Category: keyt-local-news

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Change isn’t coming — it’s here.

And for small businesses across Santa Barbara, that change is hitting hard.

“I don’t know any of the changes… I wasn’t really aware changes were being implemented this year,” said Andrew Rawls, owner of The Crafters Library.

“It’s a big burden … because we’ll go to jail if we don’t!” added Alison Hardey, owner of Jeannine’s Restaurant & Bakery.

Attorneys Victoria Diffenderfer and Olivia Young of Fauver, Large, Archbald and Spray LLP warn the new laws reach companies of every size.

“Employers are now required to be very specific with data supporting job postings and salary ranges,” Diffenderfer explained.

“These laws are put in place to protect consumers and protect the individuals who are receiving your services through your business … it’s important to set the groundwork now,” Young said.

For some owners, the pace of change feels overwhelming.

“Oh. We can’t keep up. We get a notice and think, ‘Oh no — what’s this one?’ Then we scramble,” Hardey said.

“Usually what ends up happening is once we’re told we’re out of compliance then we’re like oh we didn’t even know this was a thing,” Rawls added.

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce isn’t surprised.

“It’s understandable. Small businesses can’t possibly know every new rule — but we don’t want them tripped up by something they didn’t even know existed,” said Kristen Miller, President and CEO.

She said the Chamber works to identify which new laws affect specific businesses and advocates on their behalf when conflicts arise.

“Our goal is to help businesses really identify which new laws or regulations affect them and then if they identify a trip up or a conflict with another law, then to rely on us to go to government and try to smooth that out,” Miller said.

Some changes are hitting harder than others.

For example, Rawls had to revise pay scales — but higher payroll hasn’t meant higher sales.

“As a business owner, I have to balance the fact that I now need to pay my employees more so they can survive — but it doesn’t necessarily translate into more shoppers and more patrons in my store so my bottom line is being eaten away by that — it’s a Catch-22,” Rawls said.

The Chamber’s main concern is the pace of change.

“This extra layer of the pace of change on regulation adds complexity to an already difficult path — that’s what we are really concerned about,” she said.

Still, the Chamber is not urging businesses to resist change — but to survive it.

“Ultimately everyone wants our local economy to thrive — it brings everyone up so anything we can do to make those numbers go up not down is a positive,” Miller said.

For Hardey, the message is simple.

“We need the help — we just want to stay in business. If the Chamber can help small business, we’re all ears,” she said.

Because in today’s economy, understanding the law may be just as important as making the sale.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

GUADALUPE, Calif. (KEYT) – United States Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) spent part of Tuesday in Guadalupe, where he toured the city’s newest school, as well as its senior center.

“It’s a beautiful little community and it’s my first time here,” said Schiff. “I love coming to new places like this, and it was wonderful to see some of the youngest residents and some of the older residents, but also to see the challenges that you face as a small town that doesn’t have a large commercial base in meeting the needs of constituents.”

The first stop for Schiff was the brand new Guadalupe Early Learning Center, which opened up last month.

The school is the newest campus for the Guadalupe Union School District and has just over 100 students who are enrolled in transitional kindergarten and preschool.

According to Schiff’s office, he was able to secure $1.9 million in federal funding that was used to help offset some of the more than $10 million that was needed to build the school.

“Without that funding, we would not have been able to deliver this particular facility, which would have lessened the quality of their early childhood education, which would have not provided them the support they needed to change the trajectory of their of their lives,” said Emilio Handall, Guadalupe Union School District Superintendent. “Without the support of the federal government in this facility, we wouldn’t have one.”

After his tour of the Early Learning Center, Schiff made his way across the city to the Guadalupe Senior Center, where he spent time speaking with residents, as well as members of the Guadalupe City Council, including Mayor Ariston Julian.

“With all the world issues that are going on in the world and in the nation and the state, to have Adam here visiting Guadalupe, it’s just a just a really pleasant, just a heartwarming feeling for the community,” said Julian. “He interacted with us right now, and the community asked questions just like it was an everyday, casual social event. It was very important for the seniors to see that. We need to start expanding senior centers services and we will do that based on the money that we’re getting here to renovate this hall.”

