Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT). -Dos Pueblos won a second straight Channel League ‘instant classic’ in girls flag football.

Quarterback Kacey Hurley escaped the rush and threw a 15-yard touchdown to Taylor Grant with 27 seconds to play as the Chargers celebrated a 36-33 win over Ventura.

DP is 4-0 in league while the Cougars are 3-1.

Last week DP edged rival San Marcos 15-14 as they stopped the Royals at the goal-line as time expired.

This time Dos Pueblos outlasted Ventura in a shootout.

Ventura grabbed a 33-30 lead midway in the fourth quarter as Ava Ortman threw a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal to Kaiya Cooke. Ortman tossed 4 TD’s with three of those going to Cooke.

Both offenses went up and down the field for most of the game but the Chargers Kindah Ahmad-Reda had a huge defensive play as time expired in the third quarter. She intercepted Ortman and outraced the Cougars 70 yards for a pick-six that gave DP a 30-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Ahmad-Reda also caught a touchdown pass earlier in the third quarter from Hurley who had 4 TD passes in the game as the Chargers improved to 13-1 overall.

(Kacey Hurley threw for close t0 250 yards. Entenza Design).

(Taylor Grant had 2 touchdown catches including the game-winner. Entenza Design).

Ortman also ran for a touchdown in the first half for Ventura who led 19-18 at the break.

The Cougars fall to 3-3 on the season.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEY-T) – San Luis Obispo Police arrested a Grover Beach woman after she refused to leave the Hotel Cerro and threatened harm on hotel staff with a gun or knife Tuesday afternoon.

The 40-year-old woman refused to leave after staying Monday night and barricaded herself in her room at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, according to SLOPD.

SLOPD received help but the woman refused to cooperate with authorities and stayed in the room. SLOPD established a perimeter and all hotel rooms on the floor were evacuated as a precaution.

SLOPD investigators got an arrest warrant for the 40-year-old for felony criminal threats and a Crisis Negotiation team talked her into exiting the room, according to the SLOPD.

SLOPD officers took the 40-year-old into custody without incident and found no guns or knives at 3:00 p.m. when the woman left the room, according to the SLOPD.

SLOPD officers arrested and took the woman to the San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony criminal threats, and her bail is set at $50,000.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – There could be some improvements and branding to one specific historic neighborhood in Santa Barbara.

An online survey has just been completed for the Presidio neighborhood.

The results will be evaluated for possible changes to promote the area and enhance it image.

This is a nine square block area bordered by State street, Ortega street, Garden street and Carrillo street.

Within that is the El Presidio State Park, Old Chinatown, several historic homes and adobes and some of the cities original buildings.

There have been maps and limited promotion in the past.

This latest effort could integrate it more directly with the overall downtown experience.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara City Council heard staff recommendations about adaptive reuse Tuesday.

The issue involves a housing amendment to municipal codes that would incentivize adaptive reuse projects without delay.

Santa Barbara City Council members questioned the inclusionary requirements of 10 percent for workforce-priced units.

Councilmembers voted 5-2 on a motion to send the ordinance back to staff to reduce restrictions in the Commercial Business District along the State Street corridor by carving it out of the main ordinance.

Wendy Santamaria and Kristen Sneddon voted no.

Both appeared ready to vote on the staff recommendation rather than send it back for changes.

“I voted no today for moving forward without inclusionary housing, and so that is a 10 percent inclusionary requirement for adaptive reuse. But it would also allow in-lieu fees that could be charged if they were not able to make that 10 percent in the small space or configuration. Then they could pay into our local trust fund,” said Sneddon.

A study on in-lieu fees is in the works. She had hoped to adjust the ordinance once that study is done.

She said the city has been working on this issue for seven years.

“There is really the potential that entire floors could be penthouse suites for sale, and I would hate to miss out on that 10 percent inclusionary requirement and what those in-lieu fees could mean for our local housing trust fund,” Sneddon added.

Staff also recommended reconsidering a 1,200-square-foot average maximum.

The adoption is intended to pave the way for building above retail and office space, as well as replacing vacant space.

Public speakers had the chance to share their thoughts before the city council voted on whether to amend the municipal code pertaining to adaptive reuse projects.

The citywide change would have added an inclusionary requirement for decades to come.

One speaker noted a lack of three-bedroom units and argued the ordinance’s wording would hinder developers.

