Category: keyt-local-news

Jarrod Zinn

PISMO BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – The Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove may have more humans than butterflies visiting this year, further increasing concerns for scientists.

But they’re still not on the endangered species list.

The latest counts of monarch butterflies are the third lowest in recorded history.

But their addition to the endangered species list has been delayed.

“They said, ‘okay, things are postponed,’” says Isis Howard, a conservation biologist with the Xerxes Society. “Like, listings are postponed. Not just for the monarch butterfly, but for other species, too.”

Scientists with the Xerxes Society say the evidence showing the butterflies are a threatened species still holds.

“Fish and Wildlife Service agreed that monarchs should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act,” says Howard. “However, the listing has been postponed and we don’t know when that will start up again.”

Studies reveal that in addition to environmental factors beyond control, such as weather patterns and wildfires, the use of herbicides and pesticides is one of the leading causes of the species’ decline in population.

“I think what’s most striking and concerning from my perspective is that the three lowest counts have all occurred in the last five years,” says Howard. “And so this is kind of typical of what we see with species in decline.”

Butterflies give scientists indicators of overall ecological health.

They also serve as pollinators along with bees, and they provide food for birds and wildlife.

“There’s an awesome website called CalScape, and you can just type in your address or zip code, type in milkweed and it’ll generate a list of all the milkweed that’s native to you,” says Howard. “Then I think one of the top things people can do is also reduce or limit their reliance on pesticides.”

People can help the monarchs by gardening plants that yield nectar, and milkweed which is a host plant for caterpillars.

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John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – The American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation says the winners of the Lights, Camera, Save! teen video contest have come from the same high school and it is in Goleta.

This is a nationwide competition that encourages teens ages 13–18 to create a 30-second or less video educating their peers on the importance of smart money management.

The winners are from Dos Pueblos High. It is the first time first and second place have come from the same school.

The first-place winner is Adam Costa, representing Montecito Bank & Trust for his video “It All Adds Up!” That comes with a $10,000 grand prize. Costa’s video was selected from a record number of entries after two rounds of national judging, including public voting on ABA’s Instagram page.

His theme using graphics and cash showed how a small amount of money, for example $5.00 at a time, can build up and, with interest, become thousands of dollars.

The second place winner is Ethan Gardiner, representing American Riviera Bank for his video, “Climbing the College Mountain.” That earned a $5,000 prize. It was produced in collaboration with classmates Zenia Potter and Deveraux Wigo.

The videos are designed to promote financial literacy among teens.

Honors were given out on the campus and large checks were presented to those involved in the videos. Family members were invited to the event and lunch was served. Gardiner was unable to make the event.

Potter was on camera in the “Climbing the College Mountain” video with Wigo using her camera skills. They did several takes to get it right and said they went to the site more than once. It also involved creative technical editing and moving animation. There was a time limit for each video. They made “a shorter version and longer version. We saw what we could mesh together to fit under the 30 seconds,” she said when describing the challenges.

Costa also used various technical skills to consolidate his message and meet the contest requirements. He said, “the 30-seconds part was kinda hard. I had to make a script and then time each part and make sure it was all under and edit some things out so it was under.”

Montecito Bank & Trust and American Riviera Bank are strong supporters of financial literacy and both banks have outreach programs at many levels from young students, to teens and seniors. They cover many financial topics including scams, understanding credit and ways to pay for college. There’s also advice on how to get out of debt.

Montecito Bank & Trust Financial Officer Bruce Stephens said, working with young people, and even helping them to open an account, “that’s where it’s got to start. It has to start at a young age so people understand that you start now and maybe that will help in the future when you become adults and have to save also.”

At American Riviera Bank, Chief Risk Officer Laurel Sykes said, “it is really important for kids to hear from other kids, why it important to save and why money is something you need to think about from the get go so you don’t end up in debt, right out of of college and not get into debt. If you do, you have a plan to pay it back.”

