Business Matters

Santa Maria leaders discuss long-term plans at ‘State of the City’ address

October 13, 2026 11:26 am Dave Alley

The annual “State of the City” for the City of Santa Maria was held Tuesday evening at Allan Hancock College.

New Orcutt gas station opens near accident-prone intersection

October 12, 2026 11:59 am Dave Alley

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – A long-planned gas station located at one of the busiest intersections in Orcutt has finally opened for business. Orcutt Fuel welcomed its first customers Friday during a soft opening at the site, which features eight fueling stations and a 4,200-square-foot convenience store. “It’s been really, really nice,” said Orcutt Fuel employee Traci Bradbury.

JSB Cafe Reopens at Santa Barbara City College to Launch Culinary Careers

October 8, 2026 6:29 pm John Palminteri

The student run JSB Cafe at Santa Barbara City College has reopened. It has been closed since the COVID crisis.

First Ever Nite Life Car Show Expected to Boost Business in Downtown Santa Barbara

October 8, 2026 12:38 pm John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Downtown Santa Barbara will have some new horsepower Sunday. The NITE LIFE car club of Santa Barbara presents its first car show on State Street between Cota and De La Guerra. It’s a free event from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Support from the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association and

Local Business Builds 90 Teddy Bears for Critically Ill Children in Goleta

October 7, 2026 8:01 pm Patricia Martellotti

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) — A volunteer project in Goleta is bringing local workers together to support families facing a medical crisis. Employees at Seek Thermal are stepping away from their usual jobs to build teddy bears for local families. “I’ve got a stuffed dog here and a lot of games so these will go to

SLO County agriculture hits $1 billion for fifth consecutive year

October 7, 2026 11:55 am Dave Alley

San Luis Obispo County farms, ranches and vineyards generated more than $1 billion in agricultural production in 2025.

Gino’s Sicilian Express Celebrates 30 Years with 99 Cent Pizza Slices

October 1, 2026 5:35 pm John Palminteri

Gino’s Sicilian Express is celebrating 30 years with 99 cent slices of pizza. The downtown Santa Barbara location was running a line down the street all day.

Ventura County Restaurant Week spotlights local restaurants, flavors

October 1, 2026 6:39 pm Mina Wahab

VENTURA, Calif. — Ventura County Restaurant Week is underway, giving diners an opportunity to explore special menus while supporting local restaurants. This year’s event features 12 participating restaurants, including three Ventura spots offering very different dining experiences: The Masala Twist, The Greek and Rocks & Drams. For some restaurant owners, the event comes at a

The Wave Transit Van is Rolling in New Ways to Get Around Carpinteria

October 1, 2026 5:38 pm John Palminteri

The Wave is rolling through Carpinteria offering point to point rides. The service is free for a month then $3. a ride.

Union Pacific Starts Urgent Work on Train Tracks and Erosion Before Notifying Carpinteria City Officials

September 29, 2026 11:57 am John Palminteri

Work on five drainages has begun on the Carpinteria bluffs by Union Pacific Railroad. City leaders say the project began last week without a notice in advance.

Businesses Rally in September with Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

September 28, 2026 5:28 pm John Palminteri

Many fundraisers take place this month for National Child Cancer Awareness month. Several will help the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.

Banana Festival offers Port Tours

September 26, 2026 8:52 pm Tracy Lehr

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (KEYT) When the Port of Hueneme hosts its annual Banana Festival it gives visitors a chance to tour the deep sea port by bus and boat. Usually the port is full of container ships with bananas and cars and more, but many are delayed by hurricane Polo. That gave folks on the

Habitat For Humanity Helps Carpinteria Family Replace An Aging Mobile Home

September 24, 2026 1:33 pm John Palminteri

Habitat for Humanity is helping to replace an aging and damaged mobile home in Carpinteria. The project is expected to be done by the end of the year.

Thousands Move Back to Isla Vista, Boosting Local Economy

September 21, 2026 11:16 am John Palminteri

Thousands of residents are moving in for the new school year at UCSB. It is a big economic boost for the area and nearby in Goleta.

Surfliner Inn Project Faces Environmental Scrutiny in Carpinteria

September 21, 2026 11:13 am John Palminteri

The Surfliner Inn project in Carpinteria is up for a Planning Commission review. The Environmental Impact Report is on line.

Food Crawl Through Carpinteria Raises Funds for Teen Scholarships

September 18, 2026 4:51 pm John Palminteri

The Carpinteria Culinary Crawl raised money for scholarships. They will be honored in April by the Carpinteria Community Association.

Drivers React to Record High Diesel Prices

September 14, 2026 6:22 pm Tracy Lehr

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) The latest AAA Fuel Prices report shows diesel fuel hitting a record high of $6.23 a gallon nationwide. It is much more in California where stations have neon signs showing diesel above $8. That is a record, too. In addition to global conflicts, California fuel costs are impacted by higher state environmental