Author: KEYT

News Channel 3-12

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (KEYT) – The Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg Space Force Base is on damage control following yesterday’s embarrassing incident that left invited members of the media and two military members held at gunpoint.

Reporters for your News Channel, Noozhawk, KSBY and the Santa Maria Times arrived at the front gates of the base ahead of Monday’s scheduled “Golden shovel” ground-breaking event that the media was invited to.

This was for a new training facility for missile operators.

News Channel reporter Jarrod Zinn said when he and other media crews arrived ahead of the 1:30 p.m. event, they waited to be let onto the base and lined up for the usual caravan, which is standard protocol. They began to follow a military escort vehicle in, but were stopped and ordered out of their vehicles at gunpoint with their hands up.

Sirens went off and barriers went up; this caused our reporter and others to miss the event.

All of the reporters were eventually cleared and let go without further incident.

Base personnel apologized to our reporter for the mix-up.

Zinn reached out to Vandenberg Space Force Base and received the following statement Monday night from a Space Launch Delta (SLD) 30 public affairs spokesperson:

“Vandenberg Space Force Base is experiencing an Increased number of unauthorized entry attempts.  When media entered the installation there was a breakdown in communication and movement continued prior to verification. Every potential unauthorized presence must be treated as a legitimate threat until proven otherwise.  While we recognize this may have been unsettling the security of the base and its personnel is our priority.”

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Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (KEYT) – SpaceX plans to open a launch window between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday for 24 Starlink satellites in support of a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Central Coast residents may feel the sonic boom from the launch’s impact as the 12th flight for this first-stage booster supporting that mission.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

Live webcasts of the mission will be available 10 minutes before liftoff on both the Space X website and social media page.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County is working on a financial plan that still has some uncertainties for the current year.

A balanced budget was approved for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Along the way there were tense moments with potential losses of workers in several departments due to state and federal funding cuts or unfulfilled funding sources.

Some of those positions including 15 in the County Health Department were restored after they were eliminaed.

The county is going at this year’s budget with its best assumptions on what state and federal funding will be coming in, along with local tax dollars.

Some of the money issues came from what is now a criminal investigation.

The County Sheriff’s Department has had to do an internal investigation to find overtime cost issues at a time when the county’s overall finances were struggling.

Overtime costs were criticized and went up significantly. Within the scrutiny of the department’s finances, two instances were found where time cards were reportedly padded with overtime. Both of the employees now face criminal charges. Along the way, all of the overtime costs were given a closer look to verify that the work was done.

Undersheriff Brad Welch told the Board of Supervisors, “we had our administrative investigators, our criminal investigators, putting everything on hold reviewing 688 time cards. That’s when this behavior was flagged it was investigated and that’s when we subsequently arrested one of our own. “

He says they will be prosecuting the employee through the District Attorney’s office.

Since the budget hearings earlier this year, the county has restored some funds in areas where there were cuts.

That includes health care, Medi-Cal and Cal-Fresh programs.There is also funding for child protective services and some homeless and housing programs.

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Alissa Orozco

GAVIOTA BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – Meteorologists say El Niño is quickly intensifying, and already we are seeing its effects in the Pacific. El Niño will bring warmer waters, warmer temperatures… and some unusual visitors to the Central Coast.

Using his drone, Juan Morales of “Sky Angel Drones” captured incredible footage of a hammerhead shark swimming off the coast of Gaviota Beach in Santa Barbara County Sunday.

Video: SKY_ANGEL_DRONES

In the video given to your News Channel, the shark can be seen swimming in clear water, similar to the one spotted swimming near the Malibu pier just last week.

Hammerheads are usually found in tropical waters, but marine biologists say warmer waters from the super El Niño are bringing more diverse species north.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — Teachers across the Hope School District are putting the finishing touches on their classrooms as they prepare to welcome students back Thursday.

Desks are being arranged, supplies unpacked and classroom walls decorated as educators get ready for a new group of students.

For teachers, the final preparations go beyond getting the room organized. They are creating spaces where students can feel comfortable, connected and ready to learn from the moment they walk through the door.

The work marks the final stretch of summer preparation before classrooms fill up again for the start of a new school year.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County Chief Executive Officer has retired from the position she has held since 2013.

Mona Miyasato has been instrumental in changing the way Santa Barbara County manages its departments, finances and responds to emergencies.

During the time she held the post, she helped the county through budget hearings with severe financial issues. Miyasato also had to declared numerous emergencies due to weather and other related issues that opened the door to state and federal aid.

She has been a watchdog over county departments and the Board of Supervisors through some of the biggest events in history.

That included the COVID crisis.

Funding problems have never full gone away and each year she had to prepare a balanced budget.

She says the county is in much better shape today with the work the staff has done.

Miyasato said, “as I leave I have great confidence in this county, this county organization. There will always be difficult choices. There will never be enough resources there will always be issues but remember the public’s trust has to be continually earned. This organization will do what it has to do, and what it has always done, which is respond, adjust, and renew.”

Miyasato received two standing ovations during her farewell appearance to the county.

She ended by removing her special county badge and leaving it on the podium where she was speaking.

She is not completely stepping out of the work force.

She will be a professional coach for public sector executives.

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

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara City Council received a two-year progress report on climate.

The city’s Energy and Climate Division Manager Jefferson Litten gave the presentation.

