Category: keyt-local-news

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Zoo has added the Western Snowy Plover and the Southern Sea Otter to the newly redesigned Richard Block Conservation Hub.

This is an all-ages interactive learning space. There will be researchers and educators there daily near displays, along with actual equipment that is used in both field work and inside habitats.

The zoo is visited by thousands of guests and many school students on field trips annually.   For many visitors it is a chance to see an animal, learn about it and find out about research efforts.

Santa Barbara Zoo CEO Charles Hopper said, “we have species here in California that exist here and nowhere else in the world and what an opportunity to care for them in your back yard.”

The goal is to teach those who see the exhibits more about the otter and plover which they may see in the wild. This hands-on program will create a sense of understanding about the native species and the need to be gentle on their environment. On the South Coast plovers have a known habitat on Coal Oil Point west of Isla Vista. Otters are very visible in areas such as the coast of Cambria and in Morro Bay but have found new areas they enjoy south of Point Conception and at times in areas of the Channel Islands.

The zoo is hoping everyone who comes in becomes more knowledgeable and has a sense of caring through wildlife conservation after having these personal experiences.

Santa Barbara Zoo Conservation Science Associate Nadya Seal Faith said, “so often in zoos,  you are looking and not touching. We want you to  touch please, please come in get hands on learning.”

She also has a strong report card on what’s happening in the wild. “This year we have had a higher count that we have ever had for an otter survey with our partners.” Looking ahead, ” the population is doing what it is supposed to do. “

There is no age specific plan for the new exhibits and research interactions, but the goal is both on the site and off.    “Seeing it in the wild sparks this curiosity  and amazement that makes you care for it even more,” said Hopper. “That creates the sense of amazement and wonderment and changes the minds of our young future conservationists and who knows what they are going to do.”

In the newly refreshed Conservation Hub, at the top of the property, the zoo says their guests will experience:

Community Conservation – Guests will be encouraged to initiate their own coastal conservation activity by participating in beach and creek clean-ups and transforming their trash into a community marine debris art piece that will be displayed on the room’s central podium.

Custom Interactive Water Table – An immersive, hands-on exploration of coastal habitats and watershed connections. Think touch tank meets video game!

Plover Conservation Experience – Guests will learn how conservation organizations support snowy plovers from intake through release, explore simulated nests and incubators, and learn ways they can contribute to plover conservation efforts.

Otter Spotter Activity – Guests will learn how researchers identify and track sea otters and understand why monitoring populations is critical to conservation success.

Choose Your Own Adventure Activities – Interactive decision-making experiences that allow guests to explore the many ways humans connect with and impact coastal ecosystems.

Conservation Action Opportunities – Guests will discover local conservation partnerships, learn more about Southern California’s marine ecosystems, and explore practical ways they can make a difference in their own communities.

For more information go to: sbzoo.org

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Dave Alley

GROVER BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – A citizen initiative to limit building heights in Grover Beach will appear on the ballot during the upcoming General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Grover Beach City Council recently voted to place the initiative on the ballot after a community group gathered the required amount of signatures for the measure to move forward.

If approved, the initiative measure will limit building heights and establish a minimum commercial component of 33% in mixed-used developments.

Currently, Grover Beach Municipal Code allows for building heights up to 55 feet in certain commercial zones and 40 feet in industrial zones.

The initiative would limit heights to three stories and 40 feet in commercial zones and 33 feet in industrial zones.

In addition, the measure would require a minimum commercial component for mixed-use developments, which the city currently does not require.

“The goal of the initiative is to preserve our public views, scenic views and vistas,” said Kelvin Coveduck, a supporter of the initiative. “Grover Beach is known to have these beautiful views from their public streets such as Grand (Avenue) Ramona (Avenue), Brighton (Avenue). These are public thoroughfares where the views are going to be obstructed by buildings such as these. When you drive by these buildings that are going 55 to 60 feet tall, you’re losing the small town beach atmosphere that Grover Beach is known for.”

The ballot initiative comes at the same Grover Beach currently going through a building boom, most notably along the West Grand Avenue corridor.

In particular, two multi-story mixed-use housing developments have risen over the past two years at the busy intersection of West Grand Avenue and 4th Street.

There is also another multi-level residential development under construction two blocks away to the west along Grand Avenue adjacent to the railroad tracks.

