Category: keyt-local-news

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Applications are being accepted for the spring course of Santa Maria’s Community Police Academy.

This is a class for civilians.

It’s been running for three decades now, and it’s open to all community members.

Every Thursday evening at 6:30 for 8 weeks starting February 19th, Santa Maria police officers engage with community members at the station on Betteravia, giving them an inside perspective on their job.

“It’s a non formal interaction that we get to just kind of be ourselves, talk,” says Sgt. Oscar Corral of Santa Maria Police Department. “That’s what makes it really rewarding is we get to hear their perspective, and teach them what we do, and hear from them. Concerns, questions or just, you know, something they’ve learned throughout the academy.”

Active duty instructors say a wide range of subjects is covered in the class, including law enforcement philosophy, various methods and procedures, as well as how the department is structured.

“What we’ve done in the past, and that’s also received good feedback is we’ll do scenarios,” says Sgt. Corral. “So we’ll have actors act out what a typical like crime would be here in the city and we have our participants basically be in the shoes of the officers and go through the steps that need to be done after learning what an officer does.”

The academy scenarios provide insight into criminal law, traffic, patrol routines, investigation protocols, in addition to the nuances of narcotic and gang enforcement.

“It has made me more aware of my surroundings,” says Connie Kruse, who lives in Santa Maria and has taken the course. “My eyes have been opened to when you’re out and about and things that are happening, I can look back and think, I think I know what they’re doing now.”

Community members who have taken the course say

that, even if there was a sign-up fee, it would be worth paying for.

“I think one of my favorite ones was standing right out here and using the radar gun, able to see how fast people were flying by,” says Kruse. “Also, you were able to see what a person who’s intoxicated—they’d have you walk on the line and you would wear the goggles, which showed just how you know how bad it can be.”

The course is free, and you can sign up for the class by scanning the QR code you see on their flyers and social media pages.

Graduates of the class say they gained a greater understanding of police work, and better relationships with the men and women in uniform.

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News Channel 3-12

MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) – On Friday evening, the community is invited to “raise their light” as we recognize eight years since the January 9th Debris Flow to took the lives of 23 people in 2018.

The commemorative event will take place on Friday at 6:00pm at Montecito Union School. The event will consist of speakers, reading of the names of the 23 people lost, and a bell ringing.

A searchlight will be illuminated as a beacon of community support and solidarity from Montecito Union School.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

High School Boys Soccer:

San Marcos 2, Dos Pueblos 0

(Luis Campos scores on PK in 16th minute. Entenza Design). Yael Solano also scored in the first half for San Marcos who lead the Channel League at 4-1-1.

Ventura 2, Santa Barbara 1

Oxnard 1, Rio Mesa 0

High School Girls Soccer:

Dos Pueblos 2, San Marcos 0

Paige Ferro and Taylor Offner scored as the Chargers improve to 5-1 in the Channel League.

Ventura 1, Santa Barbara 0

Coast Union 3, Bishop Diego 0

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Miro Little is back but UCSB did not return to the win column.

The slumping Gauchos lost at home to UC Davis 93-86 as their Big West losing streak reaches three games.

UCSB is 2-3 in league and just 9-7 overall after losing for the fifth time in the past six games.

Starting point guard Miro Little returned after missing six games due to a foot injury. He scored a game-high 20 points but offense is not the problem with UCSB.

“We have an issue with defense and a bunch of guys that just like to think about offense,” said Gauchos head coach Joe Pasternack. “When you give up 93 points, you won’t beat anyone. We are going through a rough stretch and battling some adversity. During this time, you really figure out who is in your corner.”

UCSB jumped out to a 25-7 lead on the strength of sizzling three-point shooting.

The Gauchos made 9 first half three-pointers on 14 attempts but led just 47-43.

UCSB cooled off in the second half making just 3 of their 10 attempts from beyond the arc.

UC Davis shot 51.7% from the floor and outrebounded the Gauchos 33-26.

The Aggies (2-2 in the Big West) had six players score in double-figures led by Nils Cooper who had 19 points.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – It was a classic crosstown rivalry game.

Lily Ruvalcaba snapped a tie game with putback bucket with just over one minute to play and teammate Janelle Capuno forced Carly Letendre into an off-balance heave in the final seconds as San Marcos held off Dos Pueblos.

The thrilling 55-53 win was the Royals first over their rival since the 2022-’23 season.

Both teams are now 3-2 in the Channel League.

Jada Ahmad led the Royals with 20 points hitting four 3-pointers.

(Ahmad scores to put Royals up by 4 with three minutes left. Entenza Design).

