Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The popular coastal train rides through Santa Barbara County have a summer detour, with passengers in some cases getting on a bus.

The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® service, says north of Goleta train service is suspended from August 1 through August 16, 2025, due to the La Cañada Honda Bridge Replacement Project. This is on Vandenberg Space Force base property.

Alternative bus transportation is now moving regularly to assist passengers.

The 16-day closure clears the area for the La Cañada Honda Bridge to get rebuilt. It is a 127-year-old steel viaduct over Honda Creek. The bridge is a critical piece on the 351-mile LOSSAN Rail Corridor, which supports passenger rail and freight service through Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.

The work is coordinated by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and funded by LOSSAN through grants from the State of California and UPRR.

A full environmental review of the area was conducted to make sure the bridge work did not significantly disrupt the habitat in the area.

Passengers at the Santa Barbara train station Tuesday morning said they were aware of the changes and had made alternative plans. That included staying on the bus plan to get to another train stop or having someone pick them up in Santa Barbara to complete their trip. That was the case for a Grover Beach woman who met her mom after she got off the train in Santa Barbara, then headed back up.

Lillian Adams said, “Yes. I normally go all the straight through to Grover Beach.”

Her daughter Denise Leesom drove down 80 miles. “Luckily I am a bus driver myself.  Yes!”

One passenger going from Vandenberg to Seattle where he lives had to make his re-routing plans very early in the morning. Robert Donovan said, “I took a commuter bus into Goleta and then a city bus into Santa Barbara, had breakfast at D’Angelos and spent the morning at Stearns Wharf.  Now I take an Amtrak bus to Bakersfield, another one to Sacramento and then I finally get on the train and continue in the sleeper car.” He could have flown but loves trains and bus rides. On his return, it will be a drive in his car as he relocates to Santa Barbara County.

This project will provide long-term service reliability for rail passengers. It will also improve efficiency on this critical route for coastal ridership through the Central Coast and up to Seattle on both the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight trains, as well as the Union Pacific Freight service.

Once finished it will improve reliability and contribute to lower emissions.

LOSSAN SERVICE CHANGES

August 1 through August 16, 2025: 

Track Closure: The bridge replacement requires closure of the rail corridor between Goleta and San Luis Obispo, resulting in the suspension of train service from Friday, August 1 through Saturday, August 16, 2025. All trains will terminate or originate in Goleta during this period, with normal service resuming on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Passengers traveling north of Goleta must disembark at the Santa Barbara Train Station and board an available bus connection. All bus connections will be through the Santa Barbara Train Station.

Bus Connections: Alternative bus transportation will be provided between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Bus connections will be available for southbound trains 774 and 794 from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara, and for northbound trains 761 and 779 from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo. The buses will follow Route 17 between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, with stops in UC Santa Barbara, Solvang, Buellton, Santa Maria, and Grover Beach. In addition to these bus connections, Route 17 will operate on its normal schedule and route. 

Visit the Pacific Surfliner website for additional information.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Several staged training operations are occurring over the next two weeks for Central Coast firefighting and law enforcement agencies.

This hands-on type of training isn’t easy to come by.

It takes a joint effort from several different agencies to provide hands-on simulation training like this, and property acquisitions for these purposes don’t exactly clog the phone lines.

San Luis Obispo city officials, firefighters and county firefighters worked together to acquire a defunct property that was slated for demolition.

It’s 20 acres and contains 2 houses.

“We’re just appreciative of the city of San Luis Obispo for allowing us to use this structure,” says Ryan Grebe, SLO County fire department’s public information officer. “And we have people coming out from the city to train as well.”

The fire departments are taking advantage prior to its demolition, staging special live-fire training exercises for both veteran and trainee firefighters.

“We’re doing our initial hose lays, first in pulls, first stretches to the front door on an initial structure fire, which is going to be kind of your standard structure fire,” says Greg Baranek, Avila Valley’s station captain. “So we’re going to come in and we’re going to take command and we’re going to initiate a fire attack, essentially get water on the fire.”

