Author: KEYT

Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – SpaceX plans to launch 27 Starlink satellites in support of a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:34 a.m. Sunday.

Backup opportunities for the launch are available until 10:34 a.m. on the same day. Additional launch opportunities are available on Sunday, starting at 6:20 a.m..

Central Coast residents may feel the sonic boom from the impact of the launch.

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

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

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Rite Aid customers across the Central Coast are being notified by phone to fill their prescriptions before local stores shut down this summer as part of the company’s ongoing bankruptcy process.

That’s made stores appear busier than usual.

“They just called me to come and get my prescriptions and said they might change to CVS,” said Alma Baroza, a Santa Barbara customer.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in October 2023 and is now in the process of closing more than 400 stores nationwide due to mounting debt, opioid litigation, and declining brick-and-mortar performance.

According to court documents at least eight stores in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties are closing:

Santa Barbara County

199 N Fairview Ave, Goleta

345 Town Center West, Santa Maria

2405 S Broadway, Santa Maria

616 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang

According to store employees in Noozhawk’s reporting, the Rite Aid in Goleta is scheduled to shut its doors on June 29. The Town Center location in Santa Maria will follow on July 2, with the Broadway store closing just a few days later on July 5. Two additional stores in Santa Barbara (1976 Cliff Dr. and 35 S Milpas St.) remain open for now but could close if not sold to another operator.

San Luis Obispo County

740 Quintana Rd, Morro Bay

1110 Los Osos Valley Rd, Los Osos

Inside the Stores

Many shelves at local locations are already empty, while others still hold leftover holiday merchandise. Liquor has been marked down, but deeper discounts on most other items haven’t kicked in yet.

Rite Aid is also selling off assets — including a sweet staple.

“I couldn’t even get in the truck once I saw it. Honestly, it’s time to get an ice cream,” said Dominick Brown, referencing the popular Thrifty Ice Cream counter, which has drawn steady traffic even as stores prepare to shutter.

Despite Thrifty offering $1.99 scoops at most California stores, Pharmacy Manager Negar Haley says she buys her own ice cream elsewhere.

“I buy it because right now nothing at our store is on sale — even our own ice cream — so I go to Vons and get it,” Haley said.

Haley added that what she’ll miss most is the connection with customers.

“It has been a journey with Rite Aid. It’s been a home away from home,” she said. “As far as what’s next, I don’t know — but it is sad.”

A sign on the front door of the Milpas Street store in Santa Barbara urges customers to use their gift cards by June 5.

For those impacted by the closures, Rite Aid says pharmacy records will be transferred to nearby competitors, including CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger locations.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

This past week we have seen on and off again marine layer and cloud coverage. Onshore flow has been persistent. As we head into to the weekend, the Central Coast can expect better clearing and warmer temperatures. Currently, there are no watches, warnings or advisories in place through out the region, giving us calm conditions to start the weekend.

Onshore flow begins to weaken on Saturday, which will allow better clearing through the weekend. Marine layer for the coasts may experience more stubborn clearing. High pressure is building in as well and will allow temperatures to warm slightly. Temperatures on Saturday will be in the 70s and 80s. Light winds are expected each afternoon and evening, but will trend on the mild side. It will be the perfect weekend to head outside and plan that picnic or beach day! We can expect the warmer weather until Tuesday.

By Tuesday, weather pattern will shift again and will trend on the cooler side. Onshore flow is expected to build in and June gloom returns.

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – With the peak of wildfire season nearing, the California Fire Foundation (CFF) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are announcing the return of its annual Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP) grant program.

The CFF, along with PG&E, officially launched the the start of the application period for the grant program during an announcement Friday morning at San Luis Obispo Fire Department Station One.

“Wildfire is not going away and our communities need to be prepared,” said Angie Carmignani, California Fire Foundation Executive Director. “Right now, we can’t get the information out quick enough. We have grant opportunities for firefighters, fire departments, communities and non-profits to apply for a grant to get their communities and their citizens prepared for wildfires.”

According CFF, PG&E and the PG&E Corporation Foundation are providing a total of $1.65 million to the WSPP this year.

The 2025 amount is a significant increase from last year when the program awarded $750,000 in funding to 55 statewide fire departments and community groups.

Grant money allows recipients fund a variety of mitigation efforts, including vegetation management, specialized equipment, and fire safety education.

The WSPP has provided more than $4.5 million in grant money to 368 recipients over the previous seven years of the program.

“It’s a great time of year just to remind local communities that the importance of preparedness and having an evacuation plan,” said Jeremy Howard, PG&E Regional Senior Manager. “Also people should be making sure that they’re cleaning the vegetation away from their homes and off their properties just to give themselves a chance, as well as firefighters a chance to save their homes should a fire start.”

