Category: keyt-local-news

Patricia Martellotti

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – It’s playtime at the LEAP Children’s Center in Goleta.

Kids are concentrating on having fun.

That’s what you’d expect at a children’s center.

But after a mother spotted immigration agents outside her home in Santa Barbara, she brought her preschooler to LEAP.

“He wouldn’t let go of his mother‘s legs, and he was terrified,” said community engagement specialist Laura Costilla of LEAP.

Staff reassured the three-year-old, helping him calm down.

“I was able to point out the security system that we have in place and he was able to calm down then and go back into his classroom …. And try to have a normal day with his teacher,” said Costilla.

“His teachers provided safety for him and just made him feel safe that he could talk about it,” said CEO Lori Goodman of LEAP.

Days later, the child drew a picture, showing he was beginning to recover.

“I think it captures both the fear and the safety,” said Goodman.

More families are coming in shaken, struggling with immigration fears and financial pressure.

The LEAP team hopes to continue providing any services needed for the safety of their kids.

“I hope for the future is that we do what we can. We know those positive relationships positive childhood experiences work,” said Goodman.

The organization is building partnerships with local schools to reach families sooner.

“I hope they can continue to live in a world where they don’t have to live in fear,” said Costilla.

Now, LEAP is ensuring every child in Goleta feels safe — no matter what happens beyond its doors.

The LEAP children’s center focuses on creating a safe and welcoming space, especially for the youngest residents.

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The second annual Excellence In Education awards gala recognized the work of some of Santa Maria-Bonita’s top district educators.

This is a new tradition to recognize teachers and other school employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.

The awards come in three categories, acknowledging Classified Employees such as custodians and aides, Certificated Employees—the teachers, coaches, and licensed mentors—and Administrative Employees like principals and district officials.

The formal gala took place on Friday night at the Santa Maria Fairpark Convention Center, acknowledging the work of 29 honorees known throughout the district for their outstanding contributions.

“I knew that I was being recognized for being one of four, administrators in our district that were being honored, but I had no idea that I would get the top honor,” says Katie Ibarra, one of the top winners who works for the district.

Top winners were announced at the gala, including Katie Ibarra, Program Specialist For Special Education, who has only held that position for about a year, and Lucy Castaneda, 30-year office manager at El Camino Junior High.

“I’ve been here 32 years of my life, and I wouldn’t leave this school for, for any reason,” says Lucy Castaneda, El Camino Jr. High Office Manager.

Sentiments from the top winners align with the gala’s ultimate mission, which is to foster inspiration and connection as much as to celebrate achievements.

“I wish everybody could be recognized because there’s a lot of people out there,” says Castaneda. “I want to give special thank you’s to my office staff. They’re wonderful, and I love them.”

Honorees say they wouldn’t be winning anything if it weren’t for the people they work with every day.

“I know that the work I do, while I’m not directly, in contact with students anymore, I just know that by supporting my team members, it reaches the students,” says Ibarra.

Schoolsfirst Federal Credit Union is the leading community sponsor of the festive evening with awards presentations, live music, and catered food.

The highlighted honorees say their work is challenging but the rewards go beyond being recognized, and that they view the teams they work with as extended family.

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Michael Yu

VANDENBERG, Calif. (KEYT) Spacex launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight around 4am.

It was the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting the mission. After stag separation, it made a landing on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

The rocket carried 119 payloads, including cubesats, microsats, a re-entry vehicle and more.

The next two launches out of Vandenberg are scheduled for April 2nd and 6th.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) Fuel prices including diesel appear to be soaring.

Diesel is more than $8 dollars at some stations

Customers at the Chevron in Ventura paid $8.29 a gallon off Seaward in Ventura on Sunday.

The rise began when the war with Iran started in late February.

Drivers filling up shared their reaction.

Opinions varied.

“It is expensive , muy caro, muy caro, ” said Myrna Gomez as she filled up a bus.

She said it would cost her more than $200 to fill two tanks.

Some people think the state should pause fuel taxes.

Darren Cornea puts the blame on Governor Gavin Newsome, not President Donald Trump.

“It cost me an extra 50 bucks, but I am not blaming Donald because we have to save the country, he had to go do what he had to do, we have to pay a little bit more for the time being so be it,” said Cornea.

