Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-A swarm of bees made a home out of the tall tree in front of Santa Barbara City Hall.
The city put caution tape around the tree and called Santa Barbara Bee Rescue on Wednesday afternoon.
The contractor, who said he just goes by “The Bee Whisperer” got most of them out of the giant Pepper Tree.
He even has custom car plates that read BEE-RESQ.
He said he will be taking the hive to a local honey maker.
Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Many school districts start classes well before Labor Day these days, and that means back-to-school shopping is already in full swing.
Many back-to-school essentials — including backpacks, pens, and notebooks — are imported, and some shoppers are concerned they will be picking up the tab if tariffs drive prices higher. For products made in China, Section 301 tariffs can add to the landed cost, which may be reflected in retail prices.
Business analysts say that’s one reason some families start shopping earlier than usual, hoping to beat tariff-influenced pricing before August. Those who waited are now taking advantage of seasonal sales at stores like Office Max.
One family found backpacks on sale and decided to act fast.“You know what, today I feel like they have good sales overall, but definitely I could see the impact of the tariffs because I have been here when it is not on sale and I feel like the prices are a little higher for sure,” said Edith Woolfolk. Her biggest purchase — a backpack — came alongside smaller items. “Erasers and mechanical pencils,” added her daughter Kalia. Another daughter, Sofia, said, “We start next week for school and I still needed a new backpack.” When asked what she chose, she replied, “I just got this blue backpack.”
Many stores now have printed supply lists for kindergarten, grade school, middle, and high school to guide shoppers. At the same time, high school and college students are focusing on clothing before classes begin. At Tilly’s, PacSun, and Brandy Melville, shoppers were browsing jeans, shirts, and shoes. “I got some jeans and two pairs of shirts and shoes,” said Kalea Gilbert.
Some students are waiting to complete their supply lists until after the first week. “I got some school supplies, but I mean later on I’ll get more notebooks and figure out whatever I need after I get my syllabuses and stuff like that and get more supplies along the way,” said Zack Martin.
Compared to last year, shoppers are paying noticeably more: a typical school supply list now costs about $5 more than it did in 2024, and prices for specific basics like binders have jumped from $1 to $1.50 in 2025 — an increase of 50 cents per item. Overall, school supply prices have surged 30 % over the past five years.
National retail data backs up what shoppers are seeing in stores. Coresight Research expects back-to-school shopping to be up more than 3.3 % this year. The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend more than $128 billion on back-to-school purchases across supplies, clothing, and electronics — making education good for business. Of that, the average household will spend about $144 on school supplies alone, with total K-12 spending per household approaching $858.
Analysts say families who shopped before August likely avoided some extra costs, especially on tariff-affected items.
Andrew Gillies
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – After a four-hour standoff Wednesday in the cul-de-sac of East Sunset Avenue, deputies took 30-year-old Victor Manuel Ayala Sanchez into custody on multiple outstanding warrants.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, deputies tracked Sanchez to a home in the 1100 block of Sunset Avenue, near Tunnel Elementary School, and learned that several other people, including a child, were inside. All of the occupants were safely evacuated during the standoff, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident began just before noon when Sanchez barricaded himself inside the home. Nearby streets remained open during most of the operation, and the cul-de-sac was later reopened after the suspect was taken into custody. There were no reports of injuries.
Deputies issued multiple verbal commands and made several phone calls urging Sanchez to peacefully surrender before entering the home around 3:18 p.m., where they found him hiding in an attic area, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Your News Channel was on the scene and observed multiple law enforcement vehicles and personnel, including a SWAT team staging in the cul-de-sac, a Bearcat armored vehicle, and a helicopter circling overhead. The command post was set up at the Santa Lucia District Ranger Station on Carlotti Drive, just a few blocks to the north. Several law enforcement agencies assisted in the operation.
“We are in the city of Santa Maria, but this is the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office handling this call,” said Raquel Zick, the agency’s public information officer. “Thankfully, the schools are in session right now, so we didn’t have to contend with that. It is a short cul-de-sac, so it’s not having a whole lot of impact on area residents.”
Sanchez was booked into the Northern Branch Jail on outstanding felony warrants, including brandishing a firearm, robbery, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, gang enhancement, evading police, criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon, and carjacking, as well as additional misdemeanor charges. The Sheriff’s Office also listed drug charges, weapons violations, and resisting arrest among his outstanding warrants. He remains in custody without bail.
Mina Wahab
VENTURA, Calif. — Local activists and community members packed the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting, voicing strong support for immigrant rights in the wake of the July 10 ICE raids at Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, where more than 300 people were reportedly arrested.
“We call them undocumented, but they are deeply embedded,” one speaker told the board. “They are part of the labor force. They’re part of our entrepreneurship. They’re part of our economy.”
The community is seeking a $2 million investment: $1.3 million for Ventura County residents facing deportation and $700,000 for eligible immigrant families seeking to adjust their status. Supporters also called for the creation of a Ventura County Immigration Legal Defense Fund, expansion of the Public Defender’s Office with a seven-person immigrant defense unit, and the development of countywide protocols for responding to federal immigration enforcement actions
“They didn’t just shatter our community’s sense of safety,” said Primitiva Hernandez, Executive Director of 805 Undocufund. “Since that day, we’ve seen children afraid to go to school, workers terrified to leave their homes, and a tired neighborhood living in a constant state of anxiety.”
