Category: keyt-local-news

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A 36-year-old Santa Maria man is a person of interest after shooting someone leading to their hospitalization on Friday.

The shooting investigation at the 500 block of East El. Camino required police activity just after 1:30 p.m. Friday in Santa Maria, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.

SMPD officers advised citizens to avoid travelling in this area due to street closures, and cleared the scene as of 9:00 p.m. Friday.

Neighbors in the area say police had been there since 9:00 a.m. Friday. SMPD officers say the suspect remains at large and the man wasn’t found inside once they and other law enforcement went in the home.

The 36-year-old is wanted on outstanding warrants and is potentially armed, according to the SMPD.

Those who are aware of or have information about his whereabouts are asked to contact the SMPD immediately.

This case remains under active investigation by the SMPD Detective Bureau.

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Alissa Orozco

VENTURA, Calif. – Kevin John Reyonlds of Newbury Park was arrested and placed into Ventura County Main Jail Wednesday for possession and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

On August 27th, investigators entered Reynolds’ home with a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation. In collaboration with Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Unit, the FBI, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Reynolds was identified as a person downloading and distributing CSAM.

Multiple computers and external hard drives were confiscated during the search.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s office says Reynolds was employed as a chemistry teacher at Fillmore High School. The Fillmore Unified School District and the Fillmore Police Department were notified immediately.

A statement release from the Fillmore Unified School District says it does not have any information on whether any current or previously enrolled students were involved in the crimes, but announced Reynolds would not be returning to any district campus.

“The sexual exploitation of our children is one of the most disturbing crimes our investigators confront,” said Chief Investigator Scott Whitney. “Our investigators work tirelessly to identify and arrest those who seek to harm the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Reynolds was arrested on charges of possession of CSAM and distribution of CSAM and posted his $50,000 bail.

His next court appearance is set for September 10th, 2025.

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Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a major statewide expansion of California Highway Patrol crime suppression teams, though the Central and South Coast is not currently included in the rollout.

“The CHP-Coastal Division, which includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, is not part of this deployment,” said Jordan Richards, Public Information Officer for CHP-Coastal Division, which has offices stretching from Moorpark to Monterey.

When asked if extra anti-crime units might be added locally, Jonathan Gutierrez, CHP PIO for Santa Barbara, said there are no plans.

“As far as I know there aren’t any plans to do so, but the anti-crime unit has jurisdiction throughout California. They can easily come through the area if they’re following up on cases,” Gutierrez said.

He noted the specialized units typically work independently but occasionally reach out to local offices.

“In most cases they do not call the area-level officers for assistance, but every once in a while they do, but it’s rare,” Gutierrez said. “We do not give out guideline strength, but I am allowed to let you know we have over 6,000 officers as a Department.”

Statewide Expansion

While the Central Coast is not included, Newsom’s announcement does add CHP suppression teams to Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire.

“You may recall the early success of those efforts,” Newsom said. “There were 6,200 citations. There were hundreds of stolen vehicles that were recovered … illegal guns, over 700 pounds of fentanyl was seized because of that operation. So successful was the operation in 2023 that we started receiving phone calls from other mayors throughout the state of California, and we’re going to be expanding this operation. Building on the success that is now included over 9,000 arrests statewide.”

Newsom said the new deployments will be done in coordination with local officials and law enforcement. The announcement was also framed as a contrast to President Trump’s recent decision to deploy federal troops across the country.

Building on Previous Results

The new teams are intended to build on existing efforts in crime hot spots. In Oakland, CHP officers have recovered more than 4,200 stolen vehicles, seized 247 firearms, and made hundreds of arrests since February 2024. In Bakersfield, CHP has confiscated 114 firearms, made over 850 felony arrests, and recovered 1,386 stolen cars since April 2024.

“When the state and local communities work together strategically, public safety improves,” Newsom said. “With these new deployments, we’re doubling down on these partnerships to build on progress and keep driving crime down.”

CHP’s Approach

CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said the teams focus on high-visibility patrols to disrupt criminal activity.

“We go in and saturate an area with high visibility, in-view patrols,” Duryee told ABC7. “We’re going to put numbers of black and white patrol cars with officers in uniform in there. It deters criminals.”

Duryee also noted that in Los Angeles, “crime is already trending downward. Both violent crimes and property crimes are down 17 percent from last year.”

Political Undercurrent

Newsom also used the announcement to draw a contrast with President Trump’s recent deployment of federal troops to Democratic-run cities. He argued California’s approach is collaborative, done in coordination with local law enforcement, while Trump’s actions were unilateral.

