Caleb Nguyen
OCEANO, Calif. (KEYT) – One person died after an attempted surf rescue at the Oceano Dunes, according to CAL FIRE SLO.
The incident happened just after 2:30 p.m. Friday, and CPR efforts were not successful, according to CAL FIRE SLO.
The SLO County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatality just after 4:00 p.m. Friday and CAL FIRE SLO reminds beachgoers to use caution near shorelines and pay attention to changing ocean conditions.
Caleb Nguyen
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Health officials in San Luis Obispo County found a dead sea lion that tested positive for bird flu at Morro Strand State Beach, according to the County Public Health Department.
This marks the first confirmed case in a marine mammal in SLO County.
The SLOCPHD, State Department of Fish and Wildlife, alongside the Central California Marine Animal Response Team, urged community members to avoid approaching marine mammals and seabirds, especially those sick, injured or dead.
Officials ask the public not to touch or help wildlife and instead call the NOAA West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding hotline or the CDFW for bird assistance.
Community members can reach the SLO County Public Health Department for related incidents and for more information on bird flu visit the State Department of Public Health webpage.
Patricia Martellotti
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Students are trading beach time for build time this spring break in Ventura County.
College engineering students are spending their spring break repairing homes for seniors in Ventura County.
Habitat for Humanity is teaming up with Theta Tau volunteers at a Newbury Park mobile home park.
Crews are completing critical repairs to improve safety and living conditions.
SOT: “It feels good to use our skills to help people who really need it.”
The effort helps seniors stay in their homes while giving students real-world experience.
FINAL: The work continues throughout the week as more student volunteers join the effort.
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Coastal Band Chumash leaders have raised concerns over the restarting of oil production on the Gaviota Coast.
The lands were populated in the past by Chumash tribal members and many areas are sacred or protected.
It’s happening through a pipeline that ruptured onshore in 2015 – gushing thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean, damaging marine life and shoreline locations over at least three counties.
Speaking at the base of Stearns Wharf, issues were raised about the lack of adequate inclusion in oversight of the work done on the coastal lands. While not denying there’s been outreach for input, the tribe says it a needs to have an earlier and more complete role in projects that disturb soils their ancestors once lived on.
Former Tribal Chair Mia Lopez said, “It is not if, but when” another spill will take place. She said the pipeline was not replaced, it was repaired and the line is old.
Sable has said many times, it has completed repairs and the pipeline is safe for oil transportation.
Speakers also said the oil companies producing here should pay “up front” prior to an emergency, so there are funds ready to coverage a response plan.
Credit was given to local politicians who have been raising concerns from the Chumash during discussions and hearings. There’s also been collaboration with the Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity.
The event featured traditional dances with drums and a tribal themed poem.
(More details, video and photos will be added here late today.)
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Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria’s famous “Downtown Fridays” is finally kicking off at its new location.
Organizers say the McClelland street corridor is better than the old Fallas parking lot.
For the purpose of the event which is simply to bring the community together, this new location is much more conducive.
But it does come with some new challenges for the event’s organizers.
This free community event has become a known tradition over the first decade of its life.
Its organizers have been trying to move it to this location for the last seven years.
Since it started in 2015, the event has had to be held in the parking lot of the old Fallas building at Town Center West.
Since that building is being converted into a loft apartment complex, Downtown Fridays needed a new home anyway.
Unlike the old parking lot where vendors could set up when they wanted to as early as 8:00 in the morning, the earliest McClelland Street can be closed is 2:30pm.
Organizers say they now have two hours each Friday to get 25 food trucks and other vendors in place and operating.
“The food trucks alone are a problem because it’s a straight line, it’s hard to back up,” says Downtown Friday’s event coordinator Ed Carcarey. “Even though the road’s wide, it’s still narrow for those monster 30ft trucks, and another 15ft Ram or Dodge or Ford towing it. So that can be a challenge. That’s going to take us a couple or four weeks to master that.”
Other than the new location the event will be the same as always, including the live music, cold beverages, and great food.
As always, this event is free for everyone and happens every Friday, 5:30-8:30, from now until the end of September.
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Alissa Orozco
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – In a press release sent out Monday, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the over $4 million dollars secured to fund a series of public projects throughout Santa Barbara County.
According to the press release, the funding was granted to projects that “include improvements to local infrastructure, emergency response services, and criminal justice programs.” This funding aims to expedite these projects, and strengthen essential services and shared spaces.
A total of $1,500,000 was awarded Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) to fund the Cabrillo Project – a key development plan to improve safety along the Santa Barbara waterfront by replacing two 100-years old railroad bridges and the U.S. 101 highway underpass.
In anticipation for work to begin on the final segment of the Highway 101 construction, Marjie Kirn, SBCAG Executive Director, says the funding will ensure the Project will remain on track – allowing “residents and visitors to safely and efficiently access the waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods…”
In order to keep up with its growing population, the City of Santa Maria will using their awarded funding to expand their fire and emergency response. A total of $1,200,000 will be used to accommodate a third fire vehicle and associated fire personnel, hoping to take the pressure off the nearly 25-year-old downtown fire station.
“This funding brings us significantly closer to completing a project that will strengthen emergency response in our downtown core and serve our community for the next 25 years. We appreciate that we have such a dedicated partner in Washington,” said Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino.
Three awards of $850,000 were granted to the cities of Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria for more charitable projects. Improvements will be made to the Lompoc Animal Shelter, whose aging conditions need addressing to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the animals in the region.
The Eastside Library Improvements Project in Santa Barbara will upgrade the building’s indoor and outdoor spaces to create a more comfortable environment for community members, including outside reading spaces and play and sensory areas for children.