Hernandez said the community has stepped up to fill urgent needs. Since the raids, 805 Undocufund’s emergency assistance fund has distributed over $200,000 to 200 families. Other organizations, including VC Defensa and Friends of Fieldworkers, have organized food distributions and other mutual aid events. But, she noted, most families still lack access to legal representation.
“People should have the right to due process, and they should have the chance to fight their case,” said Nidia Bello, a policy advocate with CAUSE. The American Civil Liberties Union reports detained immigrants with legal counsel are ten times more likely to win their cases than those without representation — yet more than 70% of those in immigration court this year have faced proceedings without a lawyer. In Ventura County, 805 Undocufund says some families have been charged thousands of dollars by predatory attorneys exploiting their desperation.
“We have a justice system that is so heavily based on whether you have money or not,” said CAUSE Co-Executive Director Lucas Zucker. “If you’re a farmworker making $25,000 a year and living here in Ventura County, you absolutely cannot come up with thousands of dollars overnight if your family’s detained by ICE.” Zucker added, “This is not a super blue or red community here in Ventura County. This is very purple. It’s a local community largely unified in understanding that immigrants are a vital part of it. For our county to be able to direct some resources to at least making sure all of our residents have due process — that’s the least we can do.”
While the majority of attendees voiced support, a handful held signs praising the raids and pointing to the arrests of individuals with criminal records.
The Board did not take a vote on the proposals. Instead, the discussion was continued to August 26 at 9 a.m. to allow for more public testimony and debate.
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The very visible reminder of the Vietnam War in Santa Barbara, a Huey helicopter, is now gone after about 30 years.
The local Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 218 tried to find a permanent site for the helicopter, as is required to keep it, and not have it only on a trailer, but that was unsuccessful.
The group looked at the Santa Barbara Airport, the Santa Maria Airport, Vandenberg Space Force Base and Pt. Mugu as locations.
Now it is going to the Chico Air Museum in Northern California which has several military aircraft. Officially it is a Bell Helicopter UH-1, but it is called a Huey.
The Big Red Crane Company from Carpinteria assisted in moving the chopper from its old trailer to another one where it was secured and sent on its way Wednesday morning.
It had been stored at the Armory Yard near Santa Barbara High School.
The helicopter was well known in the area and when it was on display, the public could see it up close and even sit inside. It has been around since the 1990’s.
It is an Army helicopter and saw active duty in war zones.
Judy Roberson was on hand for the farewell ceremony. Her late husband Jerry made it happen to get the chopper here.
Roberson said, “it was really important for him to have as many people as possible recognize and have a feeling about what the guys went through.”
Peter Bie the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 218 President said, “it has allowed Vietnam Veterans to visit a very iconic piece of their war to sit on the side , sit in the drivers seat and reach up and touch it.”
It’s last public appearance was in May at an Armed Forces Appreciation Day in Santa Barbara.
Bie said it is, “something that is so representative of a war that happened 50 years ago.”
Roberson brought some of her husband’s ashes to sprinkle inside the chopper before the side door was officially closed for the transport trip to Chico.
Bie said it served the area well while it was here. “Folks probably saw it in the 4th of July or the typical Veteran’s Day parades. And then we were at car shows. We were invited to come up to Santa Barbara City College. It’s been up to the North County. I think we even took it down to Carpinteria a few times.”
Roberson also recalls it in parades, “up and down State Street.” It was a spectacular site with its size in the heart of the downtown business district which no longer has any parades on State Street.
On its journey at events, Roberson said, “there were a couple of guys that recognized they were able to determine they were actually on that (chopper.)”
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – As the largest and most challenging wildfire in California so far in 2025 moves further northward and fire crews are beginning their closing procedures, emergency shelters are being moved to standby status.
The Pismo Beach facility was open for several days with no one utilizing it, and all supplies are still in place but it’s essentially closed for the time being.
Organizers and officials say volunteers have been putting countless hours in at facilities like the one set up at Santa Margarita Community Hall.
While many have only needed temporary assistance and residents who have had to stay overnight remain at a very low number, the presence of these facilities are no less necessary nor appreciated.
As always, the Red Cross remains vigilant and ready to keep these facilities either open or on standby, and to re-open them should conditions change.
The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On OurMobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for theNews Channel 3-12 Newsletter.
Mike Klan
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Erica Menzel-Downing was back on the bench for San Marcos High School girls volleyball as the Royals opened the new season with a 3-1 home win over Arroyo Grande.
Downing is beginning her second stint as head coach at her alma mater where she also starred as a player before playing at UCSB.
Charlotte Hastings led the Royals with 11 kills while Cora Loomer added 9 kills as San Marcos beat the Eagles 25-11, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21.
(Hastings hits around the double-block. Entenza Design).
Downing coached the Royals from 2008-2015.
This year’s Royals has a 15 player roster, all seniors.