Brianna Aguilar, Vice President, Manager of Community Programs at Montecito Bank & Trust, said, “We believe financial education is one of the most powerful tools we can provide the next generation. By engaging in conversations about budgeting, saving and credit, young people gain the knowledge and tools to help make informed decisions about their finances as they navigate the various stages of life.”

Principal Bill Woodard said, “we love when out students are participating in things beyond the classroom and taking the skills they learn in our media program and other technical programs and applying that to a nationwide contest is definitely something that makes me very proud.”

Dos Pueblos has the Virgil Elings Media Arts and Communications Center. Woodard said, “being able to use all the great tools we have in this wonderful new facility tied into this financial literacy really ties into some great issues which we have here at DP.”

He said at his school and throughout the district, “Our Career Technical Education Programs, including the Engineering and Media Programs are dedicated to helping students develop their passions while investing in the arts and real-world skills. Opportunities like this show what can happen when students have access to strong programs and community support.”

Media instructor John Dent said, students from the program recently won several honors at a national event in Tampa, and 38 went in person to the workshops and on site competitions during the week-long event.

Speaking about the current financial video honors he said to both, “American Riviera Bank and Montecito Bank & Trust, thank you so much for the opportunity for giving our students the opportunity to be successful and to show off what they can do.

For more information about American Riviera Bank, visit americanriviera.bank. For more information about Montecito Bank & Trust, visit montecito.bank. For more information about Dos Pueblos High School, visit www.dphs.sbunified.org.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Channel Islands YMCA just opened a new transitional home in Santa Barbara, offering young adults experiencing homelessness a place to rebuild and gain independence.

The Mission House will welcome eight residents between the ages of 18 and 21.

Residents can stay for up to eighteen months while receiving support for education, employment, and everyday life skills.

The program is designed to give young adults stability while they plan for the future, with guidance on finding work, continuing school, and learning essential life skills.

Leaders hope the structured support can help residents take the next step toward self-sufficiency.

For those moving in, this home could be a turning point toward a brighter future.

For more information on Channel Islands YMCA, visit: https://www.ciymca.org/.

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Mike Klan

HONOLULU, Hawai’i — Junior right-hander Carson Turnquist turned in his best outing on the mound as a Mustang while Cam Hoiland and Ryan Tayman combined to knock in three runs in the fourth inning to give Cal Poly the lead for good in a 7-3 victory over Hawai’i, completing a three-game Big West series sweep Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.

Turnquist (1-0) replaced starter Josh Volmerding in the second inning and pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for the victory, scattering three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. It was the longest stint on the mound as a Mustang for the former Paso Robles High School standout, who underwent Tommy John surgery following his lone season at Oklahoma in 2023.

“Volmerding was feeling badly with lower body issues, so we brought in Turnquist and he came in, pounded the strike zone right away and gave us length and quality innings which allowed us to work our offense for some runs, shorten the game and turn it over to (Nick) Bonn,” said 24th-year Mustang head coach Larry Lee.

“Turnquist’s performance was very beneficial for our team today,” Lee added. “He checked all the boxes we needed, especially after losing (Laif) Palmer on Saturday.”

Palmer suffered a double fracture of his left ankle in the first inning of Saturday’s 11-inning 10-7 Mustang victory and will undergo surgery next week.

Hawai’i took the lead for the first time in the series Sunday with three runs in the second frame for a 3-1 advantage before Cal Poly battled back with a run in the third on an RBI single by Dylan Kordic and three more in the fourth as Hoiland singled up the middle to drive in two and Tayman followed with a run-scoring double to left.

Turnquist made sure that the Mustangs would never look back, throwing 76 pitches, retiring the side in order once and not allowing a hit from the fourth through seventh innings. Senior right-hander Nick Bonn earned his second save of the series and third of the season with two scoreless frames of one-hit baseball.

