Category: keyt-local-news

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Cynthia White

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – California is officially the most generous state in America according to GoFundMe’s 2025 Year in Help report.

GoFundMe released the report celebrating the generosity of individuals and nonprofits worldwide who helped each other throughout the year.

This is the first time California has topped the list for the most generous state in the U.S. In addition, California is home to 5 of the top 10 most generous communities in the U.S. this year, with Los Angeles, Marin, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Ventura all making the list.

Locally, Coachella Valley communities came together in 2025 on GoFundMe. Notable fundraisers in valley were Restoring The Velvet Rope, a business that sustained heavy damages when a powerful explosion rocked downtown Palm Springs, and Save Oscar’s Palm Springs, a downtown restaurant that needed support to keep its doors open.

California had more repeat donors than any other state across the country. The outpouring of support was evident after wildfires swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades at the beginning of the year – resulting in the most generous day of the year globally on Jan. 10, 2025, amid those wildfires.

An average of one in every five California households donated to a GoFundMe this year.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –  Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is set for a procession Thursday evening as part of the traditional Feast Day events in Santa Barbara.

This comes after recent vandalism with to a mosaic shrine on the church property badly damaged by a man police arrested who was allegedly hitting it with a large hammer.

The violent attack damaged the face and hands of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Virgin Mary, in a location that is often surrounded by flowers and candles throughout the year. It is accessible to the public at all hours.

There was also damage to church doors and some interior areas of the church.

The processional will be at Ortega Park on Ortega St. at Salsipuedes Street next to Santa Barbara Junior High. It begins with a Rosary at 6 p.m. followed by the procession at 6:30 p.m. It will proceed over to the church.

Hundreds are expected to take part.

Friday, the official Feast Day, there will be a day of special masses all day starting at 4 a.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastor  Father Pedro Lopez said, the community should come together and understand “what causes the anger and hurt that people are carrying to pushes someone to do something like this. That what needs attention and healing.” He says others may also have emotions that are harmful and efforts to help them with outreach are important at this time.

He urged the community to unite “and not let people face that alone. “

Anthony Rodríguez a parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe and community leader said, “we want people to see, yes we were hurt,  but you know what,  we want to do  what she (Our Lady of Guadalupe) has taught us and that is to be strong. hold each other and be together and unity.”

Wednesday a resident and Westmont College student Lesly Ricardez came by with flowers. It was her first time seeing the damage to the mosaic shrine. “She didn’t desrve this,” said Ricardez. “Just very sad to see that someone would go out of their way to damage her image when so many of us come to pay our respects and especially during this time which is so important to us Catholics.”

The procession will travel down Cota St. to Nopal to the church with police assisting for safety.

Going forward the church is seeking funds for additional security, lighting and cameras.

“The most immediate concern is to repair the image.  Beyond that  we want to do something that  will to make the space even better,” said Father Lopez.

Many community members, Catholics and non Catholics have offered to help in any way. “we have great  support here at the church,  and we have a good leader,” said Rodriguez about the efforts ahead to make improvements and beautify the location.

The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated annually on December 12th, commemorating the Virgin Mary’s apparitions to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, with large celebrations including Masses, processions, and cultural festivals, especially by Mexican communities and Catholics worldwide. This day honors her as the “Queen of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas,” marked by traditions like presenting roses and displaying her image. 

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Andie Lopez Bornet

CARPINTERIA, Calif. –  Miri Mara Ceramics in Carpinteria is celebrating 12 years of business on Friday

“Ceramics is a passion of mine that has fulfilled half of my life,” says Miri, “Inspiration comes from everything around me – it can be looking at a bridge, hardware, a door handle, it is truly everywhere. Every piece is unique to my personal style, at once an original and a part of the bigger concept.” 

Mara’s work is a testament to his life of resilience and how changing career paths can persevere at any age or time in one’s life. Mara’s work pushed through the global pandemic as well as through the devastation of losing all of his work in the Thomas Fire in 2018. Mara shares how anyone can start a new chapter no matter where they are in life, just as he did at Santa Barbara City College.

“Before doing ceramics, I was a fashion designer in Italy, in Milano, and I worked in fashion for 20 years. then I decided to close that kind of business, and I moved to California, and I never thought even about ceramics.” said Mara, owner of Miri Mara Ceramics in Carpinteria. “It was something I had never contemplated doing when I moved here, I started taking some classes. The (Santa Barbara) city college of ceramics, and, I just loved it immediately. It was a big passion.”

Guests can celebrate on Friday with Miri Mara at his Ceramics studio in Caprinteria at 5292 B Carpinteria Avenue. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with refreshments, a celebratory toast and 20% off ceramic items.

Find out more at Miri Mara Ceramics.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Boys Soccer:

San Marcos 3, Santa Barbara 2: Luis Campos scored the game-winning goal in the closing minutes of the Channel League opener for both teams.

