Category: keyt-local-news

Dave Alley

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) is much more than an annual summertime event for Jo Ann Switzer, it’s a lifelong tradition.

A native of Pozo, where her family has ranched cattle for more than 100 years, Switzer has attended every fair since its humble beginnings in 1946.

“I’ve been to all of them,” said Switzer. “It was just a very minor little fair.  I think it was 25 cents to get in, and there were about 20,000 people came. I started showing and have never missed a fair way or the other.”

Now 89-years-old, Switzer has been an instrumental part of the fair during her amazing life, which she has dedicated to the local livestock and agriculture industry.

All four of Switzer’s sons participated in the livestock program and today the tradition continues through four generations with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren following in her footsteps, raising and showing animals.

“I just can’t express the importance of the 4-H and FFA programs,” said Switzer. “Even if they don’t do anything when they get out of high school with their animals, they have learned responsibility. They have learned working together. They have learned finances and all of these things that are life lasting. That’s what’s very important to me. Plus, there’s tons of young people that go on to be big time leaders in the United States, so this is a very important program in my opinion.”

Switzer’s contributions extend well beyond exhibiting livestock. She served for many years as a member of the California Mid-State Fair Board, helping guide the fair’s growth while remaining a strong advocatef or agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Through her immense contributions to the local livestock and agriculture industry, as well as the fair itself, Switzer was named as the first woman to receive the prestigious Cattleman of the Year award in 1992, and was later inducted in the CMSF Hall of Fame in 2004.

At the very beginning, the fair was known as the San Luis Obispo County Fair before it was rebranded as the California Mid-State Fair in 1981.

“Originally we had the racetrack, we had lots of races,” said Switzer. “We had a nail driving contest and the kids used to be able to camp here as well. “Now, it’s one of the biggest and most prestigious fairs around. There’s not many like this. It has done nothing but grow in a positive way.”

As hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy another year of exhibits, concerts, carnival rides, and competition, Switzer continues to represent the enduring spirit of the fair, a reminder that while it has changed dramatically over the past 80 years, its heart remains rooted in the people who have helped build its legacy.

“Jo Ann is a special person for all of us at the fair,” said CMSF CEO Colleen Bojorquez. “We’re so excited to keep her in the livestock area, especially—that’s her passion. She loves it. She’s such a great ambassador for the fair and her family continues the tradition.”

As she prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday in a few weeks in early September, Switzer is looking forward to attending many more fairs in the future.

“Absolutely, I don’t think they can have a fair without me really,” Switzer said her legendary sense of humor.

The California Mid-State Fair concludes it 12-day run on Sunday, July 26.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

WICHITA, Kansas. (KEYT) – Donovan LaSalle blasted a solo home run to end the game in the seventh inning as the Santa Barbara Foresters shutout the Great Bend Bat Cats of Kansas by mercy-rule 8-0 in a pool play game at the NBC World Series.

The 10-time National Baseball Congress World Series champion Foresters used a 5-run sixth inning to blow the game wide open.

Foresters pitcher Noah Waldeck pitched five scoreless innings and struck out five for the win.

The Foresters second game of pool play is Saturday night 10 p.m. PDT against the BTL Hornets.

Click here to follow the original article.

Scott Hennessee

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A week long rock band camp wrapped up with a concert in front of friends and family at a refurbished Jensen Music Lessons on De La Vina Street.

Teen students were led by a former student who took lessons at Jensen’s herself years ago. The group learned and played songs together on guitar, bass and drums.

The business changed last year when Chris Jensen retired after 52 years in Santa Barbara. They no longer sell instruments, but they do repair them.

Tompeet Frederiksen took charge of the lesson room and has turned it into a standalone business.

“We teach with love and we bring the community together with music,” Frederiksen said. “We have four fantastic teachers here, myself included. We all teach something different, and we’re just bringing joy to Santa Barbara.”

The walls are now decorated with album covers, and there’s a record player in the lounge.

Lessons are available in guitar, ukulele, bass, piano, violin and mandolin.

Jensen Music Lessons also hopes to hold more rock band camps during school breaks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – SpaceX plans to open a launch window between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday for 24 Starlink satellites in support of a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Central Coast residents may feel the sonic boom from the launch’s impact as the eighth flight for this first stage booster supporting that mission.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

Live webcasts of the mission will be available 10 minutes before liftoff on both the Space X website and social media page.

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.

Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura Police arrested a woman at the Ventura Bus Depot after she used a cane as a weapon during a fight just after 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

Two women fought near the restrooms at the Bus Depot before VPD officers arrived and detained both women.

The suspect approached the victim and forcibly took her cell phone before an argument turned physical, according to the VPD.

The suspect then hit the victim in the face, causing her to fall onto the ground before using a cane to hit her in the head for additional injuries, according to the VPD.

VPD officers returned the stolen cell phone to the victim before taking her to a hospital for minor injuries.

VPD officers then booked the suspect for charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Those with additional information on the case are asked to contact the VPD.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Multiple authorities are searching for Omar Briceno-Quijano after he went missing from the satellite camp near the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution.

Briceno-Quijano went missing around 4:00 p.m. Thursday and the United States Marshals Service, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are aware of his disappearance.

Briceno-Quijano is 35 years old, weighs 197 pounds and stands 5’7 tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

Briceno-Quijano received a 168-month sentence in the District of Colorado for the following crimes:

knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree, with interdependence to distribute and possess with intent to distribute substances, including 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine (schedule II controlled substance) 50 grams and more but less than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine (schedule II controlled substance) under 100 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin (schedule I controlled substance) conspiracy to commit money laundering

The FCI Lompoc II is a minimum security facility and those with information about Briceno-Quijano or his whereabouts are asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – A 17-year-old juvenile from Lompoc has been arrested by Lompoc Police Department in connection to a fatal stabbing last weekend, that took the the life of a middle-aged Lompoc resident.

On July 18th, around 2:30pm, officers were called out to the 400 block of North I street to reports of a deceased person. There they located a man with multiple stabbing wounds, in addition to several other injuries consistent with an assault. The unidentified Lompoc man in his 50s was declared dead at the scene.

An active homicide investigation launched following identified evidence that led them to the crime scene in the 400 block of North G Street.

Lompoc Police says patrol officers identified a 17-year-old male Lompoc resident as a possible suspect to detectives. Upon further investigation and a search of the juvenile’s residence, the suspect was located and taken into custody. The department says “an extensive amount of evidence was recovered,” but did not provide details into what was found.

The juvenile was booked into the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall at approximately 11:23 p.m. on July 23, 2026 for California Penal Code 187pc, Murder. 

The department says they have yet to determine a motive for the crime. The investigation remains active.

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

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – With the many people watching their dollars and sometimes holding off on vacations, finding uplifting summer events for free can be the best way to build an enjoyable evening out these days. Santa Barbara’s ‘Concerts in the Park’ has been hitting the right note for the month of July.

The four-concert show series concluded Thursday night after bringing an estimated 10,000 people to Chase Palm Park on the waterfront since July 2.

The music included Funk and Hip-Hop, Johnny Cash country covers band, rock and originals.   

The bands were from Santa Barbara and Ventura. They applied weeks ago and were chosen by the staff at the Parks and Recreation Department, which schedules the shows and reserves the park space.

The shows started at 5 p.m. with a warm-up band or soloist before the 6 p.m. headliner.

Fans put down their blankets and chairs, sometimes during the day, on the lawn in an area that has a perfect slope for the viewing of an elevated  concert area that is part of the park design. There’s no special stage set up needed at this location.

The audio is managed by Islay Events for both the up close enjoyment of the dancers, and the easier paced conversations in the middle and back of the crowds.

Many people use the night for a picnic or dinner gathering, sometimes buying food from local restaurants or bringing in their own array of food and beverages for themselves and to share around their area. Food vendors are also on site.

Those attending often say it is a family friendly event and safe for children of all ages.  

The city is reviewing this year’s show schedule, the turnout and the audience comments that have come in through a QR code that was posted around the property as it plans future events for this series and the nearby recently reopened bandshell at Plaza Del Mar.

Other shows in the area include the free Music at the Ranch series in Goleta at Rancho la Patera on Tuesday nights through August.

The free UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures Summer Cinema Series has films on Friday night for free at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens.

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.

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Head to Santa Barbara High School this weekend to watch Matilda Jr the Musical in action!

Matilda Jr is a musical for the whole family! It features close to 100 students ranging in ages from 8-16 years old!

The musical play is being put on by Stage Left Productions which has been putting on summer shows in Santa Barbara for 26 years.

The shows will be at Santa Barbara High School on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Actresses Margaux Shacknai and Haley Klan join your Morning News to talk about the upcoming production and the excitement for opening night.

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.