Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

FULLERTON, Calif. – After dropping their first game of The Big West Championships the UC Santa Barbara Softball team (29-24, 17-10 Big West) bounced back in a big way. The Gauchos plated eight runs on a season-high 15 hits to advance in the elimination bracket of the championships.

GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 4, TRITONS 6Both teams worked a clean first inning to start the game, and Malaya Johnson stranded a leadoff double in the top of the second. After a great diving catch from UC San Diego’s center fielder, the Gauchos then left the bases loaded, keeping the game scoreless through two.

In the third, three singles gave UC San Diego a 1-0 lead. With two outs and nobody on in the fourth, an unsuccessfully-challenged hit by pitch and walk extended the inning for an RBI single that doubled the Tritons’ lead.

The Tritons continued to add to their lead in the fifth. A leadoff double, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly pushed across their third run. Johnson then earned a strikeout, but the inning continued due to a wild pitch dropped third strike. Another double, followed by a single, added two more runs, and suddenly it was 5-0 San Diego.

The game was not over, though. The Gauchos took advantage of a leadoff walk and error in the bottom of the sixth, when Alexa Sams’ RBI single ended the shutout. After the second out, Delaina Ma’ae drilled a clutch three-run homer to left center, making it a 5-4 game.

To begin the seventh, the Tritons tacked on an insurance run via a single, walk, and run-scoring error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. However, despite there being runners on second and third and nobody out, Sam Stoll got out of the inning without any further damage, and the Gauchos were chasing two—down 6-4—into their final frame. Unfortunately for Santa Barbara, they went three up, three down to end the game.

GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 8, BEACH 0 (6 INN.)UC Santa Barbara took an early lead against the Beach, opening the first inning with two runs. Jazzy Santos singled and was eventually driven in by Bella Fuentes’s double, while Alexa Sams’ single brought Fuentes home, putting UC Santa Barbara ahead 2–0 after the first inning.

In the second inning, UC Santa Barbara extended their advantage with another two runs. Elicia Acosta tripled and, after a double play, Mendoza singled and was brought home by Santos’ two-run homer. This gave UC Santa Barbara a 4–0 lead.

The fourth inning saw UC Santa Barbara adding two more runs to their tally. Delaina Ma’ae’s double followed by Santos’ RBI single brought in one run, and Tehya Banks’s single drove in another, increasing the lead to 6–0.

UC Santa Barbara continued their scoring in the sixth inning with two additional runs. Santos and Giselle Mejia both got hits to start the inning, and after a couple of outs, Sams singled to bring home both runners, solidifying an 8–0 lead and ending the game via run-rule.

UP NEXTThe Gauchos will play in another elimination game tomorrow at 7 p.m. and await the loser of game one on the day between the No. 1 seed Cal State Fullerton and No. 5 seed Hawai’i.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics).

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –

CIF-SS Boys Lacrosse Quarterfinal:

Division 2:

Dos Pueblos 11, Huntington Beach 8

Oaks Christian 11, Village Christian 9

(OC at DP on Saturday TBA in semifinal)

CIF-SS Boys Volleyball Quarterfinal:

Division 4:

Santa Barbara 3, Notre Dame/SO

Santiago Corona 3, Westlake 2

(SB at Corona Santiago on Saturday in semifinal)

Crean Lutheran 3, Dos Pueblos 1

Division 6:

Laguna Blanca 3, Pacifica Christian/OC 1 (LB at El Toro on Saturday in semifinal)

Division 8:

Desert Christian/L 3, Carpinteria 1

Wildwood 3, Channel Islands 1

CIF-SS Boys Tennis First Round:

Division 2:

Palm Desert 10, Santa Barbara 8

Crean Lutheran 13, Camarillo 5

Oaks Christian 10, Walnut 8

Division 3:

Cate 12, Burroughs/B 6

Agoura 13, La Serna 5

La Canada 11, Newbury Park 7

San Marcos 18, Fairmont Prep 0 (forfeit)

Division 4:

Dos Pueblos 12, Golden Valley 6

Oakwood 9, Simi Valley 9 (Oakwood advances on games)

Foothill Tech 12, Quartz Hill 6

Division 5:

Thacher 16, Kaiser 2

Laguna Blanca 9, Liberty 9 (Laguna advances on games)

Division 6:

Carpinteria 11, Jarupa Valley 7

Ventura 12, Indio 6

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – La Casa de la Raza is facing at least seven noise complaints dating back to October.

Located on Santa Barbara’s Eastside, across from the East Beach Collection at Calle Cesar Chavez and Montecito streets, La Casa de la Raza has drawn criticism from neighbors over loud events.

