Category: keyt-local-news

Dave Alley

GUADALUPE, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Guadalupe has experienced a recent wave of significant accomplishments over the past several months, including just being awarded an important state grant.

This week, Guadalupe learned it was the only city in either Santa Barbara County or San Luis Obispo that will take part this year in County Community Cleanup & Employment Pathway (CCEP) Grant Program, that is administered by Caltrans as part of the statewide Clean California Initiative.

Guadalupe is set to receive just over $280,000, which the city reports will go towards a number of projects, including litter reduction and improve community appearance improvements.

“Our main focus is going to be kind of a phased approach to target litter and graffiti, weed abatement, along the incoming corridors into the town, said David Trujillo, Guadalupe Interim City Administrator. “So Highway 166 westbound, Highway 1 southbound from the Santa Maria Bridge, and then Highway 1 northbound coming from Orcutt. What our goal is, we want to make the community inviting to people that are coming through, so the people that are passing through, just taking Highway 1 south, we want to make it to where it’s inviting enough to make people want to stop to they want to check it out.”

The grant will also help with the creation of new local jobs through employment pathway opportunities, providing workforce training for individuals facing employment barriers.

“We want to be able to give them as as much quality training and guidance as we can, whether it be just general public works stuff or if it’s landscaping, variable building maintenance, we want to try to give them more of an on the job training versus focusing on hiring somebody that has a skill set already,” said Trujillo. “We want to target people new into the workforce, people who are struggling to keep, or even get jobs, bring them on board, provide them with mentorship, maybe skills that they haven’t even realized that they have and give them a way to move forward, and progress their careers as they move on.”

The grant continues a good run for Guadalupe, which has seen a lot of positive changes taking place within the past year.

Other notable additions or improvements that have taken place or in progress or coming to the city includes the opening of two new schools, the kickoff of long-planned renovations to the historic Royal Theater, the start of construction of Las Mujeres Park, which will include a skateboarding facility, upcoming upgrades to the Guadalupe Senior Center, as well as improvements to the Amtrak train station.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – One person is dead after a shooting near Bohnett Park on the westside of Santa Barbara.

The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. Friday morning. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man suffering from a gunshot would and another uninjured victim.

Officers gave CPR to the injured man, but he passed away later at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

An early investigation shows that the suspect or suspects may have fled the area in an unknown vehicle.

It is believed to be an isolated incident and police say there is no remaining threat to the public.

The name of the deceased is being withheld.

UPDATE: A witness who lives in the area said she heard multiple gunshots at the time of this incident.

Police have been going door-to-door looking for video at the time of the shooting. There were cameras mounted on buildings in the area.

At least 15 evidence markers have been placed at the scene.

A Department of Justice crime scene truck with investigative equipment has been within the area cordoned off by yellow tape. Special photographic equipment and a drone are in use.

Some articles of clothing are on the sidewalk near an evidence marker just outside of the park. The scene on San Pascual St. is close to Victoria St. on a sidewalk across from apartment buildings.

Many friends of the victim and nearby community members have come to the scene with candles and flowers.

This is a developing story, and Your Newschannel will provide updates as it comes into the newsroom.

Senior Reporter John Palminteri contributed to this story from the scene.

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Mike Klan

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (KEYT) – Zoe Borter scored a game-high 20 points on the strength of four 3-pointers to lead the Gauchos to a 74-58 road win against Cal State Northridge.

UCSB improves to 10-6 in the Big West and 18-7 overall.

Chauncey Andersen added 11 points and Olivia Bradley tallied 10 points who led 36-26 at half.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

CIF-Central Section Division 1 Semifinal: St. Joseph 67, Bakersfield Christian 57: #1 seed Knights will play #2 Buchanan in title game on Saturday, February 28 at 8 p.m. in Fresno.

Division 2: Atascadero 69, Hoover 52: #1 seed Greyhounds will meet #2 Clovis in title game on Friday, February 27 at 8 p.m. in Fresno.

Division 5: Santa Maria 103, California City 76: #1 seed Saints will play #2 Coalinga in championship game on Saturday, February 28 at noon in Fresno.

Division 6: Orosi 54, Orcutt Academy 43:

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Mike Klan

HONOLULU, Hawai’i (KEYT) – Add another Big West front runner to the Mustangs hit list.

Hamad Mousa scored a game-high 24 points as Cal Poly knocked Hawaii out of a first place tie in the Big West with an 86-75 road win.

The Rainbow Warriors are now a 1/2 game out of first place in league behind UC Irvine who is 11-4 in conference. Cal Poly beat Irvine last week as well as rival UCSB and is now riding a three-game win streak.