As part of that critique, Newsom highlighted crime statistics from Republican-led states. He pointed to Louisiana, which had a murder rate of 19.3 per 100,000 in 2023, nearly four times higher than California’s rate of 5.1. The governor suggested the disparity undercuts Trump’s claims about crime being concentrated in Democratic strongholds.

“While the Trump administration undermines cities, California is partnering with them and delivering real results.”

Statewide Trends

The governor’s office says violent crime across California’s eight largest cities has dropped 12.5 percent so far in 2025, with homicides down 20 percent and robberies down nearly 19 percent.

Newsom framed the expansion as a continuation of that progress. “The work is far from over, but we’re showing the country what’s possible when we choose collaboration over chaos.”

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Alissa Orozco

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight, August 29th, between 7:05pm -11:05pm.

The rocket will be carrying 24 Starlink satellites to send into low-orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East.

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

Analysis from Vandenberg Space Force Base says local areas surrounding the base will be able to hear the low initial rumble of take off, but no sonic boom is expected.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-7 and on X @SpaceX.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –  The last big weekend of the summer season makes report card time for the travel industry. Hotel bookings, the number of people on airport flights, destination popularity or a change in trends are all getting a look.

In Santa Barbara just after Old Spanish Days, the first week in August, several restaurants and travel locations said they saw a dip in foot traffic for at least a week. They are hoping it rebounds now with the hot weather and Labor Day crowds on the move.

In part, those who have been in the business for years said, they were surprised to see the school year start as soon as it did in mid-August and believe that was a factor.

Financial concerns are also leading people to look at closer trips, staycations, and travel deals.

Uncertainty over employment or their job status in the next six months has also been an ongoing concern with recent layoffs, consolidations, and AI influences on the work place.

Summer travel spending does not have to be lavish on the Central Coast with many opportunities to explore the outdoors from the beaches to the many hiking trails, along with art galleries and numerous free events. Those include live concerts in the park and movies in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens.

Rich Branning is a driver and co-owner of the free Loop shuttle service and rentals in Santa Barbara.  On a drive up State Street he said, “when you’re providing a free golf cart shuttle up and down, one of America’s,  if not the world ‘s, nicest locations, it’s hard for them to have a bad time. So I think we’ve enjoyed playing a part in that. “

He has seen a trend this year. “There’s definitely a sentiment that has switched pretty abruptly over the last six months to a year in terms of, what they’re looking to spend on, and I think really what their future outlook is. I think purchasing power has decreased for sure.”

He sees some day trippers coming in regularly, mainly from Los Angeles. “I definitely think people have utilized the train a lot more than previously. I’d say we get a lot of people from the LA area, take it up the train for the day, rather than maybe staying the weekend.”

The Loop has had three golf cart style shuttles moving throughout downtown with about 14 seats.    Often though not a lot of extra shopping bags have been part of the ride. He worries that some of the economic trends to him are cool right now. Definitely not

Near Stearns wharf  visitors were asked where they have been spending their time and money and if there have been new factors affecting their travel.

Olivia Damato said, “for a lot of my friends, at least, people are skipping out on traveling this year because of economic hardship. And I think for us to be able to do, we really needed to prioritize it. I think that everybody’s feeling the economy in this moment. “

Some were in and around Santa Barbara was not just for recreation, but also for family.

Kris Egan sat with her husband and said, “we’ve been up to Boise, Idaho to see the grandkids and we are back to Pennsylvania to see his relatives and we are here to see my son.”

Getting set for UC Santa Barbara next month and walking with her parents, Isabella Christman said, I’m moving  down here the fall.”  She says that has kept the trips close to home and within the state. 

A Long Beach resident said trips within a few hours have worked out the best for now.

Juan  Jimenez said, “I’ve been here before. But I wanted to bring her (his wife) and the kids and, we’re actually going to go to, Solvang after.”

For a couple  from Texas this was the right spot, at the right time since they are building a home right now.

Reece Struzick said if was affordable and  “everything is just so clean of well established.   Not very crowded like we thought it was going to be. Just awesome. “

Back on the road with the Loop shuttle we also found out the drivers will be rolling through the end of November on this trial service.  They have also become a visitor center on wheels,  with information and suggestions for the riders on where to go,  what to do,   what to eat and  where to find some memorable moments.

