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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services regarding possible delays in CalFresh benefits for eligible recipients.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. – The County of San Luis Obispo has received notice from the state and federal government that CalFresh benefits for November 2025 may be delayed if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues beyond October 23, 2025. This potential disruption could impact over 28,000 San Luis Obispo County residents who rely on CalFresh to help meet their basic food needs.

CalFresh, California’s nutrition assistance program for income-eligible households, helps families buy groceries using an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card at grocery stores and farmers markets.

“We understand how concerning this uncertainty is for families across the County,” said Devin Drake, Director for the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Social Services. “We are committed to keeping the public informed and supporting those affected in every way we can.”

CalFresh benefits for October are fully funded and available. Recipients can continue to use their existing benefits as usual, and no action is required at this time. Individuals can continue to apply for CalFresh during the shutdown. If funding to the program is not restored during the shutdown, benefits will resume when the shutdown is resolved. We expect CalFresh benefits will be issued retroactively once the federal government reopens.

The County is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. However, until the federal government authorizes funding, November CalFresh benefits will not be issued.

At this time, CalWORKs benefits for November 2025 are not impacted by the federal shutdown.

People seeking immediate food assistance can find food near them using the SLO Food Bank’s Food Resources Map at findfoodslo.org or by calling 805-238-4664. Other resources for county residents can be accessed through the United Way of San Luis Obispo County Helpline in one of the following three ways: by calling 2-1-1, texting their ZIP code to 898-211, or visiting their website at 211slo.org.

CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients can check their EBT balance using the ebtEDGE mobile app or by calling the number on the back of their EBT card.

For updates and more information about CalFresh and CalWORKs and the federal shutdown, please visit these websites:

· County of San Luis Obispo Department of Social Services website at slocounty.ca.gov/dss.

· California Department of Social Services website at cdss.ca.gov that includes a page for CalFresh Frequently Asked Questions.

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Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – An usual sight this time of year brought out the local beekeeper.  

A small beehive about the size of a softball was discovered this week, tucked into the corner of a window frame on our back patio.

Nick Wigle with Super Bee suspected it might be what he calls a “suicide swarm” or, a group kicked out of their hive. He said this is a tough time of year for bees as they’re preparing for winter.

Wigle and his partner, Julio, used a little smoke to mellow out the huddled group then went in for the catch using a small, rectangular orange box.

“We’re gonna come into our box here and what we’re looking for is to see if there’s a queen in here,” Wigle said while gently filtering bees through his fingers. “So, that’s mom, she’s just a little bit bigger. So there was a queen in there, she just fell when I played with ’em.”

Wigle said unlike yellow jackets, honey bees only sting when threatened or have something to defend. 

The bees captured inside the plastic box clung to the sides, flapping their wings and emitting a scent to draw in the others.

Wigle used a gentle vacuum to collect the stragglers. Once back at his Super Bee Rescue and Removal business in the hills of Santa Barbara, he would release this small swarm together so they could strengthen before the cold weather moves in.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – The Palm Theater in downtown San Luis Obispo is one of nine first-time recipients of the Science On Screen® Grant.

The grant is part of a $250,000 program courtesy of a partnership between philanthropic non-profit organizations the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Coolidge Corner Theatre.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre is in Brookline, Massachusetts, known to be a population hub of physical and life scientists.

Science On Screen® got its start at the Coolidge showing cult, documentary, and feature films along with expert presentations addressing issues raised by the films.

The Sloan Foundation has been partnering with them for the last two decades taking the grant program to a nationally recognized level.

Recipients of the grant are chosen based on several criteria including local need for science-related programming, the significance of their roles in the cultural lives of their communities, and the strength of their proposed programming.

“The grant encourages you to think, in your local community, what kind of resources and people that we have here?” says Skye Mclennan, the SLO Film Center’s Executive Director. “And so we are looking forward to doing one on the Dunes and a film kind of centered around that, plant science and carnivorous plants, also the psychology of the mind and maybe working with the local mental hospitals here.”

The SLO Film Center makes its home at the Palm Theater, and they are thrilled to receive the grant and announce their line-up of presentations.

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Alissa Orozco

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Ventura County couple has been sentenced in the murder case of Yanelly Vargas, a former girlfriend of the male suspect.