Ben Romo, representing Yardi developers, urged the city to remove the 10 percent below-market or inclusionary unit requirements.

Romo was not alone.

Other critics said renovations are expensive and that financial barriers to achieving a return on investment could drive developers away.

But other speakers and a couple of councilmembers said they support the ordinance and the conversion of non-residential units into housing to increase workforce housing downtown.

Many speakers said they prefer helping residents rather than weekenders.

Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association Executive Director Robin Elander spoke on behalf of the Housing Task Force.

They urged the council to exempt inclusionary housing requirements within the CBD for adaptive reuse, remove average unit size caps, and allow additional floors outside existing shells.

Developers said they would prefer not to have average unit size caps.

The recommended staff proposal, as written, waives some reviews and current zoning requirements.

It does not require compliance with current maximum density, setbacks, or parking requirements.

Mayor Randy Rowse, after tabling the adoption, said he favors requiring parking spaces.

The city will await staff’s revisions before moving forward.

They are also waiting on results of a study about in-lieu fees, which would allow developers to pay a fee per square foot if they don’t meet inclusionary housing requirements.

Councilmember Meagan Harmon considered it a victory. She said she wants to vote on something that won’t need changes down the road.

“I think there is a lot to celebrate out of today’s hearing. Adaptive reuse is about taking existing spaces and facilitating their development for housing. We all know that is wildly expensive to do downtown, and there is a lot about bringing folks to live downtown that would be really beneficial for economic revitalization,” said Harmon.

She added that it is about removing hurdles.

“So today we took a step to make it easier, simpler, more cost-effective to do that in the downtown core and citywide—to do that in existing spaces while maintaining a component of affordability,” Harmon said.

She believes the city is closer to paving the way to revitalize downtown.

For more information from the city visit https://SantaBararaCa.gov

Your News Channel will have more on this vote tonight on the news.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. – Jacob Saldivar of Oxnard, 23, pled guilty to 12 felonies Monday, including murdering Charles Barber in 2019, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Saldivar committed several crimes before murdering Barber, including seven counts of robbery, two counts of residential burglary, sodomy of a person under 18 and unlawful sexual intercourse, according to the VCDAO.

Saldviar also admitted to using a deadly weapon to murder Barber and cause great bodily harm to another person over 70 during one of these robberies as a special allegation, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar committed these violent crimes in Ventura from April to June of 2019, beginning when he was 16, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar became angry and attacked Barber with a knife at a parking lot inside of an apartment complex, fatally stabbing Barber multiple times, including a wound to Barber’s brain, according to the VCDAO.

Barber’s murder came during a time when he carried out robberies, assaults and burglaries, often targeting young victims walking from school or the market and elderly victims, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar stole phones, money and jewelry from younger victims, using a knife or physical violence that often resulted in hospital visits, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar’s elderly victims included knocking an 82-year-old man unconscious, causing a concussion, a broken jaw and lasting memory issues, according to the VCDAO.

He also robbed a 75-year-old man in a Home Depot parking lot, yanking at a necklace from the man’s neck which had his dead wife’s wedding ring, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar also burglarized an apartment complex and a private residence where he stole electronics, keys and valuables, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar, just days after murding Barber, lured two underaged girls to a motel with another mean, gave one of them Xanax and engaged in unlawful sex acts on June 27, 2019, according to the VCDAO.

Police later arrested Saldivar that day after he took selfies with a gun and pounded on a motel door, according to the VCDAO.

Ventura County prosecutors argued and succeeded in transferring Saldivar’s case to adult court due to the violent nature of his crimes, according to the VCDAO.

Saldivar is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 7 this year and remains in custody without bail. He is expected to be sentenced to 33 years to life in state prison under the following charges:

Charges pled to:

PC 187(a) – Murder

PC 211 – Second-degree robbery (7 counts)

PC 286(b)(1) – Sodomy of person under 18

PC 261.5(c) – Unlawful sexual intercourse

PC 459 – First-degree residential burglary (2 counts)

Special allegations admitted:

PC 12022(b)(1) – Use of a deadly weapon (knife)

PC 368(b)(2)(B) – Great bodily injury to elder over the age of 70

Click here to follow the original article.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –  A new design is making history in Santa Barbara County.