The Santa Barbara Airport has been reporting strong passenger counts and is expected to exceed $1.4-million for the year.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Santa Maria Valley YMCA has a new playhouse for its preschool programs thanks to a generous donation made by two well known local philanthropists.

Mike and Marla Gibson, who have been involved in numerous Santa Maria Valley non-profit organizations, charities and events for many years, recently won the playhouse during a fundraiser for CALM, a community-based mental health agency serving Santa Barbara County.

“The high school students over at the vocational training center (The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Mark Richardson Career Technical Education Center) built this playhouse house for a construction competition,” said Mike Gibson. “After it was done, they donated to CALM. CALM had a fundraiser a few weeks ago and they auctioned it off. I was lucky enough to be the high bidder. And I donated it to the Y because I knew that the preschool could use the playhouse.”

On Friday, the Santa Maria YMCA, the Gibsons, along with other local stakeholders held a ribbon cutting to officially open up the playhouse for the kids.

“It’s great all these kids are going to get so much enjoyment out of playing in that playhouse,” said Gibson. “They can play house inside and there’s a little stove and all kinds of fun stuff for them to do in there.”

The playhouse needed to be carefully hoisted over the YMCA building into an outdoor play area.

Now that it’s in place and open to the kids, the YMCA has big plans for its future usage.

“It’s just a huge enhancement to our outdoor classroom,” said Diana Borjas, Santa Maria V Preschool and Aquatic Director. “We haven’t had a preschool playhouse here to this caliber ever. We just have such a vision for it. For each season, we’re going to bring it to life. We’re going to be able to use it for their imagination and dramatic play, making it into a library, making it into a bakery, letting their imagination go wild. Each season we can cater to that season fall, spring, winter, having Santa’s workshop out here, trick or treating around the Halloween season. We just can’t wait to bring it to life and make the children just enjoy our outdoor space even more.”

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The YMCA’s Livestrong program for cancer patients is experiencing record growth in Santa Barbara, with participation nearly doubling over the past year.

Kiki Wells of Santa Barbara is battling stage four cancer.

But she isn’t backing down.

“My third goal was to say the word cancer ten times a day … the more you use it the more power you take away from it … and I think for a lot of people with cancer … that’s about the hardest, they’re fearful of it,” said Wells.

The YMCA Livestrong program in Santa Barbara has given her hope and strength during treatment.

“It gave me a sense of companionship and fun … and an easy way to make a positive experience when you’ve got cancer … You’ve gotta create your positive experiences,” said Wells.

The YMCA team has seen participation nearly double over the past year.

“Some of the branches had to drop the program when Covid happened due to losing staff … and so as we’ve been building our staff back, we gained more instructors … and so we’ve been able to offer the program. Each branch has a goal of offering it twice per year,” said associate executive director Andrew Aleman of YMCA.

The program provides free exercise and support classes, along with a family membership so loved ones can participate.

“It’s really getting them connected with a group where they have enjoyment out of the day, not just focusing on maybe doctors appointments,” said Aleman.

“So anything you do that either you enjoy or you do with people you love is gonna give you that boost,” said Wells.

For Wells, the program is a lifeline, helping her stay strong through cancer.

Organizers say the surge reflects a rising demand for exercise, emotional support, and a sense of community in the years following the pandemic.

Funded entirely by donations, the program provides free access to tailored fitness classes designed for cancer survivors at any stage of treatment or recovery.

Each participant also receives a complimentary family membership, allowing loved ones to join them in the gym for added encouragement.

YMCA leaders note that the expansion includes more staff and activities to keep pace with demand.

It costs about $250 to sponsor a single participant, and community fundraising ensures no one is turned away.

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Jarrod Zinn

BUELLTON, Calif. – The ballot count in the special election for the District 4 City Council seat in Buellton has been updated.

Friday’s ballot update solidified candidate Carla Mead’s advantage over former mayor dave king.

Carla Mead, a community volunteer, has 60 percent of the vote, while King has 39 percent.

Voter turnout is now at 51 percent.

“You never really know what voter turnout is going to be. So I’m really impressed,” says Buellton’s mayor David Silva.

The results will continue to be tabulated, and the official declaration won’t occur until September 12th, and things can certainly change as more ballots are counted.

“One of the best things about door knocking and canvasing and campaigning and now that the election has come to a conclusion is obviously even though I’ve tried to meet a number of people and it’s been wonderful to meet so many people, there’s obviously a large contingency of people that I still haven’t met yet,” says leading candidate Carla Mead.

