Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Appearing more confident than nervous at every turn, the leaders of Old Spanish Days are quickly smashing rumors of cancelations.

Within the last week, multiple calls have come in with questions about events being planned by Old Spanish Days, along with related events by other organizations.

As of Wednesday, all events are on. That includes La Reception del Presidente, Fiesta Pequena, Las Noches de Ronda, La Misa de Presidente, DIGS! (Celebración de los Dignatarios) at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Mercado de la Guerra – Casa de la Guerra entertainment and El Desfile Historico (the Fiesta Parade.)

The Fiesta three-day event by Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is also on. It is a church event. It features a variety of authentic homemade food, entertainment and traditional games.

The Children’s Parade El Desfile de los Ninos, is run by the City of Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation Department and it will take place on Saturday, August 2.

Th Fiesta Rodeo and Stock Horse show will take place at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center. It is free.

El Presdente Fritz Olenberger said Wednesday after the recent Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) search warrant raids through the Department of Homeland Security at a cannabis farm in Carpinteria and Camarillo, he understands concerns over more high profile actions. He doesn’t believe it will impact Old Spanish Days. “Raiding a marijuana farm is quite a bit different than raiding a 101-year-old festival,” he said.

805 UndocuFund Executive Director, Primitiva Hernandez, said she does not want to see Fiesta take place this year. Speaking Tuesday outside the Board of Supervisors hearing room she said this was not the time for this type of event and also had issues with its overall history in Santa Barbara.

 “My own learning has been acknowledging the struggles that the people here have gone through. And I think if we want to move forward in a positive way and reparations need to be made,” said Hernandez.

The most recent efforts by the group have been to address the enforcement actions in recent weeks, with a team of citizens looking out for government vehicles and maintaining both a hotline and social media resources.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Aidan Mahaney has played in three straight NCAA Tournaments and he plans to keep that streak going for his final season in college at UCSB.

The Gauchos will be his third college program for the 6’3 senior guard.

Mahaney was a standout at his first college stop at Saint Mary’s.

He played two seasons for the Gaels where he collected such honors as First Team All-WCC, a Lou Henson All-American, NABC First Team All-District, WCC All -Tournament Team, and WCC All-Freshman Team.

Last year he played at national powerhouse Connecticut where he played in 34 games, averaging around 12.5 minutes per game.

Mahaney scored in double-figures six times including a season-high 15 points against Providence.

“I take a lot of pride in my leadership,” began Mahaney. “I feel like I come from 2 really big time programs so to come in here and bring in some of that championship DNA that I feel like I have accumulated over my first 3 years in college is big. You know kind of being a vet here, one of the only guys on the team to ever make it to the tournament and obviously that is our goal this year so really just trying to impose my knowledge and my will to win on these guys right now.”

UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack added, “He was all conference for two years in the WCC, had a great experience learning at UConn didn’t get to play as much as he wanted to but I think he is really, really hungry for his last season of college basketball.”

The Gauchos are finishing up the second of an eight-week summer practice session.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

CAMARILLO, Calif. – On July 10th, a disabled Army veteran and security guard said he got caught in the middle of protesters and ICE agents at Glass House Farms on his way to work in Camarillo.

Aerial video shows George Retes arriving in his white car at the state licensed cannabis farm.

“Every single officer was giving me different commands, as you can see in the video, some are telling me to reverse and some are trying to rip my door open, some are banging on my windshield,” said Retes.

The 25-year-old Ventura resident and father of two, said he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray, also known as ‘OC’ in the military.

“They broke the window and they just dragged me out of the vehicle and then it took two officers to kneel on my back, one on my neck, and arrest me, even though my hands were behind my back.”

Retes works as a security guard for Securitas Security Services USA and was headed to work at Glass House Farms around 2:30 p.m. Thursday when he noticed the commotion.

He said he had turned ICE agents away from the farm before and wasn’t aware they had returned in force that day.

“I found out there was a barricade of ICE agents blocking anyone from driving up or down the street and so that is when I was met with that.”

He said he tried to explain that he is a U.S. citizen who was born in Ventura.

He attended Buena High and Vista Continuation High School before joining the Army at the age of 18.

