Category: keyt-local-news

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The 11th Annual Organ Donation Walk & BBQ raised awareness in Santa Barbara.

One Legacy teamed up with future donors, recipients and supporters to make the event special.

It started the walk at Leadbetter Beach.

Participants walked to Stearns Wharf and back.

Some donor recipients and relatives of donors helped at the information tent.

The cofounders of the event shared some of their story before the walk.

Scott Burns recalled needing a rescue while on a friends boat in the Channel Islands.

He ended up with a kidney donated by Jennifer Guerra’s sister Vivian.

“Vivian died suddenly, basically Memorial Day 2015, I ended up getting her kidney,” said Burns.

“If anybody would have ended up with my sister’s kidney I am so glad it was you,” said Guerra.  

He is now like a family member.

Westmont College nursing students helped out with the event.

Some of the students said they had the pink donor dot on their license.

Donors can request it online or at the DMV.

Donor recipients said it is a good idea to let your family and friends know your wishes.

For more information visit https://onelegacy.org

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The 7th annual Chowderfest included live music and lots of chowder tasting.

The band Kelly’s Lot helped kicked off the festival that serves as a fundraiser for the Channel Islands Maritime Museum.

More than a dozen restaurants and a yacht club gave out samples of all kinds of chowder in hopes of winning the People’s Choice award.

The festival also had its first Sea Lion Imitation Contest.

“What is a sea lions favorite subject at school and the answer is art, art, art,” said Capt. Dave Colker, ” Captain Dave’s in a jolly good mood.

The Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club restaurant served up Manhatten Clam Chower and let guests know about the Youth Foundation that helps children learn to sail.

“It is all about making sure that every child that lives in Oxnard has an opportunity to be on the water so we just remind everybody today why we are serving our delicious manhattan clam chowder there is a lot more to pcyc than just great clam chowder,” said Donna Gaddis.

The museum offered free admission all day.

About 600 people attended the 2026 Chowderfest this year.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police arrested a 32-year-old local resident for his role in a shooting at the 300 block of North Oakley Street just after 9:30 p.m. Friday.

SMPD officers investigated the shooting and determined that two men tried robbing someone and shot him in the leg.

One of the two suspects had an AR-15 style rile and both men fled the area in a car after shooting the victim, according to the SMPD.

SMPD officers located the car and found one man at his Santa Maria home before creating a perimeter around the residence.

SMPD officers then took the 32-year-old into custody for charges of accessory, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon charges.

The second suspect remains outstanding and the investigation remains ongoing. Those with more information on the shooting are asked to contact the SMPD.

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Caleb Nguyen

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) — A 60-year-old motorcyclist broke his leg and required an airlift to Cottage Hospital at the 5700 block of Jalama Road in Lompoc just before 12:00 p.m. Saturday.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and Lompoc Fire crews helped the man to the hospital and closed down Jalama Road in both directions.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and drivers are advised to use caution in the area, according to the SBCFD.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

(Santa Barbara sophomore Keegan Roessler is Gary Blades Big Game MVP after catching 4 touchdowns. Entenza Design).

Segment 1: Santa Barbara 48, San Marcos 3; Lompoc 41, Dublin 7; Bishop Alemany 48, Bishop Diego 44; St. Joseph 68, Morro Bay 0

Segment 2: Arroyo Grande 41, Santa Ynez 7; San Luis Obispo 48, Pioneer Valley 7; Righetti 42, Cabrillo 7

Segment 3: Dos Pueblos 23, Crescenta Valley 7

(Quarterback Grady Felix and Dos Pueblos run past Crescenta Valley. Entenza Design).

