(This story has been updated with new information from police and school officials.) Two students were arrested after threats of a bomb and shooting locked down the Ventura High School campus on the afternoon of May 2 The lockdown started shortly after 12:40 p.m. around when the department received a call from the school principal's office Someone had reportedly called into the school about a bomb threat and shooting on campus and they were unclear as to whether the purported threats were in progress or could happen in the future The school immediately went into lockdown and school officials called police The department was able to trace the source of the calls to the cell phone of a student on campus three students at the school were detained in connection with the threats Officers eventually determined two of them were allegedly responsible were arrested on suspicion of criminal threats false report of a bomb and conspiracy to commit a crime They were booked into the county's juvenile justice facility who was found not to have committed a crime Department officials urged parents to talk to their children about the impacts of false threats "These types of hoaxes cause unnecessary fear and disruption for students and can result in significant criminal consequences for those involved," the agency said in the release Anyone with information about the incident is asked to called the police department at 805-650-8010 A message attributed to Principal Marissa Rodriguez was posted after the lockdown was lifted "Thank you for your patience and cooperation today as we responded to the threat reported on campus," the message read "The Ventura Police Department has completed a thorough assessment and has determined there is no credible threat to our students out of an abundance of caution VPD will continue to sweep the campus into the evening so the school will not be accessible." Parents were allowed to pick up students at the campus after the lockdown was lifted is north of Main Street in the city's midtown area Baseball and volleyball games planned for the night of May 2 will go forward The district posted a follow-up message to social media in the evening the situation evolved quickly with new information developing throughout the incident," the post read The post also confirmed two of the three students who had been taken into custody were arrested in collaboration with the Ventura Unified School District has begun its own internal investigation," the message attributed to the principal and to Superintendent Antonio Castro "Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with our district policies and procedures." – Ventura High School was placed on lockdown after a bomb threat Friday afternoon Ventura City Police secured the campus without a credible threat but campus will not be available to the public until Saturday at 8:30 a.m Ventura City Police received a call from administrators about the bomb threat and school staff called 9-1-1 after three students were possibly involved in making those calls VCPD officers detained all three students on campus for a further investigation arresting two 15-year-olds for criminal threats conspiracy to commit a crime and false report of a bomb charges A sibling of two VHS students told Your News Channel the lockdown took place for nearly three hours beginning at 12:52 p.m The sibling also claims that parents were notified by their students well before the school sent out an official alert at 2:16 p.m All students who left their belongings will have to wait until Saturday school noticing multiple emergency vehicles at the high school and students and parents just outside the school's buildings The VCPD encourages anyone with information related to the incident to contact them at the following number News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service Privacy Policy Community Guidelines FCC Public File EEO Public File Report FCC Applications Do Not Sell My Personal Information This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page — Kentucky Derby fans packed The Derby Room in Ventura on Saturday The venue is located inside the Derby Club at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and is especially popular during Triple Crown season Guests had the chance to place bets on all the races and watched Sovereign win on a muddy track Many patrons said they plan to return for the Preakness Stakes on May 17 and the Belmont Stakes on June 7 "They need to come and enjoy it because it is fun," said Derby Club manager Eva Mora "A lot of my regular customers are here every year The Derby Club is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year For more information, visit www.thederbyroom.com Tracy Lehr is a reporter and the weekend anchor for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Tracy, click here The Ventura Orthopedics Athletes of the WeekVentura County StarDAVIS BENSONSchool: Moorpark He qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Prelims in all four events Comment: The junior won the 200 freestyle in 2:03.58, finished second in the 100 butterfly in 1:05.07, and was part of two relay victories to help Thousand Oaks capture the girls team title at the Coastal Canyon League swimming championships at Camarillo High on May 1 and Abi Kerns won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:48.95 and Dragoi and Kerns won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:56.29 The athletes are chosen by The Star sports staff A presentation to the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council offers a look at two options that California Landmark Group is weighing for the redevelopment of a site along Ventura Boulevard the enaction of AB 2334 opened up new possibilities for the redevelopment of the property California Landmark Group submitted a second entitlement application for the same site this time proposing the construction of a seven-story approximately 105-foot-tall building featuring 578 apartments above 7,401 square feet of ground-floor commercial space with a two-level the project would employ density bonus incentives to achieve greater development rights than would have otherwise been permitted 48 of the apartments would be set aside for rent by very low-income households The project, slated for an approximately 3.88-acre site located at 21241 W. Ventura Boulevard calls for replacing low-rise commercial uses and surface parking with a new seven-story Both options are portrayed in plans with a Spanish-style design featuring white stucco exteriors and red tile roofs a decision on which option will be built remains dependent on future market conditions Approvals have yet to be issued for either alternative and will require a hearing before the City Planning Commission Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram / Bluesky A Napa-based taco shop and a sports-themed restaurant have opened in Ventura a Mexico City-style taqueria in Ventura’s historic Gasworks development Suite 101 serves classic street tacos and churros is between the city's downtown and midtown neighborhoods the eatery hosted a private opening celebration Chef Art Hernandez prepared hongo tacos with garlic-sauteed mushrooms remembered trying Mothers tacos about a year ago when the taqueria was a pop-up at Topa Topa Brewing Co 'Get the mushroom,' and she knows I don't like mushrooms," Hernandez recalled The Ventura restaurant is the second for Mothers but the ceviche and duck carnitas were added for Ventura Co-owner Benedict “Ben” Koenig said a fresh seafood section featuring market fish ceviche and aguachile de pulpo “We felt like being this close to the ocean and having access to amazing seafood it was only right to feature some of that on the menu,” Koenig said The tacos have been the most popular item so far The restaurant planned to expand hours starting May 3 to include lunch Three tacos with red rice and pinto beans cost $13.95 Draft cocktails start at $12 with the house margarita For more information, visit instagram.com/motherstacos The Gasworks site takes its name from the nearly century-old Southern Counties Gas Co. buildings in the center of the site, said Hutton Becker, a developer for the project Curri, a construction management company formerly on Oak Street and Upmarket Media already have on-site offices said developer Jeffrey Becker of The Becker Group Inc Jeffrey Becker added that a Pilates studio is expected to open inside the Gasworks project in a few months, as well as a skin care business, Room Service Coffee and Ruff House BBQ said he is hoping to open the restaurant by the end of summer The eatery is known for its version of Texas-style BBQ and is available for purchase at Ventura Music Hall spare ribs and wings are available for purchase from noon to 3 p.m A soft opening is planned for the restaurant in August The restaurant will eventually stop taking orders at the music hall due to a development radius clause For more information, visit ruffhousebbq.com Ventura welcomed another restaurant in early February Tony Garcia, 45, is a co-owner of The Varsity Club at S.I.S. at 5811 Olivas Park Drive The venue is across from the city-owned Buenaventura Golf Course located east of Victoria Avenue on the south side of Highway 101 Garcia said they own another business in the city called S.I.S. Athletics that trains young athletes in baseball and football The eatery was initially going to be a second location for training until they found out it was zoned for food The original concept was for a place to sell "good food" for families after taking lessons at S.I.S The restaurant evolved into its current mix of food and entertainment after Garcia traveled with his son on trips for baseball They visited eateries with indoor miniature golf or miniature simulation machines "I thought it would be cool if we created a different type of restaurant in Ventura," Garcia said The restaurant portion features grass-fed beef burgers Reservations for the golf and baseball machines can be made in advance The business features an indoor Full Swing golf simulator and HitTrax batting bay suites For more information, visit tvcsis.com Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes A motorist and two highway workers were reported injured in a crash on May 2 after the driver struck a construction vehicle in an area closed for maintenance work on Highway 101 near Ventura The driver identified as a 21-year-old Oxnard man in a blue Toyota hit the construction vehicle which subsequently struck two maintenance workers standing outside the vehicle The workers are subcontractors for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) who were doing necessary road maintenance The driver of the Toyota was transported to Ventura County Medical Center with major injuries sustained moderate injuries and was also transported to VCMC Alcohol was determined to be a factor in the cause of the crash reported around 11 p.m. The incident occurred on the southbound side of the freeway The CHP requests that anyone with additional information call theVentura Area CHP office at 805-662-2640 A small plane crashed into a Simi Valley neighborhood on the afternoon of May 3 killing two people who were in the aircraft and hitting two homes that subsequently caught fire a passenger and a dog in the aircraft died the Simi Valley Police Department reported in the evening The identities of the individuals were not reported pending notification of next of kin according to preliminary reports from the Ventura County Fire Department The street cuts east from South Wood Ranch Parkway in the Wood Ranch area County Director of Airports Keith Freitas said he understands the plane departed from the General William J and was headed to the Camarillo Airport before the crash "We believe it's an aircraft based at the Camarillo Airport," he said Initial callers had reported that a hillside was on