C.J. Ward, Author at NewsChannel 3-12

Fraud linked to California’s Unemployment Department may hit eight billion dollars and expands to other states

January 21, 2021 6:48 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Our series of Tipline reports about fraud in California’s unemployment system indicates the loss to taxpayers could hit a…

Tipline Investigation: Goleta man tells state, ‘I don’t want your unemployment money, take it back’

January 14, 2021 10:56 am C.J. Ward

A Goleta man says the state paid him unemployment benefits that he never asked for and now he can’t get the EDD to take the money…

Congressman Salud Carbajal co-sponsors resolution to begin impeachment proceedings

January 8, 2021 7:48 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Local Democrat Congressman Salud Carbajal has co-sponsored a resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against President…

New light shed on mystery of electrified Montecito home

December 22, 2020 2:40 pm C.J. Ward

Trev Broudy has become an expert of sorts on the interaction between electricity and copper plumbing. For several months, he’s been on a mission to…

Montecito mystery has homeowner charged up

December 18, 2020 3:20 pm C.J. Ward

MONTECITO, Calif. – Trev Broudy looks back to February, 2019 when his Golden Retriever nearly died as the first indication something was wrong. He…

Tipline Investigation: 101 year old fights with insurance company to stay in her home

December 17, 2020 9:17 am C.J. Ward

One of the toughest battlegrounds in the fight against COVD-19 has played out at senior living facilities. Outbreaks can sweep through killing dozens…

1937 Ford Firetruck leads Unity Shoppe Toy Drive

December 13, 2020 10:28 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Cars and Coffee crowd held their annual Unity Shoppe Toy Drive Sunday morning. They met at Montecito’s upper village to…

“Rats nest of incompetence,” how one lawmaker describes the failure of California’s unemployment system

December 10, 2020 11:55 am C.J. Ward

The NewsChannel has been investigating problems at the EDD since May and one of the top complaints we receive involves problems with the EDD’s…

Bake Sale fundraiser to honor Unity Shoppe’s Barbara Tellefson

December 4, 2020 1:37 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Every year just before the annual Unity Shoppe Telethon, Nicole Kourosh organizes a tasty fundraiser to benefit the Santa…

Lawmakers demand answers to accusations Bank of America siphoned EDD unemployment benefits

December 1, 2020 11:43 am C.J. Ward

A bipartisan group of 59 lawmakers from all over California are demanding Bank of America explain why money belonging to unemployed workers is being…

Investigation into massive fraud at EDD in early stages

November 25, 2020 4:16 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Law enforcement officials from all over California, including the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, are…

“Never seen fraud of this magnitude” Massive unemployment benefits scam may involve every jail and prison in California

November 24, 2020 11:17 am C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Some Santa Barbara County jail inmates appear to be part of a statewide fraud scheme bilking hundreds of millions of dollars…

Ventura resident wins $22,950 prize in Boys and Girls Club Raffle

November 12, 2020 10:04 am C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County held its fundraiser to raffle off a beautifully restored 1956 GMC…

United Boys and Girls Clubs fundraiser shifts to high gear for 1956 truck raffle

November 9, 2020 1:09 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is in the final days of its fundraiser to raffle off a beautifully…

New, hi-tech voting system put to the test in SB, SLO and Ventura Counties

October 29, 2020 10:59 am C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – There has been a lot of talk and debate leading up to this election about voter fraud and foreign interference. Those…

DRAGG Program gets rolling with car parade fundraiser

October 26, 2020 3:14 pm C.J. Ward

OXNARD, Calif. – About 40 classic and custom cars and trucks rolled through parts of Ventura County on Sunday to raise money and awareness for the…

Tipline Investigation: California EDD freezes 350,000 possibly fraudulent debit cards; extends Call Center hours

October 23, 2020 11:33 am C.J. Ward

The California Employment Development Department is taking more drastic measures to deal with a wave of fraudulent…

CADA receives top honors from GuideStar and Charity Navigator

October 20, 2020 1:38 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Two of the largest and most reputable nonprofit information sources in the country have awarded The Council on Alcoholism and…

Tipline Investigation: Unemployment scams steal hope from desperate Californians

October 1, 2020 11:05 am C.J. Ward

People who lost their jobs during the pandemic shutdown filed for unemployment benefits through the EDD and many have received…

Vintage Travel Trailers set up camp in Buellton

September 28, 2020 12:28 am C.J. Ward

Hundreds of Vintage Travel Trailers from all over the country arrived in Buellton over the weekend for the 11th Annual Buellton Vintage Trailer…