Listen Now All Things Considered 3:30pm - 6:30pm
The Santa Barbara City Council today formalized the hiring of a new Fire Chief.
Pat McElroy had been appointed to the spot by City Administrator Jim Armstrong, and today the council voted to unanimously to support the action.
McElroy has been with the department for more than three decades, and was already been serving as interim chief following the retirement of Andy DiMizio last year.
A construction crew accidentally cut into a gas pipeline in an industrial area of Camarillo this afternoon, leading to the evacuation of some nearby buildings.
The accident happened at about 2:45 p.m., on the 3200 block of Mission Oaks Boulevard.
An adjacent industrial building, and a warehouse were evacuated as a precaution.
Ventura County firefighters were on scene to monitor the situation, while crews repaired the pipeline.
No one was hurt. Evacuees were allowed to return to work about an hour after the incident occurred.
Efforts to get funding for a new courthouse facility in Santa Barbara have been stepped up, with the improving state funding situation seen as a possible opening to get the long discussed project built.
KCLU’s John Palminteri has an update: Santa Barbara Courthouse Project
The controversy over water rates in one Ventura County community could overflow tonight.
Some Ojai area residents are upset with their water bills, saying they’re paying much more than neighboring government run system customers. They’re pushing for a government takeover of the water system.
Officials with the company contend their rates are competitive, when you compare them to combined water, and tax bills from government providers.
KCLU’s Lance Orozco looks at the dispute, which will be the focus of a community meeting tonight.
Click on link to listen to/download story: Ojai Water Controversy
The 2013 Santa Barbara International Film Festival has hit the halfway mark, with more than 30 screenings set to take place today.
One of the big events set to take place today is the presentation of the festival’s Virtuosos Award, which celebrates the work of a half dozen up and coming actors.
Among the honorees this year are Ezra Miller, for “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower,” Omar Sy for “The Untouchables,” and Eddie Redmayne for “Les Miserables.” The event will take place at 8 tonight, at the Arlington Theater.
One of the other festival highlights today is a 10 p.m. screening of a digitally restored version of the Stanley Kubrick/Jack Nicholson classic “The Shining.”
The 28th annual festival runs through this coming Sunday.
Pedestrian and traffic safety have been big concerns in a part of one South Coast community for the last two years, in the wake of an accident which killed a teenager. Now, the issues are going to be the focus of a community meeting.
The City of Santa Barbara’s Transportation Division is holding a public workshop this coming weekend. The event from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at Franklin Elementary School is intended to get public comments about pedestrian, and traffic concerns in the city.
The City of Santa Barbara has been making safety improvements on Milpas Street crossings, after a teenager was struck and killed while trying to cross the street in October of 2011. Residents have expressed concerns about what they say are issues on the Eastside like a lack of safe crossing areas, speeding, and inadequate lighting.
Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies say they’ve arrested six people for a string of more than three dozen vehicle burglaries which occurred in the last week.
Deputies were called to the area of Lexington Court in Camarillo around 3:30 Sunday morning, by reports of people shining flashlights into parked vehicles. They arrested one adult, and four teenagers as group members tried to flee the area on bicycles, and skateboards. A fifth teenager later turned himself in to authorities.
The deputies say group members admitted to committing more than 40 vehicle burglaries over a four day period, taking a wide range of items. They say many of the burglarized vehicles were unlocked.
An actor who fled to Canada with his wife after being wanted by authorities in Santa Barbara County is facing more problems, after his application for Canadian citizenship was denied.
KCLU’s John Palminteri has the story.
Click on link to listen to/download story: Quaid Update
New Exhibition In Santa Paula Looks At Efforts To Encourage Food Conservation, Home Gardens During Wartime
A new museum exhibition in Ventura County called “When Gardening Was Patriotic” looks at when Americans were asked to help with the war efforts during World Wars I, and II by growing, and conserving food.
KCLU’s Lance Orozco reports the exhibition at a Santa Paula museum features artifacts dating back nearly a century.
Click on link to listen to/download story: Gardens Go To War
A 78 year old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run accident in Santa Barbara earlier this month.
CHP investigators say they took Lau Van Huynh of Murrieta into custody Saturday for the January 15th incident on the 101 Freeway, in downtown Santa Barbara.
Witnesses told the CHP they saw Simon Chavez of Santa Barbara on the freeway at around 1 a.m. January 15th. They called 911, but by the time officers reached the scene the 22 year old man had been struck, and killed by a vehicle which fled the scene.
It’s unclear as to why the victim was on the freeway.
Investigators say they’ve located the vehicle they believe was involved in the crash, and that additional arrests are possible.