The City of Carpinteria will put the funding towards a community center, being the only incorporated city in Santa Barbara County without a dedicated community center.
“The City of Carpinteria is extremely grateful to Congressman Carbajal for helping bring this funding to Carpinteria. These funds will allow us to remain focused on critical infrastructure without sacrificing support for the programs and spaces that serve our residents,” said Michael Ramirez, City Manager for City of Carpinteria.
Additionally, a total of $236,375 was awarded to the Santa Barbara District Attorney to renovate commercial office space at 235 W. Pueblo Street to meet the needs of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). The DA’s office says the construction is essential to “adequately serve sexual assault survivors and child victims of crime in Santa Barbara County.”
Carbajal says this project funding was secured the Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative, first launched in 2022.
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Dave Alley
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Hundreds of Santa Maria High School students get have an opportunity to experience what it’s like to budget personal funds during a financial literacy educational event held on Friday.
About 900 freshman are scheduled to participate in the school’s annual “Reality Fair,” that’s set be held inside the school’s Wilson Gym.
During the event, students will visit the seven stations for several minutes at a time, with each stop categorized in real life financial needs, such as utilities, insurance, food, transportation and entertainment.
Each students will use an Excel spreadsheet that was downloaded onto their personal tablet and need to budget their monthly expenses according to a previously determined fictitious paycheck, which will determined by a student’s grade point average from the first semester.
Helping out with the event will be several professionals from various local businesses, who will offer advice and expertise to the students.
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Patricia Martellotti
CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Carpinteria videographer is turning the lens on his own community following recent ICE activity.
Larry Nimmer is shifting his “Everyone Has a Story” series to focus on immigration experiences in Santa Barbara County.
The project includes more than 25 interviews with residents, workers, and advocates.
He says the goal is to highlight real voices and show the human impact behind enforcement actions.
“It’s about giving people a chance to share their story in their own words and be heard,” Nimmer said.
He hopes the series builds understanding and connection across the community.
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Ivania Montes
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Santa Barbara is turning to a natural solution to reduce wildfire, bringing in a herd of sheep to clear dry, overgrown vegetation across several local parks.
The effort, led by the City’s Parks and Recreation and Fire Departments, targets about 16 acres in areas including Parma Park, Laurel Canyon Park, Franceschi Park, and Hale Park.
“A natural solution is taking over parts of Santa Barbara, one bite at a time,” said Wildland Specialist Mark vonTillow. “You can look around and see how tall the mustard is. That’s some of the stuff we need to clean up in the next couple of months ahead of high fire season.”
City officials say the grazing helps reduce fuel loads ahead of peak wildfire months.
“The sheep are helping us with vegetation management ahead of the high fire hazard season,” said Monique O’Conner. “This is what we call the defensible space season of work.”
Before the sheep move in, crews prepare each site to protect native plants and wildlife. Officials also remind the public to keep their distance.
“There is an electric fence around the grazing area to keep the sheep in and predators out,” O’Conner said. “You may also see guard dogs that help protect them from coyotes and other threats.”
The grazing is carefully planned, focusing on areas with non-native grasses that pose a higher fire risk.
“They are a great tool, but not the only tool and not the right tool for every location,” O’Conner added. “We focus on areas with primarily non-native grassland where they’re most effective.”
Fire officials emphasize that the sheep are just one part of a broader wildfire prevention strategy, which also includes manual clearing by crews on the ground.
“There are firefighters out there doing this work with tools and chainsaws,” vonTillow said. “But the beauty of this is you get 24/7 work out of them.”
With vegetation already growing quickly, officials say this effort is critical in the months leading up to peak fire season.
Mike Klan
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – San Marcos High School prevailed in a highly competitive swim meet against rival Dos Pueblos.
The Royals boys won 90-80 while the San Marcos girls also won by the score of 95-75.
San Marcos Highlights:
Junior Cole Racich in his first time swimming the 200 free won with 1:46.61 and was second in the 100 free 48.07.Junior Jacob Angel swam a phenomenal 500 free 4:49.97 and a crucial 2nd place finish in the 100 breast 1:05.55.Senior Will Stuart swam 59.03 in the 100 Breast and 1:48.88 in the 200 free for 3rd place.Junior Nolan Clark was the only dual event winner capturing the 200 IM 1:59.95 and the 100 Butterfly 50.55.Sophomore Christian Yonker had a stellar performance also, swimming 3rd in the 100 free 48.82 and 2nd in the 50 free 22.22.
Senior Sophie Yonker took first in the 50 free with a season best time of 24.51.Sophomore Makenna Stuart had a big day in the 100 free 3rd 56.86 and 2nd 200 Free 2:01.22Sophomore Ella Grube took first in the 100 free with a 53.62 and took second in the 50 free.Sophomore Kalista Hall went a 5:23.9 in the 500 free, a season best and placed first.Senior Sophia Hall swam the 100 breaststroke taking first place. She also went a personal best in the 100 fly 58.80 taking 2nd place.Freshman Nya Cable Swam two very important 2nd place finishes in the 200 IM 2:21.55 and 1:03.41 in the 100 back.
Dos Pueblos Highlights:
Standouts include Eli Carneghe, and Dasha Dzveera winning both their individual events.
The DP Girls started off the meet with a win in the Medley relay with Riley Moore, Gwyneth Kinsport, Dasha Dzveera and Devereux Wigo.
The DP boys ended the meet with the the 4 x 100 free relay with Andrew Davies-Nunez, Grant Nelson, Eli Carneghe and Channing Wigo getting the crowd on their feet as they won.the last race of the day.
