Category: keyt-local-news

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from El Camino Homeless Organization regarding their partnership with CoastHills Credit Union to host a Community Towel Drive

PASO ROBLES, Calif. — El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) is proud to partner with CoastHills Credit Union to launch a month-long Towel Drive in support of local individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Throughout July, community members are invited to donate new bath towels to help meet a critical and often overlooked need.

Each day, ECHO provides essential services—including shelter, meals, and hygiene access—to over 130 individuals and families across their 90-Day Residential Shelter Program and free public shower program. Towels are a small item with a big impact, offering comfort, dignity, and a sense of care to those ECHO serves.

Donations can be dropped off at the Atascadero CoastHills Credit Union branch, where a dedicated towel collection bin is available all month. Towels will also be collected during July’s Atascadero Chamber Mixer, hosted at the CoastHills branch.

In addition, towel donations can be dropped off at either of ECHO’s campus locations in Atascadero or Paso Robles.

“At CoastHills, our vision is to make a difference in our neighbors’ lives,” said James Ledford, Interim Chief Executive Officer at CoastHills Credit Union. “Partnering with ECHO Atascadero to support their shower program is one way we can bring comfort and care to those in need. A clean towel might seem small—but it can have a big impact.”

Join the movement to support local families and individuals working toward stability. Donate a towel. Make an impact.

For more information on CoastHills Credit Union, visit https://coasthills.coop.

To learn more about ECHO and how to support its mission, visit www.echoshelter.org.

About El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO):

ECHO’s mission since 2001 is to empower people in SLO County to make positive change by providing food, shelter, and supportive services. ECHO operates two facilities in Atascadero and Paso Robles with a total bed capacity of 130, including a 60-bed shelter in Atascadero and 70-bed shelter in Paso Robles, and a daily community dinner program, and shower program for individuals and families throughout San Luis Obispo County. For more information, please visit our website at www.echoshelter.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

LOMPOC, Calif. – There’s new leadership at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Space Launch Delta 30 has a new commanding officer as of this morning.

A ceremony bid a formal farewell to Colonel Mark Shoemaker, as he passed the flag to Colonel James T. Horne III.

Space Launch Delta 30 hosted their change of command ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base’s outdoor parade grounds Tuesday morning.

“I told you from this very stage two years ago that I would take this responsibility with great pride and with great humility,” said Col. Mark A. Shoemaker, who is retiring from Space Launch Delta 30’s command position. “I worked hard to hold true to that from day one until today.”

Colonel Shoemaker is retiring after 28 years of service.

After delivering a speech, he passed the flag to Colonel Horne, who is no stranger to Vandenberg.

“We’re just super excited to be back on the Central Coast,” says Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30’s new commander. “It’s it definitely holds a special place in my and my family’s heart.”

Promoted to Colonel in June of 2021, Horne spent the last two years as Senior Material Leader at Space Systems Command, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.

“This is our third stay at Vandenberg,” says Col. Horne. “First, I was in training for nuclear missiles, and then second time here I was the squadron commander for the 30th Range Management Squadron from 2015 to 2017. And now back.”

Colonel Horne’s service record speaks for itself,

and his colleagues welcome him warmly and confidently into his new leadership position.

“My family and I are just super excited to be back and to work with everyone, to continue the mission of this great base in this community,” says Col. Horne.

Col. Horne looks forward to the various community partnerships ahead, as he will oversee Vandenberg’s plans to greatly increase the number of launches at the base.

We’ll certainly be hearing more from Col. Horne in the months ahead as he steps into his new role as commander of Space Launch Delta 30.

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.

John Palminteri

MONTECITO, Calif. – The message came out month ago, about new construction updates in the Montecito segment of the Highway 101 widening project. It wasn’t going to be easy to work on the lanes, ramps, bridges and landscaping without some stress on commuters, maybe more than the other sections from Carpinteria north.

That work resulted in a split in the northbound lanes that just came back together. The southbound lanes will get the feel of it in the next week.

Crews will be moving the K-rail and split the lanes as part of the work design. Overall, no matter what is being done, the plan is to keep two lanes open in both directions.

“Oh my goodness. I guess I am going to avoid it for awhile,” Trish Mahan said as she came out of a local store.

There will also be changes to the way southbound drivers go from Coast Village Road to Highway 101 toward Carpinteria. The next available on-ramp will be at Sheffield Dr. once this work gets underway.