Just before midnight on March 17th, 2024, a 911 call was made to report a fight between a man and a woman outside an Oxnard business near East Wooley Road and Industrial Avenue – during the call, a gunshot was fired.

Yanelly Vargas was found unresponsive by Oxnard Police, and later died at Ventura County Medical Center from a gunshot wound.

A press release from the Ventura County District Attorney details how on the night of the murder, Vargas received a text message from Jorge Garfias, her ex-boyfriend, luring her out of a bar. Garfias and his new girlfriend, Margarita Jimenez, drove the woman to an alley in an industrial area where they beat her.

Vargas tried to walk away, but the couple followed her in Garfias’ truck. Jimenez was seen on surveillance footage exiting the truck and running after Vargas with a handgun. She shot the woman once and attempted to shoot a second time before fleeing the scene with Garfias.

An autopsy confirms Vargas died from a single gunshot wound to the chest and has also suffered multiple blunt force injuries and signs of strangulation.

Both Jimenez and Garfias were arrested on April 3rd, 2024. A blood trail, a spent 9mm shell casing, and a blood-stained yellow rope was found at the scene – along with acrylic nails, later matched to Jimenez, were also found.

The couple was sentenced by District Attorney, Erik Nasarenko, on Oct. 21st of first-degree murder: Margarita Jimenez was sentenced to 80 years to life in state prison, and Jorge Garfias was sentenced to 25 years to life.

Jimenez and Garfias were found not guilty of kidnapping the victim.

“Yanelly’s family and friends addressed the court and described their agony and how the defendants’ violent acts shattered their lives,” Deputy District Attorney Hyla Schneir said. “While no sentence can undo the harm caused or bring Yanelly back, we hope the court’s decision to impose the maximum sentences provides a measure of justice and a sense of closure as they continue to grieve and heal.”

The two were previously convicted by a jury on September 5th, where they also found Jimenez guilty of a special allegation that she personally and intentionally discharged a firearm. She later admitted to a strike prior, serious felony prior, and other aggravating factors.

Garfias was also found guilty of aggravating factors, including that he took advantage of a position of trust.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Students are racing through real-world career challenges at Vieja Valley Elementary School in Santa Barbara.

“We’re trying to go to Tower in 10 minutes in a group so it’s all about teamwork. How tall of a tower can you build,” said teacher Kim Aragon of Vieja Elementary School.

Funded by California Jobs First, the new skills lab uses monthly kits that simulate jobs in fields from AgTech to aerospace.

“We’re working on building skills that students will need in order to be productive in the labor force,” said superintendent Anne Hubbard of Hope School District.

“We’re learning teamwork and we’re building a tower that takes a lot of effort with the whole team,” said student Tayla Stites-Kemp of Vieja Elementary School.

“It’s hard because some people are not working and some people are and we’re trying to make a plan,” said student Zay Corzo of Vieja Elementary School.

So far kids say they’re loving all the hands-on activities from the monthly kits.

“I’m excited because this is a very fun math lesson and we get to work with so many of our close friends,” said Stites-Kemp.

A lab where classroom learning has become a pathway to real careers.

“Listening to each other and they just all wish they had more time,” said Aragon.

By engaging in practical problem-solving activities, students are building confidence and discovering potential career paths at an early age.

Teachers and program leaders hope the skills lab will inspire the next generation of local talent and strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline for future high-opportunity jobs.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria City Council approved additional funding Tuesday night needed to complete work on the now-under-construction Santa Maria Sports Complex.

According to the city staff report, an $5,530,000 in funding is required to allow the Santa Maria to deliver the long-planned sports park as envisioned, including four multipurpose playing fields, basketball courts, restrooms, playgrounds, trails, landscaping, site lighting, public art, and supporting facilities.

On Tuesday, councilmembers approved the appropriation of the additional funding andthe award of remaining bid alternatives for the project using Growth Mitigation Program funds, which are paid by developers.

“At last night’s meeting, City Council approved some additional funding to help bring home this sports project all the way to completion,” said Dennis Smitherman, Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department Recreation Services Manager. “In addition to the $12.1 million already allocated, last night’s approved additional funding to really bring this project home, so that means when we’re ready to cut the ribbon and that grand opening ceremony, we’ll have everything all completed.”

