On Your Side

FBI Whistleblower Alleges Trump Administration Directed Illegal Investigations Into Lawful Protesters Last Year

October 6, 2026 2:11 pm Andrew Gillies

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – A recently released whistleblower report alleges that the Trump Administration directed employees at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Field Office in Los Angeles to open investigations into legally protected protest activities last year. According to a whistleblower disclosure by former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supervisory Intelligence Analyst Jill Fields, the

Nationwide Coalition of Attorneys General Challenge Trump Administration’s Changes to Mail-Based Voting Wednesday

August 26, 2026 1:57 pm Andrew Gillies

BOSTON (KEYT) – California’s Attorney General has joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Postal Service’s new rule allowing it to reject mail-based ballots nationwide. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts today, argued that the new rule

Trump Appointee Warned About Destruction of Records Amid Ongoing Investigations

August 18, 2026 2:39 pm Andrew Gillies

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources publicly warned a Trump Administration appointee that attempts to destroy records and avoid oversight could violate federal law as multiple ongoing inquiries await investigation. “Your nomination arrives at a time when the OIG [Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the

State Elected Leaders Highlight Rights Protected and Billions Restored by California’s Legal Defense Fund

August 4, 2026 1:54 pm Andrew Gillies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KEYT) – California’s Office of Attorney General shared the results of the agency’s annual report to the state’s Legislature Tuesday. According to the Attorney General’s Office, California has filed 82 lawsuits -with the state’s top lawyer leading or co-leading 55 of them- as well as 120 amicus briefs in support of legislation challenging

SCAM ALERT: How You Can Protect Yourself from Gift Card Scams

July 30, 2026 12:42 pm Andrew Gillies

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The risk of getting scammed is higher than ever, with fraudsters constantly coming up with new tactics to trick, scare, or intimate you out of your money. In this week’s segment of On Your Side, we highlight gift card scams – victims will receive text message from someone they believe

Yongan Ma Charged In Connection with Fraud Scheme Targeting Local Elderly Woman

July 29, 2026 1:08 pm Andrew Gillies

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Felony charges have been filed against 44-year-old Yongan Ma of Rosemead in connection with a fraud scheme that targeted an elderly Thousand Oaks victim earlier this year. On April 2, 2026, a senior citizen was deleting spam emails on her home computer when she clicked on a link that caused a

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Second Attempt to Halt Mental Health Grants to Struggling Schools and States

July 28, 2026 2:18 pm Andrew Gillies

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – Last night, a federal court blocked the Trump Administration’s plans to unilaterally terminate mental health grants that school districts and states use nationwide to address shortages of mental health professionals, especially at low-income and rural schools. On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted a temporary

Sable’s Eminent Domain Requests Included in Amendment to Latest Defense Authorization Bill

July 22, 2026 11:56 am Andrew Gillies

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – Last night, the House of Representatives debated the nation’s annual defense spending bill and passed an amendment that authorized the Trump Administration to seize state property on behalf of private energy company Sable Offshore. The amendment, authored and added the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2027 by Texas Congressman

Trump Administration Facing Lawsuit Over Allegedly Illegal Deal with Wind Energy Company

July 16, 2026 1:28 pm Andrew Gillies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Attorney General’s Office informed the Trump Administration of its intent to sue over an allegedly illegal deal to terminate an offshore wind energy lease at the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Thursday. According to Thursday’s Notice of Intent to sue issued to members of the Trump Administration, the latest

SCAM ALERT: How To Look Out For Courier Scams and Ways to Protect Yourself

June 11, 2026 6:13 pm Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – In this edition of News Channel On Your Side, we take a look at courier scams, the latest tactic being used by fraudsters, where they will pose as bank clerks, or government and law enforcement reps. These scammers will call you on the phone, and will try to intimate and

EXCLUSIVE: Non-Profit Steps In For Santa Barbara Woman on Brink of Eviction

April 29, 2026 12:10 pm Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. (KEYT) – A Santa Barbara woman who rebuilt her life after homelessness is now just days away from losing the home she worked years to secure — after an injury set off a financial spiral she couldn’t recover from in time. Shawn Hernandez starts each morning walking her small dog, Dominique, through

News Channel’s Year in Headlines

December 31, 2025 11:53 am Alissa Orozco

Small Plane Crashes Near Highway 101 in Goleta, Two Seriously Injured A small plane crash along Highway 101 north of the Storke Road offramp left a shocking scene for those traveling through the Goleta area back in January. Two professional pilots employed by filmmaker Robert Zemeckis were seriously injured in the fiery scene. Flight data shows

Learn How to Get Ahead of AI Scammers Before They Get You

November 13, 2025 7:01 pm Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Anyone can be a victim of a financial scam, but the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has made scammers even smarter, and victims even more vulnerable. The ability to create convincing videos and photos – and even mimicing voices is exactly what makes AI scams hard to catch. Santa Barbara

Historic Santa Barbara Mission Faces New Housing Showdown

October 30, 2025 11:41 am Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA — Two towering housing projects proposed mere steps from the iconic Old Mission Santa Barbara have sparked a fierce preservation showdown, pitting urgent housing needs against historic and environmental safeguards. “There’s no question that the proposal would lead to significant traffic and safety impacts in the case of a fire or an earthquake.

Isla Vista Rental Inspection Lawsuit: Landlords Sue Santa Barbara County as Students Return

September 2, 2025 5:10 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — A group of Isla Vista landlords is suing Santa Barbara County over a new rental inspection program, claiming it forces property owners to break state law and infringes on tenants’ constitutional rights. The Isla Vista Rental Property Owners’ Association filed the complaint after supervisors approved a one-year pilot program requiring

Newsom Expands CHP Crime Suppression Statewide, But What About the Central Coast?

August 29, 2025 12:53 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a major statewide expansion of California Highway Patrol crime suppression teams, though the Central and South Coast is not currently included in the rollout. “The CHP-Coastal Division, which includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, is not part of this deployment,” said Jordan

Zombie Loans, Deed Theft and Vacant Land Scams: How Fraudsters Target Homeowners

August 22, 2025 6:13 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Imagine discovering you owe a loan you never knew existed or that someone just sold your land without your knowledge. Local and federal officials are warning that so-called “zombie loans,” deed theft, and vacant lot scams are on the rise, putting homeowners and land buyers at risk. “Unresolved loans and vacant

What NPR Cuts Mean for KCLU and Public Radio on the Central Coast

July 18, 2025 12:19 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Congress has voted to rescind nearly $1.1 billion in funding for public media — a move that eliminates all federal support for NPR, PBS, and their member stations, including KCLU on the Central Coast. House Republicans passed the spending cuts bill shortly after midnight Friday. Roughly $8 billion will be pulled

Elderly Woman Loses $450K in Online Romance Scam

July 14, 2025 6:32 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A Massachusetts woman is warning others after her 74-year-old mother was conned out of nearly her entire retirement savings in an elaborate year-long romance scam. Jessica, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her family’s privacy, shared her mother’s story with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s

Santa Barbara Equestrian Group Feels Shut Out of Earl Warren Showgrounds Master Plan

June 27, 2025 4:13 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The future of the Earl Warren Showgrounds is coming into focus with a 30-year Master Plan in development — but members of the equestrian community are questioning whether they will be part of that vision. The Earl Warren Showgrounds, a historic and centrally located facility, has played a critical role during

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