Author: KEYT

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria City Council is reeling tonight, trying to understand why a Councilmember abruptly quit without notice.

It happened at last night’s council meeting.

Councilman Carlos Escobedo, who was first elected in 2020, announced his resignation near the beginning of the meeting and walked out.

“Due to my upcoming move outside District One, I will not longer meet the residency requirement necessary to continue serving in this role,” Escobedo said from the dais. “While this decision comes with mixed emotions, I believe that stepping down is the appropriate and responsible course of action.”

Escobedo has two years left in his term.

“So that’s effective now?” asked Councilmember Gloria Soto. “Do we talk about what happens next? That’s—No. Okay.”

His resignation appeared abrupt, seeming to catch other council members off-guard.

Brief discussion in the chamber reflects a lack of notice to city staff from the councilman.

“As surprised as I am, I will be providing the council with a memorandum as to next steps,” said Santa Maria City Attorney Tom Watson. “But as of right now, that seat is vacant.”

City attorney Tom Watson said he will have to examine the statutes before taking further steps, especially because this year is an election cycle.

“There will be an election in November,” said Watson. “But between now and then, I will provide legal opinion to council, whether or not an appointment and how such an appointment would take place.”

The council continued the meeting in Escobedo’s absence.

With Escobedo’s seat vacant, the motion to establish an Ad-Hoc Immigration Committee later in the evening tied 2 to 2, meeting with defeat.

Residents in attendance were audibly shocked and upset by that result.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara Humane returned to your Morning News with a face you just can’t resist.

In a group of 16 new dogs, 7-year-old Benji arrived in Santa Barbara from the organization’s transfer program, already arriving three legged and with a skin and ear infection. Unfortunately doctors discovered Benji’s eyes to be in poor condition as well so the decision was made to remove them.

“I think when he came to us those eyes were in such bad shape that he really couldn’t see anyway, so it’s not a huge thing to be a new thing to be blind. Just a sweet little guy. He just wants to hang out in your backyard in a patch of sun, you know, just be cute little Benji,” says chief operating officer, Dory Villalon.

Benji, along with the other pups, will be available for adoption starting Thursday.

In a few days SB Humane will be throwing their Wild West Fest! The fundraising event helps support the organization and all those sweet animals they take in, just like Benji.

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Alissa Orozco

BUELLTON, Calif. (KEYT) – The annual Buellton Wine & Chili Festival is coming up soon, and you better be ready with a wine glass in one hand and a spoon in the other for the most flavorful event on the Central Coast!

The event features local music, food, and drinks from up and down the coast, with over 30 chili and salsa cooks competing to prove they’re the best.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company executive chef, Alex Aviles, and Andre Nuño from En Fuego Events previewed the upcoming event on your Morning News – of course never empty handed.

“We’re stoked. I mean, it’s our 3rd year on the Central Coast right now, another anniversary for us, so we’re trying to get out and party every chance we get,” says Aviles. “This is just another one of those situations where we get out of the kitchen and go party with everybody in Buellton and anybody who wants to come visit.” 

Locals can choose from a tiered list of ticket options, offering the chance to sample the more than 30 wineries, craft breweries, seltzers, ciders and spirit companies, AND chili and salsa.

Locals get to taste all the chili they’d like, and then cast their vote for who they think is the best. According to Nuño, the flavors are limitless.

“It’s however you make your chili. We wanted this to feel like, you know, if you’re at home and you just make the best chili for your family,” says Nuño.

The Buellton Wine and Chili Festival will take place on March 15th at 12 p.m. at the Flying Flags RV Resort campground.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT)- A new five-story campus is getting its finishing touches on Anapamu Street.

The Sanctuary Centers project will bring supportive housing, a medical clinic, and expanded behavioral health services to the area.

The campus is designed to support some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Construction is in its final phase as crews prepare for the crane to come down.

The non-profit is still working to close a three-million-dollar funding gap.

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Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – Hundreds of local high school students had the chance to learn about future job opportunities at a career technical education (CTE) conference held Wednesday at Nipomo High School.

About 300 students from Nipomo, Central Coast New Tech and Lopez high schools partipated in the event that was held for the third straight year.

“The students have the opportunity to go in to pick three rooms that have different industry specific, including healthcare, construction, aviation and many others,” said Kristin Anderson, Lucia Mar Unified School District Curriculum Instruction Director. “They also have an opportunity to attend the vendor fair with over 40 different local vendors.” 

Several companies, businesses, government agencies, community colleges and other organizations took part in the CTE conference, including Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Edwards Construction, ACI Jet, Caltrans, RRM Design Group, Edwards Construction, San Luis Obispo County Airport, Arroyo Grande Police Department, San Luis Obispo County Fire Department/CAL FIRE, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and many others.

“I think it’s important for students to get to see what’s in our community,” said Anderson. “Sometimes our students don’t know what the opportunities they have if they don’t have a place to see them all at one spot, so it’s kind of like a one stop shop for everybody to get to see different ideas and maybe they’ll branch out and try something new.”

Students had several opportunities to meet face-to-face with career professionals, at a vendor fair held inside the school’s Olympic Hall.

“I think, for a lot of people, it’s very eye opening,” said student Cy Randall. “I feel like a lot of kids don’t know what they want to do after high school and this is a good opportunity for them to explore different careers and just kind of understand if they want to go into a certain field, what that will mean, what the salary will mean, what the work’s going to mean, stuff like that.” 

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – While the City of Santa Barbara and its partners in economic development work on future plans for the heart of downtown, locals will find the sidewalks and streets cleaner now than they have been in years.

The newly formed Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) has made that a priority. A new report backs it up.