With Sunday’s win, Cal Poly stretched its winning streak to four games, improved to 8-7 overall and kept pace with UC Santa Barbara, the only two teams in the Big West to open their conference schedules with 3-0 marks. The Gauchos swept Long Beach State at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

Hawai’i, playing its first 16 games of the 2026 season at home, fell to 8-7 and 0-3. The Rainbow Warriors close out the long home stand Tuesday against Chaminade before playing their first two road series of the year next weekend at Long Beach State and in two weeks at UC Santa Barbara.

Cal Poly, which took advantage of a Hawai’i error to score a run in the first inning for the third straight game, tallied single runs in the eighth and ninth frames to pull away. Nate Castellon singled up the middle to knock in the run in the eighth while Casey Murray Jr. led off the ninth by belting his second home run of the season, a solo shot to right field.

Hawai’i, held to five hits in the game, scored all of its runs in the second inning, loading the bases on two hit batters and a walk before No. 9 hitter Jake Redding drove all three runners home on his double to right field.

Castellon, Kordic and Gavin Spiridonoff each had two of Cal Poly’s nine hits. Redding finished with a pair of hits to lead Hawai’i at the plate.

Cal Poly, which entered last week’s four games with a .236 team batting average, banged out 12 hits in a 12-2 win over Pepperdine and hit an even .300 in the Hawai’i series with 36 hits, including 15 extra-base hits, nine of them doubles.

“You never know when things will turn around from an offensive standpoint,” said Lee. “Getting Hoiland back in the lineup helped and we really utilized the ballpark to our advantage. It is a difficult place to hit because of the prevailing wind blowing from left to right.

“Hopefully this series will get us kickstarted from an offensive standpoint as our hitters get more comfortable with their plate appearances and finding our identity as an offensive team,” Lee added.

Hoiland, who missed several games with a hamstring injury three weeks ago, was 6-for-15 (.400) in the Hawai’i series with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs while Castellon, Spiridonoff and Murray all collected five hits. Castellon scored four times while Murray produced a double, two triples and one home run, scoring five times. Tayman was 4-for-12 with two doubles and three RBIs.

The Mustang pitching staff allowed 3.72 earned runs per game in the Hawai’i series and posted a 3.32 ERA for the week’s four games, allowing just 14 runs in the four victories.

Cal Poly, now 5-1 in road games this season, returns home for its next seven games inside Baggett Stadium.

This week the Mustangs host Fresno State on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. before entertaining Cal State Bakersfield next weekend and UC Davis in two weeks for Big West series.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics).

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The fighting in Iran is driving the price of fuel up, but the increase prices didn’t stop people from filling up over the weekend.

Local gas stations had plenty of business along the coast/

But the prices impacted by the war in Iran, taxes, and California blends are on the minds of many.

“Hopefully something comes to a resolve soon and fast because I think that is what a majority of us want right now,” said Breck Lombardi who was putting air in his tires.

“Gas prices are getting crazy, I have a bunch of cars and they keep going higher and higher and friend of mine in other states they always tell me it is significantly lower,” said Paran Johar of Montecito.

Alexander Fleming said it is not just the war it is state taxes.

“The majority of people voted in higher taxes on gas for roads and whatnot, so, if we were living in New Jersey we would actually fill up our tanks for $50 bucks verses here which is $150,” said Fleming.

Gas price signs in Santa Barbara showed unleaded close to or above $5 a gallon and premium above $5.50 at many stations

There are apps that can save drivers money and websites that show the lowest prices around.

The highest prices tend to be closest to the freeway.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) International Women’s Day celebrations included speakers and rallies.

Women and men urged drivers to honk as they passed by the Ventura County Government Center near Victoria and Telephone Roads on Sunday, March 8.

Participants held signs while guest speakers encouraged women to get involved and vote.

“I am a member of the league of women voters we have been around since 1920 and it was founded to help women learn about the privilege of voting which we now have and we hope that no other rights will ever be taken from us,” said Barbara Doyle of Santa Paula.