fire along with a plane Firefighters subsequently arrived and reported a plane into a structure with smoke showing Chris Johnson said officers found the small plane in the backyard of a residence fixed-wing aircraft crashed into two houses Residents were inside both of the homes at the time and were evacuated Both houses were impacted by fire and sustained structural damage firefighters were still carrying out overhaul and salvage operations The plane was so badly damaged it was difficult to identify the wreckage as an aircraft Police officials said the department had received a report from the Point Mugu Air Traffic Control regarding a possible plane crash It was described by the National Transportation Safety Board as a Vans RV-10 The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation The police department advised motorists to avoid the area One Ventura High School distance runner has ruled the lanes of the Channel League over the past four years: But when the senior announced at the end of the cross country season that she would forgo her last season of track eligibility to compete in elite races before college would fill the legendary runner’s spikes at Ventura The answer has come in the form of an exciting crop of young talent Sophie Nuckols won both the 1,600 meters and 800 meters and Ava Holt was sixth in the 1,600 at the Channel League track and field championships on Thursday It was the first league championship of each of their young track and field careers “We will probably never have someone come in as a freshman anywhere close to (Sadie) but by the time some of these girls are seniors who knows how fast they can be?” Ventura distance coach Josh Spiker said “We have a lot of freshmen right now that are really good The freshman weathered a blazing early pace set by San Marcos freshman Elsie Tuttle before calmly moving by her with 300 meters to go kicking home to claim the victory in 5 minutes she ran with confidence and never seemed distressed Nuckols saved some energy to come back and dash to a personal-best time of 2:19.85 in the 800 sweeping the podium alongside teammates Madeline Abbott and Estrada “It’s super exciting to see how girls have stepped up,” Nuckols said “I am just so proud of everyone on this team.” The trio helped lead the charge for Ventura winning 13 of the meet’s 32 events and qualifying countless more athletes to the CIF-Southern Section Prelims on May 10 Senior Isabella DiSilvestri secured one of the first titles of the day In what was a key meet along the track to qualifying for CIF DiSilvestri set the early tone for the Cougars “It’s a ‘try and survive,’ meet,” DiSilvestri said DiSilvestri said she is working on overcoming the mental challenges of her technical event finding the fun in competition against a loaded girls pole vault field in Ventura County this season “I just try and focus on the fact that I earned my spot here,” DiSilvestri said DiSilvestri was quickly joined in the winner’s circle by teammates Myles Russell in the 100 and 200; Luke Carnaghe in the 300 hurdles and the long jump; Grace Baysinger in the 300 hurdles; Blake Harris in the 800; Ava Fernandez in the discus; Sofia Martinez in the high jump; and Nuckols the 1,600 and 800 The Ventura boys also won the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x100-meter relay this is our home stadium,” the junior said “It was really nice to come out and win that.” Russell’s speed was unmatched in both of the short sprints dashing to times of 10.82 and 22.13 in the 100 and 200 leading wire-to-wire but dipping at the line in the search of a new personal best but I knew that I needed to continue to run harder and push,” Russell said that’s when I kind of knew a little bit that I should come out with the victory.” While Russell and the Cougars dominated the boys sprints Buena leaned on its talented girls speedsters with Aubrey Easter taking home gold in the 100 (12.44) and 200 (25.70) winning the 4x100-meter in 49.43 and the 4x400-meter in 4:06.40 Halena Marin of Oxnard had the strongest final straightaway of anyone in the girls 400 holding on down the stretch to win in 1:00.90 “My biggest competitor is myself,” Marin said Pacifica’s Douglas King won the triple jump with a leap of 42-1.50 which is the third best mark by any county jumper this season Rio Mesa’s Derek Luna outpaced the field in the boys 3,200 while teammate Brooklyn Bittner won the girls shot put with a heave of 32-6.25 Dominic Massimino is a staff writer for the Star He can be reached at dominic.massimino@vcstar.com follow @vcsdominic on Twitter and Instagram Three other victims are preparing to testify against the disgraced musician anonymously Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger Johnny Nunez/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck San Diego County April 14 around 10:10 a.m The temblor was centered about 2.5 miles south of Julian The quake was felt across Southern California A series of aftershocks ranging from 2.5 to 3.0-magnitude were clocked shortly after the initial burst A 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck March 9 near Westlake Village An emergency notification went out to cell phones alerting people of the quake around 10:20 a.m by the USGS ShakeAlert early warning system the Ventura County Sheriff's Office had no reported calls related to the incident Another earthquake of 3.5 magnitude centered about 5 miles east southeast of Borrego Springs was reported at 10:12 a.m. The location is an unincorporated area of San Diego County said seismologist Lucy Jones in a post on social media site Bluesky The quake was the largest she had seen on the fault since she arrived in California in 1983 There remains a 7% chance of an aftershock earthquake of a similar magnitude Van Nuys News Press Covering the San Fernando Valley & the Greater Los Angeles area Iconic Schooner Invites Visitors to Experience May 2025 Dockside Seaside Tours from May 14 through Memorial Day weekend May 27 2025 and climb aboard the majestic Tall Ship Mystic Whaler modeled after a 19th Century coastal vessel that will set sail and make its voyage to Ventura Harbor Village https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/event/adventure-with-the-tall-ship-mystic-whaler/2025-05-14/ Made possible by Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation (CCOAF) will dock at Ventura Harbor Village Dock-C (near Ventura Boat Rentals During its visit to Ventura Harbor Village history buffs of all ages will have a chance to come aboard and join in the excitement with dockside tours and onboard hands-on learning experiences hear captivating sea stories and discover how the Mystic Whaler keeps maritime traditions alive Public dockside tours are scheduled to include the following: May 17             Deck Tour (1:30 PM-5 PM) May 23                    Deck Tour (2 PM-6 PM) May 24              Deck Tour (Noon -6 PM) May 25                 Deck Tour (Noon -6 PM) May 18          Tentative Private Sail or Additional Public Deck Tour Visitors boarding the Mystic Whaler have the option to make a suggested donation of $5 (kids are free) Please visit Venturaharborvillage.com for the most up to date schedule – The County of Ventura has named Roger Robinson as the new director for the Ventura County Human Service Agency Robinson was selected following an extensive recruitment process which included both internal and external candidates He steps into the role following the retirement of former director Melissa Livingston this month Robinson joins the County of Ventura with more than two decades of experience in social services Robinson helped lead Solano County Health and Social Services as the Assistant Director for the agency Robinson has extensive experience in strategic leadership across essential service areas including behavioral health “Roger’s seasoned leadership in the social services field and expertise in developing and overseeing programs that support vulnerable populations will be instrumental as the Human Services Agency advances in its mission to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” stated Dr “His proven ability to build effective partnerships and navigate the complexities of local and federal systems will help strengthen the County of Ventura’s ability to deliver critical safety net services that residents rely on.” In addition to his professional experience Robinson holds bachelor’s degrees in criminology and sociology and a master’s degree in applied social research and statistics from Florida State University “I am deeply honored to serve the Ventura County community in this capacity and to carry forward the legacy of Director Livingston whose dedication to public service continues to inspire,” stated Robinson I have been committed to supporting and advocating for our most vulnerable populations and I will continue that mission here in Ventura County I look forward to partnering with the dedicated staff of the Human Services Agency collaborating with other County departments and working closely with our valued community providers to strengthen services and improve outcomes for those we serve.” The Ventura County Human Services Agency is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of residents by providing essential support services that promote health Their mission is to work collaboratively within communities to offer support Robinson will assume his duties in mid-June and at an annual salary of $280,625.68 Singer Cassie Ventura (R) alleges that Sean Combs (L) raped her in 2018 Jury selection is set to begin Monday in New York in the blockbuster trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs who dramatically fell from grace following his incarceration on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering Jury selection begins Monday in New York in the blockbuster federal sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs who stands accused of years of harrowing abuse We're always interested in hearing about news in our community there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: many of them older and waving signs targeting everything from due process to Elon Musk Organizers estimated the crowd at the anti-Trump rally in front of the Ventura County Government Center at 2,500 people. But the gathering that started at 11 a.m. on a weekday appeared smaller than the crowd at a weekend rally on April 19 that brought a similar estimate The protest was part of the third round of Ventura County rallies in less than a month that drew big crowds and were part of nationwide days of action targeting the Trump White House people gathered in Oxnard's Plaza Park and on freeway bridges in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks People gathered in Port Hueneme in front of Naval Base Ventura County in what was billed as a silent demonstration to support veterans people chanted on both sides of Victoria Avenue One man carried a toilet plunger inscribed with the words "tired of this (feces)." Julie Nathanson waved a sign that showed a picture of Albert Einstein and a quote that began "the world is a dangerous place." "All of us here are making noise," she said "We're making good trouble and good noise." Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe in partnership with the Ventura Superior Court will hold an informative town hall meeting to educate the public on the services available through the recently implemented Community Assistance which connects individuals facing serious mental health and substance use challenges with vital care Attendees will learn about program eligibility The event will be presented in person and be available via Zoom Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided Ventura County Government Center,Hall of Administration Download flyer: English | Spanish A shoplifting suspect slammed into a dump truck and died after fleeing from law enforcement agencies in Ventura and Los Angeles counties at speeds of more than 100 mph May 2 in Camarillo when the unidentified man allegedly stole merchandise from the Target store off Los Posas Road and fled south on Highway 101 The value of the items was believed to be around $4,000 The sum would make the crime a grand theft Jason Karol said deputies pursued the man but he refused to pull over for a traffic stop He fled in the black Honda SUV on the freeway to Thousand Oaks before taking Highway 23 northbound to Highway 118 then headed east from Simi Valley as air units pursued him California Highway Patrol officers in the LA area followed the suspect as he traversed freeways in the urban county before crashing into the rear of a large dump truck as he neared Highway 210 CHP and emergency medical personnel provided aid to the man for major injuries but he did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene The driver and sole occupant of the truck was reported to be unharmed No details on the identify of the suspect are being released pending notification of next of kin mental health and local government issues for the Ventura County Star A woman out for a run in the western Santa Monica Mountains in Ventura County quickly stopped when she spotted a mountain lion ahead of her on the trail Shannon DeVaney had run in the area for years, crossing paths with lizards, rattlesnakes, mule deer and even a very occasional bobcat. But she had never seen a mountain lion in person That changed around noon after a rainy morning on April 26 The Woodland Hills woman estimated she and the cougar stood 30 to 40 feet apart for a moment on the quiet trail the cougar turned and headed into the brush "She clearly didn’t want to have anything to do with me," said the biology professor at Pierce College DeVaney then spotted a smaller mountain lion — a kitten — out of the corner of her eye She soon heard rustling nearby and realized there were two other kittens "They were trying to get past me without attracting my attention," she said The mountain lions had been headed in the opposite direction of DeVaney's run as the mom and her kittens made their way around her talking out loud and tracking their progress she pulled her phone out of her pocket to document the experience Mountain lion likely part of long-term studyScientists at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area say the mountain lion could be one known as P-99 a female that has been part of a long-term study low genetic diversity and lions killing each other P-99 lives in the western Santa Monicas and was 2 or 3 years old when scientists first fitted her with a GPS collar in September 2021 a wildlife ecologist with the National Park Service The park service is not currently tracking her but spotted her and her most recent kittens on a remote trail camera The young mountain lions would now be around 9 months old That appears to be the same age of three in the video DeVaney's footage shows all three kittens and their mother in the brush Another kitten jumps out from a bush at the third one Since the mountain lions were headed in the direction she had come from The trail was pretty deserted after the rain but she told the next runners she came across to keep an eye out for the mountain lions she contacted the park service scientists who track the local cougar population the encounter lasted just a few minutes before the mom and kittens disappeared "I’m going to treasure this memory for my entire life," she said Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260 Roosters won’t crow at this year’s Ventura County Fair Fair leaders announced on April 30 poultry exhibits have been canceled at the 12-day fair that launches in Ventura on July 30 The decision comes as the result of bird flu worries that triggered a statewide ban on poultry and dairy exhibits at the fair When the ban was announced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in January local fair officials said they would wait until May 1 before making a final call on poultry Exhibits Supervisor Emilee Inez noted in social media posts that the statewide order remains in place “Though we are disappointed by the circumstances animals and fairgoers remains our top priority,” she said geese and other poultry won’t be shown at the fair or exhibited at the junior livestock auction but there’s no disputing it when the state comes in and says this is what’s happening,” she said “They’re just trying to make sure everyone is safe.” Fair spokesperson Megan Hook said in a text message it’s still possible hatching chicks could be shown on the fairgrounds at Uncle Leo’s Barn The statewide ban includes poultry and dairy exhibits There are no dairy exhibits at the Ventura County Fair and beef cattle are not included in the ban Hill said exhibitors who focused on poultry could show other animals this year California State Veterinarian Annette Jones cited the proliferation of the H5N1 virus and said the halt on exhibits is needed to minimize the spread Across California, 38 people had been diagnosed with H5N1 according to the state public health website Ventura County public health officials said there have been no reported human cases in the county Ventura County Fair officials said the fair will offer safe alternative opportunities for poultry exhibitors but did not provide details They said an informational meeting for exhibitors and their families will be held at the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m (This story was updated with additional information.) Two Ventura County sheriff’s deputies were arrested in late March after a fight at a bar in Camarillo that sent a bouncer to the hospital were at the El Rey Cantina in Old Town Camarillo a little after midnight on March 30 according to a statement released April 16 by Sheriff Jim Fryhoff "an apparent domestic incident occurred wherein a security guard intervened." The bouncer was injured in the subsequent fight and treated at a local hospital was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies including inflicting injury on a spouse; battery causing serious injury; using force likely to cause serious injury; and making criminal threats He is also suspected of misdemeanor battery was arrested on suspicion of battery causing serious injury and using force likely to cause serious injury Attempts to reach Davis and Malagon were unsuccessful Both men were booked into Ventura County jail and later posted bail They have not been charged yet by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office but both could face felony charges stemming from the incident said in an email to The Star that the case will be submitted to the DA's office for prosecution Yoos said he did not know when that might happen Both deputies have both been placed on administrative leave by the sheriff's office Davis and Malagon have also had their peace officer's licenses temporarily suspended by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. According to the commission their licenses were suspended effective April 4 on the basis of "egregious or repeated acts that violate the law." the sheriff’s office will also conduct an internal affairs investigation into whether Davis and Malagon violated any department policies “I want to assure the public and our community that the Sheriff’s Office takes this matter very seriously," Fryhoff said in his April 16 statement "We hold our deputies to the highest standards of conduct; any violation of those standards will be addressed appropriately without hesitation … as that is what both our community and our agency expect and deserve." Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tbiasotti@vcstar.com This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism CA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion is reminding residents that starting May 7 the federal government will require a REAL ID or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights a certified copy of their birth certificate This must be obtained from the county where the individual was born “We’ve seen an increase in requests for birth certificates lately,” said Clerk-Recorder Ascencion “Anyone born in Ventura County—or their parent or spouse—can order a certified copy in person by appointment The fee for a certified birth certificate is $29 with additional charges for credit card payments or postage and handling To learn more or to request a certified copy, visit ClerkRecorder.venturacounty.gov or call (805) 654-3666 The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to “Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future.” More information about the agency’s services is available 24/7 at ClerkRecorder.venturacounty.gov The measles vaccination rate for children entering kindergarten across Ventura County is slightly lower than the statewide rate and falls just under the level believed to bring community-wide protection Uldine Castel told the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on April 29 that about 94% of incoming kindergarten students were fully vaccinated for measles in the 2023-2024 school year She said a rate of 95% or higher is believed to bring herd immunity that protects even the people who are not vaccinated The gap is narrow but increases the risks of the highly contagious disease once thought to be eliminated in the United States county health officials said in a written report to the board rubella) vaccination rates and the increased measles activity in the U.S increase the chance that we will see measles cases locally,” they wrote No cases of measles have been reported in Ventura County since 2017 but the presentation and the call for immunizations came amid an alarming national rise 884 cases of the disease have been found in the nation in 2025 — more than three times the 285 cases reported in all of 2024 the Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials reported they were investigating a new case of measles involving a Los Angeles County resident who returned recently from travel in Texas where at least 663 cases have been confirmed nine measles infections have been reported so far in 2025 Castel said the virus is so contagious that if one infected person comes in contact with 10 unvaccinated people nine of them will likely catch the disease It can linger in the air of a room for two hours after the infected person has left Ventura County offers assurance of readiness if measles emergesPublic health gets about three calls a week from doctors or other providers asking about measles because they are worried about a patient Health workers would trace contacts of exposed people in an effort to limit the spread of the disease county officials and community members would be kept abreast of any developments and new risks health officials noted staffing levels and possible federal budget cuts could impact the number of mobile vaccination clinics Castel said a sizeable outbreak could squeeze area hospitals. The planned July closure of the pediatric department at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks will leave only one such unit in the county several speakers from the audience spoke against measles vaccines some of them also urged the county to stop administering COVID-19 vaccines Castel said the skepticism may play a small role in keeping people from getting measles vaccinations She also said there may be accessibility issues with people who have no insurance She noted that the reported vaccination percentages are gathered when kindergartners enter school and don’t reflect the people who pursue vaccinations later She defended the safety and effectiveness of the measles vaccine noting 97% of the people infected in 2025 nationwide had not been vaccinated Three deaths have been reported in the nation in 2025 “Any time there is a death from an illness that is preventable Children should