Author: KEYT

Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. – People behind the scenes at the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp helped wrap up the team’s summer visit to Oxnard.

As fans watched the final football practice on the River Ridge Playing Fields, City Corps went to work.

The youth development organization gives young people ages 12 to 25 work experience and community service skills.

During the three-and-a-half-week camp, City Corps helped fans find their way around. They also helped set up and break down the area.

City Corps’ Deysi Guerra said she got a lot out of the experience.

“I like it because I get to meet many people, I get to help out the community, and I get to show others what it is like to be working in City Corps and showing people around here in the camp,” said Guerra. “It is really nice; they get to see you helping out and giving service to the community.”

Guerra wants people to know they can be a part of City Corps, too.

City Corps members and many other community volunteers come back year after year.

Local fans do, too.

“I’m from Oxnard, we bought this [pennant] to hopefully get it signed,” said Stephanie Ochao.

“Go Cowboys!” added Gabriela Zuniga.

The friends came out on the final day to support all the players and spend time with family.

Fans lined the fence around the field to see their favorite players in Oxnard. They had a great view of them taking turns catching footballs and being tackled on a practice mat.

The souvenir stand stayed busy as fans bought helmets, T-shirts, and other items to remember the experience.

For more information visit https://www.oxnard.gov and https://dallascowboys.com

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Jarrod Zinn

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – We’re seeing fewer smoke plumes from the Gifford fire today, just in time for the first day of school for many counties, including San Luis Obispo.

Local school officials say firefighters’ hard work gave them a lot of confidence for the start of school.

The last two weeks of 2025’s summer vacation on the central coast was overshadowed—literally in many places—by the Gifford fire, and the smoke it released into the air.

Thursday marks the first day of school in San Luis Obispo county, and officials at Lucia Mar School District report high levels of attendance as firefighters continue working hard to get the Gifford fire under control.

“The sun is shining. Most of the smoke from the Gifford fire has dissipated,” says Paul Fawcett, Lucia Mar School District’s superintendent. “Our attendance is actually up right now. And we appreciate all of our first responders and their hard work to make that happen.”

Lucia Mar’s superintendent Paul Fawcett announced that even though they look forward to welcoming everyone back to school, for families should prioritize safety and simply call the school if they’ve been impacted by the Gifford fire.

School officials happily report the number of families that have had to take them up on that is very low.

“I really appreciate school administrators who have the empathy and the foresight to understand that children learn best when they feel safe, and that sometimes we do need to be flexible with families within limits and give them the opportunity to have stability,” says Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D) of Morro Bay.

Despite the challenges this large wildfire has presented to firefighters, their hard work has helped Central Coast schools make sure the year is off to a safe, strong start.

“Lucia Mar School District extends from Shell Beach all the way to Nipomo Elementary, which covers part of the Huasna valley and Huasna town site, which is in the warning zone and the evacuation zone,” says superintendent Fawcett.

The Red Cross has emergency facilities and evacuation shelters in place and either open or on standby should conditions change.

but they are similarly pleased to report lower numbers than they were prepared for.

And tonight at 6 there will be a virtual community meeting held by the Los Padres Incident Managment team.

You can watch it stream live on youtube and facebook.

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

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Dave Alley

GUADALUPE, Calif. – After several decades of planning, the City of Guadalupe finally has its long-planned brand new junior high school.

On Thursday, history was made when the first ever students walked onto the campus of Guadalupe Junior High School, marking the debut of the new school.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said 8th grader Jade Cabandong. “It’s a big upgrade, and I just feel welcomed here.”

Class started just before 8:30 a.m. beginning a new era in the small city that now has its first-ever school designated specifically for junior high school students, those who are in 7th and 8th grades.

“It has all the amenities for their particular needs,” said Guadalupe Union School District (GUSD) Superintendent Emilio Handall. “We’re excited to be able to provide that to our seventh and eighth graders, which give them the opportunity to be better prepared for their high school experience.”

The effort to build a third school campus to join Mary Buren Elementary School and Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School has been a goal GUSD has been working on for about 30 years.