San Marcos also controlled the paint with Izzy Schow and Ruvalcaba each recording double-doubles.

Schow had 13 points and 15 rebounds while Ruvalcaba had 13 points with 10 rebounds as the Royals improved to 9-5 overall.

DP trailed 46-38 entering the fourth quarter but Kindah Ahmad-Reda brought the Chargers back with three 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter. She finished with 20 points.

Letendre is DP’s all-time leading scorer but she was in foul trouble and was held to 12 points.

The senior guard did tie the game at 53 with a driving layup with just under 1:30 to play.

But the Royals size made the difference on the game-winning two points. Off a missed three-point attempt, Selena Valencia batted the ball and was grabbed by Ruvalcaba near the hoop and when she scored the students in the crowd erupted.

On the game’s final play Capuno, who is terrific as rushing the quarterback for the Royals flag football team, fought through a pick, even falling down for a brief second, before hopping up to smother Letendre.

The Royals grabbed the rebound and celebrated a hard fought victory.

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Mike Klan

DAVIS, Calif. (KEYT) – UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball took down UC Davis on its home turf tonight and will head back home with a 55-47 conference win under its belt.

The victory is Head Coach Renee Jimenez’ 300th career win and 29th at UC Santa Barbara. With the triumph, the Gauchos overtake UC Davis in the Big West rankings and slide into third place, remaining just behind UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

FROM HEAD COACH RENEE JIMENEZ”Davis is always a tough place to win, they are a good team and well coached, we knew this was going to be a grind it out type game. I’m proud of our guys for how they responded, especially on the glass and on the defensive end,” Jimenez said. “We talked all week about rebounding, finishing possessions and playing with physicality, and the players took that personally. They were communicating and trusting each other. When we defend and rebound like that, it gives us a chance to be really good and win a lot of games. We stayed together, trusted the game plan, and made plays when it mattered.”

HOW IT HAPPENEDThe opponents traded a couple of initial baskets before UC Davis got off to an early 11-5 lead. In response, Zoe Borter got to work and made three layups in a row to bring the Gauchos up to 11 themselves. The first period closed out at 13-13 and left both teams with the opportunity to grab the next lead.

The Gauchos immediately made six consecutive points to start the second, to which the Aggies replied with four of their own. Santa Barbara was already too far ahead, however, and they made ten more points to finish the half 29-24.

The third period saw the lowest scoring counts yet, with the Gauchos only making 11 and the Aggies only 10. Four of the five Gaucho buckets went in as layups while a shining three-pointer by Zoe Shaw served as the fifth. The Blue and Gold went into the final stage of the game ahead at 40-31.

The Gauchos did not falter in the fourth quarter, as they supplemented their score with 15 more points. Already ahead by six at 49-43, Santa Barbara secured six more points in the form of free throws. Davis’ Megan Norris put in two more layups before the game was through, but it was not enough to overcome the Gaucho heading. Santa Barbara clinched the 55-47 point win.

Borter shot 17 points to lead the Gauchos in scoring for the sixth game this season and score double digits for the tenth game in a row. Júlia Puente-Valverde and Olivia Bradley had nearly identical category totals, with both forwards notching ten points and nine rebounds. Puente-Valverde led steals, however, with three while Bradley led assists with three.

Skylar Burke made a pair of driving layups and ran the engine of the Gaucho defense, nabbing eight defensive rebounds to led the squad in the stat.

The Gauchos struggled with three pointers more than usual, only sinking three of their attempts. However, their 10 free throws and superior field goal percentage carried them to the win over the Aggies.

UP NEXTThe Gauchos will be back in action on Jan. 15, when they wil host Cal State Bakersfield at 6:00

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics)

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – San Marcos could not hold a fourth quarter lead and lost 12-11 to Orange Lutheran in a battle of girls water polo powers on Day 1 of the Tournament of Champions.

Sophomore Jade Pattison scored 5 goals and USC-bound Charlotte Raisin added 3 goals as San Marcos led 6-4 at the half and 10-7 after three quarters.

But the Lancers, ranked #5 in the latest MaxPreps.com poll, scored the game-winning goal with under :15 seconds to play to complete the comeback.

In other action Dos Pueblos defeated Agoura 13-6 behind 4 goals from Talia Marshall.

Kyra Jones scored a goal, had 3 assists, 2 field blocks and 1 steal for DP.

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Alissa Orozco

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – This upcoming July, country musician Chris Stapleton will kick off the 80th annual California Mid-State Fair ahead of opening day to perform in a special Pre-Fair Concert in the city of Paso Robles.

