Category: keyt-local-news

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A historical Filipino exhibit in Santa Barbara is wrapping up on Sunday.

The exhibit, Manongs on the Central Coast: Forming Communities Across Generations, marks the first major historical display in Santa Barbara County.

It focuses on Filipino American immigration.

Local Filipino descendants believe the history of the pioneers has been overlooked.

Descendants in Santa Barbara hope this exhibit helps make their history more known throughout the community.

Hosted by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the exhibit is currently open and runs through Sunday at Casa de la Guerra.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Santa Maria Police Council (SMPC) is holding its annual golf tournament and comedy night all day Friday at the Santa Maria Country Club.

Now in its 16th year, the popular event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the non-profit organization, which provides financial support to the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD).

Since it was first created in 2007, the Police Council has raised more than $2 million, which has supplied the department with valuable equipment and training.

According to the Police Council, some of the equipment that has been purchased through its fundraising efforts includes, Bearcat armored vehicles, airsoft training weapons, crime lab equipment, gem cart batteries and upgrades, hobble restraints, K-9 units, K-9 training, K-9 training bite suits, badge patches for the SMPD explorer program, state-of-the-art property and evidence management system, SWAT simulation/specialized training weapons, tasers for every officer and night vision training.

For more information about the Santa Maria Police Council, click here for the SMPC website.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Researchers are finding that for the first time in history, women are now drinking just as much as men, and younger women are engaging in binge drinking more than younger men.

A JAMA study published in April found women are closing the gap when is comes to heavy drinking levels, with only a -3.9 overall rate difference between men and women from 2021-2023. Women ages 18 through 25 years showed higher binge drinking levels than males in the same age group.

What the study did not show was: what changed?

Dr. Kavin Mistry, a neuroradiologist and author of Primal Health, says the shift could stem from biological changes and feelings of disconnect in women in particular.

Dr. Mistry says more women are stepping away from traditional roles, and stepping into stronger and more demanding roles usually occupied by men.

“I think we both have two parts within us. One is that sort of a hunter-taker within us, which wants to take control, take land, and very important for survival, and then there is that caretaker side of us, which wants to give love, get love and connect with people. Men tend to have more of the hunter and women tend to have a balance of both, and so what we’re seeing is women stepping into these more high power roles in military, in business, in medicine.”

Studies say people typically drink alcohol to induce endorphins and reduce stress and anxiety. As women begin to take over male-dominated roles, the male-dominated coping mechanisms follow. Women are now beginning to engage in binge drinking habits to cope with stress.

“That sets up interesting conflicts then anyway, so that senses. A conflict where women then use alcohol as an escape, you know, in these situations.” 

These research results should act as a warning to women to analyze their drinking pattern. They also suffer a bigger risk as women are more prone to getting liver disease if they continue with a heavy drinking pattern.

Dr. Mistry says the best thing women can do is step back and look at the signs.

“If you monitor yourself over the past few weeks and you just monitor that are you hitting that heavy drinking pattern. Then you gotta control it.”

“As clinicians, as leaders in the society, we have to be kind of compassionate towards women and help them, guide in the proper direction and make those connections so that they’re not going down this trend and and using alcohol as an escape.”  

The National Drug Helpline at (844) 289-0879 is a free, confidential, 24/7 drug and alcohol hotline. 

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Maria leaders broke ground on an affordable housing project today.

This project is for seniors.

The need for affordable housing on the Central Coast is a problem in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Adults over the age of 55 can feel the housing squeeze more acutely than others, as some are on fixed income.

Research has shown that by the year 2030, adults aged 60 and upwards will make up a quarter of Santa Barbara county’s population.

“The housing need is so great in the state of California to begin with,” says Santa Maria mayor Alice Patino. “And then for the people over 55, we certainly have to have a place for them to live. We’re getting more of those peeps all the time. Yeah!”

Over the last several years, Coastal Community Builders has developed several affordable housing sites on the Central Coast including Palladium and Encore in Arroyo Grande.

“The vast majority of 55 plus communities that have been built recently are for rent product, whether they’re senior apartments or otherwise,” says Cam Boyd, C.E.O. of Coastal Community Builders. “And what makes this unique is that it’s attainable in a for sale product. And so this is an opportunity to, own a single family home on its own lot in a community with all the amenities that, a retiring homeowner might hope for.”

