Category: keyt-local-news

Dave Alley

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – An inspirational group of men and women took part on Tuesday in the 2026 California Blind, Disabled and Adaptive Winter Golf Classic.

Held at the picturesque Sandpiper Golf Course, the tournament drew a few dozen players from around the state for the 18-hole scramble format event.

“This is a gathering of adaptive players paired with PGA professionals and local amateurs to support, champion and celebrate our adaptive golf community,” said longtime tournament director Robert Kotowski. “We’re gathering golfers from the adaptive golf community, blind, amputees, veterans, disabled vets.”

Now in its 28th year, the tournament allows adaptive golfers to showcase their remarkable talents in a competitive environment.

“It’s an awesome tournament,” said golfer Bill Davis. “It is very rewarding. I enjoy it because the fact that it’s a sport the where a blind person who can actually take part of.  I’m just like any other golfer. I’m what they refer to as long hitter, hitting it 250 to 300 yards.”

Through the use of an assistant, visually impaired golfers are able to not only play golf, many of them are able to achieve remarkable success.

“I enjoy it,” said golfer Carlos Franco, who traveled from Monterey. “Everybody around my town, including my son and lots everybody have has tried to beat me. They beat me one time and they’re all happy, but now they don’t want to play with me anymore!”

For Kotowski, who has long been the driving force behind this tournament, this year’s event was especially meaningful.

“It was a year ago today here at Sandpiper,” explained Kotowski, who suffered a heart attack while playing at the seaside course. “Ten days later, I was blessed with an amazing gift of a heart transplant, so this is a significant day and a couple of areas. One of my motivating factors was I wanted to get back, get healthy, work hard. Amazing people I want to thank. How do you thank everybody who has been there for me, the community, friends, all the medical workers. I bet 1,500 different medical workers were involved in my being here right now, so thank you all. It’s a chance to say thank you and celebrate these great adaptive athletes.”

Players added that no matter the outcome, just being on the course, especially under such ideal weahter conditions on Tuesday, is truly what the nature of adaptive golf is all about.

“It’s not the thing about being able to beat people,” said Franco. “It’s getting out there and having fun and getting to know others. It’s really great having just getting out. You get to meet so many people and they’re all very helpful. It really feels great.”

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Caleb Nguyen

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – Fire crews fought a structure fire at the 2000 block of Holly Drive in Heritage Ranch just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

CAL FIRE SLO crews kept the flames to a single room, though a full response ended up arriving to help put it out completely.

Fire crews knocked the fire down at 4:33 p.m. and two more engines helped in response after that, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A high school student who collected used sports equipment last week has had a strong response in his effort to help financially challenged young athletes.

A Junior at Dos Pueblos High School, Johnny Duffy, made his idea a reality. He rallied students and the community to help and together they collected 182 pieces of sports gear that could be given to those who want to participate in athletics, but can not afford it.

It included basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, shoes, swimming goggles and other items necessary to compete in club or recreational sports.

Last weekend there was a distribution at Dos Pueblos High and Goleta Valley Junior High.

Not all of the gear was given out, and the remaining items will be sold to a store that specialize in used sports equipment. The proceeds and any donations will then go towards a scholarship fund for athletes who need financial support.

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Alissa Orozco

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Mid-State Fair is going retro this year, kicking off it’s 80th anniversary this summer. The official 2026 fair theme is Back to the 80s!

Celebrating eight decades of agriculture, entertainment, creativity, and community on the Central Coast, the fair will feature 80s themed decor, promotions, and activities through the fairgrounds – creating an atmosphere the fair says will be inspired by the music, fashion, and pop culture that defined the era.

“Celebrating 80 years is a meaningful moment for the California Mid-State Fair, and Back to the 80s gives us a fun and engaging way to honor our past while looking ahead,” said Colleen Bojorquez, Chief Executive Officer. “This theme invites our community to get creative, have fun, and be part of a shared celebration that reflects the spirit of the Fair.”

The 2026 California Mid-State Fair will take place July 15-26, 2026, at the Paso Robles Event Center.

For tickets and more information, visit the fair website here.

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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District regarding Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) registration.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) is pleased to announce that registration for Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for the upcoming school year will officially begin on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Families may pick up a registration packet at any elementary school within the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. For those requiring personalized assistance with the enrollment process, the district encourages parents and guardians to visit their nearest neighborhood school, Family Resource Centers, or the Souza Student Support Center.