Like many people, David Finley is on a Spring Break road trip.

The educator was pulling a camper and needed to fill up with diesel.

“I mean it is crazy, I mean we are camping so we’ve got to go, but can it change a lot of places we choose to go? For sure,” said Finley.

People protested near gas stations during ‘No Kings’ rallies on Saturday in Ventura.

Protesters blame the Trump administration’s decision to go to war with Iran.

Drivers are likely to see more newly purchased electric cars and hybrids on the road.

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Tracy Lehr

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – It was a picture perfect weekend on the Central Coast for people and elephant seals alike.

A crowd gathered to check out elephants seals basking in the sun a few miles north of San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County on Sunday.

They saw seals that are part of the Piedras Blancas Colony.

They spend most of their lives in the water but go on the sand for a few weeks at a time, twice a year.

They’re used to cold water, so they flip wet sand on their backs to stay cool.

One particularly smart seal positioned himself below dripping water from a drainage pipe.

The number of seals on the beach range from hundreds in July to thousands between January and May.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

NCAA Baseball:

Oregon 2, UCSB 0: Gauchos were shutout twice in three games to the Ducks who won the series 2-1.

Cal Poly 12, UC Riverside 8: Mustangs erased 8-5 deficit after seven innings with a 6-run eighth to win the series 2-1. Cal Poly is 8-2 in the Big West.

NCAA Softball:

UCSB 9, CS Bakersfield 0 (Run-rule 5 innings): Gauchos used a 7-run 4th inning to win the series 2-1. UCSB is 11-1 in the Big West.

UC Riverside 4, Cal Poly 2

NCAA Men’s Tennis:

Cal Poly 4, Hawai’i 1

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A fight at a concert sent six people to the hospital on Sunday night.

A Los Inquietos del Norte at Earl Warren Showgrounds over the weekend was “jam-packed” according to witnesses.

They said people started throwing water out of bottles and then fights broke out.

Jasmine Garcia said some people fighting were just a few feet away.

“I”m like ‘oh my God, oh my God, there is a fight going on’ I see more people surrounding us, we start moving away as they start fighting, kicking each other, there was some girl with blood dripping down her leg and all that, another girl with a busted lip, it was crazy,” said Garcia.

The Los Inquietos Del Norte concert wrapped up with some people not noticing what had happened.

California Highway Patrols officers and Sheriff’s Deputies vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances filled part of the parking lot.

CHP officers said ambulances took three people to the hospital to be treated for moderate injuries. Another three were treated for minor injuries.

It appears others were treated at the venue. There are no reports of arrests.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) People dressed up for The Gothic Market.

The market returned to the Ventura County fairgrounds for the weekend.

It is inspired by pop culture and classics.

Vendors sold everything from beetles and buttlerflies to pet toys and stuffed creatures.

They also had a tarot card reader on hand.

The Gothic Market will be open again on Sunday from Noon- 5 p..m.

For more information visit https:venturacountyfair.org

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara symphony performed with an award winning accordionist tonight.

Hanzhi Wang is an ambassador for her instrument.

She joined conductor Nir Kaberetti for a concert at the Granada Theatre called “Bella Italia.”

Guest artist Cristian Carrara also joined Wang to perform the U.S. Premier of Red Ferrari Accordion Concerto co-commissioned by the Santa Barbara Symphony.

There is another performance on Sunday at 3 p.m.

For more information visit https://TheSymphony.org

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The first Coffee Culture Fest took place on Saturday.

Coffee lovers took part at the Majorie Luke Theatre and Santa Barbara Junior High.

Everyone had a chance to enjoy a cup or two .

The all day celebration included arts, science and community discussions with elected leaders and others.

Santa Barbara City Councilmember took part in a panel discussion.

“The concept of building community for me is at the nexus of everything else that i do. it’s about making sure that we are looking out for one another, that we are operating with honesty, accountability, like when you said, but really, truly believing that when we come together things can change because they have to change.,” said Santamaria.

A women’s panel included women in the coffee Industry.

Coffee tasting pass holders also enjoyed trying different blends made by a number of local vendors.

They also had tea and specialty drinks on hand.

Some people took their coffee to go.

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