Friday morning, Santa Maria city leaders held a golden-shovel groundbreaking at a new development called Bellecrest.

“Once you pull into the entry Gates is a nice wide boulevard,” says Boyd. “You’ll have a beautiful clubhouse. And towards the back of the community, there’s a small community park.”

The location of Bellecrest is ideal for those 55 and older, as it is merely a few blocks from Marian Regional Medical Center.

“We do a lot of the affordable housing, but we haven’t had anything at this level yet,” says mayor Patino. “We have apartments for people over 55, but there’s some people who don’t want to live in an apartment.”

This will be a gated community with single-family homes, a clubhouse, pool, and more.

“Government moves so slow it seems like it takes a lot of time to get this done,” says mayor Patino. “But from here on in, it’s going to be going up and it’ll be occupied before we know it.”

There’s six months of site work before construction really ramps up.

The project is expected to be finished about a year from now.

Coastal Community Builders has a process in place to make cashing out your current home and purchasing a home at Bellecrest a smooth transaction.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Juneteenth with Jon Boogz brought an evening of street dance, award winning short films and meaningful conversation.

“My love for film is why I want to push it, because I feel like there’s no boundaries to what we do, and then I feel like when I finally stepped into my own mental health journey, it was vulnerable enough to share it with my followers and share it with the world,” said Award winning choreographer, director, and dancer Jon Boogz.

The event’s theme sparked conversation about mental health and breaking the stigma of therapy.

The energy was contagious for those awaiting the performance and celebrate Juneteenth together.

“We finally got a day (Juneteenth) and we going to use it and we’re going to see amazing performances celebrating this magical day,” said attendee Joanne Young.

“It’s great, because I see all different colors here, and they’re getting a lot of support and I am looking forward to the dance, maybe they’ll show me something I don’t know,” said attendee Marilyn Jones.

The performances through the evening had people in awe with sighs and clapping as stories were being told right before their eyes.

The event was presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santa Barbara.

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Alissa Orozco

OXNARD, Calif. – The former youth soccer coach charged in the murder of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez pleaded not guilty during his Wednesday court appearance.

On March 28th, Hernandez boarded a Metrolink train heading towards Lancaster, California to visit his soccer coach, 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino. Hernandez’s remains were found just a few days later near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman charged Garcia-Aquino with murder with special circumstances in the death of missing teenager.

Garcia-Aquino faces additional, unrelated felony charges for the sexual assaults of two separate minors: a 16-year-old who was coached by Garcia-Aquino, and allegedly sexually assaulted at his home in the Antelope Valley in February 2024 and a 2022 sexual assault of another minor at his former Sylmar residence.

Hochman alleges the murder happened “during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child,” meaning Garcia-Aquino could face the death penalty if found eligible.

Garcia-Aquino has been ordered to remain in jail without bail until his next court appearance on Aug. 18th, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports.

Authorities believe there may be more victims of Garcia-Aquino in the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys. Additional victims or anyone with information is urged to contact either the LAPD Abused Child Unit at (818) 374-5415, or the LASD Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.

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Caleb Nguyen

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – A man died after injuries from a two-car crash on Highway 46 in Paso Robles on Wednesday, just past 9:30 p.m., according to the Paso Robles Police Department.

PRPD officers received word about the crash, where both cars involved were blocking both lanes of Highway 46, going east and west.

Both people in one of the cars required extrication to a local hospital by Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services, according to the PRPD.

The male driver in that car died at the hospital from his injuries, according to the PRPD.

The PRPD requests anyone with information to contact them via phone during this ongoing investigation and reminds drivers to be safe on the roads.

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Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. – A new bill aims to reduce rocket noise from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

This is in response to public complaints.

Central Coast residents are no strangers to the sonic booms and far-reaching vibrations caused by rocket launches occurring with increasing frequency at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The base conducted 51 launches in 2024, and there are plans for 100 or more annually, mostly from Space-X rockets.

“As the tempo of launches increases it is creating sonic booms and noise that is impacting a number of communities,” says Congressman Salud Carbajal.

Proponents of rocket launches say they are vital to our local economy, national defense, research, and innovation.

