Business, Education, Government, Local, News, Women, Youth

Inaugural Cohort of The Leadership Collaborative at CCVC celebrated across the Ventura County Community College District

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CAMARILLO — The inaugural cohort of The Leadership Collaborative at CCVC (Community Colleges of Ventura County) celebrated the completion of the seven-month leadership development program designed to cultivate thoughtful, values-driven leaders and strengthen collaboration across the district and the communities it serves.

Grounded in the belief that leadership exists at every level of an organization, The Leadership Collaborative brings together Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) employees from diverse roles and disciplines to develop the human-centered leadership skills needed to foster meaningful relationships, navigate complexity and change and strengthen the vitality of our communities. Selected through a competitive application process, the cohort included members of the faculty, classified professionals, supervisors, directors and deans representing all three colleges and the District Administrative Center.

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Final State Budget brings $5M for new behavioral health pilot to Central Coast

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SANTA BARBARA — The Central Coast healthcare community is poised to advance behavioral health innovation following the approval of California’s 2026–27 state budget. The budget includes a one-time $5 million investment for CenCal Health and the behavioral health departments of both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties to launch a groundbreaking behavioral health pilot focused on supporting individuals living with severe schizophrenia and anosognosia. The funding marks a significant milestone for CenCal Health and its community partners in a promising step forward to expand effective, community-based behavioral health care across the region.

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Business, Elections, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Candidate nomination period opens July 13 for November General Municipal Election

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VENTURA — The candidate nomination period for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election will officially open on Monday, July 13, 2026. Voters in the City of Ventura will elect City Councilmembers representing Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6. 

To be eligible to run for City Council, a candidate must: 

Be a resident of the City of Ventura; 

Be a registered voter; and 

Be eligible to vote in the City Council district they seek to represent. 

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Business, Family, Health, Local, News, Women, Youth

Lumina Alliance welcomes three new board bembers, Honors outgoing Leaders for Years of Service

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SAN LUIS OBISPO — Lumina Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors while recognizing four outgoing board members whose leadership helped guide the organization through one of the most transformative periods in its history.

Joining the Board of Directors are:

• Adrienne Dodd, Human Resources Director, CommonSpirit Health

• Heather Muran, Director of Portfolio Strategy & Marketing, Covelop Inc.

• Meghan Shoven, Director, Adventist Health Central Coast Foundation

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — City of Ventura opens applications for inaugural citywide Community Academy

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VENTURA — The City of Ventura is now accepting applications for its inaugural citywide Community Academy, a free eight-week program designed to give community members an inside look at how local government works and the people behind the services that keep Ventura running.

Participants will visit City facilities, hear directly from City staff, leadership, and elected officials, and gain a deeper understanding of the programs, services, and decisions that shape the Ventura community.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Family, Finance, Local, News

Museum of Ventuara County — News and Updates from the Development Team

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This quarter, our Barbara Barnard Smith CEO, Elena Brokaw, had the privilege of meeting with the City Councils of Camarillo, Moorpark, Port Hueneme, Oxnard, and Ventura to share the many ways the Museum is serving communities across Ventura County and to explore opportunities for continued partnership.

The Museum belongs to all of us. Every city in Ventura County is represented in our collections and stories, and it is our honor to preserve, celebrate, and share that rich history through exhibitions, educational programs, school tours, community outreach, and public events.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Family, Finance, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC — Get the Capital You Need to Move Your Business Forward

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Designed to pair you with the financial expertise and right amount of capital you need to move your business forward, the Economic Development Collaborative works with more than 30 professional advisors and a full-time loan fund director, available to local businesses at no cost.
The EDC’s Business Development Loan Fund stimulates job creation and economic activity by providing small businesses with greater access to capital and specialized technical business assistance. The fund is open to businesses in all industry sectors and is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the cities and County of Ventura, and private capital. This loan fund makes available long-term, affordable financing to new and existing businesses throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

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

Santa Barbara Education Foundation welcomes Leonor Reyes as programs manager

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Reyes, a San Marcos High School graduate and parent of three Santa Barbara Unified School District alumni, brings a lifelong connection to local public education and a passion for supporting students, families, and educators. As Programs Manager, Reyes will oversee SBEF’s enrichment programs and initiatives that enhance student learning and engagement across the district, including programs such as the Summer Music Camps and the Foundation’s annual Educator Grants program, which will invest more than $228,000 in innovative classroom projects across Santa Barbara Unified School District schools this year.

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Commentary, Cultural, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Opinion, Politics

Bilingual commentary — Mount Trumpmore, or Mount Trumpless?

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We can never accuse President Trump of having small ambitions. After all, he recently sought a Nobel Peace Prize, though to no avail. But even more monumentally, so to speak, he has not denied seeking to have his visage carved into and enshrined forever on Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. 

In 2018, Trump undertook what he considered a serious conversation with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem about that very possibility. That friendly chat has blown up to become one of MAGA’s highest aspirations.

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Commentary, Cultural, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

805UndocuFund to present ‘The Glass House Raids, One Year Later: A Vigil honoring the families and communities impacted,’ to be held July 10

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CAMARILLO — “The Glass House Raids, One Year Later: A Vigil honoring the families and communities impacted,” will be held from 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 10 at 645 Laguna Road, Camarillo.

The event will publicly gather the community to mourn the loss of our community one year ago, to remember the efforts of our community to defend itself, to remember that we are still supporting our community after the events of that day. (Spanish Interpretation Available).

