Category: keyt-local-news

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) has created a new online tool designed to reunite lost pets with their owners.

The interactive mapping system is hosted by Petco Love Lost and integrated with the Nextdoor and Ring apps to provide real-time updates.

“Thanks to our partners over at Petco Love Lost, we have launched this new interactive map to help reunite families back with their missing pets and also reunite these pets back with their families before these animals come to the shelter,” said Juana Alejandre, Santa Barbara County Animal Services Operations Manager. “It’s one map and great for everybody. If you found a pet or you’re missing your pet, you don’t have to go to multiple pages to make missing pet reports. Now, you can do it in one centralized location and everybody around you who has that app or has those are on the map, they will be notified that your that pet is missing or you found that pet.” 

Users are able to zoom into neighborhoods to view reports in their area, which includes information such as a photo of the pet, when the animal was found and the person who found it.

“This map puts the power in the hands of our community,” said Sarah Aguilar, Santa Barbara County AnimalServices Director. “We’re making it easier than ever for neighbors to help each other and for lost pets to find their way home.”

According to Animal Services, the shared community platform will likely increase the chances of pets being safely and quickly reunited with their families — without needing to enter the shelter system.

“We know that one-in-three pets goes missing in their lifetime. That’s an estimated 10 million pets each year, and we’re not ok with that,” Petco Love President, Susanne Kogut said in a Santa Barbara County press release. “That gives us 10 million reasons why we created Petco Love Lost, because we believe nothing is more important than keeping people and pets together for a lifetime of love. Together with SBCAS, our goal is to Unite to Reunite and keep pets where they belong – at home, with you.”

To visit the new Santa Barbara County Animal Services mapping system, click here.

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Maria City Council is addressing a growing concern in light of recent events regarding clean energy storage.

On Tuesday night, the Santa Maria City Council discussed the potential construction of Battery Energy Storage Systems—or B.E.S.S.—within city limits.

“Really the public concern And our concerns for public safety were the main drivers of introducing this ordinance,” says Chenin Dow, Santa Maria community development director.

The city determined a B.E.S.S. facility must be built at least a quarter mile away from any residential neighborhoods, and also a quarter mile away from agricultural properties.

“That was part of the determination that council made, is that these facilities would need to be located not only in the M two zone, but the site would have to be at least one quarter mile away from any residential development or any residentially zoned property,” says Frank Albro, Santa Maria principal planner.

The overlap of these two zones, residential and agricultural, has led to the determination that there are no locations within city limits that would meet approval for any Bess applications at this time. 

“For the city of Santa Maria? Our greatest concern is always the safety of our residents,” says Dow. 

The recent fire at a Monterey County battery plant owned by Vistra energy weighed heavily on the discussion.

“We don’t fully understand the total impact of that on those residents. There are complaints of respiratory issues and environmental issues that were caused by that. And our goal here is to avoid those consequences for the city of Santa Maria,” says Dow. 

Vistra Energy recently withdrew its plans for a battery plant in Morro Bay.

Further zoning studies might reveal possible locations, but right now there aren’t any entities applying to construct battery storage facilities within Santa Maria city limits.

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – San Marcos boys tennis served up revenge on Santa Barbara as they swept the last round of doubles to pull out a hard-fought 10-8 Channel League victory.

Both teams are tied for first place in league after the Royals avenged an earlier season loss to the Dons by that same 10-8 score.

San Marcos #1 singles player Carter Cotich went 3-0 for the Royals but the San Marcos doubles play was the difference going 7-2 overall.

The Royals #1 doubles team of Kyle Shaffer and Spencer Bauer went 3-0 while Owen Hennessee/Levi Reece along with Jacob Cantrell/Henry Chalen each went 2-1.

The Dons were led in singles by Beckett McManigal, Logan Cochrane and Taisei Lopez who each chalked up 2 wins apiece.

McManigal had Cotich on the ropes leading 4-1 but Cotich stormed back to win the next 5 games in a well-played match by both.

Mike Klan

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Troy Cooper, Josh Morano, and Tanner Sagouspe combined on Cal Poly’s third shutout of the season, and a sacrifice fly by Casey Murray Jr. accounted for the lone run of the game in a 1-0 Cal Poly victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday inside Baggett Stadium.

Cal Poly earned its first 1-0 win in eight years and improved its record in midweek games to 7-0 by winning for the 25th time in its last 29 contests despite being outhit 6-5.

The Mustangs, 14-4 at home, are 26-9 for the season, while Santa Clara fell to 14-19. The two teams will play a rematch on April 29 in Santa Clara’s Stephen Schott Stadium.

Catcher Jack Collins led off the second inning with his first triple of the season, a shot off the left-center field wall. On the next pitch, Murray flew out to right field, deep enough to score Collins.

Neither team could score the rest of the way.

Santa Clara had two runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings and runners in scoring position in the first, eighth, and ninth frames, but stranded eight runners on the base paths.

