Category: keyt-local-news

Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo County has been awarded more than $21 million from a state grant that it will use to help develop a new comprehensive mental health facility in Paso Robles.

Totaling $21,639,180, the grant is a portion of funding from Proposition 1 that was passed by California voters in 2024 to help address and improve mental health services and treatment.

“We are very excited to be awarded these competitive grant funds,” said Star Graber, San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Director. “This expansion allows us to respond more promptly to mental health crises and promote health equity across San Luis Obispo County ensuring that North County community members and others can access critical services in our county.”

The new facility will be located at 416 South Spring Street in what is currently a vacant building.

“The building, was originally a medical facility,” said Nick Drews, San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Director. “It was run by CHC (Community Health Centers of the Central Coast). CHC closed the facility and moved and opened another facility. There’s not a whole lot that we need to do in terms of upgrading it, which is wonderful. It really saves us a lot of money. The building’s also located on our Paso Robles campus. The benefit of the building is it’s right next door to our Public Health Services, our Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services and Social Services, they’re all in the same footprint, and so you really couldn’t find a better location for it in the North County.”

According to a county release, preliminary plans for the project include:

A new 16-bed Psychiatric Health Facility to increase intensive behavioral health services foryouth and adults within a secure environment (12 beds for adults and 4 beds for youth).

The first adult crisis residential treatment program in SLO County which will offer short-term support to community members navigating through a mental health crisis (8 beds foradults).

The first children and youth crisis residential treatment program in the San Luis Obispo(and Santa Barbara region) designed to bridge the gap between acute inpatient care andreintegration into the community via outpatient care (2-4 beds for youth).

The county pointed out the new facility will serve as a secondary site for those requiring multiple day, in-house psychiatric treatment.

There are currently 16 beds at the county’s Psychiatric Health Facility located at the HealthAgency campus in San Luis Obispo, but the need is for much more.

“Right now we don’t have enough beds,” said Drews. “We just don’t. We just do not have enough facilities within our county and within the state to take care of the needs and the more that we can put in, I think the better off everyone’s really going to be. The ability to create more of these facilities, we’re going to be able to provide more services locally. The benefit of providing a service locally is not only is it beneficial in terms of not having to travel, but we can stay closer within our case management system. 

“You’re not coordinating with another county, sending somebody out of the county, bringing them back in. We’re able to connect with all our infrastructure internally to make sure that we’re providing the right level of services, so it helps with communication and medical service by keeping someone local.”

One of the highlights of the new facility will be its youth crisis residential treatment program, which will also allow younger individuals to remain much closer to home while undergoing treatment.

“Having everything here back here in their environment, we can work with the families, we can work with the schools, those kinds of things, and get a ready to transition them back into, the safer, lower level of care,” said Graber. “We really want that continuity of care so that they can continue to progress in the journey of recovery, and it’s especially important for the families who may or may not be able to go their travel there, sometimes four, or five or six hours away. This will be, benefit not only to them personally, but also to the county budget and our system of care to have people here.”

San Luis Obispo County is also working with Santa Barbara County to provide access for younger individuals there who need treatment.

Similar to those in San Luis Obispo County, younger individuals in Santa Barbara County must also travel out of the area to seek treatment.

“If we do happen to have an opening, it can be a joint, regional kind of relationship back and forth,” said Graber. “We really plan this grant out to have filled the gaps in all of our region.”

The new facility is expected to open sometime in either 2028 or 2029.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The annual tourism summit in Santa Barbara revealed the playbook for 2026 to boost the visitor count.

It was put on by Visit Santa Barbara at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

The afternoon event brought together a packed meeting room with leaders in the hospitality industry along with city officials and those planning for the regional impacts of major sporting events like the World Cup.

Despite the challenges with the nations economy, domestic travel will be a targeted audience. The proximity to Los Angeles is also going to continue to be a boost. The CEO of Visit Santa Barbara, Kathy Janega-Dykes said, “we’re also very fortunate that the largest base of our visitors comes from the Los Angeles area so it is very easy to to travel here. You know, this is a place that they’ve been to, many times before so they feel comfortable traveling here.”

The outlook also forecasted a tourism increase in 2027.

Last year was a very busy year again at the Santa Barbara Airport with more than 1.4-million passengers coming and going.

Chuck Davidson is with Tourism Economics which studies tends in tourism and the economy. He sees the airport operation as a key component to the areas tourism stability. “International is actually up here in Santa Barbara on an air traffic standpoint. About 14.5%. Domestic travel is up at the airport about 5.5%. So definitely the work that the community is doing and developing those air service routes is paying off.”

 One of the underlying themes focused on the international travel drop from areas including Canada and China and the benefits showcasing Santa Barbara to more U.S. areas.

 The President of Visit California, Caroline Beteta said millions of dollars will be spent domestically to brand California this year.

The Pacific Surfliner with Amtrak is also increasing its train schedule in the region.

The area is known for business conventions annually along with numerous festivals during the year.