Eligibility and Enrollment Details

The district’s TK program is specifically designed for children who will turn four years old on or before September 1, 2026. Families with children currently enrolled in a district TK program can enjoy a streamlined process; these students will be automatically enrolled in Kindergarten for the next term, and parents do not need to complete a new registration packet.

Required Documentation

To ensure a smooth enrollment experience, families should be prepared to provide the following documents:

Proof of Residence: A current utility bill (gas, water, electricity, or internet) or a formal letter from a landlord.

Immunization Records: Up-to-date vaccination history.

Official Identification: A birth certificate or passport for the child.

Kinder registration 2026 (3)Download

Support for Families

SMBSD is committed to ensuring every child has access to education, regardless of their current circumstances. Families who are missing required paperwork or are currently experiencing homelessness are encouraged to contact the district’s Family Resource Centers  for additional support and assistance. Family Resource Center staff can be reached at the following numbers: (805) 623-1029, (805) 361-6738 or (805) 361-6931.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – The SLO County Board Of Supervisors reserved the entire afternoon session of today’s meeting for an update from the sheriff on immigration enforcement in the county.

Hundreds of people turned out for this forum, with anti-ICE protesters making themselves heard outside of the building before the forum began.

2013’s TRUST Act legislated that local agencies cannot hold inmates solely for ICE.

“I really appreciate you mentioning that the sheriff’s office, that you have a duty and a responsibility to all of the residents here in SLO County to keep all of us safe,” said SLO county supervisor Jimmy Paulding.

The TRUTH Act of 2016 mandated the reading of individuals’ rights, written consent for ICE interviews, and these public forums regarding local agencies’ cooperation with federal authorities.

“The big thing is, ICE being in our county, in Santa Barbara County, rustling up people, having people disappeared off the street with no due process,” says Mike Kokones, a resident of San Luis Obispo County. “And that’s just wrong. So we need to abolish ICE in its current form. It’s bad for everybody. It’s state sponsored terrorism.”

According to Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s report, the first year of the Trump administration in SLO County saw a sharp increase in ICE activities from the final year of the Biden administration, with nearly three times the detainer requests.

“We’ve met with groups that represent the community,” said Sheriff Parkinson. “We’ve discussed their concerns. We’ve discussed ways to combat that with the, Q and A the questions that we put into a flier in Spanish and English, which is being distributed throughout the community.”

Out of 287 notifications, 83 were complied with and 204 were not.

19 federal warrants were issued, up from only one in 2024, 69 releases were turned over to ice compared to one in 2024, and 11 requests for interviews were issued.

“I’m here today just to try and hear what my Board of supervisors,” says Marc Gonzales, who lives in San Luis Obispo. “I say mine because I’m a taxpayer in this county and I want to hear what they have to say about things. I like what I heard today, and that’s my first time being in this room with them and discussing this issue. So it’s good and refreshing to hear that everybody’s trying to work together to make the community safer.”

2018’s California Values Act further limited local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

The TRUTH Act forums take place every year, but this year saw increased attention from the public amid a surge in immigration activity across the country.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – With some of the top movie industry names coming to Santa Barbara next week, tickets are selling fast for the upcoming 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).

The festival will run for 11 days starting February 4th for its the 41st year.

Some of the events are already sold out include the Maltin Modern Master Award with Adam Sandler, theVirtuosos Award, the Hammond Cinema Vanguard Awrd with Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro and the Outstanding Performer Award with Michael B. Jordan. The other sellouts are for the Tribute packages, the Film Geek packages and the Intro Packages.

Tickets are still available for the Arlington Artist Award with Kate Hudson and the Montecito Award with Stellan Skarsgard.

There are still many events including both movies and panel discussions with hundreds of seats available.  That information can be found here.

They include the Directors panel, Producers panel, Writers panels, and Women’s panel.

The event has 200 films including U.S. and World Premieres. 

Fans have a unique opportunity to see the arrival of the stars at the Arlington Theatre and many people behind the scenes who create films at all levels.

They will also be the first to see the newest movies, followed, at times, by a questions and answer session with some of the film makers.

Many will be cover social issues, environmental topics and a large percentage of the films were made by women, according to Roger Durling the Executive Director of the Festival.

There will be daily free events and many opportunities for students to participate as movie makers or to meet those in the industry that can be mentors.

For shows that are now sold out there will be RUSH tickets that open up when seats are unused the night of the event. “When we sell tickets we have to account for all the pass holders but not all the pass holders show up    You may have instances when you have a sold out events and there may be 50 tickets that are empty seats,” said Durling.