Controlled fires are ignited both indoors and outdoors to recreate real-time conditions.

“We have, you know, firefighters that have been around for a long time. And then we have brand new employees that are working for us. So there’s a mix of experience levels,” says Grebe. “And it’s great because we get everybody together and we get to work together and, you know, build that teamwork and camaraderie.”

Each structure will be used for various training purposes, including demonstrations of fire evolution, as well as rapid response, intervention and survival.

“Unique to this drill—It’s due to the second structure,” says Captain Baranek. “We have the ability to run a R.I.C. operation, which is a rapid intervention crew. In case one of our crews were to go down inside of the structure, we could send in a dedicated rescue component.”

Participating firefighters say this training is invaluable to prepare trainees, keep skills sharp, and maintain cooperation among multiple agencies.

This critical training will be taking place over the next two weeks.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – California is reaching new heights in wildfire response, now operating 16 Fire Hawk helicopters—part of what state officials say is the largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet in the world.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the expansion as part of the state’s effort to combat increasing wildfire threats, especially in the wake of federal funding cuts. “With the Trump Administration defunding federal firefighting efforts, we’re continuing to step up to protect Californians,” Newsom posted on X.

Locally, the Fire Hawk helicopters are already making a difference. Santa Barbara County Fire has deployed the aircraft in recent fire responses, crediting its speed, precision, and capacity with boosting their effectiveness.

“The county is much smaller due to the capability of this helicopter,” said Santa Barbara County Fire PIO Scott Safechuck. “It allows us to get on scene of fires that much faster, as well as rescue not just one patient but multiple patients and get them to definitive care at the hospital.”

As wildfire risks continue to grow across the state, fire agencies say expanded aerial support like the Fire Hawk is becoming more vital than ever.

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Alissa Orozco

SUMMERLAND, Calif. – The annual benefit concert hosted by One805LIVE! at actor Kevin Costner’s “Field of Dreams” estate will rock out once again this year with a star-stunned-filled lineup, featuring special guests: Steppenwolf’s John Kay and The Fray!

Those who were “Born to be Wild” will have the time of their lives at this year’s One805LIVE! concert on Saturday, September 20th. All proceeds from the concert raise critical funds for mental wellness programs and critical equipment grants for first responders here in Santa Barbara County.

One805LIVE! co-founder and president, Richard Weston-Smith, joined your News Channel to preview just what the community has to look forward to at this year’s concert.

“I think we tend to take our first responders for granted, and it doesn’t really occur to us quite how often they are exposed to highly traumatic incidents. It’s just time and time again, it can be as many as 200 times in their careers that they’re exposed to life changing trauma and that takes a toll,” Weston-Smith said, “and so you know we need to work to give them the support that they need that is anonymous and and completely separate from their work and that they feel safe and secure talking to the clinicians.”

Created following the Thomas Fire in 2017 – which burned over 280,000 acres, destroyed over 1,000 structures, and killed one civilian and one firefighter – One805LIVE! annually hosts the largest non-profit event in Santa Barbara County. Actors, entertainers, singers, performers, and members of our community come together in support of first responders.

All Funds support confidential counseling, peer support programs, and resilience training.

“All of our direct donations go 100% to the cause. Now if people buy tickets for the concert, as you would expect in any concert, a portion goes towards covering production expenses, but the remainder, all of the profit goes 100% to the cause as well. So it really is a benefit concert in the true sense of the word, and it’s our engine to raise money for our first responders. It’s the way we do it.”

Weston-Smith revealed to your News Channel in a special announcement that Steppenwolf’s John Kay and The Fray will be joining the 2025 lineup!

Formed in 1967, Steppenwolf helped define the hard rock sound of the late 1960s and early 1970s, laying the groundwork for the heavy metal movement – known worldwide for hits like “Born to Be Wild” (coining the phrase “heavy metal thunder”), “Magic Carpet Ride”, and “Rock Me”.