“They just asked me what I was doing, they asked if I was a citizen and I told them ‘yes’ I told them everything; I was a citizen, I worked there, they didn’t care, they never told me my charges then they sent me away, they sent me to a place in downtown LA without even telling me what I was arrested for, they booked us I was there for three days and yeah in the facility, I can’t say much, I was put on suicide watch,” said Retes.

He said he was distraught over missing his daughter’s third birthday and not being able to contact his family or an attorney.

He said he was not allowed to wash the spray off his hands and body while in custody, despite complaining about the pain.

His hands burned, especially on the first night and still burn a bit now when he touches his eyes.

Retes said he was initially in custody with Cal State University Professor Jonathan Carvello, 37, who was arrested during the protest and released on bond following a court appearance on Monday.

When Retes was released on Sunday he was told charges had been dropped.

A memorial made of flowers and candles is growing outside the farm’s Laguna Road entrance for longtime farm worker Jaime Alanis Garcia, 56, who reportedly fell while being chased and died from his injuries.

Retes said he didn’t know him personally but is upset by what happened at his place of work.

“There is no reason to chase people through fields, there is no reason to have five people on one person, just everything they are doing is wrong, especially the way they are going about it, no one deserves to be treated the way they treat people.”

The Department of Homeland Security detained 361 people at Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria.

At least 10 of them are described as teens, as young as 14, who were found at Glass House Farms in Carpinteria July 10.

The company has denied employing underage youth but could not be reached for comment.

Retes now plans to file a lawsuit and said he didn’t want to get into the specifics of his ordeal.

“It was a lot,” said Retes following a Zoom call with a number of journalists.

Retes chose not to comment on whether he voted for President Trump.

“It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, it doesn’t matter if you voted left or if you voted right, black brown, green, no one deserves to be treated this way,” said Retes, “it shouldn’t have happened, I hope this never happens to anyone ever again, no one deserves this.”

Retes said has not been able to return to work and is not sure if he will go back to the farm.

He said his car door is damaged and dented and still smells like the spray used on the crowd.

United Farm Workers helped him share his story and also shared a GoFundMe.

The message in the GoFundMe is as follows:

“My name is George Retes. I’m a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, a U.S. citizen, and I work as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California.

On July 10th, I was wrongfully detained by ICE agents while simply trying to report to work. I was pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, had my car window smashed, and was dragged out of my vehicle at gunpoint — all while I was nonviolent, and doing nothing wrong.

I clearly identified myself as a U.S. citizen and an employee of the farm, yet federal agents ignored me, yelled conflicting orders, and then violently detained me. I was held in custody for three days without any charges, without a phone call, and without access to legal help. I was never told why I was arrested. I never received care to clean myself despite being covered in tear gas and OC spray for days.

This is not how any person should be treated — especially not a veteran who served this country with honor. I didn’t break any law. I was just trying to go to work.

What happened to me wasn’t just a mistake — it was a violation of my civil rights. It was excessive force. And it was a failure of justice. I’m speaking out not just for myself, but for every person who could’ve ended up in my place that day.

I’m calling for a full investigation into the actions of ICE and other agencies involved in this operation. I want the agents who ignored protocol and used force against me to be held accountable. And I want the public to know the truth: this raid didn’t just target immigrants. It hurt Americans too.

I will not stay silent.

I served this country, and now I’m demanding it do right by me.”

Your News Channel will continue to follow the lawsuit when it is filed.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – The California Mid-State Fair kicks off its much-anticipated 12-day run in Paso Robles beginning on Wednesday afternoon.

Over nearly two weeks, at least 400,000 fairgoers are expected to attend the annual gathering that includes headline concerts, thrilling carnival rides, wide assortment of food and drinks, livestock show and auction, home arts exhibits and much more.

“We’re very excited to bring you this year’s fair,” saids Colleen Boroquez, California Mid-State Fair CEO. “We’re excited to bring you all the fun things that the fair has to offer. The carnival, the food, and just the atmosphere of coming together and seeing everybody who you’ve only seen, only see once a year at the fair.”

The Mid-State Fair opens its doors at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, which will be preceded with an opening ceremony set for 3:45 p.m.

The first 100 visitors will receive one complimentary admission ticket that is valid on any other day of the 2025 Fair, an exclusive 2025 California Mid-State Fair commemorative button and a bag of kettle corn.

