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The Los Padres National Forest has announced it’s closed a popular hiking trail in Ventura County where a woman was attacked by a bear.

The Gridley Trail outside of Ojai has been shut down through November 2nd. On October 19th, a woman walking her dogs on the trail was attacked by a female back bear, which was walking with a cub. The woman was hit in the arm by the bear, and then knocked down an embankment. The bear followed her down the hill, but after sniffing her, left the scene. The woman escaped without serious injury.

Forest Service officials say they see increased bear activity this time of year, as bears migrate down from the mountains to find food. Officials say there have been more sightings since the attack 10 days ago, prompting the closure.

Santa Barbara City College is being honored by the state for its efforts to help low income, and minority students succeed in school.

The college’s “Express To Success” program targets students who are having difficulty in math, and English, and gives them special curriculum, sets up student learning groups, and provides support for the students.

The federally funded program has teachers do multiple classes, so the students can better bond with the educators.

The students in the program are put in groups, so they develop a team approach so they can help each other outside of class.

Hundreds of students have gone through the program, with nearly 500 currently enrolled. The program is receiving the 2012 California Community College Chancellor’s Award.

Authorities are now identifying a man in who was shot to death in Ventura County over the weekend.

County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the intersection of Salem Avenue, and Cortez Street in the El Rio area just before 10 p.m. Friday, by a report of an injured person in the street. They found a man who had been shot. Edward Velasquez was pronounced dead at the scene, near Rio Plaza Elementary School.

There’s no word on what led to the fatal shooting of the 42 year old Oxnard man. No arrests have been made.

New Santa Barbara Zoo African Lionesses (Santa Barbara Zoo Photo)

Santa Barbara has two soon to be famous new residents today, who came to the South Coast complete with a police escort through the streets of the nation’s capitol .

They are a pair of female African lions, who are now at the Santa Barbara Zoo as part of an international breeding program to try to improve the genetic diversity of the dwindling species.

KCLU’s Lance Orozco reports the lions were moved in secrecy, and are still in quarantine until the public will get their first look at them in about a month.

Click on link to listen to/download story: Santa Barbara Zoo Lions

Oxnard Police detectives are trying to unravel what led to a weekend shooting which left two people wounded.

It happened just after 9 Saturday night, on the 4300 block of Dallas Drive. One of the people was critically injured. Investigators are trying to determine a possible motive.

It was a long day for public safety agencies in Ventura, as what started as a hazardous materials incident ended up with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad being called to the scene.

It started at around 7:30 yesterday, on the 200 block of Baker Drive.

A resident reported a strong chemical smell. When Ventura firefighters, and then a hazmat team were called to the scene, they found a leaking pesticide container, and neutralized it.

Then, a resident said there were possible explosive materials in the garage. The bomb squad was called to the scene, and some neighboring homes were evacuated. It was determined the materials weren’t dangerous.

But, yet another problem was then discovered. A leaking acid container was discovered, and the hazardous materials unit was again called in to help neutralize the danger. No one was hurt.

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake rocked parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties Sunday morning, but didn’t cause any damage.

The sharp, short quake hit at 8:24 a.m., and was centered about four miles east of Newhall. It was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks during the course of the day, many of which were to small to be felt.

Ventura County firefighters knocked down a five acre brushfire near Ventura in about two hours.

The fire was reported in the 200 block of Mill Canyon Road, in the Rincon Bluffs area just after 8 Saturday night. The fire was contained by 10:30 p.m. No structures were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation,

Authorities are investigating the shooting death of a man in Ventura County over the weekend.

County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the intersection of Salem Avenue, and Cortez Street in the El Rio area just before 10 p.m. Friday, by a report of an injured person in gthe street. They found a man who had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, which is near Rio Plaza Elementary School.

The man’s name hasn’t been released yet. There’s no word on what led to the shooting, and no arrests have been made.

85 people were arrested, and more than 50 cited during the first day of the Halloween weekend in Isla Vista, as thousands showed up for unsponsored, unsanctioned parties Friday night.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says at least 18 people were transported to hsopital for medical issues like alcohol poisoning. Extra law enforcement officers from other agencies like the Santa Barbara Police Department, the Lompoc Police Department, and the CHP have helped the Sheriff’s Department deal with the massive crowds, and traffic.