Schiff’s office indicated the Senior Center federal funding that will be used to make upgrades and enhancements to the aging facility.

“I was very proud to help obtain $275,000 working with Senator (Alex) Padilla and (Congressman) Salud Carbajal to help do some needed repairs and updating of this facility,” said Schiff. “So very proud to do it. Now we have to keep working though to make sure that the funding for food and facilities like this is not interrupted. Some of the Administration’s deep cuts to the SNAP program are going to really hurt senior programs like that here, so we want to keep the food coming as well as make necessary upgrades to the facility itself.”

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo Police are investigating a suspicious death as a potential homicide after further analysis.

SLOPD officers found Veronica Beatrice Baro, 50, a transient woman in the city, dead in a homeless encampment Feb. 12 near San Luis Obispo Creek behind the Chevron at Calle Joaquin and Los Osos Valley Road.

SLOPD found Baro’s body at an advanced stage of decomposition and secured the area before SLO County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office took over the investigation.

Baro’s exact cause of death is pending autopsy results and her death is considered suspicious during a pending homicide investigation, according to the SLOPD.

The investigation remains active and those with more information are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at the following number.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — Non-profits here in Santa Barbara County will be getting an extra helping hand this year.

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara announced it will distribute $1,375,000 in grants this year to non-profit organizations serving women, children, and families across the southern County.

For over two decades the Fund has awarded nearly $13 million to 163 local non-profits, and continues to support the strength and generosity of community-focused women.

The 2026 grants will be unveiled during the Celebration of Grants event on May 13 at the Lobero Theatre. Members and community partners will be in attendance to highlight the work of recipients, continuing to make a difference in critical areas of need.

Each year, local agency proposals are reviewed by the Fund’s volunteer Research Committee for funding consideration.

Members then cast their votes to decide which initiatives will receive support — an approach the Fund says “embodies the organization’s democratic spirit and commitment to transparency.”

“This year’s record funding pool reflects both the generosity of our 1,450 members and the power of collective giving,” said Women’s Fund Board Chair Carolyn Jabs. “When we pool our resources, every contribution—no matter the size—has a multiplier effect. Together, we’re able to create meaningful, lasting impact for vulnerable women and families in our community.”

To learn more about the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara or to get involved, visit womensfundsb.org.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jarrod Zinn

OCEANO, Calif. (KEYT) – Long-awaited improvements are coming to the playground at Oceano Memorial Park.

A brief groundbreaking was held this morning during a break in the rain.

City and county leaders were joined in cold wind by representatives of ‘Play And Park Structures,’ the company doing the work.

“This is the only park in Oceano,” says SLO County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding. “So this is a really, really important, park for the community.”

The playground equipment has lots of wear and tear and the area is notorious for flooding.

“Families can’t use the park, for weeks on end after that,” says Paulding. “And it’s actually a hazard.”

And, there are A.D.A. accessibility issues.

“The funding came from advocacy at the board level,” says Paulding. “And then our public works department making this a key priority within their facility condition assessment process, which helps identify facilities that really need repair or replacement throughout the county. And this one rose to the top.”

Improvements include new equipment, smoother entrance ramps, and a path to the basketball court, all with better A.D.A. access.

Public works officials say the overall cost of the project is about $770,000.

“I know that folks here have been asking, ‘When is the park going to be done?’” says Paulding.

Construction will begin once the current storm systems have passed, and it’s expected to be finished for the playground to reopen in May.

“This is a heavily utilized park,” says Paulding. “And so it will be utilized, by the community, all throughout the year.”

The playground will remain closed from this point until construction is completed.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Channel 3-12

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Lompoc’s annual restaurant week is officially underway for 2026, running until Feb. 22nd.

Diners have options to try restaurants throughout the city both new and old under affordable prices of $20.26 plus tax and tip.