The latest numbers from September 2025 to January 2026 shows, with the work of daily crews, 5,135 trash bags have been filled, 103,786 pounds of trash has been picked up, 382 blocks have been pressure washed and there’s been 113 service calls.

The daily job includes picking up trash, cleaning landscaping, painting over graffiti and wiping down benches and trash cans along with numerous other tasks.

About 66 percent of the funds coming in for the special business district tax has gone to making the area clean and safe.

DSBIA Executive Director Robin Elander said, “our organization is focused on really serving and revitalizing downtown in the areas of maintenance and activation  branding and beautification. People are starting to see a difference downtown and they’re seeing people cleaning in an area that they haven’t seen previously and that is what this is all about it is  a new district wide maintenance.”

More lighting has been added and efforts are underway for security cameras.

Mayor Randy Rowse was strolling downtown Wednesday and noticing the improvements saying, “things look pretty good. We can always be better and I think enhancing the lighting will go a long way to helping that.”

The focus area is between the underpass and Sola St., and from Chapala St. to Anacapa St.

Most recently vacant window fronts have been improved with art work at four locations to reduce the look of blight.

The area continues to have First Thursday events at galleries, open spaces and with restaurant specials. This week more than 25 activities will be going on at once.

In addition to economic vitality from the businesses, the DSBIA is adding input into the conversation to create new housing in the area.

40 new businesses opened in 2025. Five have opened so far in 2026.

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Alissa Orozco

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Ashlee Buzzard, the Vandenberg Village mother who is accused of murdering her daughter Melodee last year, failed to appear in court this morning – claiming illness for a second time.

Buzzard missed her initial procedural hearing back in February, her court date was rescheduled and Judge Stephen Dunkle approved a motion to admonish spectators inside the court room.

Buzzard’s defense attorney says their team is continuing to comb through case warrants and forensic evidence records, but Buzzard must be present to assure a speedy trial.

The hearing was rescheduled to March 18th. If Buzzard fails to appear on that date, Judge Dunkle will issue an extraction order.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Channel League Baseball:

Santa Barbara 2, Pacifica 1

Dos Pueblos 6, Ventura 5

Buena 13, San Marcos 3

Rio Mesa 6, Oxnard 1

Channel League Softball:

Dos Pueblos 10, Ventura 0

San Marcos 16, Buena 6 (5-inning mercy rule)

Rio Mesa 5, Oxnard 1

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

CIF-State Girls Basketball Round 1:

Division 1: Oak Park 72, La Jolla Country Day 57: UCSB-commit Karisma Flores scored game-high 27 points which included 7 three-pointers. Eagles play at Francis Parker of San Diego in Round 2 on Thursday.

Division 2: St. Joseph 71, Venice 62: The second-seeded Knights host St. Margaret’s on Thursday in Round 2.

Cathedral Catholic 48, Camarillo 47: The visiting Dons were fouled in the final seconds shooting a three-pointer and made all 3 free throws to win by a point. Scorpions finish the season 19-13.

Division 3: Carlsbad 51, Bishop Diego 43: Eden Wynne scored 16 points for the Cardinals who finish the season 27-5 which included a CIF-Southern Section Division 5 championship.

Canyon 60, Oxnard 57: Kai Buhain scored 16 points for the Yellowjackets who end their season at 21-13.

CIF-State Boys Basketball Round 1:

Division 3: Atascadero 69, Warren 62: The 13th seed pull off the upset on the road and now the Greyhounds will play at #5 Colony on Thursday in Round 2.

CIF-State Boys Soccer Round 1:

Division 5: Nipomo 3, Roosevelt 3: Titans advance on PK’s 7-6. Senior Chase Myers scored in extra time of regulation for the Titans who then outlasted the Rough Riders in PK’s. Nipomo (19-5-3) will play at Crystal Springs Uplands near San Mateo on Thursday in a regional semifinals.

CIF-State Girls Soccer Round 1:

Division 1: Oaks Christian 1, Mt. Carmel 0: Lions advance to play at #2 Mater Dei on Thursday in regional semifinals.

Division 2: Westlake 1, La Costa Canyon 0: Warriors advance to regional semifinals and will host Garces Memorial on Thursday.

Division 4: Del Sol 0, Immaculate 0: Jaguars advance on PK’s. Del Sol will play at #3 San Jacinto on Thursday in regional semifinal.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Baseball games at UCSB are getting wildly entertaining.

The Gauchos have won eight straight games now after run-ruling Loyola Marymount 11-1 in eight innings.

But most people who watched UCSB’s latest win will be talking about the fourth inning when a pelican delayed the game for several minutes.

A pelican flew too low and got stuck in the safety net behind home plate.

UCSB head coach Andrew Checketts shook the netting but that didn’t work.

A couple of UCSB workers and perhaps a fan were able to get the pelican’s webbed-foot free and the bird flew down to the grass behind home plate.

The pelican was in no hurry to leave the field, in fact it walked closer to the foul line between home and third.

After a few coaches and others were not able to get the pelican to fly off, UCSB assistant coach Dylan Jones wrapped up the bird in a couple of towels, scooped it up and carried it out of the stadium.

The pelican appeared unharmed and after a few minutes it flew away.

Soon after the pelican took flight, UCSB bats soared as well.

Max Stagg snapped a 1-1 tie with an infield RBI single and the ‘pelican rally’ had begun.

UCSB scored two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings and then put up a 5 spot in the eighth to run-rule the Lions and end the game .

LMU did not score and managed just one hit after the pelican entered the stadium in the top of the 4th inning.

Behind their ‘pelican power’ UCSB improved to 9-2 on the season after completing the 2-game season sweep over the Lions.

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