Besides his scoring, Mousa also collected nine rebounds for the Mustangs (12-16, 8-8 Big West Conference). Cayden Ward added 19 points and notching six rebounds. Peter Bandelj finished with 12 points while Troy Plumtree had 10 points and three steals.

The Mustangs had a two-point lead with 6:30 remaining, but went on a 15-5 run to create a buffer for the win.

Dre Bullock led the Rainbow Warriors (18-7, 10-5) in scoring, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds. Hawaii also got 18 points and eight rebounds from Isaac Johnson. Hunter Erickson finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

(The Associated Press assisted with this story).

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Gauchos had all the momentum and then they let the Matadors off the hook with a series of late blunders at the Thunderdome.

Northridge scored 4 points in five seconds late in regulation and went on to edge UCSB in overtime 85-83. The win allows CSUN(17-10, 10-5) to leap ahead of the Gauchos(17-10, 10-6) in the Big West Standings. The Matadors are tied for second with Hawai’i.

Tied at 69 UCSB freshman CJ Shaw buried a three-pointer with 47 seconds left. He finished with a team-high 22 points.

Aidan Mahaney added two free throws to put UCSB up 74-69 with 32 seconds remaining.

The Matadors had no time outs but they got a break when Gauchos head coach Joe Pasternack used one of his two remaining time outs to set up is defense.

But it allowed the Matadors to run a well-designed full court offensive play and Larry Hughes II drained a three-pointer with 26 seconds left to pull the Matadors within 74-72.

Mahaney hit two more free throws after he was fouled with 24.8 seconds left and UCSB led by 4.

This time Pasternack did not call time out and the Matadors went down the court and Hughes II missed his three-point attempt. But Colin Smith was beaten to the rebound by Joshua O’Garro who grabbed the ball and scored the layup with 15.9 seconds to go.

No time out was called by UCSB and Smith inbounded the ball into the corner to Shaw who was immediately trapped by two defenders. His attempted pass back to Smith was stolen by Josiah Davis who fed a wide open Grady Lewis under the basket and he tied the game at 76.

Mahaney missed an off-balance driving shot as time expired and the game went to overtime at 76.

Josiah Davis scored 5 of his game-high 31 points in overtime and CSUN escaped with the two-point win after Zion Sensley missed a three-pointer before the buzzer sounded.

The Gauchos threw away what would have been a nice home win due to a questionable time out, a failed defensive rebound and a turnover, all in the final 32 seconds of the game.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A 30-year veteran with Santa Barbara County, Melinda Greene, says she is uniquely qualified to be the next County Clerk-Recorder, Assessor.

She paid her fees and began filing papers to run for the post Thursday morning.

This is done at the county elections office, a department she would be in charge of if elected in the June race. If there are two candidates, the win is decided in that election. If there are more than two, a candidate can win with 50 percent plus one vote. Otherwise the top two are in a November runoff.

Greene says she has seen the elections office go through many phases since she first volunteered prior to becoming an employee.

She says in her job at the Hall of Records now she is “boots on the ground” and handling the budget, department efficiencies, public assistance at the counters and carefully monitoring anyone who may be trying to misuse the system or commit a crime through government records.

She has also worked in the assessors office and says she is has been actively involved in new technology that is needed in all three areas.

“I’m the only person that’s worked in every division. Clerk, recorder. I’m the Chief Deputy. Assessor. I built software systems for them. I’ve done their admin with financial oversight and their cash handling and their calendars for years. Elections. I started volunteering for elections before I even worked for the department,” she said. With three decades of experience, “I’m clearly the most, technical of the candidates.”

She stresses training and being accessible as a manager.

She says there are also many systems available to make the office more efficient for the public, and she has been looking into adding those in the future. There would also be overall cost savings.

Greene says she will be campaigning with appearances at community meetings and talks with government leaders about issues across the board in the three departments. She plans to be in all points of the county from Cuyama to Carpinteria.

She wants to respond to the the “needs of the whole county.”

Joesph Holland was first elected in 2003. He will announce his future in the post in the coming weeks but has not made an official statement on his possible reelection at this time.

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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Discover Buellton regarding the annual Buellton Wine & Chili Festival taking place next month!

BUELLTON, CA – The Central Coast’s most flavorful celebration returns when the Buellton Wine & Chili Festival takes over Flying Flags RV Resort on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 12:00-4:30 pm, celebrating the bold flavors and festive fun with this year’s theme, “Uncorking the Heat.” The beloved annual community favorite brings together the best in wine, craft beverages, and mouthwatering chili and salsa showcase right in the heart of Buellton.

