Category: keyt-local-news

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A February infusion of thousands of people each day in the downtown Santa Barbara area is expected to be a big boost for the economy during the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

It takes place starting Wednesday, February 4 and continue until Saturday, February 14. That takes in both two other big events, Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day.

The new McHurley Film Center with 900 seats and five screens is expected to be full daily and have a rotation of film lovers who are coming for the movies, and to see what else is happening in downtown Santa Barbara.

That will include stopping in restaurants, retail stores and popping in to art galleries and museums.

It will create a vibrancy any city would love to see.

For those in the area of the Film Center, it comes at a time when the downtown economy is looking for some new energy.

Nadia Ajlouni is the owner of the Blue Owl Restaurant on Canon Perdido Street near the Film Center. “In the cold winter months when the film festival comes about, it is nice big relief.  We find ourselves busy at all hours of the day not just for lunch, not just for dinne but the in between hours as well so we are looking forward to that.”

The festival foot traffic is exactly what’s need this time of year whether it’s full meals or  faster  to go items. Ajlouni says, “these ten days really  offer a lot of replenishment for businesses and it is really healthy we love it.”

For the businesses up by the Arlington Theatre, it is an annual boost with the 2000 guests that can fill the classic movie venue for the festivals tributes that will have some of the top stars in Hollywood on stage.

The Arlington will also have daily free films, some that will be well attended because they are Oscar nominees.

 One of the newest businesses in a classic landmark location is right between the Film Center with a packed schedule of movies and the Arlington Theatre where tributes will take place.

Rish Rozera owns the Copper Coffee Pot Restaurant on State Street a block up from the Film Center and just down from the Arlington. It’s in a prime spot for film fans to get a bite, and also to have a larger gathering. “Already (guests have) made some reservations, so Saturday  we are booked up for the film festival and it will be a two hour  private event.” Other seating is available throughout the day “in the nice beautiful courtyard that we have.”

The restaurant is also planning to have specials for film fans who are wearing passes or have movie tickets. “That’s what we are anticipating,” said Rozera. He also has been closing for two hours during the afternoon but for the festival he will “keep it open all  the time and then welcome in all the guests that we can have.”

The downtown corridor is also beautified with newly hung film festival flags.

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Patricia Martellotti

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Carpinteria property owners are being asked to vote on new assessment fees to fund city landscaping and maintain coastal berms.

The city reports that costs have risen sharply while fees have remained the same for almost three decades.

Ballots, mailed following a City Council action in November, are still being accepted.

Votes will be tallied at a public hearing on March 9.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Santa Barbara 71, Rio Mesa 46: The Dons wrapped up their third straight Channel League crown. They finish league 13-1 and head into next week’s CIF playoffs with a 19-8 record.

San Marcos 67, Pacifica 46: Junior Aidan Conlan scored 18 points and senior Koji Hefner added 14 points as the Royals finish 12-2 in league, good for second place. Before the game the Royals honored seven seniors.

(Conlan and the Royals finish the regular season 21-6 and riding a 9-game win streak. Entenza Design).

Oxnard 54, Ventura 47: Dom Angell scored 20 points for the Yellowjackets who claim third place at 9-4 in league and 20-8 overall.

Dos Pueblos 59, Buena 56: The Chargers sent their seniors off on a high-note. Senior Evan Pinsker scored a game-high 21 points and fellow senior Coulter Jay added 14 points as DP finished an injury-filled season at 13-15.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Girl power was on full display at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.

Hundreds of local high school girls athletes were celebrated at a luncheon hosted by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.

College coaches Jo Evans (UCSB Softball), Sandrine Krul (SBCC Women’s Basketball) and Jill Lin (Westmont Women’s Swimming) talked about their sports journey and offered advice to the young athletes.

(The discussion was moderated by UCSB Director of Athletics Kelly Barsky. Entenza Design).

A Q & A segment followed with student-athletes asking the coaches questions.

At the beginning of the luncheon the Female Athlete of the Week was presented to Dos Pueblos High School senior guard Carly Letendre.

She led DP to three wins, totaling 41 points, 19 rebounds, and she reached double-digits in both steals and assists.

(Letendre scored 9 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Chargers to a 4-point win over cross-town rival San Marcos. Entenza Design).

The Male Athlete of the Week goes to Santa Barbara junior guard Levi Oakes.

