Author: KEYT

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness regarding the 2025 John Kovacs Scholarship Awards

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness is announcing the opening of the application period for its annual John Kovacs Scholarship award, designed for persons who identify as having mental health and/or substance use experience, also known as “peers.” This scholarship program was made available through a generous donation from the John Kovacs Revocable Trust which was gifted to Behavioral Wellness. To honor the memory of John Kovacs, the Department established a Memorial Scholarship that awards up to two $2,500 scholarships annually.

Applications are due by September 30th, 2025. The applications will be scored in October and the announcement of 2025 John Kovacs scholarship recipients will occur at the annual Peer celebration in the end of November or beginning of December. For Peers interested in applying, the application can be found online and completed in English here and in Spanish here.

2024 Kovacs awardee Arthur Marroquin shares, “The scholarship helped me catch up on debts, which opened the door to saving, finding stable housing, and balancing work and college.” “Being seen and supported made a difference not only in my life, but in my children’s, who proudly celebrated with me at graduation.”

“This award gave me more than financial help, it restored my faith in people,” shares 2024 awardee Vincent Saucedo. “It brought me security, shelter, and hope at a time when anger felt easier than gratitude. It renewed my hope and inspired me to pay it forward.”

Recipients, as people who embody tenacity, resiliency and overcoming of barriers are selected through a committee process. Applicants must self-identify as having lived experience in the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both; either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer. In addition, applicants must show a demonstrated need and explain how these funds will help bridge an important gap, address an unmet necessity, or make a significant difference in helping to achieve a life changing goal.

To learn more about County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness, please visit https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness. For assistance accessing Behavioral Wellness services, call the 24/7 toll free Crisis Response and Services Access Line at (888) 868-1649.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. – Jesse Andrew Mendoza, a 20-year-old Santa Barbara man, received a conviction from a Ventura County jury Monday after assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer during a DUI arrest in 2024, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

The jury found Mendoza guilty on several charges, and the man faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison upon sentencing, according to the VCDAO.

CHP officers stopped Mendoza’s car on Oct. 5, 2024, after seeing it swerve and speed through traffic on the southbound Highway 101, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza showed signs of impairment and didn’t pass a sobriety test before his DUI arrest, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza then slipped from his handcuffs during his transport to the CHP Ventura station. Mendoza attacked the officer driving the patrol vehicle by clawing at the officer’s face and neck, according to the VCDAO.

The officer avoided the Mendoza’s attack before the Santa Barbara man fled on foot from the patrol car, according to the VCDAO.

Officers then chased Mendoza and had to carry him back to the patrol vehicle. One of the officers had facial injuries from the attack but has since recovered, according to the VCDAO.

Patrol car video footage showed Mendoza messing with his handcuffs before the attack, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza also had a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and personally inflicting great bodily injury in Santa Barbara County five months before the DUI arrest, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16 and remains in custody without bail under the following charges, according to the VCDAO:

Charges:

PC 245(c) – Assault upon a peace officer

PC 240 – Assault

PC 836.6(b) – Escape from arrest

PC 148(a)(1) – Resist, obstruct, delay of peace officer

VC 23152(a) – Diving while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage

VC 23152(b) – Driving with a 0.08% or higher blood alcohol

Special Allegations:

PC 667S2 – Prior strike 2

PC 1170(h)(3) – Prior serious or violent felony

PC 667(a)(1) – Serious felony prior

CRC 4.421(a)(1)

CRC 4.421(b)(4)

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — People are buzzing about a surprise Maroon 5 concert at Validation Ale in the Funk Zone on Saturday.

Adam Levine and the band performed for about 30 minutes starting around 4:30 p.m., drawing such a large crowd that the street outside had to be shut down. The set featured a mix of fan favorites and songs from their new album, Love Is Like….

Flyers for the pop-up show began appearing on poles and other spots in the area on Friday. Local radio station KJEE ran spots about the show Friday evening and into Saturday morning, helping to build excitement.

Even so, many people were skeptical until social media posts confirmed it was real.

Levine, who lives in Montecito and has children attending Crane Country Day School, has close ties to the area. Some members of the band also performed locally at the One805 charity concert in 2023.

The band kicks off their Love is Like tour in the U.S. starting October 6th in Phoenix, Arizona. The tour features dates in Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco and more!

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – With crews closing in on full containment of the Gifford Fire, firefighting operations that have been ongoing around the clock for more than two weeks are winding down.