“The county of South Barbara is celebrating our 175th anniversary this year so Santa Barbara County is really special because we are one of the original counties of California in fact September 9, 2025 is 175th year statehood for the state of California,” said PIO Kelsey Buttitta of Santa Barbara County.

The winning artwork was created by local artist Aiden Khuiphum through a countywide contest.

“My main design component is the illuminated manuscript motif the gold plant design that inspired me heavily,” said Khuiphum.

“To have something beautiful that they can share with their families post on the wall for people to see really recognizes the sacrifices that many people do,” said arts commissioner Roman Baratiak of Santa Barbara County.

“This so important to people, and they live on … framed in people‘s homes … and on their desk,” said executive director Sarah York Rubin of Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.

County leaders hope it will recognize our community for generations to come.

“My hope is you know to continue making art and working more with the community that I live in,” said Khuiphum.

“We now have a resolution that is meant to commemorate incredible individuals in our community that is beautiful, and that just shows the incredible legacy that Santa Barbara County is,” said Buttitta.

The new design will be used on ceremonial resolutions honoring people and organizations across the County.

More than artwork, the new design is now a lasting mark in county history.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A.T. Still University is preparing to relocate from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo.

College officials say moving to the new building is allowing them to expand.

Back in 2019, the city of Santa Maria announced the arrival of the nationally recognized A.T. Still University, or ATSU, to Coast Hills Credit Union’s flagship building on Betteravia.

ATSU teaches osteopathic medicine and trains students to join the workforce as primary care doctors, and the Central Coast’s College for Healthy Communities trains physician assistants for underserved communities.

“We accepted our first group of students in September of 2021,” says A.T. Still University dean Eric Sauers. “So we are about to graduate our third cohort of physician assistants students actually this Friday.”

The college is preparing to relocate to a location on Tank Farm Road in San Luis Obispo, and they expect their move will be complete in time to begin the next training cycle in September of 2026.

“During our time here, what we really realized was there is a need for more higher education opportunities for people on the Central Coast and there’s certainly a resounding need to grow the health care workforce,” says Sauers.

School officials have expressed tremendous gratitude for Santa Maria’s city leaders, who they say have gone above and beyond their call of duty in setting the campus up years ago, and continuing to accommodate them along the way.

“It doesn’t impact any of our training partners,” says Sauers. “So we will continue to train our students at Marion Regional Medical Center, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Community Health Centers in the Central Coast, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. And hopefully it will create more opportunities for us to partner, say, with Adventist, French Hospital and others.”

Sauers says the SLO building is larger than their current home in Santa Maria, and was designed with the intent to house schools of higher education.

This will enable further growth which will still include students and recruits from the whole region, and Sauers says this can be seen as an expansion in service to the overall Central Coast, rather than leaving one community for another.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The growing Santa Maria auto mall located along Highway 101 is getting another dealership.

Recently, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved plans for a new home of Hyundai of Santa Maria.

The dealership is currently located on a small lot on West Main Street, but is now planning to move into a brand new 19,200-square-foot dealership building at the northwest corner of East Battles Road and Shepard Drive.

“When we first purchased the facility back in June 2024,” Ryan Renfrow, Hyundai of Santa Maria Managing Partner. “We’ve really outgrown our facility here on Main Street. We’ve really outgrown the facility to be able to handle the sales, the service, and the parts demands for all of our customers. Moving it over to Battles, it’s going to provide an ample amount of space and be a state-of-the art brand new facility. We’re excited to move over there and it’s really going to create an excellent buying experience for our customers.” 

The new site is located adjacent to several other dealerships owned by Renfrow, including Santa Maria Ford, Santa Maria Nissan and Santa Maria Mazda.

It’s also next to the Enos Ranch development, which already includes Santa Maria Toyota and Santa Maria Honda, as well as the future home of Home Motors Chevrolet that is currently under construction right across the street from the Hyundai lot.

When Hyundai moves in, it will become the latest edition to what has essentially become the Santa Maria auto mall, which the city hopes will turn Santa Maria into a regional destination for car buyers.

Already, there are several other car dealerships located within the immediate area, in addition to the Renfrow businesses.

Along South Bradley Road, Home Motors is going up next to Santa Maria Toyota. Santa Maria Honda is also on South Bradley located across the street from Toyota.

Nearby on Betteravia Road and surrounding streets, other dealerships include Kia, Volkswagen, BMW, Buick, GMC, as well as Sky River RV.