Applications for the grant program will close on Monday, June 30, 2025.

“Visit our website at the California Fire Foundation,” said Carmignani. “There’s a link and (applicants) just go through a series of questions and apply for the grant, and we should get back to them within a couple weeks.”

For more information about the WSPP, or to apply, click here to visit the CFF website.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Over 3,200 riders and support crew members came through the Central Coast this week on the AIDS/ Lifecycle ride and one sweet spot on their fundraising journey was the break in Santa Barbara.

The Paradise Pit is a commitment by organizer Sean Dooner who is called the Mayor, and his support team of many including Rod Lathim. The history of this event goes back 25 years. It started on the roadside in Montecito as the riders went by. “The first year we went up on the top of Ortega Hill road and scooped ice cream out of the back of a truck until we ran out and we said, ‘oh, we got to do this. We got to do this.’ So that that was the beginning ,” said Lathim.

It took place at Leadbetter Beach Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 3. p.m. Large Paradise Pit signs were up and tubs of ice cream were in place from Thrifty’s and McConnell’s. The flavors included chocolate chip, strawberry and even a singer Katy Perry inspired “Baby you’re a firework Blue Raspberry.” There were fresh churros, fruit trays, snacks and 45 gallons of coffee.

Volunteer David Landecker said it was a perfect spot. “You’ve got the ocean out there. We’ve got some riders. We’ve got ice cream. “

Dooner said he felt “so grateful and warm. They travel with the love bubble. And there’s so much love right now. You can feel the energy. You can feel the goodness and the love.”

The fundraising was required before the riders could qualify for this special event. “This year alone, they’ve raised $17.5 million for HIV Aids research,” said Dooner.

“We are unofficial. We’re not sanctioned by the ride, but, I think we’re the most talked about pit on the whole ride,” said Lathim.

It’s been an effort that has been rewarding. “Over the years, we’ve served 40 to 50,000 ice cream sundaes to people all free,” said Dooner who has collected donations.

One rider from Long Beach, Mason Sliwa said, “knowing that we have the support in Santa Barbara it helps us.”

John Cianciolo held his cup of ice cream and said, “everybody is in support of everybody. Everybody is so happy to be here and the love is truly here, truly is between everyone.” He said they can eat it without guilt because of all the miles they are putting in during the ride and the calories they are burning up.

The cyclists are finishing up the 540-mile ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica. They will cross the finish line Saturday.

This year, however, it is the last ride. The event is reportedly concluding due to increased production costs and a significant decline in both participation and fundraising.

The ride continued to the south through Montecito and Carpinteria with the overnight stop in Ventura.

It had an emotional moment for Lathim who paused to reflect. “It’s the end of kind of an era here.  I’ll miss it.”

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. – A Santa Maria father thought he filmed a woman’s body being dumped in an Orcutt park, but authorities say the video doesn’t show the full picture.

On Tuesday, Michael Zoppo took his young son to Waller Park in Orcutt to play. He was recording his son climbing up a tree with his Meta Glasses, which he bought a couple of months earlier. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a car pull up and, moments later, a woman’s body on the asphalt.

“Right away I wasn’t sure what was happening,” said Zoppo. “We left the scene with an uncertainty too, just because she wasn’t responsive with the paramedics or the sheriff.”

On Friday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office clarified that the woman in the video was heavily intoxicated, and what the video doesn’t show is that she got out of the car on her own.

“Because I did have a tree obscuring as well but then I just saw a mass like a body mass come out of the car. I didn’t see someone step out of the car. So that was my immediate attention getter was just something fast coming out of the car,” said Zoppo.

Zoppo saw the driver make a wrong turn out of the park, which gave him enough time to call 911 using his Meta Glasses and provide dispatch with a license plate number.

“I felt like that’s what I had to do at the moment. I had to react,” said Zoppo. “There’s someone face down in the asphalt. It’s — do I walk away and leave them there or do I take action?”

First responders were able to arrest the 67-year-old driver before he got away, and a medical crew was able to treat the intoxicated woman.

A Sheriff’s spokesperson said both the driver and the woman had multiple warrants.

The driver was charged with concealing a dirk or dagger, but it is unclear if that was one of the warrants for his arrest. The Northern Santa Barbara County Jail says he is no longer in custody.

It is unclear if the driver was intoxicated too, and the details of the woman’s warrants have not been released.

We will provide further information on this incident as it becomes available.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Every day, Old Mission Santa Barbara attracts visitors from all walks of life. 

“I love the history of it and just visiting and getting to see through it,” said visitor Karen Polati of Old Mission Santa Barbara.

But for some, going up the staircase isn’t easy.

“A temporary solution was achieved many years ago, but it involves a lot of distance,” said Father Joe Schwab of Old Mission Santa Barbara.