A majority of the complaints come from one condo owner and resident who prefers to remain anonymous. He said neighbors have documented 70 incidents of excessive noise since 2022. He also shared video recordings capturing the timing and sound levels from his unit.

According to the city’s municipal code, noise is limited to 60 decibels (dB) at the property line.

Longtime La Casa de la Raza volunteer manager Jacqui Inda said she and several colleagues are scheduled to appear in court in July to respond to misdemeanor complaints.

“We’ve had numerous complaints related to weddings and baptisms. People are in the middle of services or dinner at 5 p.m., and we have police officers show up due to the activity inside the building,” said Inda. “We also have Zumba classes interrupted almost weekly. We feel the pressure of protecting our community, and this is a safe space for people that is now being harassed.”

La Casa de la Raza is known for hosting fundraising concerts, including performances by high-profile artists. The Red Hot Chili Peppers played on its indoor stage in 1984, and The Temptations performed there in December.

Concerts are a key source of funding for the nonprofit, which has struggled financially. Leaders hope to secure an angel donor to help purchase the building and preserve its role as a community center.

The neighbor insists his complaints are not politically motivated, but some La Casa de la Raza donors and volunteers are skeptical. They’ve noted a political parody sticker on his vehicle and believe some condo buyers may have received a discount for living near the community center.

Inda and other volunteers plan to bring their concerns before the City Council during public comment on Tuesday. They have also contacted their district representative, Councilmember Wendy Santamaria.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A renovation plan is beginning next week to transform the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Film Center into a state-at-the art theatre.

SBIFF acquired the lease of the former Fiesta Five theatre back in October, and its temporary operations are coming to an end this weekend.

SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling, spoke with your News Channel for a detailed look at the renovation plans for the Film Center. He says the project is in the funding process, but the work will begin to meet deadline by this year’s holiday movie season.

In his personal tour, Durling gave a guide through images of both the entrance and lobby.

“The marquee will have the DNA that it has there, but we’re going to spruce it up and make it far more exciting,” said Durling. “If you recall the movie palaces, they create this excitement with, you know, the light bulbs up above the grand marquee and a tremendous entrance that was very inviting and adding to the excitement of going to the movies.”

“It’s going to look very, thrilling to arrive to the space. And we’re going to have this tiles on the floor that are going to have, a recall, like a red carpet.”

Structural plans include a wheelchair ramp – making it accessible to the entire community.

It will also be the prime location for the Film Festival taking place in February 2026 with the best equipment and seats. As well as plans to host educational programs and art exhibitions.

“We’re not trying to compete with the Granada and or the Arlington, the Lobero. This will be solely dedicated to movies, but it would I want it, we want it to be the premier movie going experience.”

“I feel that people are clamoring to go to the movies. I do feel strongly that you got to make the experience very exciting. You have to provide state of the art, and, the quality and, comfortable and exciting programing.”

Renderings for the film center have been released and are going through the review of the Historic Landmarks Commission.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 7 is the official date Real ID’s are required.

“In California as of may 1st, over 19 million Californians had upgraded to a real ID. That’s about 58%.” said Eva Spiegel, Deputy Director in Public Affairs at DMV.

The date has been extended several times due to COVID-19 and logistics issues, but moving forward a real ID or a passport as well as enhanced ID cards will be acceptable.

At the Santa Barbara airport Wednesday, it was smooth sailing as the requirement for real ID’s went into effect.

“Here at the Santa Barbara airport, we’ve been seeing great compliance,” said Angi Daus, Santa Barbara airport Marketing Supervisor. “We’ve had very few individuals who had come to the check point and did not have a real ID and TSA has worked with them seamlessly and easily to make sure that they have the proper security compliance to be able to fly.”

The real ID is federally mandated to create security consistency through out the United States.

“The process was very easy,” said Robert Scott Jr., who was traveling to Louisiana. “I went in and had all of my paper work and I was able to get it very quickly and I’ve been traveling with it ever since.”

The TSA says that prior to Wednesday’s deadline, about 81% of all passengers already used a real ID or another acceptable form of identification.

“There has been a rush, we’ve been extra busy, but people are getting processed and they’re getting their real id applications through,” said Spiegel.

To apply for a real ID visit their website.

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Alissa Orozco

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. – California State Parks Foundations rounded up their “Best of California’s State Parks” list that featured some of the Central Coast’s most scenic locations.

