News Channel 3 Investigates Archives

California’s elected leaders demand information about federal immigration raids

November 24, 2025 2:01 pm Andrew Gillies

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – California Senator Alex Padilla spoke during a Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee meeting last week noting a severe… Continue Reading

“Red Heel Heist” sparks one-of-a-kind News Channel 3 investigation in Isla Vista

April 24, 2025 7:03 pm Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — For years, a giant red stiletto standing tall along Highway 101 near La Conchita has sparked curiosity and brought joy… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Hackers wipeout small business owner’s bank accounts

June 17, 2022 12:24 pm C.J. Ward

Our NewsChannel Tipline investigation delves into the dark world of hackers and thieves. We all deal with passwords, two-factor authentication,… Continue Reading

On Your Side: Are Federal Lease Terminations in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties Really Saving Millions?

April 7, 2025 3:24 pm Andrew Gillies, Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, claims it could save more than $4 million by terminating federal leases… Continue Reading

Unused Ambulance Vehicles are now for sale by Santa Barbara County Fire

April 1, 2025 4:18 pm John Palminteri

35 unused Santa Barbara County ambulance vehicles are for sale. A proposal to provide a full emergency medical service contract did not work… Continue Reading

On Your Side: Why 35 New Ambulances Are Sitting Idle in Santa Barbara County — And What Happens Next

March 17, 2025 3:55 pm Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Santa Barbara County taxpayers are footing the bill for dozens of brand-new ambulances that have yet to be put into… Continue Reading

Craig Case elderly Fraud Trial nearly ready to go to Jurors for a Decision

February 20, 2025 12:23 pm John Palminteri

The Craig Case fraud trial is expected to go to the jury Monday. Case is accused for cheating a Montecito woman out of nearly… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Orcutt Family’s Zombie Loan Nightmare

March 14, 2024 11:32 am C.J. Ward

We have to go back 15 years to the housing crisis, when many people owed more for their home than it was worth. It was called being "upside down" and… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Tesla Solar faces long list of customer complaints

November 9, 2023 9:07 am C.J. Ward

Solar Power seems to be a bright spot in today’s goal to achieve a clean energy future. One of the most powerful forces behind that effort is Tesla… Continue Reading

Firefighter responded to a Vegetation Fire at Midland School, Los Olivos

August 28, 2023 11:29 pm Sandy Chávez

Santa Ynez Valley, CA - Firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire in Los Olivos on Monday night It happened around 9:41 p.m. at 5100… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Fighting the airlines for pandemic refunds

June 14, 2023 10:23 am C.J. Ward

Our NewsChannel Tipline investigation takes us back to the first days of the pandemic when everything seemed to stop or shutdown. A Santa Barbara… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Buying a car online, not as easy as it looks

March 22, 2023 11:47 am C.J. Ward

Our News Channel Tipline investigation exposes problems with one of the big online car dealers,… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Gina’s journey out of homelessness and reuniting her family

February 13, 2023 1:49 pm C.J. Ward

In October, we introduced you to Gina Quiroz. She’s been homeless for almost six years. But, she’s putting her life back together with the ultimate… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Gina’s Journey, a homeless woman’s pursuit to reunite her family

October 27, 2022 2:17 pm C.J. Ward

Have you ever looked at someone who’s homeless and asked, How did they end up there? Was it something they did? Are they doing anything to change… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Santa Barbara widow must prove 33-year marriage to receive husband’s death benefit

March 27, 2022 2:35 pm C.J. Ward

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - This NewsChannel 3 Tipline story profiles a Santa Barbara widow and her two and a half year fight against the Social Security… Continue Reading

2 years and counting: Santa Barbara business owner says the state is giving up on her

March 17, 2022 10:59 am C.J. Ward

For nearly two years, the NewsChannel 3 Tipline has reported on the problems at the California Employment Development Department, better known as the… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Before you travel, read the fine print very carefully

November 11, 2021 9:48 am C.J. Ward

COVID-19 has decimated the travel industry since the start of the pandemic and cruise lines may have gotten the worst of it. Their loyal customers… Continue Reading

Santa Barbara business fights Amazon to get its $100,000 back

October 28, 2021 11:06 am C.J. Ward

Tonight’s Tipline Investigation involves the largest online retailer in the world, Amazon. The retail giant became what it is today partly due to a… Continue Reading

“This is crazy” Tax preparer tells clients he’s not dead

September 8, 2021 9:57 am C.J. Ward

A veteran tax preparer in San Luis Obispo knows all about dealing with complicated issues. He’s been preparing his clients taxes for more than 50… Continue Reading

Tipline Investigation: Santa Maria man forced to prove his identity as crooks steal billions

June 16, 2021 10:02 am C.J. Ward

We have an update on our Tipline investigation into the multi-billion dollar fraud in California’s unemployment… Continue Reading