Author: KEYT

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police are investigating two shootings that happened Tuesday, one near Santa Maria High School and the other at the Town Center Mall around 1 p.m.

The SMPD reported several gunshots near Lincoln Street and Park Ave. where they locked down the school as a precaution during an investigation.

SMPD officrs found evidence of the shooting at the 700 block of South Lincoln Street without any victims and determined the incident was unrelated to the school and held no student threat.

SMPD officers then lifted the lockdown and released students without incident, though a second shooting at the south parking structure of the Town Center mall happened during the first.

SMPD officers found evidence of the second shooting involving two vehicles and reported no injuries from either.

The SMPD is investigating both shootings, but it is unclear whether or not they are related incidents. Those with information on either are encouraged to contact the SMPD.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo Police are investigating a reported hate crime between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. Saturday at the 300 block of Hathway.

The 21-year-old victim said a white truck stopped near a fraternity house with a back entrance on Hathway Street when people in the car shouted anti-Semitic slurs at him, according to the SLOPD.

An argument started when several men in the car got out, one of them entering the yard of the home and striking the victim on the head, before the truck drove off, according to the SLOPD.

This investigation is ongoing and the SLOPD asks for assistance to identify the suspects. All are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers with said information.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The city of Santa Barbara’s temporary rent freeze has led to a lawsuit.

On February 26th, the city’s temporary rent freeze went into place, officially capping rent for a good chunk of units through 2026.

Members of the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association and former city attorney Barry Cappello of Cappello & Noël LLP made an announcement on the steps of city hall on Tuesday.

But now, opponents are fighting back with lawsuits, claiming the freeze is “unconstitutional” and will only result in a deteriorating housing market.

Cappello said it won’t be filed this week, but will be filed soon.

“My clients want this council to back off and listen to them and give them an opportunity to prove to the city that rent stabilization, control ,whatever you call it is a very, very sensitive thing, you don’t jump into this, it is something that has been tested and it has failed,” said Cappello.

Attorneys David Edholm and Richard Lloyd are working for Cappello on this issue.

They call the rent freeze ordinance illegal and released the following:

“The Santa Barbara City Council voted at its January 13, 2026 meeting to enact a Temporary Rent Increase Moratorium Ordinance. The rent freeze began 30 days following the second City Council reading, and went into effect on February 26. The city also directed its staff to draft a permanent “rent stabilization” program that would go into effect by the end of the year.

The SBRPA contends that the rent freeze and proposed rent stabilization program represent an unconstitutional taking and violate the due process and equal protection clauses, as well as unlawfully interfering with private contracts prohibited by the Contracts Clause.”

SBRPA retained Cappello & Noël to pursue legal recourse to invalidate the temporary freeze, aswell as halt work on the permanent ordinance.

According to a statement by the SBRPA:

“In an astonishing display of constitutional disregard, the Santa Barbara City Council proposed in October rent control with a rent cap tied to just 60% of CPI—a policy that represents nothing less than the unconditional surrender of property rights. In addition, the City Council then passed, on a 4-3 vote, a rent freeze that deprives landlords of a Fair Market Return on investments. Wrapped in the language of ‘rent stabilization,’ the proposals directly violate established law, ignore economic reality, and mislead tenant advocacy groups into believing the city has authority it simply does not possess.”

“Rising taxes, insurance and maintenance costs are hitting property owners hard,” says Barry Cappello, Cappello & Noël managing partner. “Rent stabilization is bad economics. Owners need a return on their investment even as costs rise and must keep their property in a first-rate and safe condition. Rent control has proven over the years that when housing stock is not maintained, housing conditions for the tenants worsen.”

Cappello says, “We intend to follow this process through to the end and make sure either theCity Council rights this wrong or a court with proper jurisdiction orders it stricken.”

SBRPA President Betty Jeppesen said she rents out two units.

She believes the freeze or a future rent stabilization ordinance could lead to properties being put up for sale and fewer rental units in the city.

“We are trying to get justice for landlords, this is an unconstitutional imposition of government regulation that is not allowed and it is unjustly putting the burden on one industry instead of the public or the government,” said Jeppesen, who is also an attorney.

Tenants including Corina Svacina said a potential lawsuit would dash hopes of everyone coming to the table to work together. 

“This lawsuit is going to cost the city money if the landlords are really going to go after them,” said Svacina, “all we are asking is for one pause of the rent, so we can all regroup and talk about what really works for the city and how we can improve the quality of housing here in Santa Barbara “

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. Santa Barbara City Council members are considering a revenue measure to put on the November Ballot.

During Tuesday’s council meeting city staff projected options for taxing real estate transfers and increasing the transient occupancy tax (TOT) by two percent or from 12-14 percent.

A number of hotel general managers and tourism professionals spoke out against TOT saying it can drive tourists to other destinations.