receive two doses of the measles rubella vaccine with the first coming between 12 months and 15 months of age The second dose should come when children are 4 to 6 years old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said infants between 6 months and 12 months old should receive a dose before international travel Most adults need to have received at least one dose of the vaccine in their lifetime CDC officials recommend a second dose for people traveling overseas students or employees at colleges and universities and people who work in health care settings Federal health officials said people born in 1956 or earlier are likely to have been infected naturally and are presumed to be protected They said older health care workers should still consider getting two doses of the MMR vaccine Castel said people uncertain about their status should consult a doctor She said people can also undergo a blood test that shows immunity levels Ventura's next chief of police will come from the department's command staff who currently serves as one of the Ventura Police Department's two assistant chiefs will step into the leadership role on May 16 He will take over from the interim chief, Tony Lee, who has been in the role since the retirement of former Chief Darin Schindler in December Lee will move on to a job with the Los Angeles County district attorney's Bureau of Investigation in June Dickey will oversee a department of more than 250 His annual base salary will start at $280,276 City Manager Bill Ayub said in a statement officials were excited to welcome Dickey as the new chief and dedication to the community make him well-equipped to address evolving public safety challenges with professionalism," Ayub said Ventura's police chief is appointed by the city manager Ayub's selection followed a nationwide search He joined the Ventura agency in 1997 after starting a law enforcement career in 1994 He worked his way through the ranks as a patrol officer Dickey earned a Master of Science in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego He also holds multiple executive-level law enforcement certifications “I am deeply committed to Ventura’s safety and well-being and I firmly believe that the strength of our police department lies in the dedication of our people,” Dickey said in a statement I am passionate about fostering a culture of service ensuring equal treatment and responsiveness to all members of our community.” More information about the police department is available at www.venturapd.org (This story has been updated with new information from Caltrans.) Drivers on southbound Highway 101 heading toward Ventura were being slowed by emergency guardrail repairs for a time on April 16 The California Department of Transportation said the right two lanes approaching Emma Wood State Beach were subject to the moving closure The effort was initially expected to last until 4 p.m. the agency said on social media around 10:30 a.m. although the traffic backup appeared to have eased by 1 p.m Caltrans later posted an update in the early afternoon saying the work was done and all lanes had reopened The agency had described the repair work as "urgent." The work area was south of Faria Beach on a section with three lanes The overall stretch runs between Carpinteria and Ventura – The County of Ventura recently recognized 23 employees for achieving significant career milestones each having served 25 years or more in public service these individuals represent a combined 660 years of continuous service to the residents and communities of Ventura County The recognition took place during the April 8th meeting of the Board of Supervisors as part of the County’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors long-serving employees in five-year increments beginning at 25 years of service and local initiative that supports our residents there are dedicated individuals working tirelessly to make those efforts possible,” said Supervisor Janice Parvin “We are proud to acknowledge the career milestones for these employees Their willingness and dedication to serve the community have made a lasting impact through decades of service and commitment.” The honored employees represent a range of departments they are united by a shared dedication to public service and investing in communities throughout Ventura County “These employees exemplify what it means to be a public servant,” said County Executive Officer Dr “Their years of service reflect not only professional career longevity but also a deep commitment to the values of civic service and generating true community impact.” The Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program supports the County’s strategic priority to attract and retain a skilled and diverse workforce dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of the public The County is proud to recognize and celebrate these individuals for their contributions and commitment The battle for this season’s Channel League baseball title is a crowd no more as Pacifica fell out of contention Tuesday to make it a two-team race between Ventura and Santa Barbara heading into the final game of the regular season 10-2-1) remain knotted atop the Channel League standings after each picked up key wins Tuesday afternoon Ventura finished sixth in the Channel League last year and fourth the year before as injuries riddled its talented roster Ventura head coach Anthony Espitia said his seniors are eager to clinch their first league crown since winning the Pacific View League as freshmen Ventura’s last Channel League crown was in the 2016-17 season “They have been talking about it since Day 1,” Espitia said We call it bookend — they won it as freshmen and now they are trying to win league as seniors.” Ventura stayed on course to reach that goal with a 4-2 victory over Dos Pueblos on the road Tuesday which came on the back of yet another dominant showing from pitcher Wylan Nelson The senior got his eighth win of the season two walks and two earned runs in the victory Ventura struck first on an RBI single from Caleb Sebek in the first inning Senior Josh Woodworth delivered the knockout blow in the top of the fifth Woodworth hit a three-run homer to put Ventura up 4-0 Ventura will host Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara will host Pacifica in league finales on Friday 9-4) struggled to wake them up in a 9-3 loss to Santa Barbara Santa Barbara took a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in top of the second inning then added two more runs in the third when Zeke Adderley sent a homer over the centerfield fence Devon Wilkes answered with a double to send Bobby Ramirez home from first base making it 3-1 heading into the top of the fourth inning But Pacifica was no match for Santa Barbara’s consistent hitting as the Dons scored at least one run from the second inning through the sixth On what was an otherwise dismal day of offense for Pacifica Pacifica's other two runs came on a double from JJ Carmona Bobby Ramirez had a pair of singles in his four at-bats he is the best hitter in the county,” Urias said of Wilkes Though disappointed to be on the outside of the Channel League title race the Tritons find themselves in familiar territory — hopeful to ignite another deep postseason run After finishing third in last year’s Channel League race behind Santa Barbara and San Marcos Pacifica went on to win the Division IV Southern California Regional Championship – The Ventura County Continuum of Care has reported a 15.6% decrease in homelessness as part of the 2025 Ventura County Homeless Count the count identified 1,990 individuals experiencing homelessness a reduction of 368 people compared to 2024 This progress reflects successful investments in permanent supportive housing and enhanced supportive services across the county to promote housing retention which adheres to federal definitions of homelessness Approximately 400 volunteers assisted with the unsheltered surveys during the official Point In Time Count Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for communities to be eligible for federal grants addressing homelessness The results play a vital role in identifying trends and gaps guiding community leaders in allocating funding to areas of highest need The Ventura County Continuum of Care annually receives federal and state funding to support emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing initiatives The executive summary can be viewed on the Ventura County Continuum of Care website including additional data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and other sources For more information, visit the Ventura County Continuum of Care (VC CoC) website at www.venturacoc.org or contact Jennifer Harkey, VC CoC Program Director, at 805-658-4342 or email jennifer.harkey@ventura.org the Palo Alto City Council adopted the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) and certified the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report along with other environmental documents The adoption of the NVCAP is a major milestone for the City concluding a multi-year planning process that involved extensive community outreach and numerous conversations with decision-makers and stakeholders The NVCAP adoption establishes policies that aim to create a transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhood within the North Ventura neighborhood.  The final NVCAP document is available below The final NVCAP incorporated a few modifications directed by the City Council The draft NVCAP documents and environmental documents can be found under the NVCAP Reports and Environmental Documents sections below The North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) is intended to create enhanced opportunities for building a sense of community through public involvement in the planning process businesses and property owners will help shape the physical elements of their neighborhoods through early and meaningful participation development regulations and design guidelines for the project area The North Ventura area is intended to be a walkable mixed-use neighborhood with multifamily housing The plan will also include urban design strategies and guidelines to strengthen and support the neighborhood fabric and connections to transit The NVCAP process is an effort led by the City of Palo Alto with the goal to set an integrated direction for the future of the planning area The plan requires the coordination of the City and a team of specialized consultants led by Perkins Will The NVCAP site is roughly bounded by Page Mill Road Lambert Avenue and the Caltrain tracks in Palo Alto and represents a rare opportunity within the City to plan proactively for a transit‐oriented The project area includes one of the City’s largest housing opportunity sites which was formerly occupied by Fry’s Electronics as well as a mix of small and large businesses and single-family residences The purpose of the NVCAP is to provide a vision for the future of this area The plan will address areas including policies The NVCAP should strengthen the neighborhood fabric and consider infrastructure needs providing for a mix of land uses that take advantage of the proximity to the Caltrain station Goals and Objectives were approved by City Council on March 5 Add to the City’s supply of multifamily housing “missing middle,” and senior housing in a walkable with retail and commercial services and possibly start up space Create and enhance well‐defined connections to transit including connections to the Caltrain station filling in sidewalk gaps and street connections to California Avenue Carefully align and integrate development of new community facilities and infrastructure with private development recognizing both the community’s needs and that such investments can increase the cost of housing Balance community‐wide objectives with the interests of