Mayor David Silva, who previously held the district 4 seat, says the winner will represent a growing district, adding to their workload.

“District four has a lot going on,” says Silva. “We have three new housing complexes coming into the district. And so one thing that’s going to be difficult for whoever ends up winning the seat is helping to integrate and engage with these new people coming into our community.”

“I’m really hopeful that I’m going to be able to get a lot of work done in this next year, and I’m ready to get to it, especially because I know I have the backing of so many incredible people here in Buellton,” says Mead.

The special election was held after city council members could not come to an agreement on filling the seat vacated by Silva, who beat King for mayor in the November election.

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Joey Vergilis

NIPOMO, Calif. – On this week of “The Walkthrough with Joey,” we learned that actions speak louder than words for Nipomo Titans senior tailback Nicky Evans.

Evans – one of the team captains – leads by example through effort, dedication, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to move the chains for his team.

The no nonsense hometown kid punishes opposing defenses with a blend of patience and power.

His signature game came in late in 2024 when Evans carved up the Morro Bay Pirates for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-35 Nipomo Titan road victory. 

Evans erupted as a junior, averaging well over 100 rushing yards per game and finishing with 1,146 yards and 13 trips to the end zone.

Those numbers, paired with Nipomo’s undefeated Ocean League run, earned him 2024 Ocean League Offensive Player of the Year and Santa Maria Times All-Area MVP honors.

“Me being able to catch also like the receivers, I think it just puts more threats out there out on the field. They don’t know what’s coming at them,” Evans says.

Nipomo head coach Russ Edwards praised his senior standout, saying: “Nicky is one of the kindest, most caring teammates I’ve ever been around — he’s always there for his guys.”

“It’s better for me to be a quiet leader and who I am, but still be a leader. We need to focus on the connections we build throughout each other because we’re a team, and also just how we treat each other. And I feel like going about it and how I approach it, I feel like that’s the best way to do it cause it brings us together more and helps us,” Evans says.

Now, Evans and the Titans look to punch in their first win of the season as they hit the road to face Righetti tonight. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Catch highlights of Nipomo at Righetti and all the other local action tonight at 11:10pm with Mike Klan on News Channel’s Friday Football Focus.

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Christer Schmidt

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A new study published in ‘Frontiers in Public Health’ finds people with overwhelming grief symptoms face a significantly higher chance of dying within 10 years of losing a loved one.

Trauma coach and author Hertha Lund, who specializes in grief work and equine-assisted healing, says early intervention and compassionate support can make the difference between getting stuck in trauma and finding a path forward.

Lund described how some mourners enter “a deep shock response” immediately after a loss, sometimes unable to function for days. “They lose time and space,” she explained. That’s when it’s critical for family and friends to help re-establish structure; regular sleep, meals, and daily routines. “The body speaks first,” Lund said. “If someone stays stuck in that trauma response, it deregulates the whole system”.

Grief often comes in waves, she added, disrupting daily life at first but easing with time. “The waves of grief really disrupt us at first, and then they get farther and farther apart. It won’t last forever,” she said. Supporters, she emphasized, should “be kind, compassionate, listen, [and] let them know that they’re not alone.” Lund recommends staying away from alcohol and caffeine, which can heighten anxiety and depression.

Lund also draws from her training as an equine Gestalt coach, a form of therapy that combines traditional Gestalt psychology, which focuses on awareness, presence, and processing emotions in the moment, with the intuitive responses of horses. In practice, the animal becomes a partner in healing, often mirroring human emotions and providing a grounding presence. Lund has seen horses offer comfort in the raw, immediate stages of grief.

“Oftentimes a horse will come in and literally provide contact and support. I’ve seen horses wrap their heads around somebody and hug them,” she said.

She explained that while horses can provide solace right after a loss, equine Gestalt work can also help people address unresolved grief over time. “A year or two after the loss is when the big shifts come,” Lund noted. “I helped one woman who lost her husband of 38 years, and after working with the horse she was able to live differently afterwards.”

For those without horses, Lund notes that dogs and other animals can provide a similar sense of grounding and connection. What matters most, she said, is finding ways to stay anchored in the body, connected to others, and patient with the healing process.

Her closing message for anyone mourning: “Slow down, allow yourself to feel; get back to your normal routine, eating, sleeping, and be so kind to yourself. We really need to know that we’re not alone and that people are there that love us and support us. That’s what helps us get through grief with the least amount of damage”.

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