But there is competition for the California traveler who could also find themselves interested in Palm Springs, Monterey and San Diego. Davidson said, “I think definitely right now when regional drive traffic is coming back and people are looking to stay a little bit closer to home, the competition’s going to be some of the California communities that have maybe similar but very different offerings than the America Riviera as we know it here in Santa Barbara.”

Davidson also looked at the big picture with the U.S. economy and the changes that may influence travelers, for example, if they don’t have job security of have recently been laid off. That may slow down plans for lengthy or multiple vacations.

There is also a draw to the area with its internationally known and honored wine and culinary region that has been featured in many publications and TV travel shows.

This year in addition to the longtime festivals including Summer Solstice and Old Spanish Days, the area will be popular with visitors coming on a steady basis for the top performers at the Santa Barbara Bowl, the music at the Lobero Theatre and the upcoming Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

In the summer there is expected to be many free events including the movies at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens each week, Concerts in the Park at Chase Palm Park and the 4th of July fireworks show on the beach attended by about 15,000.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – For San Marcos Health Careers Academy students, college just got a little closer.

“So we’re very excited that Westmont College has seen what we’re doing in the Health careers academy and decided they wanna partner with us,” said principal Dare Holdren of San Marcos High School.

The new partnership guarantees admission for students who meet program requirements.

Each eligible graduate also earns at least a $15,000 scholarship toward tuition.

“I was really excited because it gives first gen’s an opportunity and opportunity to begin their opportunity at San Marcos and then at Westmont,” said student Ashley Garcia of San Marcos High School.

“It’s a huge deal. I think it’s so important because it’s making direct connections to an amazing local school that will just continue to open up Local doors for them in regards to careers,” said health careers academy coordinator Emily Stokes of San Marcos High School.

School administrators believe this program will strengthens the healthcare workforce while inspiring the next generation.

“My hope is to be a nurse practitioner working at cottage or anywhere in this community,” said student Brianna Torres of San Marcos High School.

“My hope is we see more students seeing the option to pursue their dreams right here in their own backyard,” said senior director of admissions Mike McKinniss of Westmont College.

“It just makes me excited about all the connections and all the wonderful opportunities I’ll be able to create at Westmont,” said Garcia.

For these students, the future isn’t waiting—it’s already underway.

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A transitional shared living home is now operating in Santa Maria, with the goal of helping people who were incarcerated get back on their feet.

It was started by someone who turned their own life around.

The Strive House is now serving individuals by providing no-cost housing for 90 days to those on course for rehabilitation, education, and employment.

Gabriel Ochoa earned a degree from Chico State while serving 25 years in prison.

He eventually started the non-profit F.I.S.T. & STAR Generations with his wife.

“This has been his dream,” says Clarissa Ornelas, outreach coordinator for F.I.S.T. & Star Generations. “This has been his vision. And we are here to support him and support our community, and this is just a passion for all of the board members.”

Using a peer-mentorship model they call “Reach One, Teach One,” the non-profit offers wrap-around services primed for job placement, family reunification, and educational advancement.

“Some of the mentors have the lived experience, and we are just trying to support our residents with overcoming the barriers, connecting them to resources,” says Ornelas.

It started at the grassroots level, then funding raised through yard sales, community recycling and other fundraising events led to grants from Mechanics Bank, The Fund For Santa Barbara, and the Mickey Flacks Award.

“This was exactly what I needed,” says Fernando Martinez, one of the current residents at Strive House. “I needed a program to go to, to help initiate the footwork that I need to put in to be successful.”

This funding allows the non-profit to pay rent at the Strive House for the first 90 days of their residents’ journeys.

“Gabriel making this possible just gives people hope,” says another Strive House resident Richard Lopez. “And not only hope, but it encourages the public to recognize, people in that lifestyle do care. They do want better. And people that have already been putting a lot of energy into being a delinquent of this community are turning their lives around for the good, because people like Gabriel help shine a light where it needs to be shined.”

The grants also enabled the organization to purchase computer equipment vital for their residents in pursuit of their own independence.

For more information on F.I.ST. & STAR Generations including ways to donate, you can visit their website by clicking this link.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The United States Women’s National Team put on quite a show at Harder Stadium with plenty of fireworks and even a much-talked about dance routine.

Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph and Emily Sams all scored their first international goals and the United States went on to beat Chile 5-0 on Tuesday night in front of 14,797 fans at UCSB.

Emma Sears and Trinity Rodman also scored for the United States, which hasn’t conceded a goal in five matches.

Coach Emma Hayes went with a completely different starting lineup in the match at UC Santa Barbara than the one she used on Saturday for the team’s 6-0 victory over Paraguay in Carson, California. Players on the roster averaged 5.2 national team appearances, fewest for a lineup since 2001.

“I think in both games, the team, regardless of its inexperience as a collective, regardless of the connections that are there because they haven’t played together before, I think they showed an awful lot of maturity in the performance, and that’s all I can ask from them,” Hayes said. “They always do me proud. But I’m impressed by everybody’s approach.”