“This is the plan to have an auto mall, which brings more people because we have so many choices in one area,” said Suzanne Singh, Santa Maria Valley Chamber Economic Development Vice President. “When you put all the car dealerships together, it really brings synergy, so all car dealerships do better when they’re just bunched together like that.”

With the plans approved, Hyundai is hoping to begin construction within a few months and open for business at the new site within about a year.

Renfrow added when Hyundai moves to its new located, the current site on West Main Street will turn into a used car business.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –  A proposed change in an ordinance will allow the City of Santa Barbara to buy and use new parking systems.

This will likely mean the driver who is in a downtown lot will go to a machine after parking and not have a ticket that is used at a kiosk by the exit.

The change means the ordinance language will have to be reworded. It currently says that fees must be paid prior to exiting a parking lot to either an attendant or by mail. 

The city report says the change provides for “the ability to have modern payment systems while improving parking operations.”

The City’s Downtown Parking Lots can then use a pay-on-foot system, similar to the system used in the Waterfront parking lots, in the Helena Lot located in the Funk Zone. This is where the driver goes to a posted machine and enters in the number of hours they plan to be parked, then pay with a credit card.

The city says the change will allow for the pilot of pay-on-foot parking in the Helena Parking Lot. The ability to receive payment for parking in this lot is estimated to bring in $75,000 in revenue annually. The success of the pilot payment system demonstrates the potential to implement the self-service payment model in all Downtown Parking surface parking lots to reduce operating costs.

Downtown Plaza and Parking Manager Ed France says, “what is important is the Helena lot which is very small. It is a 29 space lot in the Funk Zone is a space where we can try that  exiting system that has been wired, we can   test the new pay by plate system and we can learn how that can be  useful for other downtown parking   other areas  of the city and departments.”

Santa Barbara’s downtown parking system is old and needs a modern upgrade. Some replacement parts can not be found. Broken exit gates are reused and trimmed up.

The city says the time has also come to have the downtown lots and the waterfront lots on the same system. They are different now.

France says, “we are working together  so we can find the best technology  and again that will be seemless so you won’t have to think about it being a different system whether it’s downtown versus waterfront parking.”

Hearing of the new technology idea,  some drivers are ready.

Jessica O’Connor, ” love that better.”  Holding her parking slip in her hand she said, “this needs to go!”

Anni Keshishian is visiting from Glendale and has seen changes in parking systems. “we are so advanced now with technology  I think it is time to keep up so.  whatever makes it easier for us”

There are times when the kiosks are not staffed and the gates are up. With the new proposed system it will be more efficient for the city to collect the parking fees.

Systems that read your license plates also get a favorable review.

Keshishian said, “I love the fact that when you are driving out of a parking spot it reads you license plate and it just opens and it so much easier seemless to do that.”

Jess Rodriguez said the current system is fast for her timeline. “You just drive out and its less than 75 minutes (the free period) and I can go on with my day.  “

There will also be a phone app in one system and you can add time to your parking without going back to your car.

Some drivers like  the way it is now.

Cheri Chako was firm on having no change with a personal tech component involved. ” I like this system better. It is just more convenient and I am older and I don’t have to think about that stuff.”

With the current system and someone to see you on the way out, Rodriguez said, “I like having the attendants when I drive out and it adds a nice touch to being downtown,”

The parking plan ordinance change  going forward still has to go to the full city council for a discussion.

The Ordinance Committee is made up of three City Councilmembers. Moving the plan to the council was supported by Councilmembers Mike Jordan and somewhat reluctantly by Kristen Sneddon, who had several questions about how the system is operated and its efficiencies. Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez opposed the plan and believes there are already taxes to pay for the parking services. He also said it is a hardship for some members of the community to pay for parking when they come to their downtown.

The committee members also heard, under the current system, some drivers who fail to pay at the kiosk and promise to pay in an envelope in the next three days did not follow through. The city says it has been hard to get that payment and some people are abusing this option.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara Police are searching for two suspects accused of stealing canisters of nitrous oxide from a local smoke shop.

On Monday, a man attempted to purchase the canisters from Illusion Smoke Shop in Santa Barbara but his card was declined. The business says a woman took the canisters some time later in the day – the two left in a car, possibly a Toyota.

Police believe the credit cards were fraudulent.

Anyone with tips or information can contact the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.