The city said in a release the funding will specially cover the cost security lighting, restrooms, a playground, landscaping, construction management, change orders and renovation of an existing water well.

While the complex will be available for many different types of sports, it’s soccer, which has by far and away the most participants in the city, both youth and adult, that will utilize the fields.

Currently, the city is lacking sufficient field space to fully accommodate the numerous organizations and teams, along with the thousands of soccer players of all ages.

“Field space is very limited currently in the city,” said Vlahdemir Cruz, Central Coast Surf Youth Soccer Club coach. “One of the biggest things is when it rains, certain facilities end up closing, and then there’s coaches scrambling for space.”

When the new facility opens, it will help alleviate some of the existing strain on the city’s inventory of sports fields.

“More field space means you open the you open the door for more programs,” said Cruz. “More programs means more involvement from the community specifically for the youth. It also it also gives us the opportunity to to grow the adult men’s league. And at this point right now, they’re growing a women’s men, women’s league, which would be a huge. Obviously we’re around the corner from the World Cup, so it is perfect timing. I mean, kids are out through the roof right now and the opening of the sports complex, it’s a huge, huge benefit to the city.”

Construction of the facility is expected to take several more months and the city is planning to open the sports complex sometime in either late 2026 or early 2027.

“This is such a great opportunity not only for our community, but for our region,” said Smitherman. “We’re going to be able to host our much needed, field sports right here, whether it be soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, but also open it up to the community, on a on a much broader scale and being able to host tournaments that we desperately can use here in the city, as well as inviting outside the community to come play as well.”

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John Palminteri

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The next stop for thousands of UC Santa Barbara students will be a job in their career field but it could be in a totally different direction.

That’s what some exolored at the fall career and internship day event in the Thunderdome on Wednesday.

70 employers were on-hand to meet with those looking for an internship or a starting job. Part-time and full-time positions were available.

Jane Castillon is a UCSB Associate Dean in Career Services and said, “it is the path that launches them upon graduation, it also provides opportunities for them to seek part time employment, internships, paid internships.”

An on line application is sometimes overwhelming for students who say they feel like they could be lost in the system. They often have more confidence in a face to face meeting right on their campus.

Castillon said of the employers on site, “all of them are seeking to hire.”

A third year student Zack Blum said, “I am interested in wealth management,  asset management consulting there are a lot of great companies out here a lot of them are companies I have applied to .”

UCSB’s career services office also helps the students with professional clothing for job interviews and help with their resume. There was a special table for students to go through a practice session on an interview before they met with some of the employers on site.

Students are taking a broad look at the job market locally, nationally, and internationally with companies that can provide something in their major or if they need to pivot, see who their studies can be applied.

Representatives were on site in areas such as technology, health care, finance and hospitality.

UCSB Grad Student Nicki Degado said, “in the day and age of where AI is going. it is concerning but nonetheless exciting and I have a back ground in brain science psychology  here at UCSB and I want to connect that with the technological advances we are heading towards.”

Some of the opportunities will be local and some are out of the area….but well paying and in their field.

UCSB Senior Bella Farrand who studied chemical engineering said she isn’t restricted by where the job is located. “I am open to practically anywhere, I am young and I would like to explore a little bit more.    I have lived in California my whole life, I would not mind staying in California.  It is an amazing state, it would also be cool to explore other areas.  “

If the graduate and the job don’t connect just yet,  Delgado said, “I love cooking. I love the culinary arts so  if this doesn’t work out I know I will be cooking for somebody….maybe my Dad!”

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Mina Wahab

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) — It’s been a stressful couple weeks for Leo Martinez, an Oxnard-based activist and VC Defensa volunteer who was detained by ICE after they rammed into his pick up truck last Thursday. 

“These ICE agents are brutal in the way that they act when nobody’s watching. So to see them do this, when people are watching, it kind of gives you a hint as to how they operate, when nobody’s paying attention to what they’re doing,” said Martinez. 

Martinez was in the area tracking ICE agents and warning community members about their presence.

In a video that’s since gone viral, a Jeep Grand Cherokee can be seen ramming into the side of Martinez’s pick-up truck. 

