Category: keyt-local-news

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Students across the Santa Barbara Unified School District returned to class Wednesday, marking the end of summer break and the start of a new school year.

Santa Barbara High School was filled with first-day energy as students found their classrooms, reconnected with friends and met their new teachers.

“I’m really excited for football games and then also getting out of classes and having new people in my classes,” student Jacqueline Durling said. “It’s super exciting.”

The first day brought a mix of familiar faces, new classmates and hopes for the year ahead.

“My hope for this year is probably to get good grades and do well in our volleyball season and just have a good community for school,” Durling said.

Student Bea Flagiello is looking forward to meeting people and learning more about her teachers.

“Meet people and learn new things about my new teachers, maybe get to know a few classmates,” Flagiello said.

Teachers also spent the day getting to know their new classes and helping students settle into a new routine.

“First day of school, it’s going great,” Santa Barbara High School teacher Miranda Jue said. “This is the second class of the day. They’re really great. I love that our admin has been really present on campus too, which is really nice for the students to see.”

Beyond the nerves and excitement, the focus is on creating a welcoming campus where students feel comfortable and ready to learn.

“I feel very settled as a teacher,” one teacher said. “I feel like we have a great group of students and love seeing all the incredible faces that are passing through my door.”

The first day marks a fresh start and the beginning of another school year across Santa Barbara Unified.

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – The San Luis Obispo County Elections Office held a media event Wednesday morning to help provide the community with important updates and developments about the upcoming General Election on Nov. 3. 2026.

During the one-hour event at the San Luis Obispo County Elections Center inside the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, County-Clerk Recorder Elaina Cano provided insight on what voters can expect when ballots arrive in a few weeks.

Cano provided information on a number of election-related topics, including what will be on the ballot and what changes have been made to the ballot itself, updated processing and counting timelines and ongoing voter registration projects.

Other subjects discussed were updated U.S. Postal Service changes, changes with voting at the polls and combating misinformation and communication logistics.

The upcoming General Election will provide voters with a very full ballot that includes several different races, including at the local and statewide level.

In San Luis Obispo County, there will be a number of elections for local school districts, community services districts and special districts, in addition to offices that include candidates advancing from the top-two June Primary Election, including seats for the U.S. House of Representatives, State Assembly, and statewide constitutional offices.

Three San Luis Obispo County seats that were up for election during the June Primary Election will not be on the November since they were decided by voters and do not require a runoff.

Those include the District Two Supervisors seat that was won by Jim Dantona, the District Four Supervisor seat won by Jimmy Paulding and the County Clerk-Recorder position won by Cano.

Voter registration remains open until 15 days before Election Day. The deadline this year for voter registration is on Oct. 19, 2026.

Eligible San Luis Obispo County residents who are not yet registered, or who need to update an existing registration (such as a name or address change), can do so at registertovote.ca.gov.

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Andrew Gillies

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara City College’s campus was placed on a temporary lockdown while officers searched for a person who reportedly punctured a bicycle tire after an argument Tuesday.

The Santa Barbara Police Department went to the community college’s campus around 10:56 a.m. after a caller said that a person they only knew on a first-name basis had argued with them before using “a sharp instrument” to puncture the tire of their bicycle. Several patrol officers arrived and joined campus security mainly in an area above La Playa Stadium.

The person then left the area towards Santa Barbara City College’s main campus and the entire school was shut down out of an abundance of caution and in compliance with safety procedures.

According to Santa Barbara City College’s Jordan Killebrew, both the east and west sections of campus were part of Tuesday’s lockdown as police searched the area.

The person was not found on campus after the search and the lockdown was lifted stated the Santa Barbara Police Department about noon.

One family was the bookstore at the time and stayed in place. Sandy Gilmore could see some of the police activity from there. “We were told there was a slashing and slashed tires and there was a victim that we were watching outside of the window and they were photographing his body.  His front and then they too pictures of his back. We were all just watching it.”

No additional information about the suspect nor their relationship to the caller or the campus has been shared publicly at this time.

The bike was taken off the campus.

Local police shared that at this point, there does not appear to be any ongoing threat to the community.

Your News Channel has reached out to the Santa Barbara Police Department multiple times for more information and their response will be added to this article when it is received.

(There are two video clips attached)

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Flag Football: San Marcos 13, Santa Ynez 6: Victoria Aldana tossed two fourth quarter touchdown passes to Piper Kittle for the comeback win. The game was scoreless heading into the final quarter.

(Scarlett Holian had one of the two Royals interceptions as San Marcos improves to 4-2 on the year. Entenza Design).

Flag Football: Santa Barbara 27, Simi Valley 12: The Dons improved to 3-0 behind some explosive plays from Camila Salcedo who scored on a 41-yard touchdown run and a 56-yard touchdown catch. Laila Hernandez tossed two touchdown passes and ran for another score.

Girls Volleyball:Santa Barbara 3, Valencia 1: Blake Saunders had 16 kills for the 1-2 Dons.

(Lola Heckman is up at the net for the block. Entenza Design).