Bethune, who plays for the Washington Spirit, opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Chile goalkeeper Ryann Torrero came out to stop Bethune, who was rushing at the goal alone, but the strike got past her.

(Bethune fought through a challenge to score her first international goal. Entenza Design).

Joseph, who plays for the Chicago Stars, earned her first start for the United States and scored in the 26th minute.

(Emily Sams, serving as captain, scored in the 33rd minute to put the U.S. up 3-0 in the first half. Entenza Design).

The United States made it 4-0 just 28 seconds into the second half with a goal from Sears that went to the far post and into the upper corner. Rodman scored in her second straight match in the 68th minute, just five minutes after she came on.

(Crowd favorite Trinity Rodman scored and had a memorable dance celebration. Entenza Design).

Afterward, Rodman ran to the bench and danced, urging Hayes to join her, and the coach reluctantly obliged with a laugh. Rodman then urged the crowd to cheer.

“I’m proud of myself. I told you guys I was going to do it and I did it. I’m just really happy and happy that Emma was confident enough to do it with me,” Rodman said.

Midfielder Riley Jackson and defender Ayo Oke both appeared in their first international match. Three players — forwards Reilyn Turner and Maddie Dahlien and midfielder Sally Menti — made their U.S. debuts against Paraguay.

The roster did not include U.S. players based in Europe because they are in the middle of their seasons. It also did not include Gotham FC players, who are in London for the semifinals of the first FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.

The match against Chile concludes the U.S. team’s January training camp, as Hayes looks to solidify her player pool for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, starting in March, and Women’s World Cup qualifying at the end of the year.

“I don’t think you can really look at this camp as like `They didn’t do their job, they’re not as good as we think they should be,’ because after all we’re coming off an offseason of a lot of players not playing, some players playing, a bunch of new faces,” Rodman said. “I stayed fit and ready in the offseason because of the injuries I’ve dealt with, and I felt really good out there.”

The last meeting between the United States and Chile was a 3-0 U.S. victory at the 2019 World Cup. Chile, ranked No. 47 in the world, has made just one World Cup appearance.

The United States previously held a training camp at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium ahead of the 1991 World Cup, which included scrimmages against the Gauchos and a West Coast all-star team. That U.S. team, including Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers, went on to win the World Cup.

(Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press contributed most of this article).

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

San Marcos 17, Santa Barbara 4: USC-bound senior Charlotte Raisin and freshman Natalie Klan each scored five goals as San Marcos cruised to a 17-4 semifinal win at the Channel League Tournament.

The Royals led 6-0 after the first quarter and 10-0 at halftime.

Earlier in the day Santa Barbara beat Ventura 16-6 in a first-round game. Standout sophmore Jules Horton scored 8 goals for the Dons who will play Buena for third place on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. at DP.

Dos Pueblos 20, Rio Mesa 2: Parker Bryant scored 4 goals to lead DP to a lopsided win over the Spartans. Juliet Writes, Cora Smith and Devon Fitzgibbons scored three goals apiece for the Chargers.

Dos Pueblos 14, Buena 10: Kyra Jones scored 4 goals while Talia Marshall added 3 goals to help the Bulldogs pull away in the fourth quarter. Reagan Mack had 12 saves for DP.

The league final is 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday at Dos Pueblos.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Soccer fans and players of all ages filled Harder Stadium at UCSB on Tuesday night, but not to see the Gauchos play, they came to see the USWNT also known as U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team play Chile.

There are 17,000 seats in the stadium named after a football coach when UCSB had football was upgrades about a decade ago.

It is considered one of the best soccer venues and referred to as Soccer Heaven by some athletes.

Some local AYSO players and members of Central Coast Surf club soccer teams got to enter the stadium early and take photos on the field.

Cydney Justman of Girls Inc Santa Barbara brought dozens of girls to the game.

Many of the girls and young women said they couldn’t wait to see a certain Olympic Gold Medalist with a famous last name.

“Trinity Rodman. Why? Because she’s a really good soccer player and i just want to see her really bad”

Leh Gomen Rylee McGill Viviana Reyes and Hazel Mcgill from Central Coast Soccer Club came hours before the games started at 7 p.m.

Brooke, Carter and Ellie Rozhko dressed in team US colors.

Mila Mctiernan, Sierra Hope, Page Hall and Merrick Hope came from San Luis Obispo to watch and went in with the crowd that looked like a sea of fans.

Dennice Marin of Oxnard doesn’t play but appreciated seeing women in the spotlight.

“Also excitingly she just signed the largest women’s project ever she signed with Washington Spirit and we are going to watch her play tonight,” said Sydney Baritone, who used to play club while at UCSB.

The girls also play for Central Coat Surf. They love to play and this is their first time seeing the pros in person rather than on TV.

The U.S. won 5-0 and Trinity Rodman scored one of those goals.

Sports Director Mike Klan has all the highlights.

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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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