“When they actually hit me, that kind of caused a little bit of a panic because like I said, it’s a – it’s a lonely street there. There’s not a lot of traffic. This is seven something in the morning. So my initial thought was like, ‘they’re going to drag me out of the car and beat me up.’  I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to get brutalized off-camera and that somebody would catch something over here,” said Martinez. 

Oxnard police say that when they were called to the scene, ICE agents reported they were pursuing a truck that had hit their vehicle.

But the dash cam footage from Martinez’ truck does not show that. 

Martinez says he was relieved to find the dash cam footage from that day. 

“As you see this, I’m not speeding anywhere. They’re not turning on their lights at any point in time. And when I saw that they were going to continue following me as I kind of ran out of ideas and I said, ‘let’s go in circles for a while until I think about how it is I want to respond.’ And they just started getting really, really close to me,” said Martinez. 

Martinez says he’s accustomed to helping families who say they’ve been pulled over and brutalized by ICE agents, but this is the first time that he’s experienced aggression firsthand. 

He shows us exclusive dash cam footage from last Monday.

“They were in full gear. And as soon as they noticed that I was on them, they pulled over right away. They all got out with their guns out. They all got started moving towards me,” said Martinez. 

That Monday, Martinez says ICE agents smashed the car window of another VC Defensa volunteer. 

Martinez says despite the increased aggression his team has been experiencing at the hands of ICE agents, they will continue to fight for the community. 

“The question is, ‘how do you speak out about this?’ ‘How do you draw attention to this?’ Because the other alternative is not doing anything. When we see these families come in for support, we see ourselves in every one of their kids. We’re never going to let that go,” said Martinez.

Oxnard police say Homeland Security is in charge of the investigation and they’re not taking an active role in the incident.

We’ve reached out to Homeland Security for comment.

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Alissa Orozco

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Several individuals are facing criminal charges following a three-month investigation conducted by the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit.

In May of 2025, the Narcotics Unit severed search warrants relating to an investigation of the sales and distribution of illegal narcotics within San Luis Obispo County.

The investigation ended with detectives seizing approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately $80,000.00 in US currency, and 11 firearms.

The following individuals were arrested in the case:

JORGE CASTANEDA: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4- (sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic), HS 11352(B)- transport for sale-controlled substance from non-contiguous county to another.

CARLOS RIOS: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4(A)- sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic (cocaine), HS 11378- possess controlled substance for sale, HS 11370.4 (B)- enhancement over 1 kilogram methamphetamine, HS 11351- possess controlled substance for sale.

BIANCA SUDIAS NAVARRO: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4- (sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic), HS 11352(B)- transport for sale-controlled substance from non-contiguous county to another, HS 11351- possess controlled substance for sale.

ALEXIS NUSICO ISIDRO: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4- (sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic), HS 11352(B)- transport for sale-controlled substance from non-contiguous county to another, PC 12022.1- commit felony while released on bail.

ANTHONY TRAVERSO: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11351- possess controlled substance for sale.

ARGENIS ZEPEDA GRANDE: PC 182(A)(1)-conspiracy, HS 11370.4(A)- sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic).

JOSE CASTANEDA: PC 182(A)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4(A)- sales enhancement over one kilogram of narcotic (cocaine), HS 11351- possess controlled substance for sale.

ZACHARY HOYT: PC 182(A)(1)- conspiracy, HS 11370.4(A)- sales enhancement over 1 kilogram of narcotic (cocaine).

The Sheriff’s Office says the drug trafficking organization was based out of Northern San Luis Obispo County with ties to Southern California and Mexico.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). – Down 4-1 in the first set, Santa Barbara High School senior Nicole Buist ripped off five straight games and went on to capture the Channel League Individual Singles title 6-4, 6-3 over Dos Pueblos senior Mel Mayo.

The two players have grown up together playing with and against each other in Southern California tournaments and throughout high school.

(Nicole Buist and Mel Mayo sharing a meal at the age of 6. Courtesy photo).

The San Marcos High School duo of Kate Selby and Tate Jaeger won the Channel League Doubles crown over the Santa Barbara High School team of Lucy Kronberg and Kate Hashbarger 6-1, 6-0.

Buist along with Selby/Jaeger will play next month in the CIF-SS Individual Sectionals.

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