“I am super excited about it,” said Dolores Rosas, who not only has a child attending the new school, she also works in the front office. “We’ve been waiting for it. I’m very happy for the whole community that we’re going to have a new junior high for them. I’ve lived here all my life. I grew up here, so to see this makes me very excited for our community.”

In January 2024, after gathering the necessary funding, groundbreaking took place on a 17.6 acre site located in the Pasadera housing community.

After a year-and-a-half of construction, work is still ongoing throughout the campus.

Landscaping is still needed around the property, grass on athletic field space is just in the process of being seeded and the front remains without a marquee sign.

Final touches also remain in progress in what is identified as the school’s centerpiece feature, it’s new gymnasium, which Handall noted meets all current California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) standards and requirements.

“There’s a lot of work that still has to be that has to be done esthetically,” said Handall. “It’s not as appealing as we want it to be. It’s certainly not the final product, but we have some brainstorming to do for the spaces. Some of the spaces that we see right now that are open are due to preparation for the future we place new classes on those pads that have already been set up. The spaces that are closest to the administrative building and closest to our are our roads need some development. We’re not sure if we’re going to put in grass. We’re not sure if we’re going to pave it over. We’re not sure yet, but we’re certainly looking for ideas.”

In addition to the junior high school, the campus also includes what will soon be the home of an entirely separate school on the far south end of the property.

GUSD will open its Early Learning Center (ELC) for three-year-olds and four-year-olds when construction is completed by the start of January 2026.

“We are super excited about that project coming online,” said Handall. “That facility is specifically designed for three-and-four-year-olds meeting their early learning needs. Those classes will become available after the winter break, so the second semester of the year, we will transition our current preschoolers and transitional kindergartners over to that campus with the the support of all of our staff.”

Once the ELC is complete, Mary Buren Elementary School will the district’s campus for kindergarten through 3rd grade, Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School will have 4th through 6th grade, while the junior high school will be for 7th and 8th graders.

Handall added the total cost of the two new schools will land somewhere between $50-to-$55 million and has been generated through a variety of sources, including state funds, four separate local bonds, federal appropriations and various donations.

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John Palminteri

CALABASAS, Calif. – The California Coastal Commission says the Air Force has not submitted enough information about the expansion project at Vandenberg Space Force base to allow the commission to make an appropriate decision.

One of the issues is the sound impacts on the rockets, especially with a launch approximately every three days with the expansion that is planned.

There will be about 50 launches this year. In 2026 the goal is 100 launches.

The plans include not just the Falcon 9 rockets that are used now with a booster that is returned to either an offshore or on shore pad, but also a larger rocket. That is called a Falcon Heavy with a total of three booster engines.

The commission says SpaceX launches are a federal activity. The commission says SpaceX is a privately owned company.

The majority of the launches now are to put the Starlink Satellites into a low earth orbit.

The Department of the Air Force did not comment at the meeting taking place in Calabasas. Information about its research on sound levels from launches and areas that could be impacted were provided.

SpaceX did not speak and there was no indication that anyone was in attendance.

Many of the concerns were around impacts to seals, sea lions, otters, butterflies and endangered species such as the Snowy Plover shore bird.

Past meetings have had public comments from residents nearly 100 miles away in Ojai.

The commissioners said they want to keep the communication open with Vandenberg and SpaceX on reducing impacts as the launches go forward.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-A swarm of bees made a home out of the tall tree in front of Santa Barbara City Hall.

The city put caution tape around the tree and called Santa Barbara Bee Rescue on Wednesday afternoon.

The contractor, who said he just goes by “The Bee Whisperer” got most of them out of the giant Pepper Tree.

He even has custom car plates that read BEE-RESQ.

He said he will be taking the hive to a local honey maker.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Many school districts start classes well before Labor Day these days, and that means back-to-school shopping is already in full swing.

Many back-to-school essentials — including backpacks, pens, and notebooks — are imported, and some shoppers are concerned they will be picking up the tab if tariffs drive prices higher. For products made in China, Section 301 tariffs can add to the landed cost, which may be reflected in retail prices.