It’s still to be seen what the real day-to-day impacts will be. Peak periods are often afternoons and early evening hours when thousands of workers, who have driven up from their homes in Ventura County, are trying to go home by squeezing into the two lanes of traffic.  

They will find relief however, once they get to Summerland when the three lane section is now available.

In the meantime, “I grab the wheel a little tighter. Yeah.  I concentrate.  You need to concentrate when you go through there. Definitely do. Can’t  have your mind on something else,  ” said Tony Handler a resident about 30 years.

A worker in the area says drivers are anxious and it’s a problem. Brandon Aubert said, “people in this area really seem to be impatient they have no care about other people really. “

One resident where a detour will take place on North Jameson Lane says the drivers often speed in the area by her house. Susan Herting said, “cars come so fast on the frontage road there and the bikes. Our kids and grand kids (are out) I wish they (drivers) would slow down there.”

In the big picture, recently more funding came in for the Santa Barbara portion of the project.

The freeway widening project has been in motion for years, but the cost and the funding sources were always limiting what could be done and when. Now, the funding for the final segment has been approved. It was the largest award in the State of California on this particular grant from the California Transportation Commission. It is the last little piece of the puzzle. The allocation for the freeway work is $137 million in voter approved state money. 

The project is being guided by many agencies including the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. 

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.

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County (CRR) has announced it will merge with the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum (SMVDM).

The move will combine the two longtime nonprofit organizations that have operated in Santa Barbara County for several decades.

Under the deal, CRR will now head up operations of the museum, which has been open to the public for three decades.

“Children’s Resource and Referral will be overseeing all operations of the Discovery Museum and our team will be in and out,” said Jacqui Banta, Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County Chief Operating Officer.  “We will be not only continuing the wonderful programs that the museum has always had in our community, which is also celebrating their 30th year here in Santa Maria Valley, but we will also be adding parent education, stay in place and child development initiatives.” 

With dozens of people on hand, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday at the newly renamed Children’s Resource & Referral’s Discovery Museum in Santa Maria.

According to CRR the merger with SMVDM will bolster educational opportunities and experiences for children and their families by aligning missions, operations and outreach, as well as:

• Strengthen the Educational Continuum – Merging playful discovery with school readiness and child development support

• Broaden Community Reach – Deepening engagement with underserved populations across Santa Barbara County

• Boost Operational Efficiency – Leveraging shared resources and facilities

• Foster Innovative Programming – Launching new offerings like STEM Nights, “Stay & Play” family hours, mobile discovery units, and multilingual access initiatives

“This is more than a merger; it’s a movement toward a stronger, more connected future for our community’s children,” said Michelle Graham, CRR CEO. “Together, we are expanding access to early education, enriching learning experiences, and supporting families where they are—both in life and in learning.”

CRR describes its organizational mission is to develop strong and healthy families by providing education, care, and resource systems to children, their parents, and caregivers, with a special emphasis on low income and under-represented children and families.

For more information about Children’s Resource & Referral’s Discovery Museum, click here to visit the official website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patricia Martellotti

GOLETA, Calif. – Federal cuts are hitting home and hard for those in need of food here in Santa Barbara County.

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is taking a major hit as a result of the federal budget known as the Big Beautiful Bill.

“That was included nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP,” said grants manager Hannah Ryckman of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

As the nation’s largest hunger support program, these cuts has managers at the foodbank on edge.

“We are nervous for our neighbors … that this is going to deeply impact them,” said Ryckman.

In addition to SNAP, the cuts are impacting the USDA Food Distributions.

This means fewer dollars for struggling families, and fewer food deliveries for local food banks.

“My main concern is neighbors will not get the support they need and they’re going to have to decided between utilities and food or medicine and food and make some hard and possible choices,” said Ryckman.

Right now the foodbank is turning to key partners to help address the rising demands of their services.

“Really strengthen those relationships we serve over 2,000 nonprofits in the county so there are key partnerships that we want to strengthen,” said director of development Greg Mora of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

“My hope is we will be able to raise awareness and advocate for our neighbors and programs and policies that help them because they do impact us,” said Rickman.

According to the USDA, the cuts are part of broader federal belt-tightening.

But for people on the ground here in Santa Barbara, it’s a matter of hunger and health.

The foodbank encourages the community to learn more and help support these programs.

