Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A new small shuttle system is about to be rolling in downtown Santa Barbara. It will be called the State Street Loop.

It is a project that’s been months in the making after many suggestions to help those who can not comfortably walk from the waterfront to the top of the promenade district around Victoria Street.

SWEEP SB, located in the Funk Zone, is providing the vehicles under a limited contract.

The funding is coming from the City of Santa Barbara’s special tax called Measure C, designated for infrastructure improvements. Also from a driving force with planning, promotion and funding is the group Friends of State Street.

“We want people to get from Victoria Street down to the waterfront and back and experience State Street all along and all of the great things it has to offer,” said State Street Master Planner, Tess Harris. She was standing by a cart at the Farmers Market Saturday answering questions from the public.

“It is a more open-air feel,” she said. “It is just an exciting experience in and of  itself.” At the same time, “the MTD shuttle will still run on Anacapa and Chapala Streets and down to the waterfront,” said Harris. That seasonal program runs Memorial Day to Labor Day from Friday through Sunday each week.

Sharon Rich with Friends of State says three electric golf carts will start the service with some trials this week, but the official start will be next week.  It will run Thursday through Sunday.

“It has five seats for passengers and one for the driver,” she said, for a total of six. “This will be going very slow, it will go 7-8  miles an hour so we can share the location.”

The shuttle options were looked at across the country and this system was right in the city.

They are small enough and narrow enough to fit “in the bike lanes,” said Rich. It will go slow and “follow all the rules of public transit.”

It will be in a shared space on the streets.

“It allows people to move around this corridor, this historic corridor,” said Rich. She expects people to use it more than once, sometimes in a day, and you will really get to know downtown State Street,” she said.

Business owners on the top end of the promenade have, in many meetings, encouraged ways to get the public from the waterfront to the blocks around the Granada Theatre, Arlington Theatre, library plaza and the blocks around the courthouse.

Harris says a shuttle system is a top priority in many similar downtown areas. “A lot of downtowns have these golf carts or shuttle trolley systems and we are excited to bring it to Santa Barbara and it time to try something a little bit new and exciting and and we hope you hop on and enjoy the ride.”

The stops for the Loop riders will be marked on the ground, not on pole signs.

Some of the features include:

FREE Rides for all passengers.

Electric shuttles with accessible boarding

Continuous loop service along designated stops from Cabrillo Boulevard (Dolphin fountain) to Victoria Street

Service Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 12pm-7pm

Estimated Loop Time: 15-20 minutes roundtrip

For more information go to: Friends of State Street

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Patricia Martellotti

MONTECITO, Calif. – At the start of the year, nearly 50 families of Friendship Center’s current and incoming program participants, many of whom live with dementia or significant mobility needs, were given a one month notice that their subsidized transportation service would no longer provide rides to or from Friendship Center. 

This caused immense stress among families as, without transportation support, they would lose access to 7 hours a day of safety, connection, supervised engagement, personal care, and nutritious meals in a supportive community for their dependent loved one.

In less than a month, Friendship Center launched its own transportation program using loaned vehicles and existing staff. 

Directors of the organization say they did this, not because they were prepared or funded to do so, but because no other transportation service could meet this critical need.

They did not want to let transportation barriers prevent people from accessing care.

The organization is now operating two of their own vehicles, providing door-to-door rides with familiar, trusted staff members.

Starting July 1st, the non-profit is expanding transportation to new members who would otherwise be unable to attend our program. 

This is not part of their original scope of services, and it wasn’t in their budget.

Right now, the Friendship Center needs the community’s support to sustain and grow this critical new program. 

To learn more or support this initiative, visit fcsb.org, email amy@friendshipcentersb.org or call 805-869-2003.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – Local music promoter Ventura County Hardcore (@VCHCShows) has been throwing some big shows on the Central Coast.

Arena-level band, Turnstile, played the 300 person capacity Elk’s Lodge in Oxnard.

Ventura County hardcore fans gathered for mosh pits and copious amounts of stage diving took place as the band played.

VCHCShows helped coordinate the event, which was part of Turnstile’s nationwide tour of small venues.

Turnstile recently released a new EP as a preview for their next album “Never Enough.”

Local band Ceramik opened the show.

VCHCShows has more concerts planned over the next several months.

Rapid Skateboarding and Blackhole Skateshop also teamed up with Converse Cons to host a skate jam near Mussel Shoals in early May.

Ventura County skaters set up various ramps and rails for skaters, BMXers and dirt bikers, young and old.

The tricks and the bails got attention from the crowd as skaters tried their hands at the quarter pipe with a gap.

People could even use finger boards to do tricks on mini-ramps.

Local punk bands from VCHCShows including Konspiracy, Disillusion and Cosmic Joke played the festival.

Fans can follows the show on Instragram @vchcshows

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VCHCshows (@vchcshows) • Instagram photos and videos

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara Police reported to a fatal traffic collision that left a cyclist dead on Sunday night.

It happened before 10:00 p.m. on State Street near Pedregosa St.

First responders discovered a bicyclist with major injuries and despite life-saving attempts at the scene, the bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

Santa Barbara Police have arrested a Santa Barbara who was involved in the collision for driving under the influence.

Your News Channel will have more information as soon as it becomes available.

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Mike Klan

WESTWOOD, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (36-26, 17-10 Big West) fell in the Los Angeles Regional Final on Sunday, May 18. The Gauchos ran into a buzzsaw that was the No. 9 national seed, UCLA. The 2025 squad led the program to new heights, and set new standards across the board for the team moving forward.

HOW IT HAPPENEDUC Santa Barbara faced a challenging opponent in UCLA. The Bruins initiated the scoring in the first inning with four runs. A two-RBI single put the Bruins up early and an error on the play allowed another run to score. Following that another RBI single from brought home one more. UC Santa Barbara managed to get a runner on base with Tehya Banks’ single, but they couldn’t convert it into a score, trailing 4-0 after the first inning.