“Things are looking great on the Gifford Fire,” Rich Eagan, Gifford Fire Information Officer said on Monday morning. “Currently, we’re at 91% containment. It’s definitely not out and we do have some weather coming at the end of this week I’m told, but we’re we’re a lot closer to wrapping this thing up.”

After an aggressive backfiring operation last week helped crews gain the upper hand and essentially wiped out all of the active flames by Friday, the bulk of the ongoing work is now mop up duties.

“It’s mundane work,” said Eagan. “Scratching line, picking up hose equipment. Any damage that’s been done to properties such as gates, stuff like that, they’ll repair those. It’s just basically mopping up the fire at this point. Pretty tedious, mundane work. It’s still necessary and that will continue on. That’ll continue on until we have 100% containment on this fire.”

On Monday, crews were once again working in the hillsides east of Santa Margarita in the area in and around the Garcia Wilderness, the location that was the site of last week’s successful burning operation.

“The past couple days we’ve been working near the Pozo Saloon, doing rehab and restoration projects,” said Dalton Thomas, Sierra National Forest Engineering Forestry Assistant. “When the fire comes through, obviously the dozers push in initial attack fire lines to try to stop for a progression of the fire, so our job once the fire kind of settles down is to do rehab and rehab takes a lot. It takes a lot of moving parts and a lot of different pieces of equipment. The main part with rehab is just trying to make things look how it used to be and try to get it to look as natural as possible.”

Even as they continue to work to finish full containment, crews are also taking time to reflect on the overall operation that saw nearly 5,000 firefighters and personnel from across California and beyond work together against the biggest wildfire in the state this year.

“It’s a relief knowing that we’re kind of on the tail end,” said Thomas. “Waking up first couple days in camp, seeing the giant plume, you’re like, oh man, there’s going to be some hard work, but now, to see clear skies and that smell of smoke starting to go away, it’s a relief because you know that you did solid work and you know that you helped out a lot of communities.”

At the same time full containment draws closer, the demobilization process for the Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Santa Margarita Ranch is also in full swing.

“Demobilization is happening right now,” said Eagan. “It’s been happening since Friday, basically. They’re demobilizing about 800 people a day, so I suspect come midweek, it’ll be just the people that need to be here. All the other agencies, big agencies will go home to their home units.”

Eagan also mentioned the ICP will shift south to Santa Maria to the Elks Event Center where operations were based out for a few days following the start of the fire on Aug. 1.

“The transition happens tomorrow at 7 a.m.,” said Eagan. “The U.S. Forest Service has taken over this incident. We will be moving our operations back to the Santa Maria camp. This camp is just buttoning up and then they’ll move the stuff that they need to down to the other camp.”

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Ivania Montes

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – When Cara Winnewisser first thought about racing, she had a simple realization: “I realized that normal people can do this — so why can’t I?”

That moment sparked a journey that would take her from motherhood to the open waters, roads, and trails of the Santa Barbara Triathlon.

Cara grew up swimming, but after a difficult pregnancy and delivery with twin boys, returning to athletics felt daunting. She joined Tower 26, the presenting sponsor of the triathlon, led by renowned coach Gerry Rodrigues.

At first, she doubted herself. “I thought, I’m not good enough for a coach like that,” she said. But Rodrigues quickly reassured her.

“Yes, I’ve trained elite athletes,” Coach Gerry Rodrigues said. “But most of my athletes are everyday people who just want to get out there and improve. Cara has been remarkable — she’s reshaped her fitness and confidence in just a year.”

Swimming became Cara’s foundation. “It was the best thing I could have done,” she said. “It gave me a baseline to make everything else stronger — then I could start running and cycling again.”

Consistency has been key. Rodrigues added, “Life’s about consistency. Over time, that’s what defines success.”

Cara’s husband and children are central to her training journey. “He’s very encouraging. If I ever try to back out, he asks, ‘Are you going to practice tomorrow?’”

Her sons have even joined in with mini-triathlons around their neighborhood. “They see me training, and it teaches them skills and the value of physical activity,” she said.

The Santa Barbara Triathlon itself is a feat of coordination. Race director Elizabeth Rodrigues calls it “organized chaos.”

“It’s three different events coming together — the ocean swim, the bike course, and the run,” she explained. “Our team, including crew captains and even our kids are involved, ensures everything is ready for athletes by race day. Most people have no idea how much goes on behind the scenes.”