The theme of the fair this year is “Off to the Races!” which will be prominently seen and felt by fairgoers during their time inside the Paso Robles Event Center.

In a release, the fair said the theme will be heavily referenced around the fairgrounds, buildings and exhibits, as well as an exhibition in the Ponderosa Pavilion showcasing the days when the Paso Robles Event Center (then known as the San Luis Obispo County Fairgrounds) hosted horse racing.

As typical, the fair has lined up another big name lineup of entertainment to fill the Chumash Grandstand Arena.

Flo Rida will begin the festivities with a performance on Wednesday night and will be followed by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry over the next several days, including Jon Pardi, Cody Johnson, 311, Viva La Quebradita, David Lee Roth, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, along with Country Rodeo Finals and a Monster Truck Takeover.

With typical temperatures during the fair reaching into the 90’s and often times into triple figures, the Paso Robles Event Center has made a push this year to keep fairgoers as comfortable as possible with the addition of several new cooling features.

“We have our misty midway,” said Boroquez. “There will be a portion of our midway that we have misters to help in case it gets over 100 degrees. We also have a cooling area at the Headliner Stage.”

In addition, there is a new hydration station located by the Frontier Stage where fairgoers will be able to fill up plastic bottles with free water.

Fortunately for visitors, this year’s fair is shaping up to be one of the coolest in many years.

On Wednesday, the high only reached into the mid-70’s and the forecast through the rest of the fair has temperatures mostly in the 80’s, approximately 10 degrees below the normal average.

The California Mid-State Fair will be held from July 16 through July 27.

Gates open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight and from Friday to Sunday from noon to midnight.

For more information, click here to visit the official California Mid-State Fair website.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. ⁃ Rivers are powerful forces of nature shaping landscapes and impacting millions who live nearby. 

Now, scientists at UC Santa Barbara are shedding new light on why some rivers split into multiple channels while others stay on a single path.

“When we think of floods, we always think of the context of rising water levels, right but rivers are not stopping rivers move around,” said associate professor of geography Dr. Vamsi Ganti of UC Santa Barbara.

Ganti and his team used decades of satellite imagery to study 84 rivers around the world. 

Their findings could make a big difference in places like Santa Barbara, where local creeks often overflow during heavy storms.

“Understanding how rivers move is critical for how we manage flood risk on the banks of the rivers, and also trying to figure out how the river movement can change in the future,” said Ganti.

“And his research is helping us understand these forces of nature so we can better live with them,” said science communicator Harrison Tasoff of UC Santa Barbara.

Researchers believe this study could help guide smarter flood planning in the region and even around the world.

“What this means for the community is, we have a better idea of how rivers behave and when they’re aggressive, and when they’re docile,” said Tasoff.

These discoveries can be especially crucial in communities still recovering from past disasters, like the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides.

“My hope is that we start to incorporate … river movement into flood medication, such that we are better prepared,” said Ganti.

The team hopes their findings will be used by planners and emergency managers across California and beyond.A new UCSB study reveals why some rivers split into multiple channels.

For more information, visit: https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021948/rivers-choose-their-path-based-erosion-discovery-could-transform-flood-planning-and

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara’s biggest event, Old Spanish Days, will take place in about two weeks and thousands of people traditionally take part in the festivities.

Old Spanish Days Division Chief of Pageantry Casie Killgore said “personally, for me, Fiesta Friday is the best day of the year in Santa Barbara. ” She was born and raised in Santa Barbara and said, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. And I would never take a vacation on Fiesta Friday.  It’s a place to be.”

Although some summertime activities have seen lower turnouts in Santa Barbara County, including the just-completed County Fair, the Executive Board of Old Spanish Days is going all out for the event’s 101st year.

El Desfile Historico, the Fiesta Parade will again, be on Cabrillo Boulevard. The route at noon on August 1st will be direct from Castillo St. to Calle Cesar Chavez. It will not go past the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

The carriages are expected to return to Pershing Park on a route that includes Yanonali and Garden Street.

Overall it will be slightly different. “It is a little shorter this year, but we want to pack the people in. We have announcing booths every half block. We have kits and help do a live, broadcast. And we’re just excited to bring the fun back into Fiesta,” said Killgore.

