Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Campsites covered with oak trees and the Santa Ynez River still holding pockets of water for swimming spots will be a lure for campers this summer. Safety has been emphasized as a top priority for the Los Padres National Forest.

Over the years, there have been emergency responses during the crowded summer season for hiking injuries, swimming spot high-diving issues, and out or control campfires leading to wildland fires.

You don’t have to be a veteran camper or forest official to know, they all can usually be avoided.

Preplanning your trip, letting someone know your destination, and going with others is a safe start.

On Wednesday, Paradise Road off Highway 154 was relatively quiet but campsites were welcoming.

The popular Red Rock swimming spot had a small crowd, but the setting was perfect for those looking for a getaway about 40 minutes from Santa Barbara and deep in the hills to escape the normal beach crowds and parking traffic.

“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. I mean, it’s so awesome. It’s just like, in our backyard.” said Dylan Kracke a day use visitor and local student.

The U.S. Forest Service is patrolling regularly along with a private contractor, Parks Management Company, to manage the area and make sure those who are coming out have paid their day use or overnight camping fees as required and following all the rules.

The Los Padres Forest Law Enforcement is in the area, but the response zone is very large.

That means the mutual aid with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol is a key element to an overall safety and enforcement plan.

Fire agencies are staffed for a full response at the first sign of smoke. That includes brushfire trucks, bulldozers and helicopters. Choppers are ready to go at the nearby Santa Ynez airport. Air tankers are based at the Santa Maria Airport.

Los Padres Fire Chief Mark Gerwe said at a recent fire season meeting, when it comes to fire pits, “just check it, be sure it’s put out. Camp hosts can support or help you if you need it. If there’s not somebody from the Forest Service around, we’re always willing to.”   

He said a runaway fire can turn on you. “You’re not just out there where something could happen, that you ignite a fire, but you’re in the path of a fire.”

High school student Javin Arcuri from Santa Barbara was swimming with friends and plans to come back often. He has camped with his family and his latest outing was with friends. “We don’t usually go to bed if even embers (are burning.)  My mom is always very careful about that. “

A camper in the area from San Diego County Steve Clark said, “we, got a real good bead on what we need to do. And and how to do it.”

He was in the Red Rock and Sandstone day use areas and camping nearby. When it comes to fires, keep an eye on the flames and weather. “That’s just common sense. And, you know, especially if it’s a windy, you know, you don’t want to have a big fire because the embers can take off. “

Adam Stern who enjoys the rock diving said, “it’s very important to check the angles, make sure you can make the jump, and then definitely check how deep the water is.”

Conditions are changing regularly. “Just check for branches or sticks that have blown into their dive area.” He says gradually, ” work your way up to the a higher and higher (spot). “

If you are off on a hike be aware of what can affect you that you don’t normally deal with. Gerwe says, “the heat, illness or heat exhaustion really gets more people every year. They over anticipate their ability, maybe not carry enough water, but when you head out in the forest, just think it’s going to be hot, there’s going to be bugs.”

With Independence Day coming up, there are no fireworks allowed in any area of the forest to celebrate the 4th of July.

For more information go to: Los Padres National Forest

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Dave Alley

GROVER BEACH, Calif.- The City of Grover Beach officially celebrated the long-awaited completion of its West Grand Avenue streetscape project during a ribbon cutting ceremony held Wednesday morning.

The project has dramatically enhanced the look and field of the roadway between 8th and 4th streets and is intended to help revitalize the important economic corridor.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to see this streetscape project completed. These improvements have transformed our downtown to be safer, more accessible and more beautiful,” said Grover Beach Mayor Kassi Dee. “I want to thank all our residents and businesses for their patience throughout the construction process. We cannot wait to see the positive impact this project will have on our community for years to come.”

According to the city, the key improvements of the new streetscape includes:

• A landscaped center median for enhanced visual appeal• Decorative crosswalks designed to increase pedestrian safety• Upgraded sidewalks and curbs for improved accessibility• Newly painted Class II bike lanes supporting safer cycling• Rehabilitated pavement providing a smoother, safer driving experience

The project was first approved nearly 15 years ago the Grover Beach City Council and was designed to revitalize one the city’s most traveled roadways.