From the Santa Barbara County Foodbank:

Drastic Cuts to SNAP and USDA Support Will Deepen Food Insecurity in Santa Barbara County Foodbank of Santa Barbara County braces for a surge in need as a local safety net is stretched thin. Santa Barbara County, CA — On July 3, 2025, the “Big Beautiful Bill” was signed into law, enacting deep federal funding reductions—including approximately $295 billion in cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and $863 billion from Medicaid over the next decade. These programs help stabilize low-income households and protect long-term community health. The legislation follows drastic cuts to USDA commodity food support, which had previously provided substantial food resources to food banks nationwide. 

In Santa Barbara County, more than 55,000 residents, including over 22,000 children, currently rely on SNAP benefits. With these changes, thousands of households stand to lose access to this essential food assistance. The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County saw a drastic increase in need when pandemic-era SNAP allotments were eliminated in Fiscal Year 2023; the number of neighbors served by the Foodbank increased by more than 40% that year. 

Pairing cuts from SNAP and Medicaid with a record-high cost of living and USDA food cuts in Santa Barbara County, which holds second place in California poverty rates, means that hunger and food insecurity rates locally will skyrocket. 

 “Together, these cuts represent over $ 1 Trillion of cuts to services for the poorest members of our communities and will lead directly to pushing even more families and older adults into food insecurity,” said Erik Talkin, CEO. 

Despite the challenges, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is not backing down. The organization is responding by strengthening its core programs, streamlining internal resources, and leveraging trusted partnerships to meet rising demand without sacrificing impact.

Programs like Farm to Foodbank are helping to close the gap. This innovative new program sources produce directly from local, small-scale farms and puts it in the hands of those who need it most. This keeps fresh food in the region, supports local farmers, and ensures access to nutritious food. 

The Foodbank also collaborates with more than 200 partner agencies to ensure food reaches every part of the county. Mobile distributions, community-based pickups, and nutrition education initiatives are strategically aligned to serve neighbors more efficiently.

These efforts already support more than 215,000 people annually, and with the anticipated rise in need, the Foodbank is focused on doing more with its resources.

“We have the relationships, the infrastructure, and the will to meet this challenge,” said  Laurel Alcantar, Director of Marketing. “But we need the continued support of our community to sustain this work.”

The Foodbank encourages all community members to learn more and help support these programs.  Support through donations makes it possible to source and deliver fresh, healthy food throughout the county. Volunteers also play a vital role in ensuring food is packed, sorted, and distributed efficiently. Spreading awareness is another key way to help ensure everyone understands the reality of rising needs.To learn more or get involved, visitwww.foodbanksbc.org (https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zlzhC5yXGQcwAqp3COhZik_fYp?domain=foodbanksbc.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.

John Palminteri

CARPINTERIA, Calif. –  A suspicious fire over the weekend was very close to occupied homes in Carpinteria.

It broke out in the dry grass and vegetation at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh adjacent to the railroad tracks about 8:30 Saturday night.  This is behind Alisos School on Carpinteria Avenue and next to condos and manufactured homes where flying sparks could be an immediate risk.

The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department and the Los Padres National Forest had crews in the area quickly to keep the flames from spreading.

The cause is under investigation but witnesses in the area reported hearing illegal fireworks prior to this vegetation fire.

The 4th of July in Carpinteria also had many fireworks reported in unapproved areas. The city has a fireworks ban and added extra security around the waterfront to reduce the use of illegal fireworks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. – A pedestrian lost her arm after being hit by a train at a railroad crossing east of Seaward Avenue just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Ventura Police Department

The woman tried carrying her bike while crossing the tracks when an Amtrak train going south hit the bike in the woman’s arms, detailed the VPD.

The 24-year-old woman, along with her detached arm, went to a hospital for treatment, where she is in stable condition as of 7:02 p.m. Monday, according to the VPD.

The bike appeared to be stuck on the tracks before the crash occurred, detailed the VPD.

Those with more information on the incident are asked to call the VPD.

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrew Gillies

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A 28-year-old Santa Maria man was arrested during a traffic stop after almost two pounds of methamphetamine and about 1.5 ounces of fentanyl were recovered from the vehicle Sunday.

On July 6, around 6:30 p.m., officers pulled a vehicle over in the area of Smith and Morrison for a traffic law violation stated a press release Monday from the Santa Maria Police Department.

