Category: keyt-local-news

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The sands of time were starting to run out for the Santa Barbara Waterfront Department as tons of sand began clogging the entrance, but help is on the way.

The federal government through the Army Corps of Engineers is sending about $6.1 million to City of Santa Barbara to pay for dredging possibly twice a year.

A dredge is in the harbor now removing sand, but it was delayed for months to wait until the last possible time when the sand was starting to have an impact of vessels going in and out.

The money for this dredging operation was the last in the budget and new funds had not been promised for the first time in years.

Waterfront officials were on high alert. They were both looking for other money and timing the last use of the current funds.

If more sand were to arrive, the harbor entrance would be impassable for some vessels.

At low tide last month the depth already was only about ten feet.

Boat owner and former Waterfront Commissioner Steve Byrd said, “the fishing fleet, it denies them of their whole livelihood and the Coast Guard boat for emergencies.”

Commercial Fisherman Gary Burke said it has had the lake effect in the past , ” when nobody could go out and that would create a lot of lawsuits which we don’t need.”

He says the fishing fleet is very valuable to the area. “II tell people Santa Barbara Harbor has one of the strongest commercial fleets on the coast. My boat was built in Crescent City. There are only one or two rows of commercial boats and there used to be eight or nine. If you go to Morro Bay at the byback there’s nothing left and commercial fishing unfortunately it is a dying industry and this is one of the strong holds. “

The funds were announced by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D)-California from Santa Barbara County.

Mayor Randy Rowse has also been back in Washington D.C. for several reasons, but also to lobby for the funds.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – San Marcos High School is city champions in both boys and girls track and field.

The Royals boys cruised to victory beating Dos Pueblos 89-38 and Santa Barbara 88-39.

The San Marcos girls edged DP 65-62 and knocked off the Dons 86-41.

San Marcos Highlights:

Senior Logan Patterson Deakyne won all four of the events that he ran for the Royals.

He captured the 100 meter hurdles (15.86), 400 meter (49.76), 300 meter hurdles (39.32) and he was on the Royals winning 4×400 relay team.

Senior TJ Deakyne won the long jump (21-8.00), triple jump (43-03.00) and the high jump along with Dos Pueblos sophomore Zaden Battle, each clearing 6-02.00.

Other San Marcos highlights include: Sofia Hernandez winning both the girls 1600m (5:20.63) and the 3200m (11:43.63); Elsie Tuttle wins the girls 400m (1:01.10), Wyatt Degnar captures the boys 1600m (4:35.55), Drew Vogel wins the boys 3200m (10:09.34), Myles Gonzalez takes the top spot in the boys pole vault 12-00.00.

The Royals won both the boys and girls 4×100 relay.

Dos Pueblos Highlights:

Yana Martin wins the girls 100m hurdles (17.59), Hazel Burgess wins the 100m (12.91), Kellan Cotter takes the double in the boys sprints, winning the 100m (11.15), and 200m (22.26), Iyla Herrick captures the girls 800m (2:25.59), the Chargers also won the girls 4x400m relay. Luna Gnagy is tops in the girls high jump at 5-00.00, Zaden Battle tops the boys high jump at 6-02.00, Alix Hollingsworth wins the girls discus at 114-05, Ty Perkins takes the boys discus crown at 138-06.

Santa Barbara Highlights:

Elina Stump wins the girls long jump (17-09.50), the triple jump (37-07.50), and the 200m (26.10).

(Stump won 3 individual events for the Dons. Entenza Design).

Kik Van Engelen claims the boys 800m (2:06.25), Olivia Arevalo won the girls 300m hurdles (51.38), Nonia Brown wins the girls shot put (30-03.50) while Malachi Johnston is the boys champion (51-10.00).

(Cal Poly-bound Malachi Johnson wins the shotput by almost ten feet. Entenza Design).

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John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – The eighth location for Rori’s Creamery may be one of the sweetest for ice cream lovers and owner Rori Trovato.

It is on Storke Road across from Target. But it is also in a tasty location for a blend of business.

The location ran a line all day Friday when free scoops of ice cream were given out during a Grand Opening special.

Some guests had been familiar with Rori’s. Others gave it a try for the first time to taste the organic creamery recipes that come out of a Carpinteria production facility.

Trovato says Rori’s Goleta site is going to be popular with area residents in a very populated section of the city along with students from UC Santa Barbara or Isla Vista and with sports teams at Girsch Park across the street.

The location has ample parking because it is part of a large shopping center.