Setting the tone for the day is a dynamic lineup of live entertainment, led by Maclovia, an Ojai-based band known for their electrifying mix of Latin rock, psychedelic influences, and emotionally driven sound. Guests can also enjoy performances by Salty Strings, a Santa Barbara string band that blends traditional bluegrass with coastal inspiration, and DJ F.I.U., a veteran DJ with more than 20 years of experience spinning across California and Nevada.

Alongside the music, attendees can explore a wide selection of wine, craft beer, seltzers, ciders, and spirits while sampling unlimited chili and salsa throughout the afternoon. Attendees are also encouraged to watch and take part in the Chili Cook-Off, a friendly competition where local businesses, residents, and bold home cooks go head-to-head for bragging rights and the title of best chili and salsa in the area. Restaurants, nonprofit groups, community members, and those eager to showcase their culinary skills can register at https://buelltonwineandchilifestival.com/.  

With so much to sip, taste, and experience throughout the afternoon, guests can choose from the following ticket options to join the celebration:

The Hot Chili Ticket ($65): General Admission for guests 21 and over; includes a souvenir wine glass, unlimited wine tasting, craft beer, seltzers, ciders, and spirits, along with unlimited chili and salsa. 

The Mild Chili Ticket ($25): Available for guests 20 and under; includes unlimited chili and salsa with no alcohol consumption. 

Children ages 6 and under: Enter for free.

At-the-Door Tickets: $75 for the Hot Chili Ticket and $35 for the Mild Chili Ticket. (Chili and salsa available while supplies last.) 

For added convenience, the festival offers the Brew Bus, a round-trip shuttle from Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, and Santa Maria for $30. Shuttle tickets must be purchased in advance, and full pickup and drop-off details are available at https://buelltonwineandchilifestival.com/. Nearby parking will also be available at Pea Soup Andersen’s, with clear signage directing attendees. The festival grounds are a short walk from the designated lot. 

Festivalgoers can make the most of their day at the festival by turning it into a complete weekend getaway. Buellton offers a variety of accommodations to suit every preference, from modern and charming boutique hotels such as Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn, Sideways Inn, Flying Flags RV Resort, and Hotel Hygge, all within walking distance of the festival, to familiar, national brands including the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott and the Hampton Inn and Suites. For additional information, check out the Discover Buellton website: https://discoverbuellton.com.  

For event information and to purchase tickets, visit https://buelltonwineandchilifestival.com/ or call the Buellton Chamber of Commerce at (805)688-7829.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – What was expected to be the last round of rain for the current set of storms, did not go quietly.

The morning was filled with downpours, spinouts and rollovers, keeping first responders busy from Gaviota to the south into Ventura County.

Throughout the morning commute there were 911 calls for two rollovers on Highway 101 at Gaviota and west of Refugio.

There were also crashes in the area of Highway 217 in Goleta near UC Santa Barbara.

South Coast creeks have handle the week of rain without overflowing. A check of sometimes troublesome areas in Montecito, Carpinteria and Goleta showed the runoff water was going where it was supposed to en route to the ocean.

The heavy rain about 8:00 a.m. this morning activated some front country waterfalls including along Painted Cave road.

Around noon a vehicle went out of control from Hollister Ave. and hit a concrete support pillar in the Winchester Canyon area.

In Carpinteria the State Beach park area was draining down some large pools of water being visited by migrating and foraging birds. A large tree at the back of the camping sites near the railroad tracks was tipping but not down, causing some concerns.

(More details, video and photos will be added later today.)

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria Police Department held a casual gathering Thursday morning to discuss traffic issues and concerns with community members.

Held at Simple Cafe near the busy intersection of Stowell Road and Miller Street, the event was a “coffee with a cop” style gathering called “Mochas-with-a-Motor.”

“Mochas-with-a-Motor was open to the community to come out if they had any questions with our traffic officers, anything related with traffic,” said Aracely Lemus, Santa Maria Police Department Outreach Coordinator.

“The turnout has been good. We’ve gotten a lot of members come out and it’s always nice to see all the members come out and interact with the officers, and just hang out, have a cup of coffee, answer questions or just a quick chat with them and get to know them a little more.”

Lemus, who has served as the police department’s outreach efforts since late last year, said the event is a great way for people to interact with the officers in a friendly and relaxed environment.

“It’s important for the community to feel comfortable enough to come to our officers and ask the questions that they want, and to know that our officers are also wanting to engage with the community, and answer any questions they may have or concerns,” said Lemus. “It opens the door to just create that partnership with community and the police officers.”

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