neighborhood residents and minimize displacement of existing residents and small businesses Develop human‐scale urban design strategies and design guidelines that strengthen and support the neighborhood fabric Infill development will respect the scale and character of the surrounding residential neighborhood Include transition zones to surrounding neighborhoods while addressing the principles of sustainability Employ a data-driven approach that considers community desires and other relevant data to inform plan policies Create a comprehensive but user-friendly document that identifies the distribution development regulations and design guidelines to enable development and needed infrastructure investments in the project area Provide a guide and strategy for staff and decision-makers to bridge the gap between the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and individual development projects in order to streamline future land use and transportation decisions Enable a process with meaningful opportunities for community engagement and an outcome (the CAP document) that reflects the community’s priorities A determination of the economic and fiscal feasibility of the plan with specific analysis of market place factors and incentives and disincentives as well as a cost-benefit analysis of public infrastructure investments and projected economic benefits to the City and community A plan that is protective of public health and a process that complies with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act Community engagement and outreach is an integral part of the planning process The anticipated community engagement activities include: Please visit the Engagement  tab below to learn more about the community engagement process and upcoming and past events The City Council appointed a committee of representatives to work as a Working Group to help guide the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan process. More information about the group and other community engagement activities can be found on the Engagement tab below.   Working Group Booklet from the October 17, 2018 meeting(PDF, 7MB) The North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan planning process includes community engagement activities and preparation of draft concepts and a planning document The planning process is anticipated to continue through 2022 and be completed by late 2023.  Community engagement activities will be conducted throughout the duration of the NVCAP project.  The NVCAP planning process included a comprehensive community outreach program to provide opportunities for meaningful input through the planning process If you would like to participate in upcoming public hearings and meetings about the NVCAP please see above for upcoming public hearings North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan, June 2024(PDF, 11MB) NVCAP Existing Condition(PDF, 19MB)  Strategic Economic Reports(PDF, 209KB)  Additional Financial Analysis of NVCAP Housing Alternatives, March 2021(PDF, 166KB)  NVCAP Area Parcel Catalog(PDF, 6MB)  340 Portage Ave Historic Resource Evaluation(PDF, 5MB) NVCAP Windshield Survey and Preliminary Historic Resource Eligibility Analysis(PDF, 8MB) Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report(PDF, 8MB) Comment period for Draft SEIR was from March 8 Comment period for the Notice of Preparation was March 1 Video Video Agenda(PDF, 70KB) Video Agenda(PDF, 71KB) Video The NVCAP project team has assembled a comprehensive list of resources about the background These resource are listed in no particular order and linked to external sites and/or documents New resources and materials will may be updated to this page during the duration of the NVCAP project and highlighted on the Home page of this website BuildingEye (Planning Applications) City Service Feedback Ventura will soon have a new destination for Mexico City-style tacos and churros. Napa-based taqueria Mothers Tacos is opening an outpost in the city on April 22 This is the second location for Mothers and the first outside of Napa Mothers Tacos was first opened by Charles Whittaker, Benedict “Ben” Koenig, and Ali Koenig in 2023. The Napa taqueria quickly gained a cult following for its build-your-own micheladas, wood-fired meats served in tacos, and some of the region’s best al pastor shaved off the trompo into awaiting tortillas Mothers stood out for its modern Mexican cooking and for serving plenty of vegan options alongside chicharron-topped fries The name takes inspiration from the doñas of Mexico City who inspired the Koenigs as they juggled caring for a family while working edgy mother that we want to try to represent,” he says “It’s those mothers that we saw in Mexico City working with kids and trying to make a living.” Highly Likely) helms the kitchen at the Ventura location Koenig recommends starting with a few entradas like chicharron or elote paired with mariscos like aguachile de pulpo or grilled octopus Koenig encourages family-style dining and points to Majordomo Mothers offers al pastor and carne asada cooked over mesquite Tender suadero is topped with cilantro and onion and an Okinawan sweet potato taco comes with quinoa A classic hongo taco with sauteed mushrooms The tacos are available on their own or as part of a three-taco plate Larger mains are comprised of family-style dishes that serve three to four While the original Napa location offers a handful of plates the family-style dining is exclusive to Ventura order the slow-roasted pork belly “lechon” or the mesquite-grilled tomahawk Other shareables include amply portioned duck carnitas expand the dinner options with carne asada dusted in plain or cinnamon sugar; these can also be served in a sundae with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce Diners can pair dessert with a Mexican hot chocolate The lunch menu at Mothers mirrors dinner closely Mothers Ventura was designed by Mexico City firm Gospel Studio “Our restaurant should feel very different from what I think most Mexican restaurants or what people stateside are accustomed to,” Koenig says and poured concrete table tops.” The restaurant looks like it could be at home in Mexico City’s Roma Norte neighborhood with a minimalist interior and plants dotting the dining room A bright red backsplash catches the eye with contrasting gray and light wood furnishings Koenig says the team worked hard to infuse the space with warm Although the opening process encountered some delays with construction Koenig is just excited for the restaurant to start welcoming Ventura locals “Hopefully we have found something that people might want in LA proper and will be open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m expect late-night hours for tacos and cocktails CA – The County of Ventura’s Economic Vitality Unit in partnership with the Department of Airports and key regional partners has been awarded $550,000 to establish an Advanced Air Mobility Innovation Center The grant is part of a $9 million Catalyst Predevelopment Funding Program from Uplift Central Coast an organization which provides strategic grants to support community-driven projects that promote equity The County’s project was selected as one of 36 regional initiatives across six Central Coast counties that support economic vitality The planned Innovation Center will feature a 500 square mile testing range for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at Camarillo and Oxnard Airports The County airports will manage testing for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft Testing will adhere to strict FAA protocols and comprise only about 5% of daily airport activities Ventura County businesses will gain access to unique testing facilities and new business collaboration opportunities in the AAM sector “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and strategic collaboration among our County departments and regional partners,” stated Supervisor Janice Parvin “Securing this grant marks a pivotal step in shaping Ventura County’s future as a hub for innovation and advanced technology I’m thrilled about the opportunity this creates—not only for the many companies that will benefit from cutting-edge testing facilities and strategic partnerships but also for the residents who will gain access to high-quality jobs and career pathways in a rapidly growing industry.” The Innovation Center involves four key partners: the County of Ventura’s Economic Vitality Unit and the Ventura County Community College District The Economic Vitality Unit will manage the center’s programming while the Department of Airports provides facilities and manages airspace testing FutureLabs/Fathomwerx will facilitate technology transfer between private companies and Naval Base Ventura County The Ventura County Community College District will develop career pathways and workforce training programs “This grant represents a significant milestone in our efforts to position Ventura County as a leader in Advanced Air Mobility and next-generation transportation technology,” said Estelle Bussa Deputy Executive Officer of Economic Vitality “Through strategic partnerships with FutureLabs/Fathomwerx the Ventura County Community College District we’re creating an ecosystem that will attract high-tech companies while ensuring our local workforce benefits from these opportunities.” The Center will pave the way toward high-wage career opportunities in the rapidly growing Advanced Air Mobility sector with a focus on ensuring opportunities are accessible to residents The Center will support attracting and growing companies in precision manufacturing and advanced business services which has been proven to provide a higher proportion of quality jobs that provide livable wages and other benefits Predevelopment activities will begin immediately with funding to be invested by summer 2026 “This initiative demonstrates the power of regional collaboration,” said Keith Freitas “By combining our infrastructure with the Economic Vitality Unit’s business development expertise and strong educational and innovation partners we’re creating unique opportunities to advance sustainable transportation technology while generating quality jobs for our community.” For more information about the Advanced Air Mobility Innovation Center or partnership opportunities, contact the Economic Vitality Unit at (805) 654-2650 or email vceconomicvitality@ventura.org. To learn more about Uplift Central Coast’s regional economic development initiatives and the Catalyst grant program, visit upliftcentralcoast.org thousands of protesters took to the streets of Ventura County expressing their anger with the Trump White House Organizers estimated about 2,500 people gathered outside the Ventura County Government Center on April 19 They waved signs that took aim at President Donald Trump’s immigration policies about 1,300 to 1,500 people attended a protest rally at the intersection of Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive The rallies were part of a nationwide day of protests and action called Hands Off! They came on the heels of April 5 protests that also brought out thousands across Ventura County. of Ventura wore a Ruth Bader Ginsburg T-shirt and sat on a bench at the Ventura rally She held a sign that said “Dissent Even When Our Voices Shake.” “I think it’s important to show up in numbers We have to resist to make our statement,” she said some people danced and sang along with tunes like “For What It’s Worth,” the Buffalo Springfield 1960s anthem the Hall of Fame musician who was in Buffalo Springfield held up a sign that said “Hands Off Canada.” Hannah explained their presence at the protest with three words Ventura police said the rally went without disruption aside from a three-car collision at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road Ryan Weeks said the accident appeared to be caused by a