Business analysts say that’s one reason some families start shopping earlier than usual, hoping to beat tariff-influenced pricing before August. Those who waited are now taking advantage of seasonal sales at stores like Office Max.

One family found backpacks on sale and decided to act fast.“You know what, today I feel like they have good sales overall, but definitely I could see the impact of the tariffs because I have been here when it is not on sale and I feel like the prices are a little higher for sure,” said Edith Woolfolk. Her biggest purchase — a backpack — came alongside smaller items. “Erasers and mechanical pencils,” added her daughter Kalia. Another daughter, Sofia, said, “We start next week for school and I still needed a new backpack.” When asked what she chose, she replied, “I just got this blue backpack.”

Many stores now have printed supply lists for kindergarten, grade school, middle, and high school to guide shoppers. At the same time, high school and college students are focusing on clothing before classes begin. At Tilly’s, PacSun, and Brandy Melville, shoppers were browsing jeans, shirts, and shoes. “I got some jeans and two pairs of shirts and shoes,” said Kalea Gilbert.

Some students are waiting to complete their supply lists until after the first week. “I got some school supplies, but I mean later on I’ll get more notebooks and figure out whatever I need after I get my syllabuses and stuff like that and get more supplies along the way,” said Zack Martin.

Compared to last year, shoppers are paying noticeably more: a typical school supply list now costs about $5 more than it did in 2024, and prices for specific basics like binders have jumped from $1 to $1.50 in 2025 — an increase of 50 cents per item. Overall, school supply prices have surged 30 % over the past five years.

National retail data backs up what shoppers are seeing in stores. Coresight Research expects back-to-school shopping to be up more than 3.3 % this year. The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend more than $128 billion on back-to-school purchases across supplies, clothing, and electronics — making education good for business. Of that, the average household will spend about $144 on school supplies alone, with total K-12 spending per household approaching $858.

Analysts say families who shopped before August likely avoided some extra costs, especially on tariff-affected items.

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Andrew Gillies

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – After a four-hour standoff Wednesday in the cul-de-sac of East Sunset Avenue, deputies took 30-year-old Victor Manuel Ayala Sanchez into custody on multiple outstanding warrants.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, deputies tracked Sanchez to a home in the 1100 block of Sunset Avenue, near Tunnel Elementary School, and learned that several other people, including a child, were inside. All of the occupants were safely evacuated during the standoff, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The incident began just before noon when Sanchez barricaded himself inside the home. Nearby streets remained open during most of the operation, and the cul-de-sac was later reopened after the suspect was taken into custody. There were no reports of injuries.

Deputies issued multiple verbal commands and made several phone calls urging Sanchez to peacefully surrender before entering the home around 3:18 p.m., where they found him hiding in an attic area, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Your News Channel was on the scene and observed multiple law enforcement vehicles and personnel, including a SWAT team staging in the cul-de-sac, a Bearcat armored vehicle, and a helicopter circling overhead. The command post was set up at the Santa Lucia District Ranger Station on Carlotti Drive, just a few blocks to the north. Several law enforcement agencies assisted in the operation.

“We are in the city of Santa Maria, but this is the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office handling this call,” said Raquel Zick, the agency’s public information officer. “Thankfully, the schools are in session right now, so we didn’t have to contend with that. It is a short cul-de-sac, so it’s not having a whole lot of impact on area residents.”

Sanchez was booked into the Northern Branch Jail on outstanding felony warrants, including brandishing a firearm, robbery, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, gang enhancement, evading police, criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon, and carjacking, as well as additional misdemeanor charges. The Sheriff’s Office also listed drug charges, weapons violations, and resisting arrest among his outstanding warrants. He remains in custody without bail.

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Mina Wahab

VENTURA, Calif. — Local activists and community members packed the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting, voicing strong support for immigrant rights in the wake of the July 10 ICE raids at Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, where more than 300 people were reportedly arrested.

“We call them undocumented, but they are deeply embedded,” one speaker told the board. “They are part of the labor force. They’re part of our entrepreneurship. They’re part of our economy.”

