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A Santa Barbara County based computer repair company which once served much of Southern California has gone out of business, costing dozens of workers their jobs.

KCLU’s John Palminteri has the story.

Click on link to listen to/download story: Santa Barbara Computer Repair Business Closes

For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Press Club has honored KCLU “Morning Edition” host Jim Rondeau as Southern California’s best radio news anchor. Rondeau, who is also KCLU’s program’s director, was honored at the organization’s 54th annual awards show Sunday night, at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, beating out competition from Los Angeles stations.

KCLU Special Projects Producer John North was honored for “Best Radio Documentary” for
“Bullying: Kids In Crisis.” The hour long special looked at the bullying issue at schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

More than 400 Southern California print and broadcast journalists were on hand for the awards show, which also honored legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein for their groundbreaking investigative work of the Watergate scandal.

Homelessness continues to be a major problem in both Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. Tomorrow, county supervisors in both counties are going to be looking at proposals to try to improve the efficiency of assistance programs.

KCLU’s Lance Orozco has the story:

Click on link to listen to/download story: Homelessness Management Issues

Authorities are trying to figure out why a motorcyclist lost control of his bike and crashed in Ventura County, fatally injuring him.

Anthony Amaralo was southbound on Kuehner Drive, in Simi Valley just after three yesterday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle, hit a curb, and was thrown into a fire hydrant.

The 50 year old Simi Valley man died at the scene.

A Simi Valley resident who’s a member of the Beverly Hills Police Department is no longer going to have to commute to work.

Mitch McCann has been appointed as Simi Valley Police Chief, effective July 16th.

McCann has been with the Beverly Hills department for 24 years, and is currently that agency’s Field Services Division Captain.

He’ll fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Mike Lewis last December. The Simi Valley department has 180 employees, and a $28 million dollar annual budget.

A Ventura man is facing multiple criminal charges, after police say he led them on a wild chase through city streets, and on the 101 Freeway.

It started just before eight last night, near Olive Street, and Simpson Avenue in Ventura. An officer saw a vehicle run a stop sign, and when the officer tried to stop it, the driver wouldn’t stop. The chase hit 60 miles an hour at times.

The speeding car hit a vehicle at the corner of Chestnut, and Poli Streets, got onto the southbound 101 Freeway, and then exited at Harbor Boulevard, where the driver stopped, and surrendered.

Anthony Cisneros was arrested for felony evading, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and for hit and run. No one was hurt during the incident.

Fans flocked to the site of what was known as the “Neverland” ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley over the last few days, to commemorate the third anniversary of the music icon’s death.

KCLU’s John Palminteri has the story: Michael Jackson Anniversary

A 40 year veteran of the U.S. Forest Services has been selected as the new Santa Barbara District Ranger for the Los Padres National Forest.

John Smith has worked as a firefighter, and law enforcement officer with the Forest Service. He’s currently a District Ranger in North Carolina, but will take over his new post on July 30th.

He replaces Doug Dodge, who retired last month after serving as the Santa Barbara District Ranger since 2009.

Ventura County firefighters are using some cutting edge technology this brushfire season which not only allows them to map, and track the perimeter, and movement of a blaze in close to real time, but to share it with the public.

KCLU’s Lance Orozco has the story.

Click on link to listen to/download story: Ventura County Fire Department Brushfire Tracking System

Firefighters say some 700 acres of land has been blackened in a popular off road vehicle recreational area by a brushfire in eastern Ventura County, near the Ventura/Los Angeles County line.

The fire was discovered just after noon Saturday, in the Hungry Valley area. Some campers had to be evacuated, but no one was hurt. No structures have been reported damaged. There’s no word on what caused the fire, which is about 60% contained.

Earlier estimates of the amount of land burned have been downgraded from 1500, to about 700 acres.