The city said the project is a reflection of its commitment to safety, accessibility and community pride, while also supporting the area’s evolution as a growing hub for housing and commercial development.

In addition, the city described the new streetscape as a way to establish needed infrastructure to promote walkability, cycling and community connectivity.

“This project represents years of planning, collaboration and investment in the future of Grover Beach,” said Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson. “It not only improves a key transportation corridor, but also lays the foundation for continued growth, revitalization and a stronger sense of place in our community.”

The overall cost of the project was $7 million and was paid through a variety of sources, including a $3.4 million Community Betterment Grant from the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), a $2 million allocation from the City’s General Fund, plus contributions from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) gas tax revenues and other local sources.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. – A U.S. citizen was detained in Oxnard after recording video of federal immigration agents arresting his father during a recent ICE operation.

Juan Ramirez Diaz, who lives in Oxnard with his wife and two children, was taken into custody around noon Monday in an industrial area near Pacific Avenue. According to his family, Ramirez Diaz was filming as ICE agents detained his father, who is not a U.S. citizen, when he was tased and taken as well. His wife later shared the video on social media and filed a missing persons report with Oxnard police after he failed to return home.

“My husband is a U.S. citizen, he never should have been taken,” said Monique Ramirez. The family’s attorney said Diaz was “attacked by these ICE agents, maced, punched, beaten,” and then transported to a local hospital before being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. He was released before 3 p.m. Tuesday and is now back with his family.

Police said they conducted a follow-up investigation Tuesday morning after they received the missing persons report. “We obliged and took that report for them this morning, we did a follow up to see if we could locate the individual and it turned out he had been taken down to the Metropolitan Detention Center,” said Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benitez.

Witnesses described the arrest scene as chaotic and intimidating. “It was really sad,” said one worker in the area. “When they came, people looked really scared, like we were criminals.” Another nearby worker, Victor Garcia, added, “In my opinion it is just like racial profiling—they just pull Latino Americans, Hispanics—it is not right.”

The case has raised questions about local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. Oxnard Police Chief Benitez reiterated that the department is not cooperating with ICE, citing Senate Bill 54 — California’s sanctuary state law — which prohibits local agencies from using resources to aid federal immigration enforcement. However, some residents remain skeptical.

Community members — including activists, attorneys, and people from both sides of the political aisle — filled city council chambers Tuesday night to demand answers and accountability. One speaker said, “Fear hangs like a cloud over Oxnard right now.” A hotline number to report undocumented individuals was also read aloud during public comment.

Deborah Baber, treasurer of the Ventura County Republican Party, addressed the incident during public comment, saying, “One got picked up incorrectly is not even a drop in the bucket—it is not even a bit of mist.” But the overwhelming majority of speakers urged council members to stand up for migrant workers and denounce the recent actions by immigration authorities.

“Now the community is going to make its voice heard about some of the stuff that has happened in the last week—really traumatic incidences that have occurred and community members that have been impacted by these immigration raids,” said Steven Auclair, Chair of the Democratic Party.

ICE has not responded to requests for information about what happened to Ramirez Diaz or his father. Video of the incident has circulated widely online, drawing attention from civil rights advocates and immigration groups. Further coverage and community reaction will be featured tonight on the news.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – With peak fire season now here, the Santa Maria Air Tanker Base is ramping its operations in order to be fully prepared and ready to respond when the need arrives.

“May 15th was our actual opening date,” said Miguel Quiz, Santa Maria Air Tanker Base Manager. “We’ve been open, ready to fight fire since then. We’ve had a few fires here and there locally, mostly supporting fires on the Sequoia and we have a few aircraft here at the base now.”

There is currently a small fleet of aircraft stationed at the tanker base that is located at the Santa Maria Jet Center, on the south end of the Santa Maria Public Airport.

“We have four aircraft on base,” said Quiz. “We have the lead plane. We have an air attack. We have tanker four zero used for dropping retardant and we have a hell of tanker type one helicopter.”

Quiz added staffing at the base has also doubled since mid-May, including personnel who operated and maintain the stationed aircraft.