For those going to the SBIFF McHurley Film Center mini-paks are punchcards with four transferable admissions on a first-come, first served basis. The five theatres will have more than 900 seats. “This might be the first year that we sell out on the mini packs. The little access (cards) to four movies.  We may sell out on those. People are curious about the film center which opens next week,” said Durling.

The SBIFF is in a unique spotlight on the calendar. It falls just after the Oscar nominations and before the industry’s biggest night, the Academy Awards.

In addition to the film center, the SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre will also show films.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – California’s new cat declawing ban is sparking worry among some pet owners, but Santa Barbara Humane wants to set it straight: regular nail trims are still in the clear.

Under AB 867, declawing cats is now illegal in California except when a veterinarian deems it medically necessary.

“ Cats need their claws if they go indoor outdoor it’s really important for them to have them for self-defense but even an indoor only cat it’s part of their body,” said chief veterinary officer Dr. Katie Marrie of Santa Barbara Humane.

The law now limits the procedure to cases involving injury, infection, or disease.

“But it’s also just a normal thing for them. If anybody has a cat at home, they know they see the meeting and scratching on different things that they provide them to do that normal behavior,” said Marrie.

This change puts animal welfare first while preserving necessary treatment.

Some pet owners still have questions about what’s allowed — including whether routine nail trimming is affected.

“They can still trim their cat toenails … they can do it themselves. They can go through a veterinarian or a groomer that provides that service,” said director of shelter services Sandy Simmons of Santa Barbara Humane.

If you’re wondering how to safely trim your cats claws, the Santa Barbara Humane team is here to help seven days a week.

“If a cat is scratching your couch, you wanna put a scratching post of a different fabric there. If it’s both sides then they get one of each spot they’re scratching and giving them proper enrichment,” said Simmons.

Santa Barbara Humane helps owners feel confident caring for their pets through education and support.

“My hope is people really do take the cats in the consideration and that they are still an animal and need their natural kind of abilities,” said Simmons.

The new law aims to protect cats — and strengthen the bond between pets and the people who love them.

From nail trims to education on scratching behavior, Santa Barbara Humane aims to keep pets comfortable — and keep misconceptions about the new law from spreading.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Five awards were handed out at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon at Harry’s while two awards were given out at the Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Round Table gathering at Hancock College.

There was a double dose of Athlete of the Week Awards since there was no luncheon last week as school was out for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The two boys winners are Carpinteria High School soccer player Carlos Garcia and San Marcos basketball senior Koji Hefner.

Garcia scored three goals in two wins for the Warriors while Hefner stuffed the box score to lead the Royals to win over rival Santa Barbara. Hefner racked up 18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals.

The two girls winners are from water polo. Reagan Mack had 45 blocks to lead Dos Pueblos to the Ocean View Tournament championship.

Harvard-bound senior Bethany King totaled 32 blocks to help San Marcos to a third place finish at the Newport Elite 8 Tournament. The Royals beat defending CIF-SS Open Division champion Oaks Christian.

Providence High School awarded junior Gavin Rutland the Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award.

Rutland plays both indoor and beach volleyball for the Patriots and carries a 4.26 GPA.

At Hancock College the girls Athlete of the Week honor goes to Valley Christian Academy basketball player Katelynn Mikkelson who scored a career-high 28 points with 12 rebounds in a win over Cabrillo.

The boys winner is Santa Maria basketball player Julius Medina who recorded a triple-double in a win over Morro Bay. He scored 16 points with 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Santa Barbara 74, Dos Pueblos 59:

(Levi Oakes scored 23 of his game-high 27 points in the second half in the Dons road win in Goleta. Entenza Design).

(Owen Horn added 19 points for Santa Barbara who lead the Channel League at 10-1. Entenza Design).

Dos Pueblos has lost several starters for the season due to injuries but they led this game at halftime 36-34. Senior Coulter Jay scored 15 of his team-high 22 points in the second quarter. Logan Pearce added 15 points for DP.

San Marcos 67, Venura 57: The Royals win their sixth straight game to stay one back of Santa Barbara in the league race. Koji Hefner scored 19 points and Brody Green added 18 as San Marcos improved to 9-2 in league.

Oxnard 61, Pacifica 49: The Yellowjackets won the Battle for Gonzales Road. Oxnard got 27 points and 12 rebounds from Enrique Caudra. Mikey Duran-Morales filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Rio Mesa 58, Buena 36

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