He led the Channel League champion Dons to three wins by scoring a total of 69 points.

At the Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Round Table luncheon at Giovanni’s in Orcutt, two awards were handed out.

The Female Athlete of the week is Santa Maria High School senior basketball player Aaliyah Juarez.

She scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 59-51 overtime win against Nipomo.

The Male Athlete of the Week is Valley Christian Academy sophomore guard Elijah Edick.

He sank 6 three-pointers and scored 27 points in a 63-62 win over Coastal Christian as VCA moved into first place tie in the Coast Valley League.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ernestine Ygnacio-De Soto, Chumash elder and beloved community member, passed away at age 87, according to her family.

Ygnacio-De Soto, the Fiesta Grand Marshal of 2023, dedicated much of her life in Santa Barbara to providing information on the Barbañero Chumash.

This includes donations to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a children’s book on the Barbañero Chumash culture and a documentary called “6 Generations” on her family’s history.

Ygnacio Soto’s mother, Mary Yee, was the last first-language speaker of the Barbañero Chumash, eventually raising five children of her own.

A memorial will be set at the Old Mission on Feb. 10, starting at 9:00 a.m., leading into the afternoon for any community member who wishes to attend.

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Caleb Nguyen

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Goleta family is seeking support after their mother was found dead in the Santa Clara River near Saticoy on January 23.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call about a body in the Santa Clara River, where they later found and identified Kaylynn Herrera, a 30-year-old Goleta mother, according to the VC Star.

The VCSO air unit took Herrera’s body to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office where they later identified her, according to the VC Star.

Herrera’s family now seeks financial support to cover funeral costs and further help of her children. A link to the family’s GoFundMe page can be found here.

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Caleb Nguyen

SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – Solvang residents protested potential occupation of Greenland with songs, signs and speeches this weekend.

The rally helped the community quell any distressed feelings over current political activity.

Above is a video on the event.

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Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – A San Luis Obispo County jury found Angel Ramos Ramirez, 31, guilty of second-degree murder against Daniel Diaz, according to the SLO County DA’s Office.

The jury also found that Ramos Ramirez committed the murder for the Santa Maria-based West Park criminal street gang and that he used a knife in the killing, according to the SLOCDAO.

Ramos Ramirez stabbed Diaz 10 times in Oceano in the early morning hours on June 4, 2022, according to the SLOCDAO.

Ramos Ramirez also had a previous conviction for criminal threats for the benefit of the same West Park gang dating back to 2016, qualifying as a strike under state law, according to the SLOCDAO.

Ramos Ramirez also used a knife on a juvenile victim during a Jan. 29 assault this year, another case where a judge found him guilty, according to the SLOCDAO.

The court tried Ramos Ramirez for the murder first, but both crimes used a knife and were charged in the same complaint, according to the SLOCDAO.

Evidence found that Ramos Ramirez caused great bodily injury after he stabbed a teenager during a party in Nipomo on Sept. 4, 2021, nine months before he murdered Diaz, according to the SLOCDAO.

Ramos Ramirez is scheduled for sentencing on April 28 later this year where he faces a maximum sentence of 41 years to life in state prison, according to the SLOCDAO.

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Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo Police are searching for an attempted robber from a Home Depot just after 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The man attempted to steal over $1,800 in merchandise before a struggle ensued, and he eventually fled to Whole Foods, according to the SLOPD.

The man changed his clothes at Whole Foods and drove off in a dark sedan, wearing a gray shirt, jeans, and black shoes, according to the SLOPD.

Those who can help identify the man are asked to call Officer LaDow or Crime Stoppers.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced felony charges filed against Segun Ogunleye Feb. 2 after a public funds fraud investigation.

Ogunleye, 34, is a custody sergeant in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office on administrative leave after 114 criminal counts of misappropriation of public funds, among other crimes, according to the SBCDAO.

Ogunleye’s other crimes include grand theft, presentation of fraudulent claims, false entries in records and money laundering with the enhancement of excessive losses due the amount taken, according to the SBCDAO.

Ogunyele appeared in court on Feb. 2 and his arraignment was continued to March 2 after being released by the Court, according to the SBCDAO.

Ogunyele was held on $150,000 bail at the Ventura County Jail following his arrest on Jan. 29, according to the SBCDAO.

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