The Fray has earned multiple GRAMMY® Award nominations and achieved multi-Platinum status, cementing their place as one of the most iconic alternative rock bands of the 2000s and 2010s. “How to Save a Life” became an anthem of compassion and resilience, featured in countless TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, One Tree Hill) and inspiring a generation of listeners.

The rock legend will perform next month, along with country-star Trisha Yearwood and Good Charlotte and Donavon Frankenreiter

The 2025 One805LIVE! Concert will take place Sep. 20th from 3pm-10pm at Kevin Costner’s Oceanside estate in Summerland. For ticket information, visit https://one805.ticketspice.com/one805live-2025

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Family, friends and passersby stopped at a memorial for Anthony Michael Bisquera Hartley on Monday.

The 30-year-old was fatally stabbed along the 500 block of State Street in Santa Barbara around 12:30 a.m. as crowds of people celebrated Old Spanish Days.

Friends who knew him and the two other victims said the survivors are recovering from stab wounds at Cottage Hospital.

Bisquerra Hartley leaves behind a five-year-old daughter and 8-years-old and 10-years-old sons.

Their aunt, Kat Barradas, placed a poster full of family photos among the flowers, candles, confetti-filled cascarones and his favorite beers.

“Just be careful out there, please, and you know, hug your kids, love your kids, be close to your family, don’t be mad because you never know when it is going to be the last day,” said Barradas.

She recalled how his youngest talked about celebrating her dad’s life.

“She goes ‘you know what tia, we are going to make him a party. Are you coming? Because my daddy needs a party, because everyone was at the party except for him, because he went to heaven early,'” Barradas.

Their uncle Raul Botello described him as a car-detailer who went to San Marcos High School.

“He was there for his kids to provide for them and for the family, he was for 15 years since my sister and he have been together, he was always there for us,” said Botello.

Others stopped to pay their respects, too.

Alma Rios of Santa Barbara said it was tragic, especially during the local fiesta celebration.

Witness said they heard a fist fight before the bloodshed.

Police have arrested three men, 29-year-old Luis Gerardo Terrazas, 28-year-old Juan Fernando Rios, and  30-year-old Sergio Rivas.

Relatives wonder if something could have been done to save him along the closure called the promenade.

“I have videos,” said Barradas.

A GoFundMe has raised thousands of dollars to help his mother with the funeral expenses and more.

But they say more will be needed to take care of his kids in the years to come.

For more information or to donate visit the GoFundMe here.

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Michael Yu

PASO ROBLES, Calif.- Firefighters battled a structure fire at Heritage Ranch in Paso Robles.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. overnight at 2554 Pinto Lane.

The fire was knocked down around 2 a.m.

A single structure was on fire as well as three vehicles.

There were no injuries reported.

This is a developing story, more information will be added as it becomes available.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The City of Santa Barbara has been benefiting by some of its upgraded rules and enforcement on short-term rentals but more changes could be coming.

Annually the city is collecting thousands of new dollars in taxes that had previously gone without payments when these rentals began to gain popularity.

Not all property owners have complied with the rules and legal action has been taken.

The city is also looking at areas where the rentals may possibly have more regulations including in specific locations.

The city council is discussing this Tuesday after 2 p.m. as part of its weekly meeting.

There is likely going to be a discussion on whether a short-term rental is considered a dwelling unit or a commercial business.

More information on the Santa Barbara City Council Agenda can be found here.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – For those who were concerned about immigration raids during Old Spanish Days it appears as if the Santa Barbara annual event went on without a major issue.

Thousands came out for a long list of festive events that began last Wednesday and took place in many parts of the city.

Many of the venues and the two parades were packed with spectators. No turnout estimates were given but long-time participants said it looked full and the public was enjoying the celebration.

State Senator Monique Limon took part in several activities, and even rode on the Santa Barbara High School float at El Desfile Histórico.

At the children’s parade, she said she was happy to see familiar faces and families instead of people staying away because of fear. “Our Santa Barbara and Ventura, Central Coast areas showed up and I think we come together and we are resilient. We don’t let all these bad things that are happening around us be the end of our community, as a matter of fact, it brings us all together so we can build better and healthier communities.”

