Category: keyt-local-news

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – With land use, financial and legislative conflicts all in the forefront, solving the on-going housing crisis is going to be as challenging as ever in 2026.

At the annual Coastal Housing Coalition conference, several experts spoke about the status now and the requirements they face for future projects.

Panelists included analysts, architects, land use, and property attorneys and those with legislative experience.

The majority of the new units either proposed or permited are in Santa Barbara and Goleta.

The keynote speaker was Mikey Taylor, the Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Thousands Oaks. He is also an entrepreneur familiar with multi-unit housing, single family homes and business projects.

He said cities on the South Coast need to have someone on their council who knows about real estate and can deal with the intricate details facing elected bodies.

He did not have a direct answer when asked about the on-going stalemate with the Paseo Nuevo proposed redesign to add over 230 units, some of them affordable. Currently the city has a subcommittee meeting with the development and financial teams on the project to design something that would replace the vacant Macy’s store on the corner of Ortega Street and State Street.

A week ago, it was in front of the Santa Barbara City Council for a hearing that lasted more than five hours.

Taylor said he was encouraged to see large companies begin to invest in housing projects to use for their employees and begin long-term options for workers, especially those who are making lengthy daily commutes to their homes in more affordable areas.

(More details, photos and video will be added here later today.)

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – Large white balloons in the sky over Orcutt Wednesday and Thursday morning were part of a long-running science experiment at Orcutt Academy High School.

An egg survived a 300-foot parachuted drop as geology students got a hands-on experience launching weather balloons.

In summer-like conditions, the high school science class pocked the Orcutt skyline with the large white balloons.

The students attached gondolas—boxes that store their sensors—and raise them 300 feet in the air to take readings.

Teacher Ty Fredriks says this is the 18th year of what Orcutt Academy calls “Balloonfest.”

“This is actually something that has been happening since Orcutt Academy started,” says Mr. Fredriks. “So our very first balloon fest was in 2009, and this is our 18th annual one. So it’s really it’s been a tradition. And, you know, the kid, the alumni come back and we go, ‘I remember Balloonfest!’”

Students are challenged to present their data to each other on Friday.

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Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Officials at Allan Hancock College say ’tis the season for public safety graduations.

Battalion 156 graduated from the program’s Firefighter Academy on Thursday.

This year’s graduating class at Allan Hancock College’s Public Safety Training Firefighter Academy gave themselves the nickname “Battalica 156,” because they’re the first class to have used new resources courtesy of the rock band Metallica.

“Every year our cadets keep raising the bar,” says Leonard Champion, AHC Fire Academy Coordinator. “And to watch them come in at day one of a 17 and a half week academy and see that progression of growth, the maturity, the discipline, physically, mentally. It is incredible to watch.”

The world-famous band’s “All Within My Hands” foundation donated $75,000 to the fire academy for new personal protection equipment, tools, books, and materials.

“Yes, like there was a need or a reason to have to listen to more Metallica,” says Champion. “Very well known. Everybody understands their music, has heard their music over decades. So pretty impressive.”

Some of the graduating cadets say they now appreciate the band for more than their music.

“100%, I already love Metallica,” says Ryder Hart, Battalion 156 Class President. “When the chief told us that Metallica was sponsoring us, it was kind of like a little mind blowing thing. It definitely got people to start listening to it.”

Anyone interested in signing up for Hancock’s Public Safety Training programs can visit the school’s website.

“This has been like the greatest experience of my life doing this and I would do it hundred times over again,” says Hart.

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Michael Yu

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Hitching Post Wines in Buellton joined your morning news to share their new “12 Vintages of Christmas” offer.

Owner Frank Ostini shares that the 12 wines include vintages from 2010 to 2021.

Other local wineries are also offering several Christmas offers.

The “12 Vintages of Christmas” are available until Christmas and are online at https://hpwines.com.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Attorney John Thyne and his wife Olesya didn’t mean to get into the restaurant business, but Thyne decided to step in and partner with The Harbor Restaurant when the owners Gene and Carolina Sanchez asked them to help.

Thyne said the owners had been contemplating filing for bankruptcy.

For the past two years they have spruced things up in The Harbor Restaurant and the adjoining Longboards Grill, with future plans and they also plan to add a coffee and gelato shop with a view.

They have also added things to do.

“Tuesdays we do a lobster special, we have one dollar chicken wings up here at Longboards, we have live jazz every Wednesday night at The Harbor we are going to be doing a New Years Eve ball drop.”

But at the same time the attorney has filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Barbara over rent he calls “unconscionable.”

They are supposed to pay more than $61,400 a month for the Stearns Wharf property owned by city and they also owe back rent.

They said there used to be a minimum base rent decades ago. of 10 percent of sales.

But as rent rose Thyne said sales dropped for a myriad of reasons.

He said they now pay more than 20 percent of gross sales.

The employ more than 90 people and the can seat 445 in both space.

He said the city helped for a bit, but not enough for the business to thrive in the current economic conditions.

“We didn’t want to bring a lawsuits, we were really trying to work things out with them and I am hopeful that this isn’t perceived as some time of adversarial situation, it is really more asking the court to help us get the parties back to the place that they originally were that was a commercially reasonable lease,” said Thyne.

He is hoping for a settlement or judgement to benefit all businesses.

“I think if they tie the minimum based rent to gross sales that would work,” said Thyne, “if there is a correlation that doesn’t exceed market rents that could work.”

Mayor Randy Rowse knows the restaurant business.

Rowse owned the Paradise Café on Anacapa St. in Santa Barbara for more than 30 years. It is currently called La Paloma Cafe.

Rowse said the city doesn’t generally talk about pending litigation but he was aware that the City Administrator Kelly McAdoo issued a statement.