There will be many Fiesta activities including Fiesta Pequena, Las Noches de Ronda, the Children’s Parade and the downtown Mercado are all in the preparation stages. Just added has been the Casa de la Guerra entertainment stage of dance and music.

In the next two weeks groups involved in floats for the famous parade will be spending hours decorating to their themes. That work will be done in the back lot of the Carriage and Western Art Museum in Santa Barbara.

In the next week, there will be other announcements about Fiesta activities, any special additions, and ways families and friends can take part in the largest and most celebrated event of the year in Santa Barbara.

El Presidente Fritz Olenberger said, “after 12 or 15 years of photographing it, Gretchen and I are going to be in it in a carriage, and our kids and grandkids are going to be in a wagon. They’re going to be in the circus wagon. So that’s like the family circus.”

Killgore says it will be a full parade. “We’re coming back with 58 entries. We will have 27 carriages and we’re returning to a very equestrian focused parade with a lot of charro groups coming out. And we’re just really excited to bring back that Fiesta flair and some fun. “

Second Vice President Tony Miller said support from businesses has been a key factor to the Fiesta budget and the way many events are offered for free. “Year in, year out. And no matter what happens, they come back and they support our community.   We can’t do this without them.”

The history of this parade and those who want to experience it every year have a way of bonding the community especially in challenging times.

Killgore said, “it’s one day for us to come together as a community and celebrate and, you know, enjoy all the horses and really just enjoy the day as a community.”

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Coming to you LIVE from Transylvania, its Young Frankenstein!

The Theatre Group at Santa Barbara City College opened its 80th season with this musical comedy, adapted from the hilarious book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan.

Following the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania and brings to life a monster just like his grandfather’s! Along with some friends, Frankenstein sets off on a wild goose chase when the monster ultimately escapes.

Two stars of the popular adaption, Dillion Yuhasz who plays Frederick Frankenstein and Kate Brody-Adams who plays Igna, joined your Morning News to talked about the must-see musical comedy.

“This is just amazing. This has been a lot of work to put this show, from everything – the costumes, the tech side, Santa Barbara City College always just does such a good job with their shows. We are just lucky to get to be the actors in the show,” Yuhasz said.

The show features music and lyrics by Brooks and original direction and choreography by Susan Stromans.

“I think we’re doing a great job of lifting each other up, and that’s, I think that really is the most fun. I mean, getting up there and singing and acting and dancing is wonderful,” said Brody-Adams.

As of Wednesday morning, tickets for upcoming shows are sold out, but ‘stand-by’ tickets may be available to those who show up at the theatre an hour prior to showtime.

Performance times are Thursday through Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 2pm from July 9-25 at the Garvin Theatre.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Miro Little has the experience, the size and the talent to effectively lead the Gauchos at the point guard position.

“He’s played at Baylor for a year, Utah for a year, now he comes here,” began UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack. “I think getting these guys older, more experienced, they know what college basketball is about is a really huge thing. Miro is a great passer, we are really excited about having a big guard, 6’4 200 pounds.”

Little started 12 games as a sophomore at Utah, scoring a career-high 21 points against rival BYU last March and he tallied a double-double versus St. Mary’s with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

A native of Finland, Little played for their national team at the age of 17.

He cited leadership as his biggest strength.

“I have seen a lot of basketball already in my life, in my early age, my early career,” said the UCSB junior.

UCSB is in week two of an 8-week summer practice session and Little likes what he is seeing from his new team.

“We have built really good relationships already and we are excited to compete and play as hard as we can everyday.”

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – A frustrated Board of Supervisors has sounded off about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – ICE actions last week in Carpinteria.

Ten arrests were made at Glasshouse Farms as part of a larger effort with search warrants, that included a Glasshouse location in Camarillo. In all 361 arrests were made and ten minors were found in the cannabis facility in Ventura County.

The Santa Barbara leaders are asking for more information including who was arrested and why.

They also want ICE to appear at a future meeting to answer questions.

If more funding is going to be allocated for resources and services relating to the response of the enforcement actions, the county wants financial help from each of its cities.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch said he did not favor the tactics used and urged everyone to remember “the rule of law.”

He said the opponents need to meet, “their force with our voice. Meet their force with our actions.”