The new buildings have captured a lot attention throughout the community, with some concerned about the size, scope and scale of recent developments.

“We’re not against growth,” said Coveduck. “We love to see responsible growth, but it’s going too far. The citizens saw that the City Council didn’t acknowledge it. And so the citizens went to direct democracy.”

The initiative measure will need a majority of the vote to earn approval.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura Police arrested a man for possession of methamphetamine in his car for sale just before 11:00 a.m. on Monday.

VPD officers received a call on suspicious circumstances involving a man with a gun at the 3100 block of Seaborg Ave.

VPD offices then conducted a traffic stop on the man’s black sedan and detained the man inside.

VPD officers then found a half pound of methamphetamine in his car alongside a large amount of cash and a pellet rifle.

VPD officers investigated then arrested the man on a possession of narcotics for sale charge.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A preliminary hearing date has been set for the Vandenberg Village mother who is accused of killing 9-year-old daughter in 2025.

Inside a Santa Maria courtroom Monday, the preliminary hearing for Ashlee Buzzard was set for Sept. 16, 2026.

The preliminary hearing is expected to last as full day.

In Dec. 2025, Buzzard was arrested and charged with first-degree murder of her daughter Melodee after the girl’s remains were found in rural Utah.

Melodee Buzzard was first reported missing in October after a three-day road trip with her mother.

Authorities later found the child’s body in Wayne County, Utah in early December and said she had died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Ashlee Buzzard has pleaded not guilty in the high-profile case, which as drawn considerable media attention both locally and nationally.

Buzzard’s defender Erica Sutherland announced Monday she plans to file a request for an accomodationi under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Buzzard.

Judge Stephen Dunkle, who is overseeing over the case, is expected to consider the motion during a hearing scheduled for July 7.

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John Palminteri

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The arrival of a specialized vessel incidates the next step in the three-year decommissioning and soil remediation project underway by Chevron in Carpinteria.

The goal is to remove the closed, and no longer useful, oil and gas processing facility and near shore pipelines around the Carpinteria Bluffs and waters.

The project aims at restoring the area in many locations from the tidal surfline to the on shore facilities.

Recently residents and those walking the bluffs have seen the major oil tank demolition to the east of the State Park. It was a 50-foot-tall structure known as Tank 861. The steel will be recycled.  

The timeline for the pipeline removal and site clean-up is about three years, the project has been reviewed extensively including by local officials and the California Coastal Commission.

The 55-acre site and its restoration plan are very important to the city of Carpinteria and the future uses are not known at this time.   

For the current time period the removal of pipes will be very visible.

There will be close scrutiny of the work because the facility is adjacent to environmentally and culturally sensitive areas, such as the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary and potential Chumash sites.   

The area is well known for the Casitas Pier, constructed in 1966 to support offshore oil and gas operations.  The pier is approximately 700 feet long and the end of the pier consists of a 90-foot by 90-foot deck area, which functions as a staging area for loading and unloading cargo and passengers to and from marine vessels. 

The Carpinteria Oil and Gas Processing Facility has supported a number of offshore production and transport related facilities. They include platforms Hope, Heidi, Hazel, and Hilda, a marketing marine terminal, and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) production from Platforms Gail and Grace. 

Some of the project work has crossed the Union Pacific train route.

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

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John Palminteri

CORONADO, Calif. (KEYT) – For the first time, a U.S. Navy base was used for a NASCAR race event. It included three races including the widely viewed Sunday Cup race the 2026 Anduril 250, shown worldwide.

The event took place as a street course at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.

Over 100,000 fans and members of the military were on hand for the multi-day event to see the races up close, but to also participate in the interaction the sport is known for before the racing.Many audience members were from the Central Coast or previously lived there and were thrilled to see this sport up close.

The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana was the last big race course used by NASCAR and it closed after the 2023 race. A smaller set up was built inside the Coliseum in Los Angeles for two races in 2023 and 2024.

This special course on the Navy based was 3.4 miles with 16 turns.

It was high speeds tight corners and an amazing backdrop of a nucear powered aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson (CGN 70) at one of the first turns.

But before they went racing, fans saw their favorite drivers  and champions causally doing meet and greets, answering questions and signing some autographs.

With a special ticket or a corporate group you can have access you won’ t have in other sports.