And real estate professionals spoke out against transfers, that could amount to $10-11 million a year, at a time when sales compared the last few years appear flat.

The current tax is .55 per $1,000.

After the public comments council members directed staff to only look into at transfer tax increase options.

The council will take up the issue again in late June or early July.

If approved the item would appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

If voters approved the measure it would be implemented on January 1, 2027.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

PISMO BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – Pismo Beach Police helped a woman walking her dog to the hospital after a car hit her just before 5:30 p.m. Monday.

The woman was walking her dog at the corner of Boeker Ave. and Shell Beach Blvd. when a car hit them, according to Pismo Beach Police.

A witness to the crash said paramedics took the woman to Adventist Health Sierra Vista Hospital and noticed her dog needed treatment as well.

Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected causes in the crash, according to the PBPD.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – With the problematic memories of Deltopia going into the history books, Soltopia is set for April 4 in Isla Vista.

It will be a six-hour event in park settings and it comes with a permit and an agreement with Santa Barbara County.

Deltopia was an unpermitted event that began as an oversized beach party known as Floatopia that overwhelmed government resources. When it was moved to Del Playa Drive it became Deltopia and the concerns increased with health and safety violations, arrests, and damage to public property.

Earlier this year, Santa Barbara County Supervisors approved a ban on amplified music for the expected Deltopia during the first weekend of April.

At the same time the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) began working on a new event that would not be a street party. Instead it would be a festival with music, food, art and interactive activities. It has been permitted by the county and organizers have a plan for needs that come with a normal festival. That includes security, ID checks for any alcohol, and bathrooms.

It will be using park settings in the center of town, known as the “Loop” filled with mostly college students. In the general area there are also also year-round residents, families and UC Santa Barbara faculty.

Soltopia will be 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day Deltopia would have taken place. It is unclear if any other activities will be held outside of this sanctioned event.

Myah Mashhadialireza is the Community Programs and Engagement Director. She told the Supervisors Tuesday, “I want to be clear. This is not a new Deltopia.”

She says there will be a complete structure to the event.  “Four first aid tents. four safety stations,  two ambulances,  70 bathrooms,  4000 gallons of water, two sheriff’s safety stations and over 70 security guards  and so much more to make this possible.”

Efforts are underway to finalize teams of volunteers, choose bands, and fill out all the logistics.

“Our goal is zero medical calls, zero arrests, zero citations,   no public disturbances and less people on the bluffs edge,”   said IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud .

Some residents in Isla Vista did not want to see this event and told county leaders it was not all-inclusive as it was presented. They also said, the district should not be spending funds in its budget towards a college “Spring break party.”

The funding will be in excess of $200,000. It is a combination of the IVCSD budgeted money and a contribution from the Associated Students at UCSB. The county general fund is not directly providing money for this event, but first responders will have added costs.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says it will have extra deputies on duty and focus on Del Playa Drive and Sabado Tarde as two streets where they have had numerous calls for service during big events. That may change in future years depending on the way 2026 goes.

They are also going to be working on reducing injuries from anyone falling off the dangerous Isla Vista bluffs by staffing deputies in risky areas. This includes making contact with tenants or property owners if there are overcrowded balconies.

“Our presence will primarily be on Del Playa and Sabado Tarde.  Close to the cliffs so to discourage the partying and noise ordinance violations,” said Lt. Joe Schmidt with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Dept. He heads up the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Office.

“Every community in the world has some kind of community celebration  and this is ours,” said Abboud.  

Working with the county to get the appropriate approvals Mashhadialireza said, “without this we wouldn’t be able to do anything and this is essentially gives us the ability to create positive change.”

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.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A house quite literally took to the skies over Santa Barbara Tuesday morning.

At Ortega Park, a crane slowly lifted a small, modern accessory dwelling unit — known as an ADU — and floated it above Cota Street as neighbors gathered to watch.

Phones were out. People pointed. Some couldn’t believe how smooth it looked.

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is behind the project, calling it a new chapter for affordable homeownership in the city.

This is the first time an ADU will be sold as an affordable home in Santa Barbara under a new state law, AB345 — opening the door for smaller, for-sale homes to help ease the housing crunch.

The modular unit was built off-site, then delivered and carefully lowered onto its foundation in front of a crowd of supporters, volunteers, and local leaders.

Once secured, volunteers and the future homeowners — Tony and Sierra — will help complete the finishing touches and landscaping.

For Habitat, it’s more than a construction milestone. It’s a key to the front door for a local family.

And for those watching a home hang in midair, it was a reminder that even in a tight housing market, new solutions are taking shape — sometimes 30 feet above the ground.

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

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – A kickoff demonstration took place at San Luis Obispo Regional Airport Tuesday morning for a new internal navigation app.

GoodMaps was originally inspired to help visually impaired and otherwise disadvantaged travelers navigate while inside airports, without the need of constant human assistance.