So the mission is raising funds to build a new wheelchair ramp.

Several renditions have been created to show what the new ramp would look like. 

“We have an artist rendition beautifully done by Fred Sweeney who’s also an architect … and I think that will attract a lot of people just when they see it. It really is quite beautiful,” said Father Joe.

The ramp will provide access to the mission church that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“I think it’s great. I think the more people that can experience it. You know it’s not just wheelchairs, but anybody has mobility issues would have a much easier time just to be able to have the experience and see the history of it all,” said Polati.

Right now, the mission is looking to raise about $500,000 for the completion of the ramp project.

“Well, I have family members that have been in wheelchairs and I’ve seen the difficulties. They’ve had this will make it easier for people to attend church,” said visitor Kevin McKernan of Old MIssion Santa Barbara.

“If you have walking issues or have a wheelchair or anything like that this will make life a lot easier for them to get into the building,” said Father Joe.

Leaders of old mission Santa Barbara hope the Increased accessibility will allow the mission to continue serving as a spiritual home for our community. 

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Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. – It’s been about one year since the inception of the new mobile eye clinic at The Salvation Army in Ventura.

Since then, directors of The Salvation Army say the mobile clinic has served more than 1,000 residents throughout the region.

The clinic serves those in need of eye care in several cities including Ventura, Oxnard and Thousand Oaks.

The Salvation Army welcomes donations in order to continue its services for those in need.

For more information, visit The Salvation Army.

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Alissa Orozco

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Two Pro-Palestinian activists were arrested Wednesday afternoon after they and three others stormed a Cal Poly Administration Building and vandalized it.

An email sent out campus-wide yesterday by Cal Poly President, Jeffrey Armstrong, says five pro-Palestinian activists stormed the university’s Financial Aid and Student Accounts office in the Administration Building and began spray painting all over the walls, windows, floors, and computers.

Armstrong states while no one was physically hurt, the incident was “traumatizing for numerous Cal Poly employees and students who were in the office at the time.”

The activists reportedly spray painted various pro-Palestinian phrases: “Free Palestine,” “Free Gaza,” “Cal Poly Divest,” “Let Gaza Live.”

As campus police arrived, the activists fled the scene but two were taken into custody for questioning.

Assistant Vice President of Communications and Media Relations, Matt Lazier, confirmed to your News Channel one of the suspects arrested was a Cal Poly student, while the other had no affiliation with the university.

Multiple people have been arrested on the campus in recent years in protest of the Israel-Hamas War. Eight people were arrested and several other protesters sustained injuries back in January 2024 during a planned pro-Palestine protest.

Most recently, President Armstrong spoke before Congress in May to testify about antisemitic incidents on campus.

“I want to emphasize that our goal is continuous improvement. We will work to give each student the safest possible environment free from discrimination and religious intolerance so they can learn, grow and succeed. We call it being ready day one,” said President Armstrong.

Regarding Wednesday’s incident, Armstrong said in the email, “we will not stand for illegal attacks against our institution, its employees and its students. There is simply zero tolerance for it.”

“Anyone who views this kind of shortsighted, disgusting and illegal activity as acceptable has no place at Cal Poly and will be rooted out.” 

The university asks anyone with information regarding Wednesday’s incident, including the identities of those responsible, to contact the Cal Poly police at 805-756-2281.

Your News Channel has reached out to the university and new information will be added to this web article as it becomes available.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – It’s the final phase, or to some, the final frontier of construction for a highway widening project from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara.

A large portion of the project has been funded, and work up to Summerland has been completed. That has added a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction. It is set for car pooling in the busy morning and evening hours, and open for all drivers the rest of the day.

Work on the Montecito segment is in progress. It also will include an additional lane in each direction.

The last phase is a connection from Montecito to Santa Barbara, all it needs is the last portion of state transportation funds.

That work will include a new southbound on ramp from Cabrillo Blvd, and a new improvements for Union Pacific trains through the area.

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) works with CalTrans and other state agencies on funding, design, and implementation of these projects. SBCAG is made up of leaders from the county and cities within the county.

This year, Mayor Randy Rowse of Santa Barbara is the Chairman of SBCAG.

Rowse says he is awaiting the important phone call about more freeway funding.

Speaking recently about the process, Rowse said, “staff will find out on June 6, I think by 5 o’clock I think that is the witching hour that in fact we got our grant funding  that we are pretty optimistic about. Hopefully I will come back with those big cardboard checks that represents a whole lot of money.” He plans to go to Sacramento for the funds at the end of the month as soon as a date is set.

If all of the pieces come together, SBCAG says the project’s projected timeline has a finish in 2028.

For more information go to: SBCAG

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