It is the first Rori’s in Goleta. Other nearby locations include two in Santa Barbara (Public Market and Coast Village Road) and one in Carpinteria (Linden Ave).

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The first two cruise ships of the season could bring more than 6,000 passengers to Santa Barbara Wednesday and Thursday.

The overall cruise ship business has been reworked in Santa Barbara after city meetings with concerned groups who raised environmental concerns.

In the past as many as 30 cruise ships were visiting per year.

Now the city policy is for a maximum of 20 per year, with no cruise ship stops in the summer. There are also no cruise ship stops on weekends.

Ships do not dock and use tenders or small boats to bring passengers to the Santa Barbara Landing.

Strict environmental guidelines are followed and routinely checked by the Waterfront staff and oversight groups concerned about water quality and waste disposal.

The Waterfront Department collects a fee of $15 per passenger whether they disembark or not.

Each passenger can stop by a hospitality team on Cabrillo Boulevard and get information on local sights, shops, restaurants, and the downtown area.

Shuttle and tour vehicles also pick up there.

The first ship is the Royal Princess which arrived at 7:00 a.m. It will depart at 4:30 p.m. It has a capacity of 3,560.

The second ship Brilliant Lady (Thursday) will arrive at 8:00 a.m. and depart at 6 p.m. with a capacity of 2,770.

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Patricia Martellotti

GOLETA, Cali. (KEYT) – A hopeful scene unfolded along the Central Coast this week as a group of rehabilitated seabirds returned to the wild after weeks of specialized care.

Wildlife rescuers report the release comes during a troubling increase in starving seabirds arriving at rehabilitation centers. Teams are seeing more pelicans and other coastal birds suffering from severe malnutrition, exhaustion, and distress.

Because of the growing number of emergencies, rescuers are urging the public to act quickly when they spot an injured, sick, or struggling seabird. Calling trained responders right away can make the difference between life and death.

“Really amazing to see 11 pelicans ready to go on the same day,” said Ariana Katovich, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. “This is the most joyful part of our work—giving these animals their second chance.”

Rescuers believe this wildlife release highlights both the challenges facing local seabirds and the lifesaving impact of community support.

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City Of Santa Maria has filled its vacant council seat, left open when former District One councilman Carlos Escobedo abruptly resigned last month.

The new city councilman was born and raised in the district he now represents.

Ricardo “Richard” Batalla was appointed and sworn in at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Numerous supporters stayed late including his wife and kids, several to speak in support of his appointment.

“He is here to really represent the youth and the families in the community,” said one Santa Maria resident, Jaimie Cruz. “I just wanted to say that on behalf of me as a new resident from Santa Maria wanted to make sure I support Ricardo Batalla for city Council.”

A few other residents shared their own opinions and some alternative suggestions for how the council should be handling the issue of the vacant seat.

“We feel it’s extremely important to fill the City Council District One vacancy with an applicant that will be responsive to the needs of all District One residents,” said resident Gary Hall. “Along with the residents of some 650 mobile homes, 650 mobile homes are in District One.”

One resident said he felt Santa Maria could afford the special election, to give the decision to the people who live in the district.

“The argument that it would be too expensive is not true in this case,” said Gale McNeeley. “$14,500 to let the people of district one choose someone is not much to pay.”

But at the end of the evening Batalla was formally appointed and sworn in.

“I was born right here in district one on West Williams Street and attended Oakley Elementary,” says Santa Maria District One’s new interim City Councilman Ricardo “Richard” Batalla. “I currently serve as a Youth Development director for the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, where I oversee programs serving over 2000 students supervising more than 150 staff. I’m also proudly bilingual in Spanish and English, allowing me to better connect with and represent our diverse community.”

Batalla will be serving at least through the primary election this November.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Santa Maria has received $1.2 million in federal funding to help expand Fire Station 1, which is located in the heart of city in the downtown area.

The federal award was recently secured and announced by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and will help Santa Maria fund the project that is slated to cost $6 million.

“On behalf of the City of Santa Maria and our 110,000 residents, I want to extend our deepest thanks to Representative Carbajal for securing $1.2 million for the Fire Station 1 Expansion Project,” said Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino. “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.”

According to the Santa Maria Fire Department, Fire Station 1 handled approximately 5,400 calls last year, making the it the busiest fire station in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

“The Station 1 expansion was designed and developed for the growing need of our population right now, and expanding the services that we provide here in the downtown area” said Santa Maria Fire Chief Brad Dandridge. “What we’re looking at is adding additional four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a weight room and a battalion chief facility where a battalion chief is going to be able to respond here in a fire service environment, as opposed to across the way in a repurposed, administrative classroom.”

