up … like 400 percent,” said Menchaca.

“ I would buy 50 pound block of cacao butter that was maybe $378 and the next time I bought it it was over $1,000,” said Iverson.

And even as prices jump, demand keeps climbing.

So Iverson came up with something new — an art chocolate workshop that turns customers into chocolatiers.

The workshops bring in extra income and a bit of relief, easing the strain of rising costs.

From tempering to the final shine, this is chocolate as art.

And somewhere between bliss and sugar shock, everyone seems to have an opinion on just how much chocolate is too much.

“I could eat nine pounds a day,” said one Menchaca customer.

While cocoa prices rise and fall, this tiny factory keeps melting beans into memories.

Because some treasures taste sweeter — when you make them your own.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – There’s been some changes for Christmas week at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara.

    The live animals for the creche at the  mission this year will not be brought out. 

    It is usually a couple of donkeys and some sheep, which makes it popular with visitors and parishioners.

    The mission staff says this year there is a safety concern for the volunteers who watch over the site during the holidays.

     This comes as the area is dealing with a series of rain storms and strong winds.

.     The 4:00 p.m. Christmas eve outdoor mass was also moved into the church due to the weather.

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Andrew Gillies

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved Sable Offshore’s plan to restart oil production off the Gaviota Coast.

The approval comes after the federal agency removed the California Office of State Fire Marshal from the restart process entirely earlier this month.

According to an 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration informed the Houston-based energy company that it had approved its restart plans for Line CA-324 and Line CA-325 on Dec. 22.

Line CA-324, formerly known as Line 901, has remained dormant since it ruptured, causing the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill which impacted 150 miles of California coastline and destroyed thousands of acres of shoreline habitats.

In September, Sable Offshore submitted official paperwork to restart oil production with the California Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the state-based safety agency responded the next month that there were still unmet conditions before an official restart.

Earlier this month, Sable Offshore informed investors that it had determined that the pipeline connecting the Santa Ynez Unit to Pentland Station in Kern County is technically an interstate pipeline under the Pipeline Safety Act and requested that federal regulators take over its restart plans involving the pipelines.

The Department of Transportation agreed with Sable Offshore’s assessment and promptly asserted its authority over restart plans in mid-December.

“Ever since a catastrophic oil spill at Refugio Beach in 2015 led to a court-ordered consent decree, CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal has been responsible for overseeing the repair of the lines that caused the spill, which are now operated by Sable Offshore Corp in Santa Barbara County,” shared Daniel Villaseñor with the California Natural Resources Agency. “The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is asserting these lines are within their jurisdiction and will assume regulatory authority of the lines going forward, and that the Office of the State Fire Marshal no longer has any role to play in keeping Californians safe from potential problems with these pipelines. The Administration is reviewing PHMSA’s new action and evaluating next steps.”

The day before the decision to transfer regulatory authority, the County of Santa Barbara’s Board of Supervisors officially voted to not transfer permits associated with Sable’s restart plans.

The permit transfer is a notable step to restart oil extraction from 114 wells on three offshore platforms, transportation through associated pipelines, and a refinement facility at Las Flores Canyon that are collectively called the Santa Ynez Unit.

The permit transfer decision isn’t the only roadblock Sable Offshore has faced as part of its restart plans at the Santa Ynez Unit:

Lease Violation: Public claims in May to have restarted oil production already may have violated leases issued by the California State Lands Commission

Civil Charges: The California Attorney General filed civil charges over alleged violations of state environmental laws while Sable and its subsidiaries were conducting pipeline work

Criminal Charges: The Santa Barbara County District Attorney filed criminal charges including five felony charges of knowingly discharging a pollutant into local waterways between at least October 2024 and April of 2025, 16 misdemeanor charges of obstructing a streambed, and improper actions concerning materials considered dangerous to local wildlife

“There is just too much evidence in the record that shows a pattern of noncompliance and either ignorance of our rules or just blatant disregard,” explained Supervisor Lavagnino on his vote to deny the energy company permits after approving of the transfers earlier this year.

The former owner of the Santa Ynez Unit and current permit holder, ExxonMobil, dropped its lawsuit against Santa Barbara County‘s denial of the company’s plan to use trucks to transport oil from offshore platforms instead of the dormant pipelines in February of 2024 after it sold the oil production infrastructure to Sable Offshore.

According to court documents, Sable secured a $622,000,000 loan from Exxon to fund the purchase of the Santa Ynez Unit which is set to expire and ownership revert back to the oil giant unless oil from the Santa Ynez Unit enters the market.

With the latest federal approval, it appears as thought the Santa Ynez Unit is poised to officially restart production and satisfy its financial deadline with ExxonMobil.

“Sable is committed to energy affordability and reliability and to recommencing oil sales in a safe and efficient manner,” shared Steve Rusch, Vice President of Environmental and Governmental Affairs for the Sable Offshore when reached for comment earlier this month. “Not only have we demonstrated all required operator capabilities and financial requirements, but we have gone above and beyond those requirements. Today’s decision [the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors vote to deny permit transfers on Dec. 16, 2025] does not impact Sable’s ability to continue operating the SYU facilities and pipeline system or its plans to re-commence oil sales.”