Cal Poly second baseman Ryan Fenn doubled with one out in the first but was caught trying to steal third base. No other Mustang runner managed to get into scoring position other than when they scored the only run of the game in the second frame.

Cooper (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory by tossing five scoreless frames, scattering four hits with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.

Morano, the transfer from Arizona, pitched three scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts while Sagouspe notched his sixth save by striking out three batters in the ninth.

The loss went to Sebastian Schreiber (0-1) as the junior southpaw allowed the lone run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Cal Poly’s five hits were by five different batters. Third baseman Alejandro Garza extended his hitting streak to 18 games, tied for the eighth-longest in program history, with a leadoff single in the fourth inning while Fenn’s first-inning double stretched his hitting streak to 13 games. Left fielder Dante Vachini’s 11-game hitting streak came to an end.

Santa Clara’s six hits included a double by left fielder Mateo Garcia in the eighth inning.

Cal Poly’s last 1-0 victory was against UC Riverside on May 25, 2017, in the opening game of the season-ending Big West series, also at Baggett Stadium. Erich Uelmen pitched a complete-game six-hit shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Cal Poly puts its nation-leading 11-game road winning streak on the line with a crucial three-game Big West series at defending conference champion UC Santa Barbara beginning Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Friday’s game on ESPNU begins at 6 p.m. with Saturday’s series finale set for a 1 p.m. start.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Dos Pueblos overwhelmed Santa Barbara 16-3 to clinch their second straight Channel League boys lacrosse championship.

The Chargers are a perfect 17-0 on the regular season which concludes at San Marcos on Thursday.

DP dominated the second half by outscoring the Dons 11-0 after the break.

Dan Finneran scored a game-high 5 goals while his brother Jack Finneran and Orion Prewarski each added 4 goals.

(Orion Prewarski had a 7 point night with 4 goals and 3 assists. Entenza Design).

Connor Jackson scored all three goals for Santa Barbara who is eyeing a playoff spot as well with a 4-2 Channel League record.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City Council gave the green light to modular sidewalks on a portion of State Street.

A Santa Barbara City Council majority approved the $528,000 purchase on Tuesday.

Mayor Randy Rowse was the lone no vote.

The sidewalks will be installed on both sides of the 500 block of State St.

It’s a block where parklets have helped businesses weather COVID financially.

But it has not been easy for pedestrians, e-bikes, bicycles, and emergency vehicles to share the open road.

State Street Master Planner, Tess Harris, calls them “pedlets.”

“So the pedlet would be an 8-foot sidewalk extension,” said Harris. “It will allow businesses to move their outdoor dining furniture up against the building frontage making it easier to businesses to go from inside to outside to serve patrons.”

Sandbar General Manager, Brandon Stilwell, said the popular business loves the outdoor dining space and the restaurant and bar appears ready to roll with sidewalk change.

“We are really excited,” said Stilwell, “hope people feel more safe and don’t have to worry about the bikes or anything.”

Santa Barbara Public Works Manager, Sarah Clark, said they bought enough to be flexible.

“We have also purchased an extra segment they are modular units so they can be moved around and re-positioned so in the future if we want to use them at a different location, we can do that,” said Clark.

The “pedlets” are made by Modstreet out of Colorado.

Carpinteria bought parklets made by the same and leases them to businesses unless they choose to buy them.

Pedlets are the company’s latest offering and Santa Barbara is ready to give them a try.

The extensions should be installed by July.

Alissa Orozco

GOLETA, Calif. – A local dog is getting some Nationwide recognition, but not only for its cuteness…

‘Schmeagle Vonsqueaklebits’ from Goleta is a fluffy Pomeranian and one of the “Wacky Pet Names” finalists that were announced by Nationwide Insurance.

“He succeeds our previous pet, the great Chihuahua mix Lulu Vonsqueaklebits. As Schmeagle awaits his official ascension to the throne, he enjoys being a little gremlin and the occasional zoomies around the apartment,” says his owner Michael W.

Each year, the insurance company hosts their Wacky Pet Names campaign celebrating the silly names given to newly enrolled pets. 

This year’s nominees include dogs and cats as well as a pot belly pig, hedgehog, snake, guinea pig, rat, parrot, conure, rabbit, and ferrets!

Other finalists include Ferret Bueller the Ferret, Julius Cheeser the Rat, Luke Skybarker the Dog, Pickles of Purrington the Cat, and many more!

Pets will complete in three different categories: Wackiest Dog Names, Wackiest Cat Names, and Wackiest Exotic Names.

You can cast your vote for Schmeagle Vonsqueaklebits or your favorite wacky named pet here between April 15th-19th. You can place one vote per category, once a day by clicking on the profile of the pet you want to vote for.

Alissa Orozco

GOLETA, Calif. – A viewer sent your News Channel footage of a bear sighting in Goleta early Tuesday morning.

The doorbell footage captured the bear walking around a quiet neighborhood near Brandon School around 1:00 am. The viewer told your News Channel they believe the bear most likely came all the way down from the mountains, likely walked down Cathedral Oaks and into their neighborhood.