During the stop, officers learned that the driver, a 28-year-old Santa Maria man, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest shared the Santa Maria Police Department.

According to Santa Maria Police, a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of about two pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 1.5 ounces of fentanyl and as a result, the Santa Maria man was arrested on charges related to the transportation and sale of narcotics.

The image below, courtesy of the Santa Maria Police Department, shows the seized narcotics from the Sunday traffic stop.

The 28-year-old was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail where he remains in custody added the Santa Maria Police Department.

Anyone with information about narcotics activity is asked to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at 805-928-3781 ext. 2277.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – Residents in Carpinteria said they were surprised to see an apparent ICE raid in their town being shared on social media Monday morning, following the Fourth of July weekend.

The incident unfolded around 6:30 a.m. in the Smart & Final parking lot off Linden Avenue. Witnesses said both masked and unmasked men arrived in the lot, wearing tactical vests labeled “POLICE” and “ERO,” short for Enforcement and Removal Operations.

People immediately pulled out their phones and began recording the scene.

“I usually wake up and check my social media. I follow some Instagram accounts—that’s how I knew there was a raid here in the parking lot of Smart & Final,” said Guillermo G., a Carpinteria resident. “Seeing Latinos shopping in there… and then seeing ICE waiting for them after paying—it makes me a little nervous sometimes. I know my family is personally affected by this, so it’s very personal to me. This has been really hard on my family.”

Despite the visible federal presence, shoppers continued entering the store.

Witnesses said two individuals were taken into custody during the operation.

Some community members, reluctant to speak on camera, said the people detained “didn’t belong here.” Others expressed concern about the impact such raids could have on local businesses and the workforce.

Michael Mantalos, a Carpinteria resident, voiced his disappointment: “It’s disappointing because we were told that it was going to serve a purpose, and it seems like the purpose is just, you know, eliminate a presence that they are not comfortable with.”

Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner told Your News Channel that the Sheriff’s Office was not made aware of any federal agency activity in Carpinteria on Monday.

“Generally, federal agencies provide prior notice to local law enforcement to prevent operational conflicts, but that did not happen in this case,” Bonner said.

The budget bill signed into law by President Trump—dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”—includes funding for more ICE agents and bonuses, potentially signaling an increase in immigration raids along the Central Coast and across the country.

Local advocacy organizations, including La Casa de la Raza and the 805 Immigrant Coalition, are working to organize against these arrests.

“We stand firmly against the targeted arrests and the fear they bring to our neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Sanchez of La Casa de la Raza.

While some quietly support the raids, others fear their long-term impact. One thing most people seem to agree on: immigration enforcement remains one of the most divisive issues in the country this summer.

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.

Alissa Orozco

MONTECITO, Calif. – Construction on Highway 101 continues, and starting July 12th, construction work between the Montecito and Santa Barbara segments will shift southbound and new northbound lanes will opened up.

Funding for continuation of the project was just approved by the California Transportation Commission back in June, which secured the final push for the massive project to add an extra lane in both directions from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara.

On Saturday night, July 12th, southbound traffic from Olive Mill Road to Posilipo Lane will be moved to the median and divided by safety barriers. The southbound off-ramps at Olive Mill Road and San Ysidro Road will be closed down that night as well.

“The southbound on-ramp at Olive Mill Road will be closed for nine months for construction, and drivers can use a detour along North Jameson Lane to access the southbound on-ramp at Sheffield Drive. The southbound off-ramp at San Ysidro Road will close for three months, and drivers can use the southbound off-ramp at Sheffield Drive as a detour.”

This construction update comes just a little over a week after a new northbound lane was opened between Sheffield Drive and Hermosillo Road, along with a new northbound auxiliary lane between San Ysidro and Olive Mill Roads, and upgraded northbound on-ramps at San Ysidro Road and at Hermosillo Road.

Construction in the Montecito and Santa Barbara South segments is anticipated through 2026.

Work will continue in the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project between Montecito and Santa Barbara segments to construct carpool lanes, improve on- and off-ramps, add new sound walls, update drainage improvements, and widen bridges over Romero, San Ysidro, and Oak Creeks. 

The community can stay updated on the project and sign up for biweekly construction updates on the project’s website, or by calling (805)-845-5112, or emailing info@SBROADS.com.

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.