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The holiday time off for Santa Barbara City Hall workers was a perfect time to do a fumigation project.

A circus-like tent from Lenz Pest Control has covered the building for the work. It is also fenced off.

City Hall dates back to 1922 when it was built for another use, but it has age and needs.

It’s not known if there was a specific problem or need prior to this fumigation plan.

The building is often entered from De la Guerra Plaza, but the street address is on the Anacapa Street side, next to the parking lot for staff.

The Mayor and Councilmembers will not be able to access their offices during the fumigation and have made alternate plans if there is a city emergency.

The workers are on a break and will return Jan. 2.   

Essential services including police, fire and some water managers remain on duty citywide.

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Christmas Eve was celebrated up and down the Central Coast today, despite the rain.

A lot of people stayed indoors today.

While the rain isn’t necessarily unusual for the Central Coast this time of year, it does seem to be unusual for the Christmas holiday itself.

’Twas the day before Christmas and along the Central Coast, fewer people than normal may have been stirring, ‘cause the weather’s usually warm as toast!

“We’re here for the weekend. For the week, actually,” says Sandra Carlson, Lives In Arizona. “And we were surprised that you guys are getting all this rain.”

Santa held hours at Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo for the last time in 2025, and a lull in the weather brought families out just a few hours before the rain again went live.

“We moved from outside to inside the house here, which is very comfortable,” says Santa. “And we get a lot of people show up for the last Christmas Eve to see Santa and we’re very pleased.”

Some folks at Pismo Beach said this weather makes much more sense for a holiday celebrated in December, unlike so many years hence.

“We’ve been very fortunate for the last few years that the weather’s been pretty mild if not warm,” says Scotty Jalbert with SLO County Emergency Services. “So it just so happens that the storm hits right during Christmas Eve and Christmas this year.”

Emergency services in SLO and Santa Barbara counties know this is not typical weather, and they are ready to spring at whatever this stormy Christmas Eve night may decide to bring.

“Slow your speeds down,” says Jalbert. “Watch out for hydroplaning. Sometimes your standing water on the side of the road, you can lose control of your vehicle, keep a safe distance and don’t be in a hurry.”

“Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” says Santa.

County officials send reminders to tune in to emergency notification systems and celebrate responsibly.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT)- A fierce storm coming in from the Pacific with a train-like stream of rain has battered the Santa Barbara and Ventura coast.

The Ventura Pier and the Hueneme Pier have both been shut down by emergency officials until a safety inspection can be completed.

Flooding is reported on Padaro Lane in Carpinteria from an overflowing small creek in the area. Drivers were able to get through but the depth was a concern for many of them who saw a large pond of water that stretched past the driveways of many homes.

 Prashand  Deore came through from Los Angeles.  “I don’t know, I’ve never came on this road. If there’s some ditches there,  If I am stuck in it with my car, with my family, I don’t want to take this. “

Surface streets in Santa Barbara that were closed or treacherous included lower Calle Cesar Chavez, Chapala at Ortega, Cabrillo at Castillo Street and Old Coast Highway along with North Jameson Lane near Sheffield in Montecito where water was over running the road.

A sedan on Coast Village Circle went up and over a concrete design feature for the parking stalls. The driver was not hurt but the car was damaged.

A late evening downpour drenched and flooded some streets in Goleta and Isla Vista with concerns that brought out the fire department around 7:30 p.m. There was a large tree down covering Cathedral Oaks at Los Carneros. Streets with flooding include Trigo, Seville, Vega and Valdez. Also by the airport, Aero Camino at Hollister.

Mission Creek was pounding with rolling rocks cascading through Oak Park where it dumps out from the De la Vina curve. It starts up in the foothills beyond Rocky Nook Park.

Some of the coastal areas quickly got more than three inches of rain from the steady blast between midnight and 9 a.m. Some of the hardest rain was falling about 5 a.m.

During the morning drive hours a vehicle spun out and off the freeway at Winchester Canyon on the eastern side of Goleta.

Crews on Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara were using heavy equipment to pick up palm fronds. In many cases it was done by hand and collected into piles. The street was covered in them.

Work was also underway to keep the drains open in the lower Santa Barbara City College parking lot which filled with water this morning when more rain came down than the area could handle in the small outlet to the ocean.

A wrecked sailboat was just one of the many challenges in and around the Santa Barbara waterfront with fierce winds and driving rain east of Stearns Wharf. The mast was banging on the dredging pipe and it broke a protective fence. Many items on board including a generator, oil and fuel were an environmental concern.

“Our electricity went out at 5:30 in the morning,” said Jack Martinez is a Carpinteria resident. “I battened down the hatches, got everything covered yesterday. So we’re ready.”

For a bike rider, his regular route was drenched from Montecito through Carpinteria.

 Darren Phillips said, “No, I’ve never seen it like that before. Missed the last rain, I was away. No, it’s as deep as I’ve seen it.”

The Santa Barbara Airport had a good report card despite the weather challenges for the passengers getting to and from the terminal in the rain. There were a few delays but most were on time and for those traveling to the East at dawn that was a critical start to the day.

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