“We are ready to go,” said tanker pilot David Dicky. “Bags are packed. Plane is uncorked for the most part. It’ll take us two minutes to get those engine covers off and then clearance to take off.”

While Tuesday was a quiet day at the air tanker base, staffing was still hard at work all day long planning and preparing for when the next fire needs the support the base provides.

“When the call comes in, when the call comes in for initial attack, we’re ready to move,” said Quiz. “We’ve trained so much the when the moment comes, everybody has a duty to do. Everybody has a role to play. The folks really take a pride initiative in what they’re doing around here to make things happen. We understand that what we’re doing here at the base and the readiness that we have at the base impacts the firefighters out there on the ground because they’re the ones out there waiting for retardant, so the faster we are, the more ready we are, the more training we do, we’re able to respond in a safe way.”

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Caleb Nguyen

GAVIOTA, Calif. – Fire crews helped with a one-acre vegetation fire near the Gaviota Coast on Freeway 101 at Vista Point and Tajiguas Landfill Road just before 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Strong winds pushed the fire toward the ocean and the SBCFD advised those in the area to drive carefully on Highway 101, which remained open during the fire response.

The railroad in the area was closed due to the incident and firefighters worked up steep terrain with hoses and crews to put the fire out, according to the SBCFD.

Both the SBCFD and CAL FIRE SLO crews helped with the fire and the cause of the incident is under investigation.

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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the City of Santa Barbara regarding their annual Fourth of July Celebration event at the waterfront.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The City of Santa Barbara has announced the return of the annual Fourth of July Celebration. Hosted by the City’s Waterfront and Parks and Recreation Departments, the yearly tradition will transform Santa Barbara’s waterfront for a full day of family-friendly activities.

Enjoy live music and dance performances at the West Beach Bandstand sponsored by the PARC Foundation starting at noon. Closures of State Street, from Gutierrez Street to Cabrillo Boulevard, and Cabrillo Boulevard from Castillo Street to Calle Cesar Chavez, will allow crowds to take the celebration to the streets starting at 6:00 p.m.

Fourth of July Celebration

Friday, July 4, 2025

Noon to 9:30 p.m. 

West Beach (99 W. Cabrillo Blvd.) 

Road Closures 7/4/25:

Cabrillo Boulevard – Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m. from Castillo Street to Calle Cesar Chavez

State Street – Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m. from Gutierrez Street to Cabrillo Boulevard

Stearns Wharf – Closed to vehicle traffic at 3:30 p.m.

West Beach

The day will conclude with a 20-minute fireworks display at approximately 9:00 p.m., presented by Garden State Fireworks and sponsored by the City’s Waterfront Department. Longtime community event media partners KjEE (92.9 FM) will simulcast the soundtrack, and the show will be livestreamed on KEYT.com.

Fourth of July Celebration Schedule: (subject to change)

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Goodlanders

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Peer Pressure

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – The Three Combroneros

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Walking Coco

5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – The Other Woman

6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Ladyfinger

7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – East Valley Rd

8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – False Puppet

9:00 p.m. – 9:20 p.m. – Fireworks! 

Cabrillo Boulevard Sidewalk at West Beach

Enjoy a special street fair with festive food vendors from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., sponsored by the PARC Foundation. This year’s vendors include Tink’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs, Lidos Philly Cheese Steaks, Timbers Roadhouse, G Brothers Kettle Corn, Elubia’s Kitchen, and The Deli Doctor.

For more event information, including parking and road closures, visit Fourth of July Celebration 

For more information about the Parks and Recreation Community Foundation, visit PARC Foundation.

July 5th Beach Cleanup Volunteer Opportunity

On July 5, the City will partner with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to host beach cleanups at nearby beaches to ensure any litter left over from the holiday does not make its way to the ocean. Cleanups will take place at Leadbetter Beach, West Beach, and East Beach. Gloves and buckets will be provided for all volunteers.

July 5th Beach Cleanup 

Saturday, July 5, 2025 

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Register to help with the cleanup

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Jarrod Zinn

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – Central Coast bookworms will need to make a small adjustment starting next month.

But luckily, it’s only a matter of going next door.

The Arroyo Grande Library is in need of major renovations.