All of the restaurants below will participate in the festivities this week:

Old Town Kitchen and Bar

Capulin Eats and Provisions

Camins 2 Dreams

El Pollo Loco

Longoria Wines

Mi Amore Pizza and Pasta

Eye on I

Hangar 7 Social House

Johnny’s Bar and Grill

O’Cairns Inn and Suites

Valle Eatery and Bar

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Many tennis and pickleball players had hoped to play on Presidents Day, but they they were turned away at the Municipal Tennis and Pickleball Center in Santa Barbara.

Yellow tape cordoned off a large downed tree near the courts and on Old Coast Highway.

But that didn’t stop some roommates who live close by.

Scott Downey and Zachary Gomez have a friendly rivalry going and were just warming up by hitting some balls back and forth until the a Parks and Recreation staff member politely told them they had to go.

“It is crazy out hr we showed up thinking the Courts might be dry they were  semi dry we saw a fallen tree thought e could get a couple sets in, said Downey.

“It is a little wet out there but we have just been cooped up Inside all day and though we might as well take a walk down here,” said Gomez.

A couple of pickleball players were asked to stop their game, too to play it safe.

The gate is now locked and will remain locked until the courts can be cleaned up.

They are covered in puddles, pine needles, and branches due to storm.

The area along Old Coast Highway is prone to flooding and is now lined by some downed trees and branches.

Neighbor Patrick Diamante came to check it out.

“We got a break in the storm and I came walking over here to check out the courts and trees were falling down and table was blowing over and then all along the Old Coast Highway, there’s big trees blowing down over there, so the head of the parks department was here and locked up the gate and put the sign out for closed due to storm damage.” said Diamante.

A break in the storm led to blue skies but Diamante said it could be dangerous if the wind picks up again.

“I exercise a lot, but this was beyond thinking I would go over there and exercise, my goodness no, it was blowing like crazy over here over here,” said Diamante.

The center is public and popular with daily and yearly passes anyone can buy.

For more information visit https://sbparksandrec.santabarbaraca.gov/sports-facilities/municipal-tennis-and-pickleball-center

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival showcased over 100+ movies, documentaries, and short films – including 17-minute narrative short Watching Walter. The historical fiction drama tells the true story of a Holocaust survivor, detailing his life through being a young boy being taken by the Nazis and fast forwarding to his elder years repairing watches in Philadelphia.

The Watching Walter crew joined your News Channel to talk about the film and the real-life Walter.

The film’s writer, Mark Dylan Brown, says Walter was a real person who lived and worked in his childhood neighborhood in Philadelphia. Brown says over the years he grew more interested in Walter’s story and more determined to share his life with the world.

Walter was 15-years-old was he was kidnapped by Nazi officers and sent to Stutthof concentration camp, the crew details. There, he was forced to repair stolen watches and turn them into Nazi memorabilia.

“A lot of survivors go to their grave with a story. They don’t share it with their children,” Brown explains. “Walter didn’t have any children, but he still wanted his story to be told, which is rare. And I think we have to seize that moment if you have the opportunity.”

The film was screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival this past week and the crew says it was great to see audience reaction to such an important story.

“What I love about screening the film to audiences is sitting in there and just feeling the energy, you know, feeling people react. There are several moments in the film that are, you know, that we hope for audible reactions. And when we get those gasps or those just little laugh here and there, we know we have the audience,” says film director Mitch Yapko. “And the audience at the Santa Barbara Film Festival was just, they were active, and they were present, and it was wonderful.” 

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A truck crashed and injured all four people inside at the Patterson Ave. off-ramp in Goleta just after 2:00 p.m. Monday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Two adults and two minors all had moderate to severe injuries following the crash that required them to be taken to Cottage Hospital via ambulance, according to the SBCFD.

The off-ramp remains closed as of 3:40 p.m. Monday and motorists should expect delays or use alternate routes, according to the SBCFD.

Click here to follow the original article.