Segment 4: Ventura 42, Buena 3

Segment 5: Show close

More Scores:

Camarillo 35, Rio Mesa 28

Fillmore 48, Carpinteria 0

Santa Paula 34, Little Rock 0

Hueneme 47, Channel Islands 7

Nordhoff 41, Beverly Hills 13

Tustin 28, Westlake 21

Chaminade 27, St. Bonaventure 24

Newbury Park 21, Muir 18

Moorpark 44, Elk Grove 28

Lancaster 48, Thousand Oaks 7

Royal 42, Del Sol 13

Simi Valley 49, Palmdale 0

Western Christian 56, Grace 47

Serra 41, Oaks Christian 0

Crespi 40, Oak Park 0

Agoura 35, Heritage Christian 7

Duarte 16, Santa Clara 14

Mission Prep 56, Santa Maria 8

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John Palminteri

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – It was a food lovers delight Thursday night in Carpinteria and it will help three teens with their college funds.

The annual Carpinteria Culinary Crawl brought out 230 hungry residents and their friends to join in a specially curated route.

Each restaurant spot had samples to choose from and it was a chance to try menu items at locations you may want to come back to.

The funds raised from the tickets are used to give out scholarships to the junior Carpinterians of the year at the Carpintria Community Association awards banquet next April, one of the city’s biggest annual events.

For those on the food route it was a very tasty fundraiser.

Roland Rotz was trying one of the offerings, chicken wings and fries, and said, “it’s like the best happy hour you’ve been to. It just never ends. All you have to do is walk a little bit and you get more and get more and more.”

After covering several blocks of restaurant tastings, including sushi, burgers, tacos and smoothies, the grand finale was in the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center and that’s where the courtyard was full of desserts.

The participating businesses were: Chase Bank, Zooker’sRestaurant, Mollie’s Kitchen, Uncle Chen, Yummy Yogurt, Giovanni’s Pizza, Dang Burger, Sushi Teri, Coyote Market Pacific Health Foods, Casa Don Roge, The Nugget, and Third Window Brewing Company.

For more information to to: Carpinteria Community Association.

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Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA (KEYT) – Bob Smith, the congressional candidate hoping to unseat incumbent congressman Salud Carbajal, is no longer aligned with the GOP.

Smith confirmed Friday afternoon to your News Channel that he was distancing himself from both parties and registered No Party Preference or Independent.

A News Channel crew met up with Smith at the Santa Barbara County Elections Office minutes before he signed the paperwork.

“I’ve realized the diverse interests that we have here on the Central Coast from the fishing communities in Morro Bay to the ag communities in North County, down to our cities down here,” said Smith. “We need somebody who’s going to represent the Central Coast first and not political party affiliation.”

Nick Kvistad, Smith’s campaign media advisor, told your News Channel that Smith – who’d been a life-long Republican – registered No Party Preference in 2024 when he retired from the Navy and moved from New Jersey to California.

Last year, Smith registered back to Republican as he launched his campaign against Democratic incumbent congressman, Salud Carbajal.

Smith said the change had nothing to do with the GOP or President Trump.

“I’ve never been focused on the president at all. I’ve been focused on my entire campaign on issues here on the Central Coast and I actually think that those things are diversions from focusing on the issues here that we need solved on the Central Coast.”

Smith credited Congressman Carbajal as a “nice guy” but believed the career politician has not solved key problems facing local voters.

Smith said his former “Republican” status will remain on the November ballot. He said changing his status today amounted to “signing a pledge” that if elected, he will walk into Congress as an Independent.    

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The annual Santa Maria BBQ And Music Festival returns this weekend with a new and improved format.

This year the event is expanding from a one-day festival to an all-weekend experience.

This is the 8th annual event, it’s running all weekend this year, it’s the first time general admission to the park is free, and families are welcome to bring their kids.

World famous Santa Maria style barbecue is the star of the festival, but attendees will also now enjoy a wide variety of live music performances from local bands. 

Also, a carnival atmosphere is featured for the first time, complete with rides.

“The carnival is brought to us by G&S, they are out of Southern California,” says event organizer Jaime Flores. “And then our local companies of Central City Entertainment and then Fuego Events are responsible for putting the event together.”

Live music performances include weekend headliners Los Hermanos Mendoza and reggae legend Pato Banton.