Morro Bay State Park was selected as the ‘Best California State Park for Camping,’ praised for its easily accessible hiking trials, nice campsites, and abundant wildlife. Montaña de Oro State Park, also in San Luis Obispo County, was an honorable mention in the category for its cliffside trails and hidden beaches.

California’s state park system has the largest and most diverse group of parks of any agency in the country, with 280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, 5,200 miles of trails, 3,195 historic buildings, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites.

This is first time the organization has conducted this poll and received over 1,300 submissions from nature lovers all over the state.

Point Lobos State Nature Reserve in Monterey County won ‘Best California State Park for Spectacular Views’ – often called the “Crown Jewel” of California state parks. Known for its turquoise waters, cypress trees, and gorgeous cliffs, Point Lobos beat out its two runner ups (Garrapata State Park (Monterey County) & Mount Diablo State Park (Contra Costa County)).

Monterey County’s Carmel River State Beach received an honorable mention in the Best California State Beach category.

Poll included other fun categories such as ‘Best California State Park for Learning About History,’ won by Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, and ‘Best California State Park for Picnicking,’ won by Torrey Pines State Beach.

You can find the full list of winners here.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The City of Santa Maria’s new police chief was sworn-in on Tuesday night, marking the official beginning a new era for city’s police department.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” said Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) Chief Christopher Williams during a conversation with News Channel 3-12 Wednesday morning. “I’m very humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to serve the community in the capacity that I can as a leader. I just want to make a difference in my community and help out people.”

Williams comes to Santa Maria after serving in a number of positions in the Oxnard Police Department, where he most recently was the Assistant Police Chief the past three years.

“What I really liked about the City of Santa Maria when I was doing research for the job position, I watched a couple of City Council meetings, and I was really impressed by how efficient and effective Mayor (Alice) Patino ran the council meetings, and how supportive the council was with the police department because it’s important,” said Williams. “Santa Maria reminds me of my hometown of Oxnard, and it’s a growing, vibrant community, supportive of their law enforcement, and, I just got a hometown feel to the to the City of Santa Maria.”

An Oxnard native, Williams now leads the largest city department in Santa Maria, one that includes 200 positions and an annual budget of $54 million.

“His background was exactly what I was looking for,” said Santa Maria City Manager David Rowlands. “He has touched every function of the police department from the gang aspect of it, to homicide, and internal affairs. His personality really came through and his commitment to working with the community and being involved with the community from day one. That was really important to me and important to our City Council.”

Coming from nearby Oxnard, a city located exactly 100 miles south of Santa Maria, and one with similar attributes, has made Williams already feel right at home.

“Santa Maria reminds me of my hometown of Oxnard,” said Williams. “It’s a growing, vibrant community, and supportive of their law enforcement. I just got a hometown feel to the City of Santa Maria. I tell people, I think Santa Maria is what Oxnard was about 15 years ago. There are a lot of similarities because of the agriculture and the demographics. The friendliness of the people and the culture that both cities embrace are very similar.”

Williams is a big proponent of being involved in the community and believes in a philosophy of having “non-enforcement contacts” with the public.

“A lot of people don’t have interactions with the police that often, and when they do, it’s usually for a criminal matter, or they’re getting, pulled over because they’re speeding or whatnot,” said Williams. “It may have a certain type of perception with them, but by having the non-enforcement contacts, it shows the human side of our officers because behind the the badge and the gear and the equipment, we’re all humans, and we all have feelings and we all want to do well. Being able to show that side to specifically our youth, but our adult community as well is important.”

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Trump administration mandated the reduction of agencies including The Institute of Museum and Library Services that funds libraries around the country.

Directors of the Santa Barbara Public Library are concerned about how this new directive could affect their services.

The library team hopes to keep critical services for the community.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services administers grants worth roughly $160 million in all 50 states.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides grants to “advance, support, and empower” museums, libraries and similar institutions in the U.S. according to its website, was named in an executive order this month.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the legal action calling the administration’s move to shutter the federal agency “illegal” and warning it threatens critical services at the state’s 1,127 public libraries.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – 100 homes are participating in a citywide yard sale Saturday that comes with support from the Santa Barbara Department of Sustainability.

Outreach coordinator Jen Hollywood says “part of this is to help people understand that buying used or mending what you already have, repairing things you already have, is a better way than buying new things.” She says when you are done with an item “we want to encourage that circular economy giving someone else a chance to use it rather than sending it to the landfill.”

The Santa Barbara County landfill at Tajiguas west of Goleta is taking in more trash than the county would like, at a time when recycling is an ongoing priority. “We are seeing more and more things go into landfills year after year, ” said Hollywood. “We can always be doing better, we can always be encouraging our our community to be as clean as we possibly can, keep things off of the street and keep things in use,” said Hollywood.