“Today was a great opportunity for council to hear a two-year progress update on what our department and what all the city departments are doing to achieve our climate action plan goal and I think it was really well received by council and we also talked about what we are ready to do in the next three years,” said Litten.

Litten said his department is working with other departments to achieve the city of Santa Barbara’s goals.

“The city has really ambitious climate action plan goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2035. So that is going to be a combination of adding EV charging, converting our buildings to electric buildings and adding solar storage where ever we can.”

He said the council responded with encouraging words.

The Climate Action Plan adopted in July of 2024 serves as a roadmap for the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The report says greenhouse gas emission primarily comes from on road passenger transportation and building energy use.

Clean energy programs include street and community trees, residential and city EV charging, and home electrification.

Members of the public can watch a recording of the council meeting on YouTube.

“The presentation was really well received by council, it was great to see praise for the department and our other departmental partners for all the work we have been trying to do to advance our climate goals,” said Litten.

In the next few years the city will focus on municipal building electrification and solar.

The city will incentivize residential solar and storage offering and shifts to use electricity during off peaks hours.

The city will replace vehicles with EVS.

It will continue building bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and improvements.

The city will also create a student climate innovation grant competition and explore partnerships with UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College.

The current climate has been a topic of conversation.

People visiting Tuesday’s farmers market on State Street felt the afternoon heat.

It was about 86 degrees before 5.p.m.

Jenna Davis wanted to make sure her children didn’t get overheated.

“It is always changing, it is definitely getting warmer and I feel like summer is just shifting to be later and later now, so kids are going back to school, but it is going to be hot at their school, and in the classroom, so I am glad to hear the city is doing things though and trying to move positive change forward and trying to adjust to this warming climate, we’ve got,” said Davis.

The Library On The Go on State Street during the market had staff on hand to recommend books about the climate.

One librarian recommended a book that includes climate inspired poetry entitled “You A Here, Poetry in the Natural World.”

The city is gearing up for a EV Charging Station ribbon cutting at the Eastside Library on Aug. 26th.

For a link to the report visit https://SantaBarbaraCA.gov

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Zoo sadly euthanized Poppy, an 8-year-old capybara, Friday after finding an inoperable mass on her throat that made eating and breathing difficult.

Poppy lived past the normal life expectancy for capybaras in the wild as many capybaras live up to seven years, according to the SB Zoo.

The SB Zoo’s other capybara, Antonio, is four years old and is suffering from a rare blood cancer diagnosis.

Antonio is receiving chemotherapy for treatment alongside special care and testing over the last two months, according to SB Zoo officials.

Antonio’s successful diagnosis of multiple myeloma marks the first in a living capybara at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility, according to SB Zoo officials.

Poppy’s passing marks a string of recent tragedies at the SB Zoo after beloved red panda Ruby and her two cubs died in July.

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News Channel 3-12

CHANNEL ISLANDS, Calif. (KEYT) – The Channel Islands National Park will open its new Prisoners Harbor Campground on Santa Cruz Island on August 27th.

Below is a press release from the National Park Service on the upcoming opening:

Beginning Aug. 27, Channel Islands National Park will open the new Prisoners Harbor Campground on Santa Cruz Island, introducing overnight visitors to a new way to experience the park’s largest island.

Reservations will open on August 18. Each of the six campsites accommodates up to four people; the nightly rate is $15 per site. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.

This is the first new campground added to Santa Cruz Island in decades and fulfills the park’s goal of expanding visitor opportunities while protecting the island’s extraordinary natural resources. Located a short walk from the Prisoners Harbor Pier, it offers a quieter camping experience than Scorpion Campground while remaining easily accessible.

“For our park rangers, Prisoners Harbor Campground is one of those rare opportunities to create a new inspirational experience that will be here for generations to come,” said Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “It’s a small, thoughtfully designed campground that’s in tune with nature. Visitors will fall asleep listening to the gentle rhythm of cobblestones rolling in the surf.”

The campground also expands recreation opportunities on Santa Cruz Island. Visitors can now hike between Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor, creating new point-to-point backpacking trips. Experienced kayakers can also paddle between the two harbors for a multi-day coastal adventure.

“We’re really excited about the new Prisoner’s Harbor campground on Santa Cruz Island,” said Channel Islands National Park Foundation board member Michael Delaney. “It’s set in a beautiful oak woodland nestled below Eagle Ridge, and it’s easily accessible with just a short walk from the pier where visitors arrive. Our heartfelt thanks to Toad & Co, Fund for People in Parks, and Aera Energy of Kern for providing the funding to build a campground that generations of campers will enjoy.”

Santa Cruz Island now offers three distinct camping experiences: 

Scorpion Campground, the park’s largest campground, provides easy access and is ideal for families and first-time campers. Del Norte Campground offers a remote backcountry experience for backpackers willing to carry all of their food and water. Prisoners Harbor Campground bridges those two experiences, combining convenient access with a quieter, more secluded setting.

Additional information about camping at Channel Islands National Park is available at www.nps.gov/chis/camping.htm.

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News Channel 3-12

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – In a special segment Wednesday, your News Channel will invite guests former Santa Barbara City Councilman Dale Francisco and former State Representative Hannah Beth Jackson for a LIVE conversation.

But we want to hear from you! How is your cost of living? Can you afford your groceries? Or to fill your tank? What on your latest thoughts on Santa Barbara’s State Street? And should e-bikes be banned entirely from it?

Vote in this week’s poll, and drop your questions, comments, opinions in the chat box below.

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