“As far as I’m concerned. The noise is the sound of freedom and also the sound of the future. Bring us the future. Thank you,” stated a local launch proponent during a recent public hearing.

But the launches have led to concerns about environmental harm, damages to property, and of course, noise.

“I was woken early and was looking for a place for safety to go because I thought it was an earthquake and it was super loud,” stated another local at the same public hearing.

“How can we continue to support the increased tempo in launches provided that is doable and feasible?” asks Congressman Carbajal. “And, too, how do we mitigate the noise?”

Earlier this month, Congressman Salud Carbajal introduced the “Space Launch Noise Mitigation Study Act.”

“I’ve been working with Vandenberg Space Force Base to mitigate those noise challenges,” says Carbajal. “And they’ve been working very cooperatively with my office.”

If passed, the bill would increase funding and efforts to conduct critical studies and develop new technologies to lessen the adverse effects of launches.

“This legislation not only recognizes that there’s an impact from these sonic booms,” Carbajal continues. “But that there’s a need to create a mitigation grant program to alleviate the impact that it does have.”

Environmental studies on rocket launches that have yielded surprising discoveries like how far sound travels under certain weather conditions, trajectories, and time of day or year, warrant these further studies and additional technologies.

Congressman Carbajal says the ultimate goal is to find a balance between continuing the launches and taking steps for environmental stewardship and neighborly accommodation.

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Evan Vega

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Strawberry producers in Santa Maria, including Sunlife Farms, are closely tracking climate changes and weather impacts during the peak harvest season.

“We have seen a little bit more of climate change throughout the years,” said Araceli Gaspar of Sunlife Farms.

La Niña-related storms have had devastating effects on local agriculture.

“Unfortunately, we were stuck with that a few years ago. We got some damage, but compared to other growers, they were affected tremendously,” Gaspar said.

Flooding impacts to Santa Maria farms during January 2023’s heavy rainstorms

Severe storms in 2023 caused millions of dollars in damage to Santa Barbara County’s agricultural industry. The county’s top crop, strawberries, suffered more than $56 million in crop losses alone.

“You can construct the beds, but sometimes the plant gets completely washed away. So, pretty much, you’re without strawberries on that land that’s already been planted. It’s a lot of time and preparation that, within the blink of a week, can all be vanished,” Gaspar explained.

Flooding can also lead to bacterial contamination, forcing growers to discard entire beds of berries.

Strawberries grown by Sunlife Farms in southwest Santa Maria near Skyway Drive

“Because of the water, there are more regulations with food safety. You have to get it tested to see if it’s appropriate for consumers,” said Gaspar.

La Niña can also bring heat waves, causing strawberries to overripen on the vine.

Santa Maria’s strawberry season typically begins in April, with late summer heat spells often extending the harvest through November.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The City of Santa Maria has put out an urgent call to residents and businesses to conserve as much water as possible for the next four days due to an emergency shutdown of the State Water pipeline.

The city said the shutdown has been caused by a leak in the supply delivery system and will to be inspected and repair during the project four-day period of time.

Until repairs are completed, the State Water Project, which is managed by the California Department of Water Resources and managed locally by the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) will temporarily stop deliveries to all member agencies, including the City of Santa Maria.

Santa Maria relies on two main sources to maintain its water supply, groundwater and imported State Water.

With State Water now halted, Santa Maria now rely only on groundwater supplies during the shutdown, and is sending out a “call to action” to the community to stress the importance of conservation.

The city pointed out in a release that while water service will remain active, community-wide conservation is critical to ensure water remains available for public health, safety, and emergency services.

During the next four days, Santa Maria has asked the community to restrict all non-essential water use, including:

No outdoor watering or irrigation (including sprinklers, drip systems, and handwatering)

No filling or topping off swimming pools or spas

No outdoor washing of vehicles at home, use only commercial car washes thatrecycle water

No washing of hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, or building exteriors

All of the various city departments have immediately transitioned into full conservation mode, including Recreation and Parks, which is the biggest user of water within the city’s departmental structure.

Recreation and Parks has stopped all irrigation at its parks and landscaping maintenance districts.

In addition, Santa Maria has suspended all hydrant flushing, fire department training, and other non-essential water uses.

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