Viewer called the police at 1:15 am, and who advised them to contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

If you have experienced or witnessed a bear sighting in or around the Goleta-area recently, send your news tip, photo or video to your News Channel!

Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Linda Krop says there are still unanswered questions after the Office Of The State Fire Marshal granted waivers to Sable Offshore back in December—waivers that will make it a lot easier for the Texas oil company to restart oil production off the Gaviota Coast.

The Environmental Defense Center filed a lawsuit against Sable and the Office of the State Fire Marshal Tuesday.

This comes after months of back-and-forth between environmentalists and state agencies about the legality of Sable offshore restarting the pipeline that ruptured back during the 2015 Refugio oil spill.

The lawsuit challenges the state waivers that the Office of the State Fire Marshall granted to Sable Offshore back in December. Those waivers allow the pipeline to operate without cathodic protection against corrosion, which was the exact cause of the 2015 spill.

“We have an expert that says the waivers aren’t safe. The county did a study that shows this pipeline can’t be operated safely, but the fire marshal didn’t consider any of that. And who knows what other information may have come forward. So what we’re asking for in this lawsuit is a public process,” said Chief Counsel of the Environmental Defense Center Linda Krop.

“This pipeline can affect major sources of water supply. It goes directly through a suburban neighborhood and built in the fire marshal’s office. Didn’t hear from any of those people that would be impacted by the possible restart of this pipeline,” said Staff Attorney Jeremy Frankel.

The Fire Marshal granted the waivers because Sable promised to implement robust safety measures, including 27 emergency shutoff devices, enhanced leak detection and increased inspections, among other measures.

But attorneys with the Environmental Defense Center say that these safety measures are not enough to prevent an oil spill. “ The pipeline, contrary to what the Fire Marshal says, will not be as safe or safer than if it had cathodic protection, this technology that prevents corrosion,” said Frankel.

In its lawsuit, the Environmental Defense Center says the State Fire Marshal has failed to comply with both federal and state law.  “Those laws require a public hearing. They require environmental review. They provide, you know, a meaningful opportunity for the public to comment, because if we had had that opportunity, we think it’s likely the fire marshal may not have approved the waivers,” said Krop.

Krop says the State Fire Marshal is the one agency that can authorize the corroded pipeline to operate without a system to prevent more corrosion.

We’ve reached out to sable and are waiting for a response. They’ve consistently maintained they are using state-of-the-art systems to prevent a potential spill.  The State Fire Marshal says it cannot comment on pending litigation, but they did send us a statement today that read in part “ Sable has recently completed several tests on a section of pipeline 325a as required by the state waiver and the Office Of The State Fire Marshal return to service requirements. Additional pipeline sections will be tested in the following weeks for pipeline integrity.” Both entities have 30 days to respond to the lawsuit. 

Dave Alley

TEMPLETON, Calif. – San Luis Obispo County is drawing closer to finally open its brand new Public Safety Communications Center in Templeton.

When completed, the $39 million, 19,000 square foot, two-story facility will house dispatching services for both the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo County Fire Department/CAL FIRE.

“With every week, the anticipation builds as this building gets more complete,” said Chief Deputy Nate Paul, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. “It is getting very exciting and we’re really looking forward to be able to commission it and bring it online to transfer our operations up here.”

The project broke ground in October 2023 and is now moving into the its final stages over the next few months.

At the same time work continues this week, construction is now taking place during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual celebration held during the second week of April to honor public safety telecommunicators for their commitment, service and sacrifice.

“We’re super thankful for the community and the way that the county has kind of shown us support,” said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Supervisor, Becky Watson. “We’re often the faceless voices in this profession, so it’s awesome to get kind of a week where we’re people say thank you.”

This marks the final year Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo County Fire Department dispatchers will celebrate the National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in their current facilities.

Both sites are located within about five miles of each other along Highway 1.

The Sheriff’s Office dispatch center is located the the agency’s headquarters on Kansas Avenue close to Cuesta College, while County Fire is just down the highway at the CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County facility close to the Santa Rosa Street entrance to Cal Poly.

Both dispatch centers are antiquated, cramped and inefficient for current demands and needs.

“We’re going to move from 1980s technology in terms of a 1980 type building to a 21st century building that will be able to serve us for at least the next 50 years,” said Paul. “The building is going to be significantly bigger, both the dispatch floor, as well as the administrative and support offices, that help dispatch and help manage it.”

According to San Luis Obispo County, the new telecommunications center will provide the public with a number of key features and benefits:

Faster and better coordinated 911 and emergency response for a safer community

Better able to manage and communicate with emergency personnel during major fire events, earthquakes, flooding or other natural disasters

Co-locating dispatching services saves on operational and maintenance costs in lieu of two separate 24-hour facilities for Fire and Law Enforcement

Ability to add dispatching capacity and staff as service levels grow

San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department has projected completion of the new Public Safety Communications Center to take place in mid-August.

It’s expected dispatch operations will be moved into the new center sometime later on in the fall.