San Luis Obispo county’s largest library will temporarily close for critical infrastructure updates.

“We have a really strong readership at the Arroyo Grande Library,” says Erica Thatcher with County of SLO Public Libraries. “That library lends more books than any of the other libraries in our library system.”

A state grant is making these essential safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements possible.

They’re deemed “critical” for ongoing operations.

“We received a $1.6 million grant,” says Thatcher. “The California State Library has an initiative called the Building Forward Grant, and they are funding projects all over the state of California to bring libraries up to date.”

The state has a list of 278 libraries benefiting from this infrastructure grant, including this location.

“They’re committed to making sure that our buildings are keeping up with all of the things that are happening in today’s world,” says Thatcher.

The library will be receiving upgrades for fire suppression, ADA compliant restrooms, a new HVAC system, security features, and more.

“The project includes the HVAC and the ADA compliance, but it also includes a kind of reimagining of the children’s area,” says Thatcher. “So that’s probably the biggest part of the project that isn’t just updates. We don’t know exactly when the project will be completed and we’ll know more when we get underway and the project progresses.”

The library will close on July 16th.

A temporary exchange location will be set up right next door at the Chamber of Commerce building to return library items and to pick up anything on hold.

During the closure, residents of south San Luis Obispo county are welcome to visit other county libraries in Nipomo, Oceano, and Shell Beach.

Learn more about the closure on the Arroyo Grande Library’s website.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – As of Tuesday morning, Some areas along the Central and South Coast have had their power shutoff warnings extended due to continued fire risk conditions, now expected to last through June 20 or 21. A current map on SoCal Edison’s website shows areas in black where power is already shut off, and orange zones under consideration for future shutoffs. One of the affected high-risk areas is San Marcos Pass, where many residents remain without power. Edison crews are actively stationed in neighborhoods, providing emergency kits and resources.

(ORIGINAL POST) The potential for weather conditions strong enough to bring down power lines into dry brush has residents on alert. Warnings were issued earlier this week by Southern California Edison, and some areas have already experienced power shutoffs.

Edison’s proactive steps include alerts for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) areas, which are designated on a map posted online. The map shows neighborhoods where power could be cut and areas where it already has been.

Currently, some of the impacted areas include the western Gaviota Coast and lower San Marcos Pass.

Warnings have also been issued in locations not typically on the power alert list, including parts of Santa Barbara’s Westside, Lower Eastside, Upper State Street, and areas near Hendry’s Beach outside Hope Ranch.

So far, the weather through Tuesday morning in the warning zones has not brought region-wide high winds. A shifting weather pattern is bringing above-normal heat early in the week, followed by cooler but still pleasant temperatures later in the week.

Even without extreme heat, a strong wind gust and a broken, energized power line could ignite a wildfire. The Central Coast has already seen several small fire starts in recent weeks, although not all causes have been identified.

Edison has set up two community support locations — at the Louise Lowry Davis Center in Santa Barbara and the Residence Inn in the Goleta Valley — where residents can access emergency assistance. Available items include phone charging stations, solar lights, and basic emergency supplies.

Andrea Carnaghe, a local resident, held up a supply bag and said, “It has hand sanitizer and towelettes, things like that.” She also showed the solar-powered light included in the kit: “So in case of an emergency when the power goes out, you have a solar-powered light.”

In the upper Goleta Valley, some residents are more prepared. One homeowner, Steven Kreiner, has solar panels and Tesla batteries. “I have neighbors who can come over and stay nice and cool with our AC running,” he said.

Kreiner said they know when power has been shut off in their neighborhood off upper Patterson Avenue: “We know when it’s nighttime and only our lights are on, or from the notifications we get from the Office of Santa Barbara County.”

Homeowners in the area are collaborating to improve wildfire resiliency and are working toward becoming a Firewise Community, which could potentially reduce insurance costs.

Kreiner added, “The downside of not doing rolling outages is that the repair time — with people being down without notice — is much worse, especially if there’s a fire. Crews get overtaxed, and resources become stretched.”

Some areas, including the Painted Cave community, have been without power for more than 30 hours.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Rep. Salud Carbajal and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joined local health leaders Monday to warn that a Republican-backed budget bill in Congress could lead to sweeping cuts in Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California.