After six years of development, the app is now being used in 42 airports around the world, and SLO Airport is its first in California.

Developers say it quickly became apparent the service could be expanded to everyone, as it can help navigate properties someone might be unfamiliar with.

Visually impaired travelers who have gotten the chance to use the app already say it can facilitate much more independence for them.

“I have to say, I am grateful for this GoodMaps app,” says Travis Sitler, who lives in Templeton. “if I’m with a family member I could show my own family member who are fully sighted, where the restroom is by using the GoodMaps apps on my iPhone.”

“We’re not using GPS,” says Kevin Kline, Community Engagement Representative for Goodmaps. “We’re using, camera based positioning. And then it’s getting your position within 30cm and taking you wherever you want to go within one meter, 100% of the time.”

Goodmaps can be downloaded like any other app, and can be used for any participating commercial property such as train stations, museums, universities, and more.

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

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of people who live in Nipomo will soon receive higher water bills in the coming days.

Rate increases that were approved by the Nipomo Community Water District (NCSD) late last year went into effect on Feb. 1, 2026 and will now be reflected for the first time on billing this month.

“:You’ll be able to see the difference in your first bill that’s that’s coming out here in March,” said NCSD General Manager Ray Dienzo. “We haven’t sent them out yet, but they will be coming on in the next in the next few days.”

Under the new rate structure, customers will see their monthly bill increase between 8.1% to 13.6% depending on usage.

According to the NCSD, customers who are described as “average” users will notice a bump of nearly $14 per month.

“There’s going to be a change in the rates,” said Dienzo. “As we stated in the the water rates study, the first round of rates will probably be about a 10% difference. A 10% increase from what you got last month, so be on the lookout for that.”

Data provided by the NCSD showed an “average customer” prior to the new rate increase paid $142.96 per month, but with the new rate, the monthly bill through the rest of the year will be $156.31 per month.

Beginning in January 2027, an “average customer” will experience a larger jump in their water bill, with the rate climbing to $186.54 per month.

One year later, in January 2028, the water rate will increase for a third time in less than three years.

The same “average customer” that was paying $142.96 per month prior to the rate hike in January 2026, will see their bill rise to $212.45.

For the “average customer,” they will see their water bill rise about $70 more per month within a window of 23 months from February 2026 to January 2028.

“It just represents more of our income that they’re going to get,” said NCSD customer Criss Blake, who was a vocal critic of the rate increases while it was being considered last year by NCSD board members. “I mean there’s just additional expenses everywhere you look and everything is more expensive. If you have families, if you have kids, you want to get them in soccer or whatever their their needs are, or even school supplies, everything has gone up, so you hate to see that.”

Blake added she is particularly worried about the district’s customers who are already struggling financially even before the rate hikes went into effect.

“My main concern is the low income people and people who are living on a fixed income, who are already strapped with all the other expenses that are everything else going up,” said Blake. “You hate to see that happen for people that are already kind of close on their bills, but down the road, there are two more additional increases, so it’ll look a lot different. Our bills are going to look a lot different.”

Dienzo has stressed the district understands and financial impact the new rates may have on some of its customers, but added the additional revenue that will be collected is needed.

“The reason for these bills is to maintain good operation and maintenance of the aging water infrastructure that we have here in Nipomo,” said Dienzo. “The projects that we are upgrading, these projects are meant for what’s necessary for a continued safe operation and to keep the district from being at risk, and for health and safety reasons, and also for water supply reliability.”

Last December, after much months of spirited community discussion, which included a grassroots protest movement, the NCSD Board of Directors voted 3-2 in favor of rate increases.

“I feel really good that we actually got two no votes from our board,” said Blake. “That made me feel good because it it made it gave me the sense that those board members really heard their customers. It was a very moving meeting. There was extraordinary attendance and there was extraordinary passion, and I really do mean passion on this topic, and it was very emotional in many ways. I was heartened to see that at least two board members were willing to back those customers.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A very mild Tuesday is on tap with temperatures slightly rising, but wind speeds have calmed for the day. Temperatures will be slightly above average for this time of year.

A bit of a misty morning to start the day for beach communities and portions of San Luis Obispo county. As the sun rises, it will start to warm and clear skies will prevail and bring a beautiful day today!

A weak ridge of high pressure sitting near the Central Coast will warm temperatures slightly today, rising into the 70s for the region. By Wednesday a trough of low pressure will build over northern California and will drop down near the region. Temperatures will cool slightly for Wednesday and Thursday. As the trough of low moves East, it will leave behind gusty winds, which will pick up Wednesday evening into Thursday. No advisories are in place currently, however the National Weather Service says wind alerts may be issued as we move through the week.

Overall it will be a rather dry week and very pleasant! Head outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Click here to follow the original article.