Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Allan Hancock College hosted Career Exploration Day for high school and college students

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SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College invited 1,300 local high school and college students to its Santa Maria campus Oct. 2 for the college’s annual?Career?Exploration?Day.

The in-person event provided participating students with the opportunity to explore potential career paths and learn more about the college’s academic and career technical education programs. 

“Career Exploration Day helps students see what’s possible beyond the classroom,” said Hancock Career Counselor David Hernandez. “By talking directly with employers and industry professionals, students can discover careers, companies and opportunities they may not have known were out there.”

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Business, Cultural, Events, Family, Finance, Home, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. celebrates 45 years of bringing community home

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“Over forty-five years ago, a group of farmworker families worked together to protect their homes, and everything we have built since carries that same spirit forward,” said Victoria Brady, Chief Executive Officer of Cabrillo EDC. “This milestone belongs to the residents who have trusted us, the staff who have dedicated their careers to this mission, and the partners and supporters who have stood beside us through decades of growth. We are proud of how far we have come, and just as excited about what the next 45 years will bring.”

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Opinion, Public Safety, Technology

Bilingual commentary — The Impressive Tesla Safety Record

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Let me start by saying that I am not receiving any compensation from Tesla Corp. for this article. Nor am I trying to promote the make or model of any car. 

I am simply writing as someone who has driven cars for over 60 years. Over just the past year, I have had the opportunity to drive an electric vehicle (EV)—specifically, a Tesla. 

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News, Women, Youth

CSUCI doctoral student Liliana Manriquez Loza receives CSU’s highest student honor

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Manriquez Loza is one of 22 students across the CSU selected for the annual award, which recognizes superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need. She was honored as the CSU Foundation Board Member Ron and Mitzi Barhorst Scholar during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 22.

A first-generation college student, Manriquez Loza is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership for Equity and Justice at CSUCI, where she maintains a 3.9 GPA. Her academic and professional work reflects a longstanding commitment to empowering Indigenous communities and improving educational opportunities for historically underserved students and families.

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Education, Family, Government, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Office of Education wins Golden Bell Award

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VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) has received the prestigious Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) for its innovative approaches to alternative education that are helping students overcome significant barriers to graduation and success after high school.

VCOE’s Alternative Education program received the award for its submission “From Incarceration & Expulsion to Graduation, College & Workforce: Sustaining an Impactful Whole Child Ecosystem in Court & Community Schools.” The program serves students in grades 6–12, including expelled students, justice-involved youth, and students facing significant academic, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges. It operates Gateway Community School in Camarillo and Providence School at the Ventura County Juvenile Facility in Oxnard.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Youth

CSUCI invites community to celebrate Homecoming 2026 (Oct. 5-10)

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“Homecoming is a celebration of the people and partnerships that make Cal State Channel Islands such a welcoming and vibrant community,” said CSUCI Interim President Susan Andrzejewski. “We look forward to bringing alumni, students, families, friends and neighbors together to share in our Dolphin pride and strengthen the connections that extend well beyond our campus.”

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, familia, Family, Finance, Government, Health, Home, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety, Seniors, Women, Youth

Bilingual report — County of Ventura prepares for winter weather amid strong El Niño forecast

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VENTURA — The County of Ventura is taking proactive steps to coordinate efforts across agencies to strengthen readiness, identify potential resource and informational needs, and ensure infrastructure resiliency ahead of what could potentially be a very active winter season. The National Weather Service is forecasting that significant El Niño conditions will continue to intensify through the end of 2026, with the possibility of these conditions creating the strongest event on record. The presence of strong El Niño conditions raises the likelihood of Ventura County experiencing a stormier, wetter than usual winter. 

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Events, Finance, Government, Local, News

Allan Hancock College hosts state student aid leader for conversation on college access

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SANTA MARIA — Educators, counselors, students and community advocates from across the Central Coast gathered at Allan Hancock College Sept. 30 for a conversation focused on expanding college access and helping students navigate financial aid.

Allan Hancock College and the Central Coast Cal-SOAP Consortium hosted Daisy Gonzales, Ph.D., executive director of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), for the event at Boyd Hall on Hancock’s Santa Maria campus.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Events, Government, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Community Colleges of Ventura County to host State of the District event

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CAMARILLO  —The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) is inviting the community to hear directly from its leadership at its State of the District event, bringing together elected officials, regional industry and nonprofit partners, educational leaders and friends of the district to celebrate the work of VCCCD’s students, faculty and employees, reflect on the District’s progress and look ahead to what’s next. The free, public event takes place Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at the Camarillo Public Library. 

Chancellor Rick MacLennan, joined by Moorpark College President Julius Sokenu, Oxnard College Interim President Steve Hall and Ventura College President Luca Lewis, will offer a firsthand look at how VCCCD is responding to a changing Ventura County and creating more ways for students to access education, build careers and find opportunity close to home.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Family, Government, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

ForestWatch-sponsored ‘Outdoors for All’ bill signed into law

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CENTRAL COAST — Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1268, the Outdoors for All Initiative, into law, establishing the initiative in state law and creating a lasting framework for expanding equitable access to parks, open spaces, trails, beaches, forests, and other outdoor public recreation spaces across California.

Los Padres ForestWatch proudly co-sponsored SB 1268, authored by Senator Lena Gonzalez, because the organization sees a direct connection between protecting public lands and ensuring more people can experience, enjoy, and build relationships with them.

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, En español, Local, News, Science, Sports

UCSB — The Current — ‘John Bowers honored by UC Regents for a lifetime of innovation’ and more news, events

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For innovations with lasting impacts on society and for his influence on generations of inventors and entrepreneurs, he received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards.

