Author: KEYT

Jarrod Zinn

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – A local high school student received national recognition for her contributions to her community.

Seven kids were recognized at a formal gala in Washington D.C. Thursday night as ‘Military Child of the Year,’ courtesy of national non-profit ‘Operation Homefront.’

“At least for around here, maybe football would be a little bit higher because a lot of people in this community are into like our sports teams and all that stuff,” says this year’s local honoree.

One military child from each branch—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, Navy, and Space Force—received $10,000, a laptop, and other donated prizes.

Representing the Space Force is Vandenberg local, 17-year-old Natalia Serna.

“The first time I received the news, I honestly didn’t believe my dad. I thought he was joking or like pranking me. And then he showed me the email and I was like, my God. Like, it was so surreal,” says Serna.

Daughter to Maria Tapia and Chief Master Sgt. Jay Harris, she’s an honor student at Cabrillo high school.

“I just want to say that my wife and I are extremely proud of Natalia. She’s doing great things, so we expect her to even continue that. She has big goals, big aspirations, and we’re going to support her to do whatever she wants to do in life,” says Chief Master Sgt. Jay Harris, Space Launch Delta 30.

Having had to move seven times and attend twelve different schools, she managed to excel academically, volunteer in every community, and has taken leadership roles among her peers.

“I’m truly humbled and honored for this award. It means so much that Operation Homefront annually recognizes the contributions that most military children have made, and it’s truly an awesome opportunity. So I’m thankful,” says Serna.

Natalia will be pursuing a career in law, public service, and says she even has her eye on the U.S. Presidency one day.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A 250-room hotel project approved by the City of Santa Barbara is going forward after an appeal was rejected in front of the California Coastal Commission.

The commission is meeting in Santa Barbara at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort this week.

The hotel is a project by the Wright Family H. Limited partnership. The appeal was filed by the group Keep the Funk and citizen Steven Johnson.

Among the issues are concerns about onsite soil and groundwater contamination that could be “exacerbated by project activities and the site’s vulnerability to flooding and sea level rise,” according to the report in front of the commissioners.

The City reviewed showed it “had sufficient evidence to conclude that the project conformed with the flood and coastal hazard policies.”

The City and the Wright Family confirmed that all of the hotel units met the definition of moderate-cost, visitor-serving accommodations.

The project will also have a 238 space underground parking structure, 29 parking spaces above ground, six affordable housing units, a 208 square-foot market, meeting rooms, a fitness center, a swimming pool, two spas, a courtyard, and a roof deck. The project also includes restoration of an on-site drainage area. 

Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Lobero Theatre hosted all 20 Spirit and Junior Spirit Finalists and chose their winners for this year’s upcoming Fiesta celebration Saturday.

After a fierce competition, 2025 Fiesta El Presidente Fritz Olenberger announced that Victoria Plascencia earned Junior Spirit honors and Natalia Treviño received the Spirit nomination.

The search for the 2025 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta is underway, as Old Spanish Days partners with News Channel to showcase this year’s finalists and audition process.

A total of 20 finalists — 10 in each category — will audition Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m. at the historic Lobero Theatre. The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and support the young performers.

Old Spanish Days plans to livestream the event for those who can’t make it out to Lobero Theatre. You can watch the livestream here.

Each year, the Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta serve as goodwill ambassadors for Old Spanish Days, Santa Barbara’s annual summer celebration. Through dance and public appearances, they bring to life the cultural heritage and joyful spirit of the festival, which honors the traditions of Spain, Mexico and early California.

Local dance schools across the region play a key role in preparing students in the rich multicultural dance traditions showcased during Fiesta. The finalists have spent months training and rehearsing for the honor of representing their community.

News Channel will feature a finalist for Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta each day beginning Monday, March 31.

Spirit of Fiesta Finalists

Aracely Sagastume 16 years old, 11th grade San Marcos High School

Chloe Kossen 18 years old, Freshman Santa Barbara City College

Julia Medina 17 years old, 12th grade San Marcos High School

Natalie Rodriguez 16 years old, 11th grade Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Natalia Treviño 16 years old, 10th grade Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Paloma Valenzuela 16 years old, 10th grade Santa Barbara High School

Sarah Naretto 19 years old, Sophomore California State University, Chico

Selena Valencia 15 years old, 10th grade San Marcos High School

Tessa Shyrock 16 years old, 11th grade Santa Barbara High School

Zara Long 16 years old, 10th grade Dos Pueblos High School

Junior Spirit of Fiesta Finalists

Amarah Saenz 7 years old, 2nd grade Monte Vista Elementary

Bobbi Sanchez 8 years old, 3rd grade Monroe Elementary

Camila Papincak 9 years old, 3rd grade La Purisima Catholic School

Catalina Montepeque 8 years old, 2nd grade South Coast Montessori

Eliana Valdez 9 years old, 3rd grade Kellogg Elementary

Kaili Kauka 9 years old, 3rd grade Peabody Charter School

Lucia Ibarra 9 years old, 3rd grade Peabody Charter School

Penelope “Penny” Hernandez 9 years old, 3rd grade Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Valentina Vega 8 years old, 2nd grade Foothill Elementary

Victoria Plascencia 9 years old, 4th grade Oak Valley Elementary

Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – Space X launched 22 Starlink satellites supporting a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:02 p.m. Saturday.

Backup opportunities for the launch were available until 6:47 p.m. on the same day as added launch chances starting at 2:29 p.m. on the following day.

This is the 17th flight for the first stage booster supporting the mission and the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean, following stage separation.

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

Those with images or videos of the launch are encouraged to share them with KEYT at the following link.