Other performances lined up include local band After Eight, popular 80’s tribute band The Molly Ringwald Project, and Santa Maria-based Mestizo.

“We’re showcasing barbecue all weekend long,” says Flores. “We have a ton of food trucks and vendors out here that will be selling barbecue all weekend long. And then, of course, the competition on Saturday starting at noon.”

Attendees can expect to pay for their tasting tickets and ride wristbands, which include tickets to the beer festival for those 21 and older.

“This is our first year,” says Rib Line owner and chef Brian Appiano. “We do so many weddings throughout the year that it’s hard for us to do competitions and some of these side events. But this year we made it happen. We pulled it together. So I’m stoked.”

Organizers say the free admission into the festival aims to make it more accessible for families. As much as barbecue enthusiasts, music fans and visitors from throughout the Central Coast and beyond.

“Everything about here is all family oriented,” says Appiano. “We’re gonna have great music. We’re gonna have fun games and rides, and then the best food you’re going to get on the Central Coast this weekend is right here.”

Weekend hours will be from 12 to 10 on Saturday and 12 to 9 on Sunday.

In addition to acting as a showcase for the city and region, the festival also benefits the Santa Maria Kiwanis For Kids program, which helps support programs and initiatives benefiting local children.

“Santa Maria weather,” says Flores. “So bring your hoodie in the evening, just bring some comfortable shoes and be ready to have a good time.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here to visit the Santa Maria BBQ and Music Festival official website.

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Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association California (CVMA) 33-11 is preparing for its annual Fallen Heroes Ride, with all proceeds from the event going to support veterans.

The ride is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, with registration taking place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Santa Maria Harley-Davidson on Preisker Lane.

Registration is $35 for riders and $15 for passengers, with an additional $10 charge for extra hands.

Participants will be treated to coffee and breakfast burritos before the ride. The event will also feature raffle prizes, vendors and live music.

The ride will conclude at 805 BBQ in Nipomo, located near the Highway 101-Highway 166 interchange where participants can enjoy the festivities and prizes will be announced at 6 p.m.

Organizers are also hosting a meet-and-greet on Friday, Sept. 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Birchwood in Nipomo, with food trucks on site.

The Fallen Heroes Ride is a sanctioned event organized by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association to raise money and support for veterans.

According to the CVMA mission statement, its mission is to support and protect those who have defended the country and its freedoms. The group’s is to provide assistance and help to individual veterans, veteran care facilities, other veteran organizations and registered charities.

The CVMA sponsors and participates in many veteran-related motorcycle (and other) charity events each year, and as a non-profit organization, the non-profit organization donate to various veteran causes.

For more information, click here to visit the CVMA website.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – To create more efficiencies a pay by phone system has been added to the waterfront parking program options in Santa Barbara.

Under the current system – in place since 2025 – after a driver parks, they enter the license plate in the system, then enter the time they want to stay based on the fee structure, pay and then they are done.

This eliminates a printed ticket or the need to put a receipt on your dash.

Your license plate is your permit.

It can now be all done in person at the pay station of by mobile app providers, PayByPhone and ParkMobile.

Both platforms are widely used across the country in cities and college campuses across the country, including UC Santa Barbara.

They are in place at Leadbetter Beach, Chase Palm Park, Garden St. lot and the Cabrillo Pavilion at East Beach. 

In addition, the pay by plate system, a driver can use a phone app to add time to their payment if they are gone from their car longer than they originally paid for without having to rush back to their car.

The waterfront staff will have a vehicle with a camera that can read license plates in the parking lot and detect any vehicle that has not been entered in the system. Anyone who exceeds the time limit will get a paper ticket.

Two parking lots still have staffed kiosks. Those will be at Stearns Wharf and the Harbor Main area.

One machine in each lot will still take cash for those without a credit or debit card.

A recent review of the upgraded system showed 3,500 had used the mobile app transactions and 400 users extended their parking remotely.

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