“We are not there on pay equity, we are no there on health equity, there is still so much to do and the power of women; we give life, we bring joy and that is what we have to keep going and bring others with us,” said Gloria Miele from the American Association of University Women.

“Today started as International Working Women’s Day, we all should be respectful and show love to all women,” said event organizer KC Rodriguez.

Women are still fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to be adopted into the Constitution..

Supporters are pushing for Congress to help make that happen.

Some people dressed in purple to represent International Women’s Day.

Similar celebrations took place from coast to coast.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Today in downtown Santa Barbara, a community ‘knit-in’ event gave local women a space to come together to create, and celebrate the day dedicated to them.

The “Resist with Love KNOT Hate” Knit-in invited locals to celebrate International Women’s Day and their creativity amongst one another. Groups took over sidewalks at the intersection of State and Anapamu streets, bringing out their current knitting, crochet or stitchery project.

The event was hosted in collaboration by Santa Barbara Craftivists, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers, and Women’s March SB. For the Craftivists, the needlework isn’t just a pass time, its a form of activism. For years, the Craftivists have come together to create handmade goods to support those in need in war-torn countries, immigrant communities, and organizations such as Planned Parenthood.

“We want an administration that obeys the law, respects the law, respects our immigrant community – values them for all their contributes,” says Rose Milem of Santa Barbara Craftivists.

The group had crocheted hearts and buttons for sale, each representing a vulnerable group.

Also on-site were premade kits for those with little to no skill, or without materials.

“Knitting and crocheting are of course seen as traditionally feminine pass time, which I think is important to embrace what makes women special and feminine while also maintaining that connection with each other and forming a sisterhood with each other,” says Heather Williams of World Dance for Humanity.

Women – and some men – of all ages walked away from the event with their finished creations following an afternoon of female appreciation and empowerment, built one stitch at a time.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – For the third straight day UCSB trailed 2-0 early to Long Beach State. It proved to be a winning formula as the Gauchos rallied again to win 6-2 and complete a 3-game home sweep.

UCSB scored two runs on hit batters, a run on a wild pitch and another one on a balk as they extend their winning streak to 11 games.

Dos Pueblos High School alum Kellan Montgomery improved to 3-0 as he beat his former Long Beach teammates by pitching 6 innings allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out eight.

Noah Karliner drove in 2 runs for UCSB who improved to 12-2 on the season and 3-0 in the Big West.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Lompoc man was booked into county jail this morning for causing damage to multiple vehicles in Santa Maria.

On Sunday, March 8th Santa Maria officers reported to the intersection of Bradley Road and Betteravia Road where they found multiple damaged vehicles. There they determined that one vehicle traveling northbound had been rear-ended by a pickup truck, and further struck and pushed into the intersection following a confrontation.

The suspect vehicle then recklessly drove through the intersection where he collided with another vehicle going westbound, which subsequently struck a fourth vehicle. The suspect fled the scene.

The suspect and the vehicle were later located in Vandenberg Village, where the 45-year-old man from Lompoc was was taken into custody and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit and run.

The department says one of the involved drivers was transported by ambulance to treat non-life threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, is encouraged to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2277.

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Alissa Orozco

EDITOR’S NOTE: On Monday, March 9th, the Santa Barbara Police Department confirmed Chase White has been safely located. “The Santa Barbara Police Department would like to thank the community for all their assistance in this matter.”

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Police Department is asking the public for helping locating a missing at-risk adult man last seen in Santa Barbara.

The 24-year-old missing person, Chase White, left his residence around 600 Calle Rinconada to go on a walk on March 7th and failed to return. The department says White is a dependent and semi-verbal.

Chase White via The Santa Barbara Police Department

He is a white man, roughly 210 pounds and standing at 6’3. He has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone who sees Chase is asked to please call the Santa Barbara Police Department (805) 882-8900.

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