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Business, Government, Local, News

All Aboard: Ticket to results marks $80 million in CalSTA Port & Freight Infrastructure Program funding at the Port of Hueneme

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PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme welcomed California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin along with other local and state leaders(on July 2) for Ticket to Results, a special event designed to highlight the transformational impact of California’s Port & Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP) investments at the Port of Hueneme.

Ticket to Results revealed the progress the Port of Hueneme has made in deploying $80 million in PFIP funding. Port staff led guests through a behind-the-scenes tour of completed and ongoing projects showing how strategic state investments are increasing capacity, improving operational efficiency, reducing emissions, strengthening workforce development, and enhancing trade across the region.

“These impressive Port of Hueneme projects funded by the Port & Freight Infrastructure Program are not just critical for California’s supply chain system, but they are also of vital importance to our communities,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Governor Newsom’s investments in transportation infrastructure are helping to move these projects from vision to reality, delivering cleaner air and better jobs to communities across California.”

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

Bilingual report — Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile Virus in Ventura County

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VENTURA — The Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that mosquitoes collected from the City of Fillmore on June 17th, 2026, tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is established in Ventura County and additional WNV positives are expected. This is the first mosquito sample collected in 2026 from Ventura County to test positive for WNV. Ventura County Public Health confirms that no human cases have been identified to date in 2026.

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

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College faculty member creates documentary to support conservation efforts in Namibia

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SANTA MARIA — What began as a personal connection during a trip to southern Africa has become a documentary project aimed at protecting one of the world’s most unique ecosystems and the Indigenous communities who call it home.

Allan Hancock College film studies instructor Tim Webb recently completed a short documentary for Himbaland Indigenous Conservation, a nonprofit organization working in the remote Namib Desert of northwestern Namibia. The film was created to help the organization share its story with a broader audience and support fundraising efforts focused on community development and wildlife conservation. 

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Business, Events, Family, Government, Health, Local, News

Ventura County Animal Services — $10,000 grant funds low-cost spay and neuter surgeries on July 14-15

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VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) has received a $10,000 grant from Wings of Rescue to help provide low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to the pets of families living within VCAS’ contracted cities.

The two-day event, taking place July 14-15, is funded entirely by the grant and will be performed by the Spay Neuter Imperative Project (SNIP).  The SNIP Team will bring a fully equipped mobile veterinary hospital to perform the surgeries.  The event will take place near the Camarillo Animal Shelter.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Raising Justice is Back on Sept. 17th! — Join Us for Our 25th Anniversary Celebration

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For the past 20 years now, you’ve created a Raising Justice that continues to bring together hundreds of our movement friends for a fun early evening of food, drinks, music, and community rooted in our shared organizing for a more just region. It’s free to attend with an invite to donate any amount that feels right to you.

Today, we invite you to join our growing circle of Early Event Sponsors. Sponsors not only underwrite the event, but also allow our work throughout the year to stay community supported and here for the long haul — it’s one of the ways you can ensure our event’s success.

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Business, Education, En español, Entertainment, Events, familia, Family, Government, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Seniors, Women, Youth

Bilingual report — City of Ventura releases Fall Parks and Recreation Activity Guide

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The City of Ventura Parks and Recreation Department’s Fall Activity Guide is now available, featuring hundreds of classes, programs, and events taking place from September through January.

Registration opens Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Residents can register online, by phone, or in person at Ventura City Hall (501 Poli Street, Room 226). Registration information and policies are available on page 43 of the guide.

The Fall Activity Guide offers activities for all ages and interests, including ceramics, cooking, creative writing, parent-and-child classes, pet wellness, fitness, sports, and more. Check out several free new workshops focused on Financial Literacy and Health and Safety on pages 10-11.

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, familia, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Youth

Bilingual report — Ventura County Office of Education — Summer Reading, Constitution Day, Civic Tours, and More

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Get fun summer reading ideas, activities, and more from the VCOE Library’s Summer Reading Extravaganza. Click here to check out local libraries’ summer reading programs and get online access to free full-length young adult novels. Also, find out how summer readers can earn free ride tickets for the Ventura County Fair.

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Business, Education, Local, News, Women

California Lutheran University expands strategic communications and marketing leadership

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THOUSAND OAKS — To further strengthen community awareness and engagement, California Lutheran University is expanding its Marketing and Communications department. On Aug. 1, Angela Fentiman will join the university as the vice president for strategic brand communications, and Amanda Savercool as the associate vice president for integrated marketing. Fentiman and Savercool have had esteemed careers in marketing and strategic communications, most recently with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

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Business, En español, familia, Family, Finance, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District — $1.97M available for heavy-duty electric trucks

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VENTURA — Nearly $2 million in grant funding is available to help replace heavy-duty diesel trucks based in Ventura County with equivalent battery-electric models and install charging stations.

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District was awarded $1.97 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Program to help fund replacement projects. Recipients need to cover at least half of the project costs.

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Business, Family, Health, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics expands affordable behavioral health services for Santa Barbara County residents

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SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) is strengthening access to comprehensive Behavioral Health Services for individuals and families throughout Santa Barbara County through an integrated, whole-person care model designed to address both physical and mental health needs.

Santa Barbara County has significant community behavioral health needs that extend beyond the publicly funded specialty mental health system. Many residents experience challenges accessing timely outpatient mental health services due to insurance, cost, and provider availability. Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics helps address these gaps by providing integrated, community-based behavioral health services for individuals and families who might otherwise experience barriers to care.

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