The Community Yard Sale event takes place from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Residents who signed up by May 1st received a sign with a QR code and they will be listed on a map.  There is also a resource guide that lists places to dispose your items or recycle year-round.

Signs will be going into the ground at the designated addresses by the end of the week. The event comes with an online map and a handy resource guide.

The city is also using the event as an educational tool to responsibly donate or dispose leftover items.  They also have information on large item pickups throughout the year by Marborg Industries.

The city says by participating in a yard sale you’re part of the movement to reduce, reuse and recycle.  

Tips for Hosting a Successful Yard Sale (from the City of Santa Barbara)

Make the most of your yard sale with these helpful tips:

Plan Ahead: Choose a layout that makes browsing easy and price items clearly with visible tags.

Spread the Word: Take advantage of the event’s promotion, but also share on social media, in neighborhood groups, and by word of mouth.

Organize Items by Category: Arrange similar items together – clothing, books, home goods – to make shopping easier.

Offer Deals & Bundles: Encourage sales with discounts like “Buy One, Get One Free” or bundle pricing.

Be Prepared with Change & Bags: Have plenty of small bills and coins for making change and provide reusable bags for buyers.

Consider setting up a Venmo account or QR code for contactless payments: People love the convenience.

Make It Fun: Play music, offer refreshments, and create a welcoming atmosphere to attract more shoppers.

Sustainable Shopping Tips for Yard Sale Shoppers

Want to be a more eco-friendly yard sale shopper? Here’s how:

Bring Your Own Bags & Boxes: Reduce waste by carrying reusable shopping bags or baskets for your purchases.

Choose Quality Over Quantity: Look for well-made, items that you can enjoy longer.

Think of Upcycling Possibilities: Consider how items can be repurposed or refurbished to give them a second life.

Plan Your Route Efficiently: Use the online yard sale map to reduce unnecessary driving and save fuel. 

Good Housekeeping & Responsible Disposal

Once the yard sale is over, be sure to dispose of leftover items responsibly:

Donate Gently Used Items: Consider donating unsold goods to local charities, thrift stores, or shelters.

Recycle What You Can: Check your local recycling guidelines for accepted materials.

Dispose of Hazardous Waste Properly: Items like old paint, batteries, and electronics should be taken to designated disposal sites.

Check out our resources: Refer to our Waste Disposal Resource Guide and online map to find the best locations for donating, recycling, and properly disposing of your items.

For more information go to: Santa Barbara City Community Yard Sale

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – City leaders and firefighters in Santa Maria are celebrating the long-awaited approval of a new labor contract.

For the last two years, the local fire department has been at odds with the City of Santa Maria through a contentious campaign for fair pay.

Since 2023, they’ve been operating under the previous M.O.U. (memorandum of understanding), which has affected their recruitment and retention rates.

“When we hire new firefighters, we have to put them through a rigorous training academy. And then once they complete the training academy, they then right around town on engine serving the community. This community is really busy. There’s a lot of demand on fire services. And for the low pay that we were receiving was contributing to those individuals taking jobs elsewhere,” says Matthew Chircop, City Fire captain and Local 2020 president.

As of Tuesday night, they’ve reached a 2 1/2-year agreement, with negotiations for the subsequent two years pre-scheduled for 3 months before the end of this one.

“I’m glad we get to be cooperative at the table, don’t have to be combating back and forth. I’m looking forward to working with the union, with our chief to continue to bring high quality service to our community,” says David Rowlands, Santa Maria’s city manager.

Starting in June this year, firefighters will have a base pay increase of 14%, an increase to health insurance benefits, and certain equity adjustments.

Some additional minimal adjustments are to be included, such as an additional holiday for Cesar Chavez Day, standby pay for the fire investigation on-call program, and a rise in hours available for the union’s use for association business.

“This agreement adds standby pay for future arson investigators. Our prevention bureau provides that service during daytime hours, but they don’t provide that service after hours. And we’re hoping that we can get an agreement soon to put that program into place,” says Chircop.

Unit members who were already under city employ when this M.O.U. was adopted, will also be given a one-time lump sum payment of $2,000.

“Now we can focus on big, important issues. The employees now don’t have to worry about the pay. We get to work together as a team and move this department forward,” says Rowlands.

Leadership at the City of Santa Maria and the Fire Department are both excited to announce this long-awaited agreement, and members of the fire department want to thank the community and their families for supporting them through this long negotiation process.

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