motorist in a truck who allegedly ran a red light The accident caused organizers to ask protesters to leave the rally about 15 minutes early speakers included two members of Congress: Rep Protesters lined Hillcrest Drive near The Oaks shopping center David Iblings of Camarillo carried a sign that said “Protect our Social Security.” He said he felt compelled to join the rally “I’m trying to think of something I can do that will help make a difference,” he said “This is the best I’ve come up with so far.” who has served 22 years in prison for drugging and raping multiple women at his home in Ventura County will go before a parole board April 29 to ask for an early release Luster won't be locked up any longer than 18 more months His latest possible release date from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla is Oct Luster was originally sentenced to 124 years in prison and in 2013 a judge reduced his sentence to 50 years which allowed for people convicted of most crimes to be released after serving half of their sentences provided they get credit for good behavior while in prison People convicted of violent crimes are required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences rape of an intoxicated or incapacitated victim was not classified as a violent crime in the state penal code A state law passed last year added it to the list of violent crimes so if Luster had been convicted under the current law District Attorney Erik Nasarenko held a news conference outside the Ventura County courthouse where he again urged the board to keep Luster behind bars as long as possible "He remains a present danger to society if released," Nasarenko said "He continues to deny full responsibility for his crimes and he continues to minimize his criminal conduct." Luster told the parole board that his victims consensually took the date rape drug GHB and determined that he intended to incapacitate his victims," Nasarenko said is an heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune — though he has lost multimillion-dollar lawsuits to two of his victims and filed for bankruptcy while in prison he lived in a beachfront house in Mussel Shoals a seaside hamlet a few miles up the coast from Ventura He was arrested in 2000 after a college student from Santa Barbara reported that he had drugged and raped her Police found evidence in his home of that crime and others including videos of Luster assaulting numerous unconscious women which Nasarenko described Monday as "a sadistic treasure trove of evidence." Mexico — by Duane "Dog The Bounty Hunter" Chapman in the case that launched his career as a reality television star he will be required to register as a sex offender He will likely be released into Ventura County since prisoners are generally released where they were convicted Parole board hearings are not open to the public Luster's hearing will be a videoconference Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tbiasotti@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism. (This article was updated with additional details about the denial of Luster's parole.) in prison since 2003 for drugging and raping three women at his beachfront house in Ventura County a panel of the California Board of Parole Hearings rejected his request for an early release It is likely to be his last such hearing — the denial covers three years Though he is serving a 50-year prison sentence Luster is scheduled to be released no later than Oct due to provisions in state law that have since been changed for crimes like his "The parole board got it right," Nasarenko said after the April 29 hearing "Andrew Luster remains unfit for early release and we will continue to support the three victims." Luster's hearing was held via videoconference from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla Parole hearings are not open to the public Senior Deputy District Attorney Anthony Wold the lead prosecutor in Luster's case 22 years ago participated in the videoconference hearing a spokesperson with the Ventura County District Attorney's Office So did the three women Luster was convicted of drugging and raping is an heir to the Max Factor cosmetics company Before he became a resident of Valley State Prison He was arrested in 2000 after a college student from Santa Barbara told police Luster had drugged her and raped her when she was unconscious Police found videotapes in Luster's home that showed him assaulting other unconscious women and he was eventually convicted of 86 counts involving three victims He was found six months later in Puerto Vallarta who was just beginning his rise to reality TV fame as "Dog The Bounty Hunter." Luster was originally sentenced to 124 years in prison, but an appeal in 2013 lowered that to 50 years he would likely be in prison another nine years VENTURA, Calif. – The County of Ventura has been recognized with a top honor from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), receiving an Excellence in Public Information and Communications (EPIC) Award in the “Annual Reports” category for its 2023 Annual Report The award was presented during CAPIO’s 2025 Annual Conference which celebrated outstanding work in government communications for print and digital assets created by public information officials in 2024 The County of Ventura’s 2023 Annual Report took home top honors in the category CAPIO received over 500 entries from public agencies throughout California and state departments for the more than 30 awards categories “Community education and transparency are top priorities for the County of Ventura and our Annual Report is one way we can both inform the public and recognize the important work taking place across 25 agencies and departments that provide critical services to our residents,” stated Dr “We are proud to have those commitments to our community recognized through this award.” The County of Ventura’s 2023 Annual Report showcases the County’s major initiatives while also offering a compelling look into Ventura County’s unique history and highlight how public resources are being put to work and benefit the community The California Association of Public Information Officials is the leading statewide organization dedicated to advancing public sector communicators across all levels of government CAPIO’s EPIC Awards program honors the most creative and effective efforts in government communications The County’s award-winning annual report is available to read on the County’s website For official updates and resources from the County of Ventura’s Public Information Office, please visit news.ventura.org Ventura County Sun photo by Grant Phillips  Some attendees at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday Supervisor Kelly Long speaks at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Jeff Gorell speaks at the Supervisors meeting on Tuesday the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved a new Elections Advisory Committee during its nearly nine-hour meeting on Tuesday The measure was introduced by Supervisors Jeff Gorell and Kelly Long and was supported by board Chair Janice Parvin The committee will be an advisory body designed to “enhance election transparency and community engagement, as well as foster public trust in the electoral process,” according to the Board Letter, which can be viewed at  tinyurl.com/yth6keuz  The committee will consist of five Ventura County residents and registered voters each nominated by a supervisor from their district and approved by a Board-majority vote The volunteers will initially discuss priorities all while working with county counsel and the county CEO’s office before submitting recommendations to supervisors The earliest the committee could meet would be after the next Board of Supervisors meeting on May 13 if enough members are approved by a majority vote The committee will return in one year with a recommendation on how many members the committee would like to have which would also need approval from the supervisors “This committee is purely advisory,” Gorell said “Fully respecting the operational authority of the Clerk Recorder’s Office and this Board of Supervisors.”  The County Clerk Recorder and Registrar of Voters oversees the core function of elections vote counting and certification of election results while supervisors are responsible for election budgets salaries and benefits for election employees and formally receiving and filing final election results The agendas for the committee’s meetings will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors vice chair County Counsel Tiffany North said the “advisory body wouldn’t have the ability to impede or dictate how the clerk-recorder does her job under the Elections Code.”  Because members of the Board of Supervisors are elected Parvin raised the question whether there would be a conflict of interest if a vice chair seeks re-election while in charge of the Elections Advisory Committee “This body is an advisory body to the full Board of Supervisors so I don’t see that it would be a conflict there,” North said The fiscal impact of the committee would be minimal with North confirming the main adjustment would be a reallocation of current staff hours “It’s just time that is taken from other projects,” North said at least for the first few meetings while this is getting formed I would be the one from my office that would be involved Gorell added the Board Letter was also reviewed by the county’s auditor controller “The feedback we got was that this was going to be handled within current staff time and it wasn’t going to be a noteworthy impact on county finances,” he said There is no sunset date for this committee with Gorell adding he hopes it will “outlast all of us on this dais and any one elected official in this county.”  North added that while there is no sunset date the Board can decide when to dissolve the committee via resolution it can be removed by resolution,” she said Supervisor LaVere raised concerns of whether or not the advisory committee would have access to information protected by state law; if the committee could pursue illegal requirements like same-day voting and voter ID at the polls; and whether or not staff time and resources would be wasted North confirmed that because this is an advisory group the committee would have access to the same information available via public records requests and “they would not be able to get anything that’s privileged or confidential anything that’s protected under state law with regards to voting.”   LaVere also shared concerns about the optics behind the formation of the committee “I’m really concerned that if this goes through “I’m really concerned about kind of overstepping the bounds of another elected official I think Michelle was elected by the residents of Ventura County to fulfill this function LaVere made the comparison: “If the sheriff started up his own advisory committee on district attorney issues I think it’s just a slippery slope of us creating commissions to advise us on duties are statutorily mandated to be covered by another elected official Concerns from Supervisor Lopez included whether or not there was a need for the committee at all “If we were to establish an advisory board it could only advise or make recommendations to our Board,” Lopez said noting that the community already provides feedback during public comment at supervisors meetings Parvin raised a similar concern about the groups ability to make any potential changes “They could end up being the most frustrated group you’ve ever met in your life because there may not be any teeth to this,” she said Several counties throughout California have formed Election Advisory Committees “All successfully implemented similar committees to deepen public trust and engagement in elections,” Gorell said “The difference with the San Benito County is that the task that was given to the advisory committee was really focused on combating cybersecurity issues and threats to election workers,” Lopez said “I think that’s very different than what we’re talking about.”  