That would be in the garage area. It was also a close up look at the cars and the final work before they went on the track.

One of the legends Richard Petty was there meeting Navy personnel and making a dream come true for longtime fans who took pictures and talked about some historic moments.

Matty Ward is a NASCAR fan with a large autographed flag. He said it was, “amazing! I’ve always dreamed of meeting him.  It’s the first time. So happy to do it.”

Lisa Jessop was wearing red, white and blue and said, “Everyone is cheering.  There’s so many different drivers.” She said she could feel the “spirit.”

Her husband Brian said, “It’s amazing, it’s great. It’s the first time ever.” They were thrilled to be part of the historic event.

On the front line a Santa Barbara resident Bob  Mann is  a firefighter at the track. He formerly worked in Bakersfield and has done track fire services in Fontana, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Mann said, “when they come in to the pits we have to be there for fire protection. We don’t want to be part of the show but we want to be there just in case.” He says they use water and not a dry chemical because it can “make a mess.”

For the thousands that came out from Southern California and across the country it was one of the most patriotic combinations they could have every imagined, the Navy and Nascar. The event featured flyovers with several different styles of military planes and there was a “Top Gun” feeling for some of the fans.

NASCAR said almost 70 percent were first time fans to a NASCAR track and they saw a boost from supporters of the sport from Mexico where racing is popular.

While the base was on high alert because of all the visitors, no serious problems were reported. One fan who climbed a fence during a race break and then went to a driver inside the car, was caught by military police and arrested.

The races were shown worldwide on the CW and Prime networks. Announcers were broadcasting from the top of the aircraft carrier. After Heim won he was escorted past sailors on the deck, giving “High 5’s” all the way.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARAM Calif. (KEYT) ⁃ A new Habitat for Humanity ReStore is getting a fresh start on State Street with help from volunteers with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation.

Inside the future store, volunteers are painting walls, moving furniture, and organizing the space as they prepare it for opening.

“This is the rewarding part of my role where you get to see your work firsthand and you get a quick turnaround and see the impact that you have,” said Mayra Terrazas, program coordinator with the Chumash Foundation.

The ReStore, located at 400 State Street in Santa Barbara, will sell donated furniture, appliances, and home improvement items. Proceeds from the store will support Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing efforts in the community.

Nick Gianis, philanthropy manager with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said the volunteer effort is part of the tribe’s employee giving program.

“We have Team Chumash. It’s a program we developed for employees to be able to give back to the community. The tribe has a big heart,” Gianis said.

Habitat Santa Barbara is continuing to accept donations of furniture and household goods as the store prepares to open.

“We have seen the community wants this ReStore to come back,” said Susan Renehan, director of philanthropy and external affairs with Habitat Santa Barbara.

Each donated item has the chance to make an impact twice — first by finding a new home, and then by helping support affordable housing for local families.

The ReStore is expected to open this summer in Santa Barbara.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara Solstice Festival’s Reggae Roots Sunday fell on Father’s Day.

Dads and others danced to the SkaDaddyZ on the Main Stage in the afternoon.

The Ventura County band has a following that loves to move to ska and reggae music.

People in Alameda Park also had a chance to check out many of floats put on display following Saturday’s Solstice Parade.

Sean Edmondson had a Father’s Day picnic in the park with his wife and daughter during the festival.

“Yeah my father taught me to be yourself always to be kind gentlemen that is what i try to teach her a kind lady and to have good moral values and treat others as you want to be treated,”said Edmondson.

People all around the park had seemed to be sharing the day with their dad’s and special men in their lives.

Up and coming bands including Skinripper and Lynsdey Marire Bradberri performed on a Community Stage.

Families watched with pride.

The festival celebrating the longest day of the year wrapped up before sunset.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) Gamers lovers enjoyed the Ventura Gamer Festival.

The festival filled a San Miguel Hall at the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend.

That’s where people of all ages had a chance to play old and new games.

Some gamers called it the perfect way spend time with their dads on Father’s Day.

“I love being here with my dad and my brother because it kind of brings back a lot of memories when I would game with them and i still do so that is Ventura fun,” said Benjamin Dumas of Ventura.

Gamers had a chance to buy games, consoles and more.

Plenty of people came to trade and buy trading cards, too.

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