Located at the intersection of West Cook Street and South Pine Street, Fire Station 1 was built in 2002 when the overall population of Santa Maria was 79,000.

Less than 25 years later, the size of Santa Maria has risen to 110,000 and thousands more are forecast to increase the population over the next two decades

“Santa Maria is expected to grow between 25,000 to 40,000 people in the coming years by 2024” said Dandridge. “What we’re looking at is trying to stay ahead of the curve. We’re building now for the future. Station 1 right now houses a truck and an engine, but in the future, we may need to house additional personnel here.”

With the city still short in funding, the timeline for construction and completion is still to be determined.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A long-idle armory in Santa Barbara may soon be transformed into a career training center aimed at preparing students for local job opportunities. District leaders are exploring ways to repurpose the historic site into a hub for career technical education, focusing on hands-on learning and real-world skills.

The vision includes creating pathways that connect students directly to in-demand careers in the region, helping bridge the gap between education and the workforce. Officials say the project is still in its early stages, with community input expected to play a major role in shaping the final plan. Public meetings are scheduled to begin this spring, giving residents a chance to weigh in on the proposal.

However, questions remain about the project’s cost, potential enrollment, and whether the long-term need justifies the investment. Environmental considerations and historic preservation requirements could also impact how the redevelopment moves forward.

Despite these uncertainties, the armory — once a dormant structure — could soon take on new purpose, serving as a gateway for students to build skills and pursue future careers.

From Santa Barbara Unifed School District:

Santa Barbara Unified Launches “Designing the Armory Together” Campaign; Seeks Vital Community Input on New CTE Center

SANTA BARBARA, CA — Santa Barbara Unified needs your ideas and your voice. We’re asking students, families, and residents to help shape the future of the historic Armory site.

The District is launching a comprehensive community listening tour and survey to define the vision for the 4.7-acre property located at 700 E. Canon Perdido Street.

The project is envisioned as a 21st-century learning hub. By transforming the site situated between Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High School, the District aims to create a professional bridge for students throughout the District

“This project represents an incredible opportunity to fill a gap between our classrooms and the workforce. Our students will benefit the most, but we cannot build this bridge alone,” said Superintendent Dr. Hilda Maldonado. “We need to hear from our community to ensure this facility complements our existing successful programs while meeting the future needs of our local economy.”

Community Listening Tour Schedule (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.):

April 16: La Colina Junior High

April 21: Goleta Valley Junior High

April 27: La Cumbre Junior High

May 12: Santa Barbara Junior High

The District is seeking feedback on a variety of potential uses for the site, including state-of-the-art CTE labs, workforce housing for staff, and more.

Information gathered during this Spring 2026 feedback window will be presented to the Board of Trustees in Fall 2026 to guide the formal schematic design.

How to Get Involved:

Residents are encouraged to attend a listening tour session or take the community survey.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – For four decades the Santa Barbara Independent has been publishing the news of Santa Barbara, and now you can reflect back on some of the most iconic covers ever to hit the racks.

A special display is up and filling the walls at the Santa Barbara Library’s Faulkner gallery.

It was a lengthy effort to decide which covers were going to be in the presentation considering there were more than 2000 editions.

At a special reception, the staff of reporters and editors along with photographers and art directors were all acknowledged for their enterprising and creative work since 1986.

Santa Barbara Independent Editor in Chief Marianne Partridge said, “this whole great big long Independent family has been putting together the Independent for 40 years and God be praised it will be another 40!”

Around the room she said, “If you look through all of this you will see our reporters have been covering oil, immigration the arts….so much.”

The staff says the covers and the content have documented the history of Santa Barbara for the last 40 years.

Every print issue has gone out weekly the entire time without missing a deadline, even during the pandemic.

Some of the covers feature the areas many fires, the Refugio Oil Spill, and the Montecito Debris Flow. The paper has also compiled years of Santa Barbara International Film Festival issues and annually it puts Old Spanish Days in the highlighted position.

There are also covers with noted faces in town including politicians and entertainers.

The exhibit at the library will run through May.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif (KEYT) Bees are back inside a Pepper Tree in front of Santa Barbara City Hall

The crew from Super Bee Rescue and Removal spent the day trying to remove them.

They say the tree, near the city hall steps is hallow and has plenty of room for bees.

Recent rain has increased their calls for service.

They hope to encourage the bees to find a new place to live.

For more information visit https://superbeerescue.com

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