Read more about Bowers’ work

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Business, Finance, Government, Local, News

Farm Bureau of Ventura County — Record $2.4 billion crop value masks 80% collapse in Ventura County Farm Returns

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VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County’s record $2.4 billion agricultural production value in 2025 masked a far more troubling number: growers of several of the county’s major crops spent more money to grow them than the crops were worth.

Strawberries, Ventura County’s number one crop, grossed $807 million in 2025. But Ventura County’s favorite berry cost growers every penny of that $807 million to produce, plus $8 million more. Lemons, a crop deeply embedded in Ventura County’s history and heritage, showed even worse returns, costing growers $203.5 million to receive $181.7 million in gross revenue.

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Business, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

CSUCI Fall 2027 application submission period has opened

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CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) will begin accepting application submissions for the Fall 2027 term on Oct. 1, 2026. Students should submit their applications through the Cal State Apply portal. The priority application deadline for most Fall 2027 applicants is Jan. 15, except for the Nursing program which has a Nov. 30 deadline.

Applications for transfer students interested in Spring 2027 admission are already open. Students seeking Spring admission should submit their applications by the priority deadline of Oct. 30.

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Business, Education, Family, Health, Local, News

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — All About EVs: Webinar Takeaways & Resources

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Thank you to everyone who joined our webinar “All About Electric Vehicles: Ownership, Charging, and How to Get Money Back”! CEC’s Climate Mitigation Program Manager Sean McArthur walked through the benefits of driving electric, how to navigate charging options and costs, and incentives that can help make EV ownership more affordable. If you’re ready to learn more or considering making the switch, CEC is here to help!

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familia, Family, Government, Health, Local, Locales, News

City of Santa Paula opens Cooling Center during extreme heat starting Oct. 2

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SANTA PAULA — With temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher over the coming days, the City of Santa Paula will open a cooling center at the Santa Paula Community Center beginning this Friday, October 2.

The cooling center will be located in the front lobby of the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St., and will be open Friday, October 2 – Friday, October 9, including Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Business, Commentary, Government, Local, News, Public Safety

Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) — California Modernizes Agricultural and Forestry Fire Rules as Newsom Signs AB 2075

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SACRAMENTO— Assemblymember Steve Bennett’s AB 2075 has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Sponsored by the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, the legislation enhances wildfire safety regulations and liability protections by authorizing and equipping agricultural and vegetation management workers to suppress accidental ignitions before they escape into catastrophic wildfires.

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Business, Local, News, Seniors

FSA Named New Area Agency on Aging for SLO, SB Counties

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CENTRAL COAST  — The California Department of Aging has designated Family Service Agency (FSA) as the regional Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Planning and Service Area 17, which encompasses Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Effective immediately, FSA will assume full programmatic, fiscal, and administrative coordination for critical older adult and caregiver services under Title III of the Older Americans Act. FSA is working closely with state officials, local community partners, and existing service providers to ensure service stability.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, En español, Events, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

City of Ventura — Upcoming community meetings (Oct. 5, 20) for proposed Tree Protection Ordinance

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VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites community members to learn about its proposed permanent Tree Protection Ordinance before it returns to the City Council for consideration on October 27, 2026. The proposed ordinance is intended to protect and enhance Ventura’s urban forest while establishing clear standards for tree preservation, removal, and replacement.

At two upcoming community meetings, City staff will explain which trees would be protected, when a permit would be required, what to expect from the permit process, and other proposed impacts. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and share input.

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Business, Cultural, Finance, Local, News, Sports

Santa Paula receives $1.5 million for Sports Park Complex Phase II with support from Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón

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SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula is pleased to announce a major investment in the community’s recreational future with the allocation of $1.5 million in state funding for Phase II of the Santa Paula Sports Park Complex.

The allocation, championed by Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, will help move the City closer to completing the next phase of improvements and expand recreational opportunities for Santa Paula’s residents. The new funding builds upon previous state support also graciously secured with Limón’s assistance for sports field lighting at the complex.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News

VCCCD opens a clearer path to college with new student enrollment experience

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CAMARILLO — Students can soon get started at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges in about 15 minutes, as the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) launches its new, simplified enrollment experience through CCCStart on October 8.

The district is among the first in California to adopt CCCStart, an enrollment platform that will replace the long-standing CCCApply system statewide by June 2027. This change is part of a statewide effort led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to modernize how students begin college. The new platform was designed to expand access, improve the student experience and protect against fraud.

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Business, Cultural, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety

Bilingual report — City of Santa Paula — 126 Freeway closure/detour Friday Oct. 2 through Saturday Oct. 3

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SANTA PAULA — A full freeway closure will impact travelers using Highway 126 in Santa Paula beginning Friday, October 2nd due to a freeway construction project. The closure will be in both directions from 10th St. to Hallock Dr. The closure begins on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and continues into Saturday, October 3rd, until 9:00 a.m. Motorists will be detoured on to surface streets in the City of Santa Paula during the freeway closure. Travelers are urged to avoid all unnecessary travel on Highway 126 and traffic delays are expected during the full freeway closure.

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Business, Education, Family, Government, Health, Home, Local, News, Public Safety

Ventura County Fire Dept. — Fire Prevention Week 2026: Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is A Superpower

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THOUSAND OAKS — Ventura County Fire Department, in partnership with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is proud to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.”

Many devices used in our daily lives; phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters, run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which store a lot of energy in a small space. If they are damaged or charged the wrong way, they can overheat, start a fire, or even explode.

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