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 Administration. It all boiled down to one thing, the government refused to recognize her marriage, even though she had been happily married to the same man for 33 years.… Continue Reading

For nearly two years, the NewsChannel 3 Tipline has reported on the problems at the California Employment Development Department, better known as the EDD. We’ve helped a lot of people. Sadly, this story is not one of them.… Continue Reading

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 have suffered as well. … Continue Reading

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 network of small retailers who sell their products using Amazon’s Merchant platform.… Continue Reading

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 years.… Continue Reading

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

We first profiled Leslie Jackson and her battle against the California Employment Development Department on April 25th. She had applied for benefits more than a year ago in March, 2020 but received nothing from the state. Jackson said the EDD made her go before a judge to prove her identity.… Continue Reading

Santa Barbara resident Leslie Jackson filed for unemployment benefits more than a year ago and she's still waiting. She filed her claim with the EDD in March, 2020 and like so many others, she had to go before a judge to prove her identity.… Continue Reading

We have a heartwarming follow up now to a recent Tipline Investigation. A few weeks ago, we introduced you to Ernie Orosco. The professional guitarist started selling off his instruments to survive a year after applying for unemployment benefits.… Continue Reading

The last two years have been a nightmare for Dave and Daniela Henrey. They're married, but he lives in the Santa Ynez Valley and she lives outside Bogota, Columbia.… Continue Reading

We have another followup to the chaos within California’s unemployment system. Our series of reports have clearly shown how some people are desperately trying to survive as they deal with the broken system.… Continue Reading

The restaurant industry is hanging on by a thread during the pandemic from complete shutdowns, partial re-openings, take out only and outside not inside dining. They've been through a lot. However, one Santa Barbara restaurateur came close to getting a knock out blow. … Continue Reading

Heartbreaking scams that target senior citizens in our community are on the rise during the pandemic. The crooks don’t stop at pilfering bank accounts, they plunder the victims heart as well.… Continue Reading

The Employment Development Department which oversees the processing and distribution of employment insurance benefits has been under fire for its mishandling of the crisis. … Continue Reading

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Our series of Tipline reports about fraud in California’s unemployment system indicates the loss to taxpayers could hit a staggering eight billion dollars. Some law enforcement officials have already confirmed the fraud has been linked to prisoners at every jail and prison in California. That massive and complex investigation is underway… Continue Reading

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 back.… Continue Reading

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 figure out why his home on the 100 block of Middle Road in Montecito has been electrified and why the tap water inside his home has dangerously high levels of copper. He's frustrated why so many 'experts' have not been able to figure it out.… Continue Reading

MONTECITO, Calif. - Trev Broudy looks back to February, 2019 when his Golden Retriever nearly died as the first indication something was wrong. He said the dog was anemic and losing weight. He spent about $15,000 on vet bills trying to help her but no one could figure it out, until one veterinarian suggested possible… Continue Reading

One of the toughest battlegrounds in the fight against COVD-19 has played out at senior living facilities. Outbreaks can sweep through killing dozens of residents. Yet, for many seniors they are at home where they feel safe. So, imagine the difficult situation they would face if their insurance company cancelled their long term care coverage in the middle of the pandemic under questionable circumstances.… Continue Reading

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 ability to verify a claimants identity. … Continue Reading

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

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Some Santa Barbara County jail inmates appear to be part of a statewide fraud scheme bilking hundreds of millions of dollars in state unemployment benefit payments. Santa Barbara County Assistant District Attorney Brian Cota joined more than 100 law enforcement officials from across the state on a Zoom call to discuss… Continue Reading

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

People who lost their jobs during the pandemic shutdown filed for unemployment benefits through the EDD and many have received nothing.… Continue Reading

On Saturday, the EDD released a blueprint to get past the current crisis and hopefully avoid more problems in the future.… Continue Reading

Problems at California’s Employment Development Department, also known as the EDD, is raising serious concerns about possible fraud.… Continue Reading

More than a million Californians are on the verge of becoming homeless. Sadly, the safety net they thought would help them is letting them down when they need it most. … Continue Reading

People thinking about buying a used vehicle these days will probably run a Google search first, check Carfax and maybe get a pre-purchase inspection. But even then, some unexpected problems fall into a gray area.… Continue Reading

A Solvang woman struggled to kick a squatter off her land, that's when someone contacted the local NewsChannel on her behalf.… Continue Reading

Charlie Vasquez took his two daughters to Lompoc Valley Medical Center to be tested for the coronavirus on April 2, 2020. The test came back negative for one daughter. Doctors had to re-test the second daughter and that test came back positive. Vasquez told NewsChannel she has since fully recovered and is doing well.… Continue Reading