The county star will bring his biggest hits and iconic voice to the Chumash Grandstand Arena on fair grounds on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 – just one day before the California Mid-State Fair begins. Stapleton will perform alongside supporting act Molly Tuttle at the first-ever Pre-Fair Concert.

“It is an honor and a privilege to host and present an artist of Chris Stapleton’s caliber,” said Colleen Bojorquez, CEO of the California Mid-State Fair. “Bringing world-class entertainment to our community is something in which we take great pride, and we remain committed to keeping ticket prices as affordable as possible so more fans can share in this incredible experience.”

Tickets will go on sale for the event on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 10:00am, online only. The fair says prices are set at $90, $110, $160, $210 and $260.

The fair also says anyone who does not have a ticket and would like to listen from the grounds can pay a $10 admission fee.

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Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif – (KEYT) The national spotlight will shine on 911 At Ease International, a local nonprofit devoted to the mental health of first responders.  

It comes as the CBS network puts last year’s FireAid benefit concert under the microscope during its upcoming Friday night broadcast.

“It’s a story about accountability, good work that has been done by nonprofits,” said Mike McGrew, CEO of 911 At Ease International.

McGrew likens the work of nonprofits to police work that he did for 31 years.

“When you’re going to do something good there’s going to be attacks and you’ve always got to be prepared. And there should be accountability in all these things.” 

FireAid, one of the biggest community fundraisers following last year’s devastating and deadly fires across Los Angeles County, came under scrutiny for potential misuse of funds. 

Latham and Watkins, a law firm nine decades strong, found no misuse, declaring support from the fire aid benefit reached thousands, including a $250,000 grant to 911 At Ease.

“I can tell you the money that we receive from FireAid was used for a very good purpose,” said McGrew. 

McGrew said everything was above board, financial reports were submitted twice a year.  

The bulk of the local grant helped provide one-on-one counseling services for First Responders, including those who fought the LA fires.

“And we helped a lot of First Responders with counseling for post traumatic stress and also with our program which is 911 Project Harmony where we have First Responders tell their story and then, a song’s created.” 

Writings by Chien Yu during the most recent Project Harmony session inspired a song titled “Heart of This Town.” The Pasadena firefighter lost his Altadena home during last January’s ravaging infernos. McGrew explained how Yu battled on to help save others, calling him “selfless.”

“It’s an amazing song,” said McGrew. “It really talked about resilience and not only of his family but of that community as well.”

The song was created by artist and songwriter Jonathan Firey and, retired president of Paramount Motion Picture Music, Randy Spendlove.

Jonathan Firey (lft) and Randy Spendlove (rt)

McGrew sees it as an anthem as LA rebuilds, one year later.

911 At Ease International is instrumental in helping our First Responders who’ve dealt with past disasters including the Montecito mudslides, which happened on January 9, eight years ago.  

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – A new year means new leadership for the Santa Barbara County Association Of Governments, or SBCAG.

It’s marking 60 years of collaboration.

Fourth district supervisor Bob Nelson has been unanimously selected as SBCAG’s 2026 chairman.

“We’ve significantly spent local dollars on the 101 widening in the south coast,” says Nelson. “That project is now fully funded and has a pathway towards completion. So it’s now it’s an opportunity for SBCAG and the county to start moving forward with prioritizing North County projects.”

His vice-chair seat will be filled by Buellton’s mayor David Silva.

“I have a big goal with being a small town city, ensuring that the smaller cities have the chance to get their priorities put on the list,” says Silva.

One advantage seen in having both Nelson and Silva leading the new year’s SBCAG charge is that they both grew up in Orcutt.

“The funny thing is, it’s two Orcutt kids now running SBCAG, which is really a neat opportunity that hasn’t happened ever in the past,” says Nelson. “Obviously, we represent much more than just the Orcutt community, but it is kind of a fun coincidence that that’s happening all at once.”

Initiatives on the docket for 2026 include a proposed 9-mile multipurpose hiking path at the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail.

“Growing up in Orcutt, you kind of learn, since it’s an unincorporated area that you really rely on SBCAG,” says Silva.

In addition to nearing completion on construction for the U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor in the south county, a safety study will commence for the State Route 135 corridor between Santa Maria and Orcutt.

“We’ve really seen how cities can do only so much, but SBCAG has a unique position to be able to leverage resources and government oversight and government reach to partner with areas like Caltrans and with the county to ensure that some priorities that really impact local communities are being taken care of,” says Silva.

SBCAG’s first meeting of the year is January 15th in Santa Barbara.

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