Savrnoch did not want anyone hurt and said those who are throwing cinder blocks or attacking the agents are breaking the law and face consequences. He suggested other ways to speak out. “Violent and dangerous people will face consequences,” he said. He also warned, “my fear is there will be more large scale military enforcement.”

Prior to the root of his comments he talked about the immigrant background his family went through and challenges they had generations ago.

Sheriff Bill Brown said his department does not participate in ICE actions or immigration enforcement. He understood that people from other countries do not always know the difference between the military and city or county law enforcement.

County Public Defender Tracy Macuga said, “ICE is allowed to racially profile.” She said it goes far beyond what was scene in the local area. “What is occurring in our community, what is occurring on the Central Coast, what is occurring nationally can only be described as government sanctioned terror.”

Primitiva Hernandez is the Executive Director of 805UndocuFund and says, “it will continue escalating.  and we need the resources from our county. Not only the funding, we need actual protection that can help us to have a fighting chance against the unhinged federal agents.”

The newest member of the board said he did not feel protected after what he has seen.

Roy Lee is the supervisor for the First District which covers the Capinteria Valley. He told the public, “these actions are tearing our community and our business community apart. It’s the first time that I as an immigrant did not feel safe and I’ve been targeted.”

Some of those attending spoke out saying they backed the enforcement by ICE against illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and reminded the board that underage children were found working in a cannabis farm.

One supervisor said farm workers, mainly immigrants, are still on the job in Northern Santa Barbara County and elsewhere and not staying away as has been suggested.

Bob Nelson read a statement from a Northern Santa Barbara County farm owner saying, “the headlines claim up to 70 percent of the farmworkers fled California fields during the recent immigration raids, and our farm ran at 95 percent labor capacity. If there is a crisis, it hasn’t arrived here.”

Some members of the South Coast are quick to point out that the enforcement was specifically targeted at on cannabis producer with an address just outside of the Carpinteria city limits and not general farm fields overall.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County is moving closer to a major construction project that will completely overhaul a busy roadway that links a northern part of the county to South San Luis Obispo County.

Bonita School Road travels between Highway 166 in Santa Barbara County and Division Street in Southern San Luis Obispo County just outside Nipomo.

A portion of the road includes a small 300-foot bridge, along with a third-of-a-mile stretch that takes drivers into the Santa Maria Riverbed.

The stretch of roadway is extremely bumpy, often times strewn with potholes, causing many drivers to drive at extremely slow speeds, as well as swerving to avoid the hazardous conditions.

“The existing bridge and low water crossing on Bonita School Road was constructed in 2002 as a temporary replacement,” said Lael Wageneck, Santa Barbara County Public Works Department public information officer. “It’s one of three vital crossings from Santa Barbara County in the San Luis Obispo County, and supports over 4,000 vehicles a day. Most of it is a low water crossing that runs through the riverbed, which means that during heavy storms or when the river is flowing, the bridge washes out.”

In order to improvement conditions, Santa Barbara County is planning a total overhaul of the road around the Santa Maria River, including the construction of a new and vastly longer bridge.

“The new bridge will be nearly a half-mile long and will span the entire channel,” said Wageneck. “It will avoid being flooded during heavy storms and will be smooth sailing across the whole channel.”

In addition to improved driving conditions, the new roadway will also include new features for pedestrians and bicyclists as well.

“Another important part of this new bridge is that it will provide more access for pedestrians and cyclists, including a connection to the the future multi-use path that will run along the levee that will connect the cities of Guadalupe and Santa Maria,” said Wageneck.

To help the public learn more about what is officially called the Bonita School Road Bridge Replacement Project, Santa Barbara County is holding a community meeting that is scheduled to be held near the project site early next month.

“We’re holding an open house to discuss the project with the public on August 7th at 6 p.m. at Bonita Elementary School,” said Wageneck. “We’ll present an update on the project’s development, along with a presentation with latest design plans, the project right of way, the schedule and next steps. We’re looking forward to get input from the community, their thoughts on it.”

Residents who live near the project site are receiving mailers this week that provide a quick overview of the project, along with details about the upcoming meeting.

Wageneck added the project will be federally funded and is set to begin construction in 2027.

Work is expected to last two years and the roadway will be closed to the public while construction is taking place.

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

Click here to follow the original article.