The roundtable discussion at CenCal Health comes as Congress considers the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which GOP leaders say will curb federal spending. Critics, including Carbajal and Becerra, argue it could have devastating impacts on health care access nationwide.

“You take a trillion dollars out of hospitals and from doctors throughout this country — there will be consequences,” Becerra said.

The bill, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and GOP congressional leadership, includes provisions that would reduce Medicaid funding by an estimated $792 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The legislation would also impose stricter eligibility rules and expand work requirements for recipients.

Although Trump has publicly said he does not support cutting Medicaid, and GOP leaders claim the bill targets “waste, fraud and abuse,” nonpartisan analysts warn that the proposed changes would leave between 8 million and 10.9 million Americans uninsured.

CenCal Health CEO Marina Owen said the changes would disproportionately affect low-income residents in Santa Barbara County who rely on preventive care.

“People who lose access to health care will skip preventive care, which affects the overall health of our community,” Owen said.

Dr. Rene Bravo, representing the California Medical Association, said political rhetoric around the bill may discourage immigrants from seeking care.

“Don’t miss your appointments. Go to the doctor. Do not succumb to fear. We will do everything we can to protect you,” said Bravo, a pediatrician who expressed particular concern for children.

Carbajal, a Democrat who represents California’s 24th Congressional District, said veterans would also be impacted by Medicaid restrictions.

“This legislation means taking away their health care,” Carbajal said. “That’s why we’re here — to inform the community so they can voice their concerns.”

Jenna Tosh, CEO of Planned Parenthood California Central Coast, said the bill includes a provision that would defund Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program.

Vanessa Kaelyn Acain of Access Support Network said people with disabilities could face “heartbreaking choices,” including going without caregivers, rationing medications or ending up in institutions.

Senate Republicans, led by Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo of Idaho, are seeking deeper reductions than their House counterparts, including tighter caps on state provider taxes and more aggressive cost-sharing requirements. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has broken with GOP leadership, calling any cuts to Medicaid a “red line.”

Despite internal divisions, the bill continues to advance through Congress. Carbajal urged constituents to contact their representatives and speak out against the proposed cuts.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Budget cuts have forced Food Bank of Santa Barbara County to cancel its popular “Picnic in the Park” summertime meal distribution program.

For more than 10 years, Food Bank has held the program during the summer at about a dozen park sites throughout Santa Barbara County.

The program offers children ages 18-and-under a free meal at selected parks each weekday to help ensure that every child in the county receives a lunchtime meal while school is out for the summer.

According to Food Bank, about 1,500 kids annually take advantage of the free meal distribution, but those in need will have to find alternatives this year.

“Today is the first day of summer and summer break,” said Laurel Alcantar, Food Bank of Santa Barbara County Marketing Director. “Normally the Food bank would be hosting our first day of Picnic in the Park today, but this year, we’ve really had to look at streamlining our operations in areas where we can have the greatest impact. With government cuts in food supply over $4 million, we’ve had to take a hard look, so we’ve cut that program this year.”

For those families looking for an alternative, Food Bank is now referring them towards meal distributions being provided by county school districts.

“We are asking families who might be in need of help or organizations who are directing families to help, to go ahead and look at our food distributions on our website and connect with their local school district,” said Alcantar. “Many of our school districts have multiple lunch sites where they’re serving meals for kids and we have quite a few distribution sites throughout the week, so there’s something available for all of the families who might need help.”

In Santa Maria, Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) is launching its Summer Meal Program on Monday.

Over the next two months, the district will provide a free breakfast and lunch at various sites to kids who are age 1-to-18-years-old.

Distributions sites for SMBSD include the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, Arellanes Elementary School, Fesler Junior High School, Jimenez Elementary School and Santa Maria Foursquare Church.

SMBSD will distribute breakfast meals from 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Other districts also providing free meals for children during the summer includes Santa Barbara Unified School District, Lompoc Unified School District, Goleta Union School District, Buellton Union School District, Blochman Union School District, as well as the United Boys and Girls Club of Greater Santa Barbara County.

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