Two advisory committees already exist in Ventura County related to elections: • The Language Accessibility Advisory Committee is designed to help improve access for voters with limited English proficiency • The Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee is designed to advise assist and provide recommendations on how voters with disabilities can vote independently and privately “Ventura County already has nearly 50 boards commissions and committees that offer residents — the community constituents — meaningful opportunities to participate and engage on the issues,” Gorell said “I find these councils incredibly valuable and often a blessing They allow me to hear directly from residents about the issues that they care about most and ensure community voices shape our work.”  When it comes to potential topics the advisory committee can discuss Parvin asked whether the type of voting system used by the county could be considered “I would think so,” said County Counsel North “A community forum on the voting systems — I think that would probably be a permissible subject.”  supervisors opted to extend its current contract with Dominion Voting Systems for another nine years Lopez and Long voting in favor of the contract extension Dominion provides voting machines and tabulators for 39 of California’s 58 counties The state only has two other approved voting-machine vendors More information on the Dominion Voting Systems decision can be viewed online at tinyurl.com/jrhhc2vp  While the committee can discuss the benefits and disadvantages of the various voting machines they do not have the authority to make any changes nor the ability to add any items onto a Board of Supervisors agenda all recommendations would come through the Board of Supervisors vice chair for consideration who could then propose an item be added to the agenda The Board previously voted in March 2023 to repeal its then-20-year-old campaign-finance rules which raised the limits on campaign contributions for key county offices The repeal was proposed by Supervisors Gorell and Parvin Parvin and Long voting in favor of the repeal Supervisors LaVere and Lopez voted against it the county limit on contributions of $750 per election was updated to match state laws on contribution limits was $5,900 per election for city and county candidates per the California Fair Political Practices Commission with hundreds of written comments submitted Thirty public speakers signed up to share their thoughts on the Elections Advisory Committee’s formation at the April 29 meeting Of the 27 speakers who ended up participating “I’m actually very happy to hear that we have 30 speakers,” Supervisor Long said prior to public comment Oxnard City Councilmember Bert Perello spoke first against the committee’s formation and in support of current Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion “If there is evidence of something the current official has done so that we need to be one of another California counties that would have something like this I’d like to have it shared with the public,” Perello said “The only thing that I see is she’s a woman Other public commenters expressed support for Ascencion using phrases like “extremely professional,” “responsive,” “transparent,” and “extremely helpful” to describe both her and her team “I am concerned that this advisory committee is a direct attack on Michelle Ascencion and her team that work hard to follow the specific rules of the federal and state laws regarding our voting systems,” said Betti Mentzer of Oak View a member of the League of Women Voters of Ventura County I think these election deniers have wasted an enormous amount of time of the Board of Supervisors Those in favor of the committee said its formation will provide public feedback on the elections process “It’s a huge step in the right direction,” said James Greenfield Restore the Vote Ventura is a community organization with goals listed on its website to “get rid of voting machines regional voting centers and other problematic parts of the process,” and to “bring back neighborhood precinct polling places hand-counting and voter residential identification.”  Greenfield added: “This committee is important for transparency and for grievances and concerns to be brought forth It is not an indictment on the present ROV [Registrar of Voters].”  like Willie Lubka of the Buen Vecino community group shared concerns about the committee’s potential to lead to voter suppression Buen Vecino is a nonprofit with a goal to “cultivate an environment where the human dignity of every person is respected and where all people have equal rights,” according to its website and foster and strengthen civic engagement and participation So it’s been disheartening to hear a barrage of demands to make it harder for people in our county to vote along with continual rehashing of debunked claims and conspiracy theories disinformation intended to sow distrust in our elections and attacks on our county Elections Division.” the county clerk-recorder and registrar of voters told the Ojai Valley News | Ventura County Sun the day before the meeting two supervisors are proposing this advisory committee and Government Code section 31000.1 gives them the latitude to do so.”  Ascencion declined to comment after the vote Ascencion has previously supported public education and transparency around the election process via the Election Education Series and the Election Smart which covered topics like how recounts work All posts can be viewed on the blog’s website at tinyurl.com/yjc5d9ws A new position on county staff was also created in 2023 — a legal compliance officer — to assist with interpreting California’s election code and ensure state election laws and legislative procedures are followed in the county Ann Michelle McKinley has been in the position since December 2023 and “has been a huge asset in that role both in Elections and the Clerk-Recorder side,” according to an email from the Clerk-Recorder’s office The annual base salary in the application invitation was listed at between $133,220.29 to $186,526.67 County Counsel North added that while the advisory committee could make recommendations to Ascencion and the County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters office “The Clerk-Recorder is not under any obligation to accept those.”  Email notifications are only sent once a day or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments One subscription gets you full access to the Ojai Valley News | Ventura County Sun coverage daily online Subscribe today for as little as $1.12 per week Thank you for supporting local independent accurate View archived e-Editions of Ojai Valley News Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Subscriber digital copy of Friday's newspaper Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account 1,931 deaths were reported to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office during the 2024 calendar year Jurisdiction was accepted for 903 of these deaths requiring further investigation and certification Postmortem examinations were performed on 701 cases 200 deaths were due to overdose with illicit drugs medications 15 were suicides and two deaths were of undetermined manner men accounted for 145 deaths (72.5%) and women accounted for 55 deaths (27.5%) Read more… – Two Ventura County Sheriff's deputies are on administrative leave and are facing felony charges after a violent off-duty incident at the El Rey Cantina in Camarillo on March 30 "An apparent domestic incident occurred wherein a security guard intervened for which he was treated at a local hospital" stated a press release issued Wednesday prepared by Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office The 33-year-old deputy was booked on the following charges shared the Ventura County Sheriff's Office: The 27-year-old deputy was booked on violations of PC 243(d)-Battery Causing Serious Injury and PC 245(a)(4)-Force Likely to Cause Significant Injury added the Ventura County Sheriff's Office The Venture County Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau is handling the criminal investigation and the Ventura County Sheriff's Internal Affairs Bureau will be conducting a parallel investigation detailed the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Wednesday "I want to assure the public and our community that the Sheriff’s Office takes this matter very seriously We hold our deputies to the highest standards of conduct; any violation of those standards will be addressed appropriately without hesitation," stated Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff Andrew is a Digital Content Producer and Assignment Desk Assistant for News Channel 3-12. For more about Andrew, click here. (This story has been updated with additional information from Ventura Fire Department and other sources.) One person was killed and several evaluated in a structure fire on Main Street in downtown Ventura Sunday morning a longtime fixture for housing in the area Ventura Fire Battalion Chief Shawn Hughes said one person died in the fire and at least 10 more were evaluated for injuries but none were transported One firefighter also suffered minor injuries according to news release Sunday evening from Ventura Fire Department Fire officials in the news release also said that firefighters checked 94 rooms at the Ventura Inn at the corner of California and Main streets The five-story building has rooms on the upper floors and retail shops on the ground floor Hughes said Sunday crews were working on an exact number of units that were damaged “There can always be challenges with multi-story buildings that are highly occupied," he said They did an aggressive interior attack while evacuating all the residents.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation He said he first knew something was amiss when he heard sirens outside around 10 a.m “The fire alarms were dinging,” Williams said but then the fire department got here so quick walked out and saw everybody shuffling downstairs.” He grabbed his wallet and cash and headed downstairs alongside fellow residents of the building This was the first fire Williams could remember in his five years living in the building Williams said he believed the fire originated in Room 315 “There was smoke coming out of that window,” Williams said pointing to a corner room on the third floor of the Ventura Inn building “I know it is an older lady that lives in that room but they were saying that she is back and forth in the hospital,” Williams said Approximately 50 firefighters were on scene from Ventura city Ventura County and Oxnard fire departments The American Red Cross also arrived to help residents who were initially forced out of the building for the fire and those who could not return as a result of the fire said eight of the nonprofit's disaster action team volunteers provided water and snacks during their initial response The Red Cross later opened a shelter at Ventura College for the nearly two dozen residents who could not return to their rooms About a dozen stayed at the shelter Sunday night The organization will keep it open until the residents return to Ventura Inn or find an alternative place to stay Ventura City Councilmember Liz Campos said she had been sitting at Palermo Coffee and Gifts having coffee and was on the phone with a Ventura Inn resident when the fire broke out She headed over to the scene and to see if her friend made it out A-OK She said she was impressed with the quick response of the downtown ambassadors who helped remove the street barriers and the firefighters who got the blaze contained The councilmember praised the firefighters