In the second inning, UC Santa Barbara responded with an Alexa Sams’ double, setting the stage for Ainsley Waddell’s RBI single that brought in the home team’s first run of the game. The inning concluded with UC Santa Barbara narrowing the score to 8-1, following the Bruins’ four additional runs earlier in the inning.

The third inning saw a defensive stand from UC Santa Barbara, as they retired the Bruins in order without allowing any runs. However, UC Santa Barbara’s offense was stifled, as they were unable to add to their score, maintaining the 8-1 deficit.

The fourth inning featured a couple of home runs for the Bruins that increased their lead. UC Santa Barbara was unable to score during their turn at bat, the defensive side showed resilience by limiting further damage, despite the Bruins’ three runs in the inning, resulting in an 11-1 score.

In the final inning of play, UC Santa Barbara managed to get two runners on base, but ultimately, they could not capitalize on these opportunities. The Bruins added one more run, sealing the game with a 12-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

UCLA allowed two runs across three games in the Los Angeles Regional, the Gauchos scored both runs, the only team to score on the Bruins.The Gauchos broke numerous single-season records including home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles and hits.This was the first time in program history the Gauchos won a Big West Championship weather postseason or regular season.UC Santa Barbara had six players selected to All-Big West Teams following the regular season.The 2025 squad earned the first two wins in an NCAA Tournament for the program.Prior to their loss against UCLA, the Gauchos had won eight straight elimination games during The Big West Championships and the NCAA Tournament.

IN CONCLUSIONUC Santa Barbara Softball was brought to new heights and set new standards for the program. The Gauchos proved a lot and showed grit, resilience and heart throughout the season. UC Santa Barbara Softball is officially on the map and people are taking notice.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics).

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The long-time president of ShelterBox USA received an honorary degree during a visit to her alma mater.

During the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Islands, Kerri Murray donned a cap and gown.

The 1995 graduate received an honorary human services doctorate.

Providence College President Fr. Ken Sicard said, “Kerri Murray has risen among the most esteemed voices in humanitarian service.”

Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA is on the front lines helping people displaced by disasters, including the LA fires, and conflicts around the globe.

For more information visit https://www.shelterboxusa.org

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. – The California Strawberry festival raised money for non-profits and scholarships over the weekend.

The Oxnard High School Marching Band welcomed people at the entrance and marched throughout the festival.

High school music programs sold all kinds of strawberry treats, including funnel cakes and churros.

Student volunteers also helped people build their own strawberry shortcakes.

The festival began in the Channel Islands Harbor in 1984, and then moved to Strawberry Meadows by Oxnard College, before finding a new home at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

“Every year it gets better, we improve it, we listen to all the comments and we make adjustments,” said festival chair Dean Kato. “We make it more comfortable for all the guests.”

A memorial scholarship is named after Kato’s father who was one of the original founders.

Festivalgoers quenched their thirst with strawberry smoothies, strawberry margaritas, and strawberry beer.

People rarely leave empty handed.

They buy chocolate covered strawberries and entire flats of berries and souvenirs to bring home.

Between now and next year the festival will be awarding scholarships and grants from the money raised in May when local strawberries are plump and sweet.

For more information visit http://www.castrawberryfestival.org

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Caleb Nguyen

LOMPOC, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Fire Department crews were on scene of a fatal four car crash just after 6:00 p.m. on Highway 1 southeast of Lompoc.

SBCFD said three victims were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

An adult female was transported with major injuries from the scene by helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Emergency Room. An adult male additionally was sent to the emergency room by ambulance with major injuries.

SBCFD said one vehicle had flipped upside down on the center divider.

Highway 1 has reopened after being closed in both directions.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

GAVIOTA STATE BEACH, Calif. – “We need to remember how fragile and vulnerable our ocean and our coasts are and in a moment, everything can change,” said Linda Krop, Chief Counsel at Environmental Defense Center.

May 19th, 2025 marks 10 years since the devastating Refugio oil spill. 

“It was a really devastating spill, so we’re here to commemorate that event and be steadfast in our opposition to that happening again,” said Sierra club member, Katie Davis.

A corroded oil pipeline ruptured and poured over 120,000 gallons of crude oil in the ocean at Gaviota State beach, killing numerous marine mammals and birds and traveling all the way to Orange county.

On Sunday, people gathered to commemorate the 10th anniversary and paddle out into the water chanting, clapping, and participating in the movement to end offshore oil drilling.

“I am part of the Santa Barbara Surf rider executive committee and being inspired by all of the people willing to paddle out on a Sunday morning to keep fighting the same fight and prevent mistakes from happening its empowering, also a little bittersweet,” said Climate Scientist Jess Bode, who paddled out Sunday morning.

“It’s really moving to see that after 10 years we haven’t forgotten, this community has not forgotten, we still remember that day and our beaches,” said Davis.

Speeches were given before people paddled out on their surfboards, kayaks, and paddle boards. Kids of different ages were in attendance being educated.

“This is their future. I mean, we need to pave the way to make sure that they have happy, healthy, good quality of lives and we’re seeing over and over again with natural disasters and oil spills that we are making that really difficult for them to have a good quality of life,” said Bode.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – CAL Fire SLO crews were on scene for a vegetation fire at the Carrizo Plains in Santa Margarita just before noon on Sunday.

The fire first broke out near Helios Way and was reported under solar panels, according to CAL Fire SLO.

Locals put out the fire at one acre before 12:30 p.m. and crews mopped up the fire for a few hours after, detailed CAL Fire SLO.

More information will be provided as it becomes available to Your News Channel on this fire.

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