Santa Barbara City Administrator McAdoo wrote the following in response the lawsuit:

“The city of Santa Barbara has reviewed the complaint and believes the allegations are without merit. The city intends to defend this matter vigorously. 

The city has not received required rent payments for several months and is pursuing its own legal remedies.

This property is a public asset, and the city has an affirmative obligation to manage it in a manner that serves the public interest, not solely the interests of any single tenant.”

Thyne isn’t a complete stranger to the business.

“I did own a bar in law school with some of my friends,” said Thyne.

He is hoping for a win win resolution.

“I hope it works out best for the community,” said Thyne.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Some of Santa Barbara’s top musicians have come out for a special event and to raise money for the Unity Shoppe.

The show was at the Red Piano in Santa Barbara Sunday.

It was the annual John Lennon Tribute with three hours full of songs by Lennon and the Beatles.

Jason Libs from the Red Piano led the musical tribute and those attending joined in with their favorite songs.

The tip jar was over flowing with donations that will be brought to the Unity Shoppe.

Performers included Jason Libs, Jackson Gillies, Bobby Montanes, Steve Puailoa, Maitland Ward, Will Bremon, Michael Andrews and many others.

The event is held around the time of the anniversary of the death of Lennon on December 8, 1980.

News Channel 3 will air the annual Unity telethon this Friday live from 5 to 8 p.m. All of proceeds will help those in need in the community with food, clothing, toys and many other essential needs.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Chuckie Roth is a tough act to follow but Jamie Neushul certainly has the respect and the resume to make it a seamless head coaching transition at San Marcos High School.

KEYT Sports has learned that 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Neushul will be the next head coach of the San Marcos Royals highly successful girls water polo program after Roth steps down following this season.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead the San Marcos Girls Water Polo program,” said Neushul in a press release. “Chuckie Roth is truly one of a kind — a pillar of our aquatics community whose competitive spirit and deep knowledge of the sport have shaped countless young women, including me. There is no replacing him, and I’m grateful for his support during this transition. I know he’ll continue to be one of the program’s biggest cheerleaders.

Santa Barbara water polo has always been close to my heart and has opened so many doors in my life. After moving back to town with my fiancé, it feels natural to stay involved in a community that raised me — from my years competing at Dos Pueblos, to coaching at Santa Barbara High, to my ongoing work with Santa Barbara Water Polo Club. With long-standing coaches like Chris Parrish, Mark Walsh, and Chuckie, this community has set an incredible standard, and I see this role as a chance to give back to the place that shaped me as both a player and a person.

San Marcos has an exceptionally motivated group of girls who love this sport and understand the work it takes to grow. But we’re teaching more than water polo. Above all else, I hope to help them build confidence, resilience, and the skills to take on challenges well beyond high school — in or out of the pool.”

(Neushul and San Marcos alum Paige Hauschild show off gold medal).

Neushul has been a standout player at every level of water polo from Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, to Dos Pueblos High School, at Stanford and for Team USA.

She helped lead the DP Chargers to two CIF-Southern Section Division 1 titles in 2010 and 2011.

Neushul is a 3-time NCAA National Champion and a 4-time All-American at Stanford.

(Jamie helped the Cardinal to NCAA titles in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Courtesy Stanford Athletics).

Jamie Neushul spent last season coaching for the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club that her mom Cathy Neushul has built into a nationally recognized elite training program.

(Jamie celebrating with her 14B Santa Barbara Water Polo Club team at 2025 Junior Olympics)

Jamie Neushul has already coached several of the current Royals players at the club level.

Chuckie Roth announced to his team at the beginning of the school year that he needed to step away from the girls program as he was spread too thin with all of his other coaching (SBCC Water Polo, San Marcos boys and girls swim team, assistant boys coach and club) and teaching duties.

Aaron Solis(Athletic Director) Quote – “While understanding and agreeing with Coach Roth’s decision, there is still a sadness in him stepping down. He has created one of the best programs in the country, instilling a team culture that is not only successful in the pool, but also in the classroom and in creating outstanding young adults. He is such a valuable asset to the Athletic program and school as a whole and I am happy he is continuing to help with the Boys team and lead our swimming teams and be able to coach his sons. “

We are so excited to have Coach Neushul join the Royal family for next season. Her experience as a player and a coach is invaluable and will be necessary to continue the success that Coach Roth has started. I look forward to seeing her establish her own team culture. Once she expressed interest in the position, we knew she was the one.”

Principal Dare Holdren quote – “Coach Roth is an amazing mentor and coach, and I am so happy that he will continue to lead our swim programs. I’m especially appreciative that he’ll have the opportunity to work with his sons as they move through the boys program. Nobody can ever replace Chuckie. That said, I am beyond thrilled that Jaime will be taking over the program. Her values and character align with ours, her experience is unmatched, and I can’t even imagine how great an experience it would be to play for a gold medalist.”

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C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – We would love to hear what you think. President Trump wants to open the Pacific Coast to more offshore oil drilling and he’s lowering fuel standards for automakers. Former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson offers the Democrat viewpoint and former Santa Barbara City Councilman Dale Francisco gives us the conservative opinion. Watch their discussion and tell us what you think.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Bands that would have been in the Milpas Street Holiday Parade will still get the chance to perform this weekend.

The parade was canceled last week.

In the past they took part in the multi-block event in front of thousands of people. That’s no longer taking place for 2025.

Instead a Holiday Band Expo will be held from 5:30 to 6:30p.m. in Peabody Stadium at Santa Barbara High School.

The featured bands will be from Santa Barbara High, La Colina Junior High, La Cumbre Junior High and the Bravo! elementary program.

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