(Cora Loomer has verbally committed to UCLA for beach volleyball).
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Some schools are starting classes this week and orientations are underway.
Allan Hancock College held its annual ‘Hancock Hello’ in two parts–last week at the Lompoc satellite campus and tonight at the Santa Maria campus.
It’s a chance for new and returning students to bring their parents, learn about the campus and the myriad services—from counseling to clubs—the college has to offer.
Informational booths provided a one-stop-shopping experience in both English and Spanish.
“We’re offering campus tours,” says Allan Hancock College’s Public Information Analyst. “And so that’s the way for these new students to get familiar with the campus. So when they show up on their first day, they don’t have to worry about getting lost or of seeming unfamiliar. it’s a really nice crowd even this early in the event. So that’s great just to see all these students coming out and having fun and just, getting used to the environment.”
Classes begin next week, with local high school grads enjoying the Hancock Promise of 2-years of tuition free schooling.
The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On OurMobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for theNews Channel 3-12 Newsletter.
Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City Council took its staff’s recommendation to consider and deny the appeal of the Architectural Board of Review’s approval of a housing project at the corner of 418 N. Milpas and 915-923 E. Gutierrez.
Mayor Randy Rowse was the tie-breaker in the 4-3 vote.
Rowse joined Mike Jordan, Eric Friedman, and Meagan Harmon in denying the appeal.
Friedman said he was concerned the appeal, based on health and safety concerns, didn’t meet the legal standard.
The project is slated to be four stories on less than an acre, with at least 90 units.
At least 16 would be set aside for low- to moderate-income renters, and one would be slated for workforce housing.
The project would include studios, as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Eight longtime current tenants must be assisted to move or remain on-site.
Robert Ludwick, who owns the property and brought attorney Beth Collins to the meeting to speak on his behalf, chose not to comment following the vote that will allow him to move ahead with his plans.
He appeared disheartened by the project neighbors who spoke in opposition to the development.
The project got its “Milpas Gardens” name from a nursery that used to be located on the land.
Collins and her colleagues shared slides showing the income levels needed to qualify for the affordable, workforce, and market-rate units based on the area’s median income.
It is in Wendy Santamaria’s District 1.
She said she is a renter and that the residents who spoke out against it are her constituents.
She applauded their efforts despite the outcome.
“We need more housing being built, but it needs to be affordable and first and foremost for our workforce and our working families,” said Santamaria. “I’m going to be working hard to make sure we get that in the future.”
The Architectural Board of Review approved the Milpas Gardens project earlier this year.
Natasha Todorovic said the appeal in her name was funded in part by a GoFundMe campaign.
She still has concerns for health and safety, including traffic, flooding, earthquakes, and more.
“What we are trying to do is protect Santa Barbara, and for whatever reason the Eastside keeps getting dumped on — every bad project goes on the Eastside,” said Todorovic.
She lives across the street and describes it as a cottage neighborhood.
“We absolutely understand the need for housing, but it is the right housing done in honor of the neighborhood, respectfully, so it is livable,” said Todorovic.
California communities are under pressure from the state to address the housing crisis.
Residents said in Santa Barbara it is more of an “affordability crisis.”
One speaker called it a “density giveaway” that waives parking requirements.
Jose Arturo Gallegos said he used to live near the area. During public comments, he told the council he was concerned the Milpas corridor would look like a “mini-Manhattan” if it is built.
“I already knew what the decision was going to be, I knew that way ahead of time,” said Gallegos.
Councilmembers heard dozens of public comments before deliberating.
They also visited the location on Monday, the day before the vote.
For more information visit https://santabarbaraca.gov
Andrew Gillies
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Two Santa Maria brothers, 27-year-old Victoriano Lopez Feliciano and 32-year-old Gabriel Lopez Feliciano, were taken into custody Sunday in connection with a fatal shooting Saturday.
On Aug. 9, around 11:02 p.m., officers responded to the 1200 block of West Main Street for a reported shooting and arrived to find a woman with life-threatening injuries, according to a press release from the Santa Maria Police Department.
“There was a party at that location,” said Detective Sergeant Trevor Hutton with the Santa Maria Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. “I’m not exactly sure what the party was for, but they do rent that location out for events such as this.”
The woman was transported from the scene to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.
On Sunday, Aug. 10, around 6 p.m., Santa Maria Police detectives and deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested the brothers in connection with the homicide investigation in Taft, in western Kern County, police said.
The brothers were taken into custody without incident, police added.
“It has not appeared to be any type of ongoing threat,” said Det. Sgt. Hutton. “It appears to be an isolated incident. It does not appear in any way to be gang-related at this point in the investigation. And there’s no threat to the community.”
Victoriano Lopez Feliciano was booked for murder, and his brother, Gabriel Lopez Feliciano, was booked on charges of being an accessory after the fact, police said.
“We’d like to thank the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for taking our suspects into custody,” said Sgt. Hutton. “We appreciate their help.”
The investigation into this homicide is still active and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Servin at 805-928-3781 ext. 1367.
You can also report your information while remaining anonymous by calling 805-928-3781 ext. 2677.