The community is seeking a $2 million investment: $1.3 million for Ventura County residents facing deportation and $700,000 for eligible immigrant families seeking to adjust their status. Supporters also called for the creation of a Ventura County Immigration Legal Defense Fund, expansion of the Public Defender’s Office with a seven-person immigrant defense unit, and the development of countywide protocols for responding to federal immigration enforcement actions

“They didn’t just shatter our community’s sense of safety,” said Primitiva Hernandez, Executive Director of 805 Undocufund. “Since that day, we’ve seen children afraid to go to school, workers terrified to leave their homes, and a tired neighborhood living in a constant state of anxiety.”

Hernandez said the community has stepped up to fill urgent needs. Since the raids, 805 Undocufund’s emergency assistance fund has distributed over $200,000 to 200 families. Other organizations, including VC Defensa and Friends of Fieldworkers, have organized food distributions and other mutual aid events. But, she noted, most families still lack access to legal representation.

“People should have the right to due process, and they should have the chance to fight their case,” said Nidia Bello, a policy advocate with CAUSE. The American Civil Liberties Union reports detained immigrants with legal counsel are ten times more likely to win their cases than those without representation — yet more than 70% of those in immigration court this year have faced proceedings without a lawyer. In Ventura County, 805 Undocufund says some families have been charged thousands of dollars by predatory attorneys exploiting their desperation.

“We have a justice system that is so heavily based on whether you have money or not,” said CAUSE Co-Executive Director Lucas Zucker. “If you’re a farmworker making $25,000 a year and living here in Ventura County, you absolutely cannot come up with thousands of dollars overnight if your family’s detained by ICE.” Zucker added, “This is not a super blue or red community here in Ventura County. This is very purple. It’s a local community largely unified in understanding that immigrants are a vital part of it. For our county to be able to direct some resources to at least making sure all of our residents have due process — that’s the least we can do.”

While the majority of attendees voiced support, a handful held signs praising the raids and pointing to the arrests of individuals with criminal records.

The Board did not take a vote on the proposals. Instead, the discussion was continued to August 26 at 9 a.m. to allow for more public testimony and debate.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –  The very visible reminder of the Vietnam War in Santa Barbara, a Huey helicopter, is now gone after about 30 years.

The local Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 218 tried to find a permanent site for the helicopter, as is required to keep it, and not have it only on a trailer, but that was unsuccessful.   

The group looked at the Santa Barbara Airport, the Santa Maria Airport, Vandenberg Space Force Base and Pt. Mugu as locations. 

Now it is going to the Chico Air Museum in Northern California which has several military aircraft.  Officially it is a Bell Helicopter UH-1, but it is called a Huey.

The Big Red Crane Company from Carpinteria assisted in moving the chopper from its old trailer to another one where it was secured and sent on its way Wednesday morning.   

It had been stored at the Armory Yard near Santa Barbara High School.

The helicopter was well known in the area and when it was on display, the public could see it up close and even sit inside. It has been around since the 1990’s.

It is an Army helicopter and saw active duty in war zones.

Judy Roberson was on hand for the farewell ceremony. Her late husband Jerry made it happen to get the chopper here.

Roberson said, “it was really important for him to have as many people as possible recognize and have a feeling about what the guys went through.”

Peter Bie the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 218 President said, “it has allowed Vietnam Veterans to visit a very iconic piece of their war to sit on the side , sit in the drivers seat and reach up and touch it.”

It’s last public appearance was in May at an Armed Forces Appreciation Day in Santa Barbara.

Bie said it is, “something that is so representative of a war that happened 50 years ago.”

Roberson brought some of her husband’s ashes to sprinkle inside the chopper before the side door was officially closed for the transport trip to Chico.

Bie said it served the area well while it was here. “Folks probably saw it in the 4th of July or the typical Veteran’s Day parades. And then we were at car shows. We were invited to come up to Santa Barbara City College.  It’s been up to the North County. I think we even took it down to Carpinteria a few times.”

Roberson also recalls it in parades, “up and down State Street.” It was a spectacular site with its size in the heart of the downtown business district which no longer has any parades on State Street.

On its journey at events, Roberson said, “there were a couple of guys that  recognized they were able to determine they were actually on that (chopper.)”

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