Jarrod Zinn

PISMO BEACH, Calif. – Historically low numbers of western monarch butterflies visited the Central Coast this winter.

This data comes as the butterfly is under consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The winter’s final counts are in, and the window of public comment is open, beginning the process of considering this species of insect as officially threatened.

The natural habitats of the western monarch butterfly are biologically linked to other crucial species such as bees, placing them at a high level of importance to the overall ecosystem, to say nothing of their natural beauty and drawing power.

“Their decline is a sort of indicator of the decline of many species in California. And all the conservation that we’ll be doing to protect monarch butterflies will not only protect them, but will help countless other species that depend on the similar habitats,” says Randy Widera with the California State Parks Foundation.

Final counts from this winter have been as low as three butterflies in Goleta and 550 in Pismo Beach, places that normally see clusters of thousands or more during their “overwintering” life cycle. 

“In December of 2024 the National Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed them to be listed. And it’s a year long process,” says Widera.

In December 2025, based on data from continued scientific studies, as well as from review and tabulation of public comments, a final determination will be made.

“Over the years we know that there’s been some ups and downs. Sometimes there’s been 30 to 40000 butterflies here at any given time, and sometimes it’s gotten down to, 10% of that three or 4000,” says  Glenn Nitti with jehovahswitnesses.org. 

Officials encourage the public to visit the fish and wildlife service’s website, become informed, and then offer your comment.

“It’s really important that everybody who cares about monarch butterflies adds their voice to the public comment period. By March 12th, because that public comment is really what will help support and influence them in making monarchs listed as threatened species,” says Widera.

It’s a long road yet to determine the exact level of threat to these creatures, and if you’re interested in getting involved, be sure to check them out here.

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Hundreds of people of all ages gathered at the Milpas roundabout in Santa Barbara on Friday, chanting, “Sí, se puede! Sí, se puede! Sí, se puede!”

Protests were held across the Central Coast in response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings and in opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration deportation policies.

Many participants held signs and flags, while others distributed informational cards and shared resources with passersby.

“Continue to protest, continue to spread the word, and give as much information as possible to those out there who can’t speak English,” said organizer Victor Rios. “And since resources that are available in Spanish are being removed, we’ve got to step up and provide them.”

The protest continued late into Friday night, causing traffic congestion at the roundabout, according to an alert from the Santa Barbara Police Department. By 10:15 p.m., police said the protest had ended and the roundabout had reopened.

805 Undocufund, a nonprofit assisting immigrants, has reported ICE activity in multiple local cities in recent days, including Oxnard, Santa Paula, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Lompoc.

“It’s heartbreaking to see these realities unfold, which is why we wanted to be proactive and help find a solution,” said organizer Briana Rios.

One protester, who asked to remain anonymous, shared why he felt it was important to attend.

“We’re here to support our people. I mean, most of our families came from immigrants. It’s good to be part of something we stand up for.”

More than 3,500 undocumented immigrants have been arrested or detained across the United States since Trump returned to the White House. The administration says it is prioritizing criminals for deportation.

A recent Reuters poll found that 48% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 41% disapprove.

News Channel 3-12

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The County of SLO Homeless Services Division launched its first-ever quarterly homelessness database dashboard to help the community.

Below is a press release on the announcement:

The County of San Luis Obispo Homeless Services Division has launched its first-ever Quarterly Homelessness Database Dashboard, providing the community with a detailed look at local homelessness trends, services, and outcomes. The dashboard offers critical insights into the County’s homelessness response system, reflecting data collected through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). 

This new resource aims to foster a deeper understanding of the dynamics surrounding homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. Unlike the annual Point-in-Time Count, which provides a snapshot of local homelessness on a single night, the dashboard shares the number of people served, including program outcomes, over a three-month period. 

“The dashboard is a major step toward making data accessible and actionable,” said Dawn OrtizLegg, Board Chair for the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors. “This tool will empower community members, providers, and decision-makers to better understand the challenges and progress in addressing homelessness across the County.” 

Key features of the dashboard include demographics about the populations and people participating in homeless services in San Luis Obispo County, the inflows and outflows within the system of care, and the outcomes of different program types offered by local providers. All information included in the dashboard is aggregated to safeguard the privacy of those being served in San Luis Obispo County and shared with their full consent. 

“The data in this dashboard isn’t just numbers—it represents individuals finding pathways to stable housing,” shared Mark Lamore, the former Data & Performance Chair for the San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Oversight Council. “By visualizing the outcomes of local programs, we can clearly see the dedication of service providers working to connect people with the resources they need. This tool enables us to measure our impact, refine strategies, and ensure resources are directed where they’re needed most.”

Developed with input from the Homeless Services Oversight Council, the County’s Department of Information Technology, and technical assistance from the Institute of Community Alliances, the release of this dashboard marks a key milestone in the San Luis Obispo Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness. The Department of Social Services also collected feedback from people with lived experience of homelessness and current participants in shelter programs to ensure the dashboard accurately and compassionately represented their perspectives. 

“Our team is very proud of the work we’ve done collaboratively to present this dashboard,” added Kate Bourne, Business Systems Analyst with the County of San Luis Obispo’s Homeless Services Division. “Over the last several months, the team carefully reviewed data from the entire system to develop a set of visualizations that will provide meaningful insights. It is the launch of our ongoing trend analysis to improve local access to housing and services.” 

Stakeholders and members of the public can view the dashboard and learn more at slocounty.gov/HomelessnessData. For individuals in need of housing, shelter, or related resources, help is available. Visit slocounty.gov/HSGetHelp to find support and services in San Luis Obispo County.

County of SLO