Despite the logistics, Rodrigues emphasizes fun above all. “We want participants to come to the beach, be athletic, and chase their goals while enjoying the day.”

For the run, Cara trains with the Santa Barbara Running and Racing group. She calls it one of the most rewarding parts of the triathlon experience.

“It’s a very individual sport — you can’t compare yourself to others. But the team support helps, and there’s always a way to better yourself,” she said.

This year, Cara hopes to improve her previous race time. But her biggest takeaway isn’t just the stopwatch.

“You can always push yourself a little more,” she said. “It’s incredible to see what you’re capable of. I’ve grown so much in the last couple of years, and I feel amazing.”

For more information on the Santa Barbara Triathlon, you can head on over to their official page.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is taking action to ensure fresh, locally-grown food reaches families in need after the recent cancellation of a federal program.

This season, the county officially launched the ‘Farm to Foodbank’ initiative, connecting local farmers directly with area foodbanks.

The program replaces the USDA-supported Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) program, which had provided fresh produce but was recently canceled – leaving a critical gap in the food supply chain.

Organizers say the initiative guarantees that fruits and vegetables grown in Santa Barbara County reach individuals and families facing food insecurity, while also supporting the county’s farmers and strengthening the local agricultural community.

Officials hope the program will establish a reliable and sustainable food network across the county, ensuring that residents have consistent access to fresh, nutritious food while local farmers continue to thrive.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Weekend protests drew critics of the Trump administration’s actions in Santa Barbara.

Participants called Saturday a National Day of Action to push back against the president. A sidewalk rally on Upper State Street stretched along both sides of the road between Hitchcock and Hope avenues from 10 a.m. to noon.

Organizers and participants said the demonstration was sparked by recent developments in Texas, where Trump ordered the state to redraw its electoral map to deliver him five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 election. Protesters warned that the effort could soon expand to Missouri, Ohio, and other states, calling it a political emergency.

“Trump’s allies are undermining fair elections, silencing voters of color, and holding entire communities hostage to push their political agenda,” one flyer read. “We need action—not just in Texas, but everywhere. That’s why we’re part of a National Day of Action, joining our friends in Texas to fight back.”

Many in Santa Barbara echoed those concerns.

“I have no option but to be here, because I’m so distressed by what’s happening in my country,” said Linda Stewart-Oaten. “It’s like 1984. It’s happening while we watch, and I cannot watch. I have to be part of the resistance.”

In Solvang, protesters held a rally they called Protect Our Checks, raising concerns about potential impacts to Medicaid and other safety net programs.

The demonstrations coincided with nationwide protests marking the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act.

There were no visible counterprotests nearby.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – After more than two years of increased bike crashes, rising injuries and community complaints about the dangers of e-bikes in Santa Barbara, a list of changes has been outlined for the public to see.

It will go before the Santa Barbara City Council Tuesday.

A letter signed by Mayor Randy Rowse is in response to a Grand Jury report that was critical of the city’s response to e-bike concerns, mainly brought up by members of the public who have been impacted as drivers or pedestrians.

The complaints range from e-bike riders speeding, going through red lights, riding through stop signs, reckless riding around pedestrians and cars, riding on the sidewalks where pedestrians exist, and being involved in verbal and physical encounters with the public centered around e-bike behavior. There are many similar complaints in regional cities and in the county.

Monday downtown several of the bike riding activities in question were taking place over a two hour check of the State St. area.

One e-motorcycle went by at an estimated 25 miles an hour where pedestrians were present, and for a moment the bike was on one wheel, between Carrillo and Figueroa St.

The Santa Barbara City Council has tried different ways to deal with the problem for months. The most recent action was an upgraded ordinance with special fines through citations, and in collaboration with the police department, enforcement of that ordinance has taken place. With that has come costly citations for many of the bike riders – ranging from$100 to $500 dollars.

Some can be cleared with special classes, especially those citations issued to teenagers, for example, if they are not riding with a helmet.

The classes are two hours, and after passing a test the person will have the citation cleared, otherwise it remains in effect.

Parents are required to attend the first 30 minutes of the class.

Many young riders in the downtown area said they were aware of the enforcement but said it wasn’t always necessary.

Dame Buttler said, on the e-motorcycles, “if they are not doing wheelies,  if they are just riding like nice and respectful then they should not pull them over .”

A downtown worker who sees the range of bikes daily from regular commuters to acrobatic bike riders, has concerns about safety and agrees more should be done.

