News

The number of coronavirus cases on the Central and South Coasts now tops 430.

Ventura County has 189 cases, Santa Barbara County 152, and San Luis Obispo County 93, for a regional total of 434.

There have been seven deaths in the region, but no new ones were reported Friday. 

A strong storm system is headed to the Central and South Coast, one which could bring between one to three inches of rain to much of the region.

We’ll see increased clouds Saturday, but the storm won’t arrive until Sunday.  The Central Coast could start getting light rain early Sunday.  The South Coast will get its heaviest rainfall Sunday night into Monday.

Another South Coast city has announced new restrictions on park usage. Most of the City of Santa Barbara’s parks remain open. But now all picnic sites are closed, and all group activities are banned.

Amid all the cancellations of special events on the Central and South Coasts, one organization is actually announcing plans for a new one.

The Santa Maria Fairpark is going to have a new festival this fall. The event hasn’t been named yet.

Plans call for the unnamed event to be a hybrid of things you would normally find at the Fairpark’s Annual Strawberry Festival, which was postponed, and the Santa Barbara County Fair.

The number of coronavirus cases on the Central and South Coasts now tops 400. Ventura County has 177 cases, Santa Barbara County 139, and San Luis Obispo County 89, for a regional total of 405. Ventura County has had a sixth death, a person in their 70’s with a pre-existing condition. There have been seven deaths in the region. Among the newest confirmed coronavirus cases is a City of Santa Barbara Police officer. The officer is reported to be at home recovering.

A utility company has made a big donation to help people in need on the Central and South Coasts as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The Southern California Gas Company is giving the American Red Cross of Central California $100,000 for relief efforts.

A South Coast city announced that it’s closing some of its most popular recreation areas because of coronavirus concerns.

The City of Ventura closed all of its parks and beaches because of the social distancing issue.  The order also includes Ventura’s Promenade, pier, and the wildlife ponds near the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

A major South Coast museum closed by the coronavirus crisis reports that it’s been flooded by calls because of incorrect reports that it’s been permanently closed. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley closed because of coronavirus concerns on March 13th. At the time, officials said the closure would be indefinite, because no one knows when it will be safe to reopen.

A Ventura County man has been arrested after detectives say he stole a vehicle, and then used it to try to use it to rip an ATM out of a shopping center.

Ventura County Sheriff’s investigators say Ricardo Herrera broke into a Thousand Oaks business and stole several items, including the keys to a vehicle.

Some Boys and Girls Clubs on the South Coast have stepped up to help families in need of child care because of the coronavirus crisis. The Boys And Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley expanded the number of open centers from two to four.