Pacifica 3, Dos Pueblos 0

Laguna Blanca 7, Grace 0: Baylor Wilson scored 4 goals

Girls Soccer:

San Marcos 0, Santa Barbara 0

Bishop Diego 2, Laguna Blanca 1: First Cardinals win in almost 2 years

Girls Basketball:

San Marcos 65, Santa Barbara 19: Jada Ahmad scored game-high 22 points

(Lily Ruvalcaba scored 11 points for the Royals. Entenza Design).

Dos Pueblos 50, Oxnard 41: Carly Letendre scored a game-high 25 points

Girls Water Polo:

San Marcos 18, Oxnard 6: Josie Drabik scored 8 goals

Santa Barbara 17, Newbury Park 4: Jules Horton tallied 5 goals

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Some of the best girls flag football in the state is played in the 805 area so it’s not surprising to see several local star players on the All-CIF teams.

In Division 1, San Marcos senior Rio Chesluk, Dos Pueblos Senior Kacey Hurley, Dos Pueblos junior Brooklyn Hedricks and Camarillo senior Mya Rei Smith were all honored.

In Division 2, Ventura senior Ava Ortman and Ventura junior Mya Rodriguez are All-CIF.

Santa Paula senior Angie Aguilera is All-CIF in Division 3.

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Caleb Nguyen

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – Paso Robles police arrested a man Tuesday morning for felony vandalism and arson after he set fire to an upstairs balcony and broke windows in a room at the 1400 block of Vine Street.

Downstairs tenants reported broken windows, yelling and flooding the building before PRPD officers and a crisis negotiator tried to speak with the 55-year-old suspect.

PRPD officers did not succeed in talking to the man before he broke more windows, threw items outside of another window and started a small fire.

Officers watched over the area from midnight until 9:30 a.m., when the 55-year-old again threw items from his window and refused to speak with anybody, according to the PRPD.

The 55-year-old refused to speak to family, mental health specialists and PRPD officers during the incident and continued vandalizing the property, according to the PRPD.

PRPD detectives later obtained an arrest and search warrant for the man before they used chemical agents to try and prompt his surrender.

PRPD officers received help from the Paso Robles Fire Department when they entered into the home at 1:00 p.m. before the 55-year-old jumped from the roof and injured himself.

PRPD officers took the man for medical treatment before booking him into the San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony vandalism, arson, and resisting a police officer with violence.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Crews have been working until dark to convert the First Christian Church of Santa Barbara into a 37 room boutique hotel.

Years ago Adams Angels used to bag items for the unhoused at the Church on Monday.

Rev. Dr. Tim Burnette, who has a doctorate from the Claremont School of Theology, served as the Minister at the First Christian Church of Santa Barbara when the church building at 1915 Chapala sold.

Burnette lives right around the corner and can see the work on the roof.

He said the money made has allowed the congregation to move forward with other plans.

Some neighbors had hoped to see it turned into housing, but they aren’t complaining.

Robert Palmer said it will be pretty high tech.

“It is going to be one of those key card things, no on sight staff and we are actually hoping that there will be less noise because there is no place to hang out inside,” said Palmer.

Robert McDermott said the construction hasn’t been, too bad.

“Seems like there’s a lot of hotels but I live just down the street next to  these lovely people and it is nice to have the idea that if someone wants to come visit me they can stay right up the block,” said McDermott.

People parked nearby including William Konrad noticed the construction.

It’s opening date has been pushed back to February.

The work has gone to local businesses including the Santa Barbara Lighting Company.

A worker there said they are thrilled to part of a project especially one that involved a local landmark being turned into a hotel.

The official name and pricing for the hotel have yet to be announced.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – High school winter sports are just a couple weeks into the season but San Marcos girls basketball player Jada Ahmad and Laguna Blanca boys soccer player Baylor Wilson are in mid-season form.

Ahmad and Wilson received Athlete of the Week honors at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon at Harry’s.

Ahmad led the Royals to a 3-1 record last week and scored just under 19 points per game.

(Ahmad scored 24 points in a win over Cabrillo and 21 in a victory against Lompoc. Entenza Design).

Wilson went goal-crazy in two victories for the Owls scoring 7 combined goals.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – After helping the Gauchos start 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2022-23 season, Aidan Mahaney has been named both The Big West and the Lou Henson National Player of the Week. Mahaney averaged 28.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in wins over Long Beach State and Cal State Bakersfield.

Mahaney scored a career-high 26 points in an overtime win against Long Beach State on Thursday night. The senior went 7-16 from the floor and made all 11 of his foul shots. He also grabbed a season-high six rebounds in the contest. The Lafayette, California native followed that performance up by setting a new career-high with a 30-point outing against Cal State Bakersfield. Mahaney was perfect from beyond the arc, going 7-7 while grabbing four boards and dishing out four assists.

Mahaney helped the Gauchos score 100 points in a Big West contest for the first time since Jan. 22, 2021, when they scored 105 against CSUN. It is also the first 30-point game by a Gaucho since Ajay Mitchell scored 39 against UC Riverside on Dec. 30, 2023.

The Gauchos will resume their non-conference slate this Saturday, Dec. 13 as they head to Salt Lake City and take on Utah Valley at the Delta Center in the Salt Lake Slam. The game will tip off at 11 a.m. PT.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics)

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