Category: keyt-local-news

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – More high school students are getting set to vote, even if they are under the age of 18, the legal age to cast a ballot.

School districts throughout the state have used a special outreach effort to urge students who are 16- or 17-years-old to preregister to vote. That way when their election materials will arrive with the next election.

Speaking at UC Santa Barbara this week, Secretary of State Shirley Weber said there’s also jobs available for them in the election system.

“We are also offering them an opportunity to work at the polls. They can actually work and make money at the polls during the election. We want them to understand that and how important it is for them and their families to register to vote.”

Weber was at UCSB giving out a top honor for the university’s voter outreach and registration efforts.

Since the inception of preregistration in September of 2016, there have been 1.1 million new registered voters from this process.

A bill in 2014 by former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson from Santa Barbara SB 113, allowed for preregistration as early as age 16. It was signed by then Governor Jerry Brown.

For more information go to: High school voter registration

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The iconic Santa Barbara Bowl heats up its lights for the new season starting this Friday.

The bowl opens its schedule with the American folk rock band, the Avett Brothers on Friday night during the bands national tour.

Other shows on the schedule include Dwight Yoakam, James Taylor, Jack White, Modest Mouse, Goo Goo Dolls, and Darius Rucker. During Old Spanish Days the bowl hosts the annual Mariachi Festival. Already more than 25 nights of shows are set, with room for up to 37 shows.

“There was a time when the Santa Barbara Bowl was an afterthought and now 20 years later with all the renovations and restorations we are considered when they go on  tour of the West Coast, ” said Bowl CEO Rick Boller.

The Santa Barbara Bowl was built in 1936. It has 4,500 to 5,000 seats depending on the show and whether the front section is open as a General Admission, standing only section or if it is tickets for seats. It is the largest amphitheater of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This year guests in the very front floor seating area will be in new padded chairs, just purchased and installed.

The bowl management recently reported to the County Board of Supervisors an update on the facility including information about the community outreach foundation, environmental and sustainable vendor materials, and solar power for the power grid.

The bowl also does an annual open house for its neighbors to have them come on site and see the facility up close. They are also able to ask questions and provide input on any issues in the bowl’s location on upper Milpas Street nestled into a canyon.

Economically many people attending the bowl also go elsewhere for pre or post show food or an overnight stay. “We are able to track the fact that people are coming largely from within Santa Barbara County but they are traveling to Santa Barbara going to a show, going out to dinner and often staying in a hotel and leaving the next day,” said Boller.

There is also a foundation program to give back to the arts in the community, especially for the youth. Boller says, “every time you buy a ticket for a performance here at the bowl, the bowl foundation allocates a dollar of that ticket individually to support these programs.” About 100 organizations received assistance last year.

During Old Spanish Days annually the bowl joins the Fiesta lineup with an annual Mariachi Festival.

All tickets for the Bowl 2025 Season can be purchased at the Bowl Box Office or online: www.sbbowl.com

The bowl shows are booked by Goldenvoice.

(More details, photos and videos will be added later today.)

Mike Klan

GOLETA, Calif. – Matteo Burdick had 18 kill and Koji Hefner tallied 17 kills to lead San Marcos to a four sets victory over Channel League rival Dos Pueblos.

The Royals complete the season sweep over the Chargers by winning 25-22, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-19.

San Marcos and Santa Barbara are tied for first in league at 6-1 after the Dons defeated Oxnard in five sets.

DP is a game back but they play at Santa Barbara on Thursday.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Ian Fernandez, Xavier Esquer and Cole Kosciusko all slugged solo home runs as the Gauchos beat Pepperdine 9-4.

UCSB also added four doubles as seven of their nine hits went for extra-bases as they improve to 21-10 on the year.

The Gaucho return to Big West play this weekend at UC Riverside.

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara City Councilmember Eric Friedman suffered a heart attack Saturday afternoon while paddling off the city’s coast, according to a press release from Ben Romo.

Friedman, 51, represents the 5th District and was first elected to the City Council in 2017. He is currently in the midst of a five-year term that began in 2021.

The Santa Barbara City Council canceled its upcoming April 8 meeting due to Friedman’s medical incident.

Romo’s statement detailed that Friedman was sedated overnight as a precautionary measure and was awake, alert, and aware of the incident as of Sunday afternoon.

Two of Friedman’s friends were with him at the time and administered CPR immediately before he was taken to Cottage Hospital for further care, according to Romo’s statement.

Friedman’s family asks the public not to contact him during this time so he can focus on his health, but they thank everyone for their support and well wishes, according to Romo.

The family also noted that Friedman had no history of heart disease or prior symptoms and is encouraging everyone to become CPR certified in light of this incident, Romo added.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Local students, parents, educators and members of a group called Youthclusive took part in a “Rally for the Arts” outside the Santa Barbara Unified School Board meeting on Wednesday.

Santa Barbara High School English teacher Robert Nava said he was one of the teachers who recently received a Reduction In Force notice known as an RIF.

“I recently received, reduction in force notice. And so that means that I may be let go, but it’s still up in the air,” said Nava.

Nava’s students held signs asking the board to save his job.

But Nava isn’t hopeful. This is his first year teaching and he believes the last hired are the first to go.

“You love what you do, but you also know that there’s that possibility that you might not be able to come back, “said Nava.

Many of the young musicians played their instruments along Santa Barbara Street.

Some people driving by beeped their horns.

This isn’t the first time they have rallied outside the regular meeting and may not be the last.

Cuts to music-related education were not on the board’s agenda, but rally participants, including San Marco High School student Naomi Jane Voigt, spoke during public comments.

The Teen Star award winner said she is speaking on behalf of the elementary and middle schools too.

Voigt helped organize the protest – she and her mother Michele Voigt spoke to the board during public comments.

“This is no way treat our teachers. These programs are a priority to our district and to our community, and we are not stopping,” said Michele Voigt.

Amber Coltrin said she was too late to sign up to speak.

She said she had rushed to the meeting from San Marcos High School’s spring musical Urinetown rehearsal.

“Without vocal music, I feel like there would be a lot more mental health issues like depression,” said Coltrin.

Coltrin said the creative arts has helped her and many of her classmates deal with mental health issues.

Santa Barbara High School is in rehearsal for Hadestown.

The cast stood in front of the school board with music playing from their spring musical, but they did not sing.

Margo Carmean, who plays Orpheus, in the musical hopes their silent protest sends a message.

“For the longest time when I’ve been doing arts classes, it felt like I’ve had to fight for them to exist and all the sports teams and other programs at school get a lot of funding,” said Carmean.

SBHS Theater Director Gioia Marchese hopes the district can make cuts elsewhere.

“What students need more than anything is to reconnect with their humanity,” said Marchese. 

Santa Barbara Junior High Teacher Rich Lushua told the board he was named the 2025 Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.

Lushua said he worries cuts to programs will prevent students from continuing their arts education as they move from elementary school to junior high and then to high school.

Some student singers and musicians would like administrative costs to be cut in order to keep music related education staffed.

But a district handout said “Santa Barbara Unified School Distict is facing difficult financial realities, with a $9.65 million budget reduction this year and an anticipated $4 million shortfall next year unless revenues and expenditures change.”

District officials have said they are mandated to hand out RIF notices by March 15 with final decisions announced by May 15th.

Even so, the district stands by their “Every child, Every chance, Every day” mission statement.