Girls Volleyball: Arroyo Grande 3, San Marcos 0: Margaret Deakyne and Harper Dees each had six kills as the Royals dropped to 0-2.

Boys Water Polo: Thousand Oaks 17, Santa Barbara 12: Mason Walsh scored five goals for the Dons who dropped their season opener.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Griffin Arnold went from Big Game MVP to fighting for his life in a matter of a few weeks.

“Going through all of that definitely changed my outlook on a lot of stuff, it’s all a blur now I am back in full shape,” said a grateful Arnold who is entering his junior season as quarterback for the Santa Barbara High School Dons.

Arnold was having a standout sophomore season in 2025 throwing 14 touchdown passes with just one interception in six games. He was even honored at the Most Valuable Player in the Dons rout of rival San Marcos in the annual Big Game.

But in early October he was having stomach pains, fatigue and a fever. He was sent to UCLA Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He underwent chemo treatment to reduce a papaya-sized tumor blocking his intestines.

His body responded well to the treatment and by spring he was playing baseball for the Dons.

Griffin Arnold is now cancer-free as he enters the Dons 2026 football season which kicks off at home this Friday night against Camarillo at 7 p.m.

“I just appreciate being out here with the guys, working everyday, you don’t take anything for granted anymore,” said Arnold.

“Guys are going to rally around him,” began Dons head coach Nate Mendoza. “We love his play on the field but to have his leadership back that is key, he is a phenomenal leader.”

Griffin lost around 40 pounds last fall but all of the weight has come back and he is excited to play a full season for what should be a solid Dons year.

“I am feeling better mentally, physically, you know I am stronger,” said Arnold. “We have the guys, we have the weapons and we have a lot of returners coming back on defense so I think everyone is looking forward to a great season.”

It’s great to have Griffin Arnold back under center for the Dons.

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Mike Klan

MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) – Ajay Mitchell records another assist for UCSB men’s basketball.

The former Gauchos star point guard is now the general manager for the program he led to the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

“I told coach(Joe Pasternack) awhile back that I just wanted to help this program in any way I could and it’s great,” smiled Mitchell. “I am excited to still be a part of this program.”

“He loves the university, loves the community, loves our basketball program and really cares about mentoring our athletes,” stated Pasternack.

The official announcement came at a donor event at the Coral Casino hosted by UCSB alum Mike Stewart.

Mitchell is entering his third season in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft after starring at UCSB from 2021-2024. He was the Big West Freshman of the Year in 2022 and the Big West Player of the Year in 2023 leading the Gauchos to the NCAA Tournament in his junior season.

Mitchell is looking forward to his mentor and advisor role with UCSB. “Definitely helping the younger guys being a mentor to them, helping with the recruitment process and retaining our players and seeing the areas where we can grow, the goal is to win.”

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

L.A. Chargers Invitational Costa Mesa: JSerra 28, Dos Pueblos 0; Bonita Vista 13, Dos Pueblos 6 (DP goes 2-2 in the tournament).

San Marcos 101 Tournament: San Marcos 21, Pacifica 0; Chaminade 7, San Marcos 0; San Marcos 32, West Ranch 0 (San Marcos goes 2-1 in tournament). Victoria Aldana had 4 TD passes, 2 TD runs and intercepted 4 passes in the three games. Bella Bazlewicz caught 2 TD passes and Milana Lynn rushed for 2 touchdowns and added an interception.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police arrested two people after a wanted person investigation and recovered a firearm, narcotics and stolen property just after 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

SMPD officers found a car associated with a wanted person and later contacted a 40-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman at the 1200 block of Furukawa Way.

The 40-year-old man had six outstanding warrants, and SMPD officers found nearly five grams of suspected cocaine in his possession, resulting in narcotics and probation charges.

SMPD officers then searched a storage unit associated with the 46-year-old woman and recovered about 23 grams of suspected cocaine, a loaded handgun, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, digital scales and around $2,300 worth of suspected stolen merchandise.

SMPD officers arrested the woman on multiple narcotics, firearm, ammunition and stolen property charges and the investigation remains ongoing.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria Police Gang Suppression Team recovered a firearm at a traffic stop just after 8:00 p.m. Saturday.

SMPD officers found the loaded gun from a driver at the Western Avenue and Rancho Verde intersection.

SMPD officers later arrested the driver for concealed firearm possession and booked them into the county jail.

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Caleb Nguyen

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – A pedestrian suffered major injuries after a car hit him at the Oxnard Boulevard and Ninth Street intersection just before 5:00 a.m. Sunday, according to Oxnard Police.

OPD officers performed life-saving measures on the 40-year-old who was hit and paramedics later took the man to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.

OPD traffic investigators believe the 65-year-old driver of a Camry travelling north eventually hit the pedestrian crossing from the east sidewalk to the west sidewalk of Oxnard Boulevard.

The driver did not show signs of impairment and was cooperative with OPD officers during their investigation.

Those who have more information on the crash are asked to contact the OPD.

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