News

It was a good day Tuesday on the Central and South Coasts in the battle against coronavirus, with less than 100 new cases reported in the region, and San Luis Obispo County dropping from the most restrictive closure tier.

Ventura County had 42 additional cases, Santa Barbara County 25 and San Luis Obispo County just 15.  More than 24,600 cases have been reported in the region since the start of the pandemic, with most of those diagnosed with the disease already recovered.

A South Coast community college district will be sticking with mostly remote classes for its Spring, 2021 semester.

Ventura County Community College District officials say they are making the announcement now so its more than 30,000 students, and 1700 staff members will know what to expect in January.

Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura Colleges are currently offering mostly remote classes.  There are strict safety protocols in place for the few classes which can’t be properly offered remotely.

A 2018 missing persons case has led to a grim discovery on the Central Coast, and the arrest of two people on murder related charges.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives say evidence led to a search by divers of a lake at a San Luis Obispo County golf course.  Human remains were recovered from the Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo.

Ventura County has tweaked one of its coronavirus related health orders to try to help bars, breweries, and other places which serve alcohol on-site.

They had to close at 10 p.m., even on Friday and Saturday nights.  Now, they can stay open until 11.  But, other restrictions still apply. 

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the Central and South Coasts continued to grow over the weekend.  427 additional cases were reported for the Saturday through Monday period.

Ventura County added 265 cases, Santa Barbara County 84, and San Luis Obispo County 78.  More than 24,600 cases have been reported since the start of the pandemic, with most of those diagnosed already recovered.

The U.S. Forest Service has extended its closures of nine national forests in California because of ongoing fire and weather concerns, a shutdown which includes the Los Padres National Forest.

The closure went into effect two weeks ago.  It means that campgrounds, trails, and all other facilities are temporarily closed. 

The shutdown was originally supposed to end last weekend, but it has been extended until this coming Thursday.

Santa Barbara County Supervisors are considering a strong response to a County Grand Jury report which is highly critical of the way the county has handled the regulation of the cannabis industry.

The Grand Jury asserted that the county didn’t adequately assess the impacts of cannabis production on the health and welfare of county residents.  It claims the amount of production being allowed is excessive for the size of the county.   And, it says the county was less than transparent in its actions.

A South Coast library system may be the latest in the national to eliminate late return fees.  The Ventura County Library System is proposing to move to a fine free system.

Library officials say removing the fines will bring back people who may not be using the system due to past fines.   They say with money tight for many families due to the coronavirus crisis, the need to wave overdue fees has grown.

Two more coronavirus related deaths are being reported on the Central and South Coasts.  There was one reported in Ventura County and one in Santa Barbara County Friday.

There have now been 280 deaths in the region since the start of the pandemic.

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake rocked much of Southern California Friday night, with some people in Ventura County among those feeling it.  The 11:38 p.m. quake was centered east of downtown Los Angeles, in the Rosemead/South El Monte area.

Many say it felt like a long, rolling motion.  There's no word of any damage.   KCLU listeners in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Camarillo are among those reporting that they felt it.

It was initially reported to be a magnitude 4.6 quake, but seismologists later determined it was a magnitude 4.5.

Unemployment continues to drop on the Central and South Coast as well as statewide, but California still has one of the highest jobless rates in the nation.

In Ventura County, the percentage of people out of work went from 11.4 % in July to 9.1 % in August.  Santa Barbara County’s jobless rate dipped from 10.3% in July to an even 8% in August.  And, San Luis Obispo County saw the month-to-month unemployment rate from 10%, to 7.8%.