Limon joined many people both locals and visitors sharing in the annual events.

She will be the State Senate Pro Tempore in January, the highest position she has obtained in her political career.

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Caleb Nguyen

FILLMORE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol of Moorpark is investigating a two-car crash that killed a 71-year-old man on Highway 126 near Fillmore just before 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

The 71-year-old who died drove a 2010 Volkswagen Passat, and a 53-year-old suffered major injuries in his 2019 Honda Odyssey as the second driver in the crash, according to the CHP.

The 53-year-old driver drove west on Highway 126 at approximately 60 miles per hour and eventually entered the eastbound lane before crashing head-on with the Volkswagen, according to the CHP.

The 53-year-old required hospital transport for his injuries, but drugs and alcohol are still unknown as potential factors in the crash, according to the CHP.

Highway 126 was closed for approximately 45 minutes during an initial investigation that concluded at approximately 8:30 p.m., according to the CHP.

The Ventura County Fire Department, AMR, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and CalTrans helped with the incident alongside the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the CHP.

For more information on the deceased, please contact the VCMEO. For more information on the crash, contact the CHP.

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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department regarding the WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The 2025 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest is an annual floral celebration in the County that highlights remarkable water-saving home gardens. The Santa Barbara County Water Agency and participating local water purveyors encouraged residents to partake in the garden competition, offering both regional and county-wide awards. This year’s competitors included the Montecito Water District, Carpinteria Valley Water District, and the City of Santa Barbara.

The title for the grand prize county-wide winner went to Teri and Pat Guillies of the Montecito Water District for their beautiful native-dominated garden.

Teri and Pat call their garden a “pollinators’ dream,” but wonderland or paradise would be even more accurate. While sweeping ocean views may initially captivate visitors, the landscape’s vibrant mix of color and texture quickly steals the show. Built along a descending flagstone path, the first peek of the garden offers a showcase of shifting green hues that belie the colorful spectacle below. Thoughtfully designed for beauty and resilience, it’s an eco-friendly masterpiece bursting with blooms from over 65%California native plants, such as artemisia, sagebrush, yarrow, blue-eyed grass, island buckwheat, California lilac, an abundance of salvias, and more. Teri, a certified Master Gardener, designed, built, and maintains the entire garden, utilizing hand-watering and drip irrigation techniques. The recirculating fountain, rain barrel, and an array of fruit trees, including olive, avocado, and pineapple guava, provide the garden with a final polish that doesn’t neglect functionality. And why does Teri go through all this effort? She’d rather not pay for a gym when she can get a great workout tending the garden while also welcoming a buzzing pollinator brigade of birds, butterflies, and bees! With its coastal, colorful landscape, this year’s grand prize winner is clearly a Santa Barbara County classic.

Other finalists included Jeanette and Robert Munoz from the Carpinteria Valley Water District, and Fred and Janice Maggiore from the City of Santa Barbara, each showcasing their own dazzling water-wise creations. You can view the winning gardens at www.WaterWiseSB.org/4707/_2025.

This year’s prizes were more enticing than ever—beyond the traditional engraved sandstone boulder trophy, winners received native wildflower seed samples from S&S Seeds, and an array of equipment from landscaping and irrigation kits to shears provided by Aqua-Flo Supply, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Arbor Services, Inc. The regional champions were awarded a $100 gift card for SB Natives Nursery, while the county-wide winner received an impressive $250 gift card from Lotusland!

These exceptional gardens demonstrate that water-efficient, sustainable landscapes can be lush, colorful, and wildlife-friendly. The choice is economical, too – many winners replaced their original lawns and now enjoy the added benefit of a lower water bill. With lower-than-average rainfall this year, smart water usage remains crucial—rain or shine—to make Conservation a Way of Life in Santa Barbara County.

Visit www.WaterWiseSB.org to discover more about this year’s garden champions and to acquire tips on low-maintenance gardening, rainwater harvesting, and more!

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