“My message is to parents , do you care about the safety of your children? Do you care your child is going 25 to 30 miles an hour down the street with pedestrians on it?    A friend of mine fell off a bike about  two years ago and he is still not at 100 percent,” said Seif Hejazine.

The city has been aggressive in the downtown and waterfront area since May, writing tickets and educating bike riders.

The enforcement has mainly been on State Street, but officers have been moving around to areas where e-bike use is high including the waterfront.

E-motorcycles, are not allowed on the street. They are automatically impounded if the rider is stopped by police.

Bikes are also not allowed to be ridden through the Farmers Market locations on Tuesdays on State St. and on Saturday on Carrillo or State St., which is a market that draws thousands of people.

Recently, police stopped many bike riders and wrote some tickets for the violation. That included an e-bike rider who was heading into a crowded intersection with his hands and feet stretched out from the bike.

Citations can also be written to those who are riding recklessly, or popping wheelies in areas where pedestrians are walking in the shared space of the promenade.

Micco Jacobsen said the enforcement should be based on the risk to others. “I say they’re doing a good job keeping it under control but if a kid is riding his bike trying to get home , super chill  on the sidewalk or bike lane under 15 miles an hour I say  I wouldn’t hassle them, just let them get home.”   When it comes to dangerous riding, “if you see them wheeling and being reckless I would pull them over and take their bikes, maybe for a couple of days. That would show them a lesson, I guess.”

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The fall semester for 2025 has started at Allan Hancock College.

Officials say enrollment is up a little from last year.

At the previous class’s commencement a couple months ago, president Walthers commented about having “too many graduates,” and it looks like this year will be following the same pattern.

With very warm, sunny weather on the Central Coast, the first day of the fall semester for 2025 officially began at Allan Hancock College on Monday.

“You can see there’s a lot of stuff going on on campus today,” says Allan Hancock College president Kevin Walthers. “Students are back for the first time, parking lots are full.”

About 10,000 students are enrolled between the Santa Maria and Lompoc campuses this year, which is up a little from last year, according to president Walthers.

“At any given time we have somewhere around 600 faculty members teaching classes,” says Walthers.

College officials say that while there are online options, the bulk of the classes are held in-person, because they learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that students strongly prefer in-person learning.

“Our STEM classes are all full,” says Walthers. “So all of our chemistry and math classes and our engineering classes are all just packed.”

Students arriving on campus are getting plenty of support.

“Today we have the informational booth,” says student ambassador Maria Martinez. “A lot of students don’t know where their classes are. So we’re guiding them to their classes. If not we’re trying to explain to them, like they have also questions, where there’s parking, financial aid.”

“We have a food pantry and we have a clothes closet and we have emergency grants and loans for students,” says Walthers. “We put a lot of things in place to help those students get through their program in a timely manner.”

Students are excited about collaborations between other campuses including Cuesta’s cybersecurity cohort, Santa Barbara City College’s radiology program, and upcoming programs with Cal Poly including sociology and business.

According to president Walthers, about 1,100 students are Hancock Promise students, having just graduated from local high schools and on course for 2 years of tuition-free classes.

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Tracy Lehr

CAMARILLO, Calif.-Wings Over Camarillo is celebrating it’s 44th air show.

Skydivers, pilots and car enthusiasts are all taking part.

Although there are VIP seats near the runway, there isn’t a bad seat at the Camarillo Airport.

Spectators can just look up.

There is plenty to do on the ground as well.

People of all ages can check out private hangers and talk to pilots and car owners.

Chad Grenier is one of them.

Grenier has a turquoise Cirrus SR22T G6 and a matching Lamborghini Huracan in a hanger with a view of show.

“I grew up going to all the different airshows, sitting  in all the airplanes and always wanting to fly, did a lot of flight stim [ulation]  and at some point started flying for real and never looked back,” said Grenier, ” and now I fly the Sirrus, I  fly acrobatics and other airplanes, so I just love all of it.”

The Ninety-Nines, established in 1929, and named for the 99 charter members, that included Amelia Earhart also has a booth with a silent auction.

” I found the Ninety-Nines which supported me to get into and just make it happen,” said Luz Schaible.

People can step on board aircraft at the Commemorative Air Force Wing hangar and visit the museum.

Gates open at 9 a.m. on Sunday with air demonstrations starting at noon.

For more information visit https://wingsovercamarillo.com

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