for their leadership and efforts Given the size of the building and the number of people who live in it she said it could have been disastrous if the fire had been worse Campos said the building owner works to keep rents affordable Dominic Massimino is a staff writer for the Star. He can be reached at dominic.massimino@vcstar.com Stacie N. Galang is the news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at stacie.galang@vcstar.com and 805-437-0222 Ventura County saw a drop in its homeless population for the second year in a row results of an annual count conducted in January show Total numbers in the 2025 tally stood at 1,990 people. The figure marks a drop of 368 people, or 15.6%, from the 2,358 people counted a year earlier, according to an initial report from the Ventura County Continuum of Care issued April 8 meaning they had stayed overnight in an encampment Another 716 people had slept in sheltered accommodations including publicly and privately operated facilities that provide emergency or transitional housing County officials attributed the drop in numbers to investments in permanent supportive housing homelessness prevention programs and services aimed at promoting housing retention More than 100 permanent housing units opened in 2024 Expansion of programs offering rental assistance also led to a reduction in the homeless population state grants have helped resolve some encampments by prioritizing housing placements The annual tally sent more than 400 volunteers and government staffers into the field on Jan. 22 for what's known as a point-in-time count They spoke to people living in encampments Shelters and transitional housing providers also provided numbers of people staying overnight in their facilities Department of Housing and Urban Development for grant eligibility The decline in the 2025 count was significantly larger than the 3.4% drop reported in 2024. But that dip had been the first recorded in Ventura County since 2017 The count has been conducted locally since 2007 The highest number was 2,441 individuals counted in 2023 Oxnard had the highest total number with 634 Three additional cities counted more than 100 people: Thousand Oaks with 162 Simi Valley with 152 and Santa Paula with 107 Camarillo's tally reached 90 while Ojai's stood at 60 Fillmore's tally was 10 and Moorpark's was two Some 230 people were counted in unincorporated areas which will include more analysis based on data gathered in the field The old-time carousel sits in a corner of the Pacific View mall’s food court the ostrich and other hand-painted animals never spin The ride that for decades was a landmark at the Ventura Harbor Village moved to the Ventura mall nearly three years ago in what seemed like a rescue A sign once promised the rides were on the way Officials of the mall who long declined comment said the shopping center now owns the ride The man who bought it from a Ventura Harbor arcade died two years ago after falling in his steep Camarillo driveway A Pacific View spokesperson said the mall is considering moving the carousel possibly placing part of it on display as a memorial to the rides' history She said they are interested in donating parts of it for use in a community art project and want to talk to area artists “We’re trying to find out what’s the next step for it,” said Tish Cabezas “It’s probably not going to stay in the same place It sort of depends if we get any interested parties." Though it's built to rotate in unchanging circles the carousel has traveled a ride worthy of a roller coaster by a Kansas company called Theel Manufacturing The horses and other animals are made of cast aluminum The steel upper rim is lined with red and blue lights and decorated with women’s faces It is believed to have come to the Ventura Harbor in the 1980s where it became the Ventura Village Carousel horses and the pink pig with tusks as calliope music played Their parents sat on a wooden bench that is still part of the ride “I remember going there as a kid,” said Tristan Thames of Ojai Tristan’s father and a longtime Vons grocery store worker owned other games operated at the arcade that housed the carousel When the former owners decided to sell the business in 2001 He operated the arcade for more than a decade selling homemade fudge at a snack bar and harbor souvenirs in a gift shop Tristan Thames remembered one promotion where adults dressed up in pirate costumes and rode every animal in the ride “My dad kind of always liked the carousel,” Tristan Thames said “He really got a kick out of people having fun.” Michael Thames died unexpectedly in November 2014 Tristan Thames took over the business with the help of his mother though Tristan Thames pushed for a longer deal Changes came when the harbor developed plans to renovate the building and lease it for businesses, including a beer garden. The strategy brought drama that included newspaper stories, Ventura Port District board debates and a save the carousel petition signed by more than 4,000 people Tristan Thames put the carousel up for sale He prepared to dismantle the ride and store it in a shipping container outside his home in Ojai an 80-year-old man came to the arcade and waited in the crowd of families for a chance to meet Thames They talked for an hour about the carousel The man had read about it in a newspaper and didn’t want to see it go away “He wanted to buy it and preserve and have it somewhere people could enjoy it,” Thames said The man came back the next day with a cashier’s check He was a Wisconsin native and longtime Camarillo resident who once worked at what was then the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme He served on the Pleasant Valley School District Board in the 1970s Flynn told a reporter that decades earlier he used to take his children to the arcade for rides Deanie Scarangello of Camarillo said Flynn was a longtime friend and asked her to help with the project He told her he wanted to leave “something behind that was joyful.” She said his passion convinced her to become his partner trained as a paralegal and involved in business management contacted the Camarillo Premium Outlets and the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks in search of a home Then she reached out to the Pacific View Mall She said the Ventura business was interested in replacing a carousel that operated for about two years in the food court but closed during the COVID-19 pandemic She said the history made her think the transition would be relatively easy Scarangello and Flynn formed a corporation She met with Tristan Thames for lessons on how to assemble the carousel She hired a friend to airbrush some of the animals Plans to open in August 2022 were pushed back to November Scarangello said there were permitting issues involving using the mall's electrical system to run the ride Ventura city officials said they were working with the owner on code compliance “Our staff did not receive any further inspection requests,” said city spokeswoman Jennifer Nance Mall officials said the ride never ran because it was not compliant with state requirements Scarangello and Flynn had their own conflicts She sent his lawyers angry messages accusing Flynn of withdrawing money in their joint corporate account demanding a settlement in which Scarangello acknowledged Flynn was the sole owner of the ride Flynn's former lawyer said he could not comment Flynn’s sons did not respond to repeated messages Scarangello said the lease agreement with the mall didn't include a monthly rent but instead revolved around a percentage of profits She said she received an eviction notice from the mall but it was not enforced The horses and camels stayed in the food court mall officials didn’t respond to questions about the carousel and its future “We weren’t able to talk about it,” Cabezas said Flynn fell on the steep driveway of his Camarillo home He died later that day at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks according to Ventura County Medical Examiner reports Scarangello said she didn’t know of the death until a reporter told her earlier this year Mall officials said the passing played a role in pushing the ownership of the carousel into their hands but said they didn’t know the details The mall issued a statement expressing interest in a display that commemorates the history of the carousel Cabezas said they are “totally open” to donating parts of the ride to an artist Scarangello disputes the mall’s claim of ownership asserting the carousel was owned by the corporation she formed with Flynn She still talks of the possibility of the ride operating again “I would still put something on the bench with Mike’s name on it,” she said of her former partner Tristan Thames now works in custom cabinetry He neither has nor wants any claim to the carousel He said he would be happy to see it run again but understands that may not happen He’s OK with a future where the reindeer or the horses are part of a sculpture somewhere It’s better than it rotting and decaying in a (shipping) container,” he said the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the acceptance of a grant provided in partnership from the Humane Society of the United States and the Ventura County Community Foundation to support and expand the Pets for Life program an initiative through Ventura County Animals Services (VCAS) This funding will allow VCAS to continue providing essential services that help families in need keep their beloved pets at home rather than surrender them due to financial hardship or housing instability A key goal of the Pets for Life program is to reduce the number of pets entering shelters by addressing the underlying challenges that lead to pet relinquishment the program has been able to provide over 100 free microchips to help reunite lost pets with their families and offer financial and emotional support to pet owners in crisis By preventing surrenders before they happen these services help keep pets with their families while also easing the strain on local animal shelters “Programs like Pets for Life are essential in ensuring that no family has to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender a pet due to financial hardship,” stated 4th District Supervisor Janice Parvin “By investing in solutions that provide direct support to pet owners we are not only keeping animals out of shelters but also strengthening the well-being of families throughout Ventura County.” The Pets for Life program has already made a significant impact in the community ensuring that families facing economic challenges can still care for their pets the program assisted 111 families and their 215 pets VCAS continued expansion of its outreach by hosting a community event in the La Colonia area of Oxnard where families received free pet food and supplies to help keep their pets well-fed and at home The overwhelming response highlighted the continued need for support programs like Pets for Life “We are incredibly proud of the success of our Pets for Life program,” stated Esteban Rodriguez Director of Ventura County Animal Services “Going door-to-door in underserved areas of our county is exactly the level of grassroots support our residents and their animals need.” The approval of this grant underscores the County’s commitment to long-term and proactive solutions that support both pets and their owners The Pets for Life program goes beyond emergency assistance—it builds a compassionate sustainable network that empowers families to provide lifelong care for their animals March 18 Ventura City Council will consider adopting the Community Autonomy which seeks to shield locals from certain federal administration changes the CARE Policy aims "to protect reproductive rights gender-diverse individuals and all residents of the City of Ventura from restrictive laws and external enforcement efforts." Also on the agenda is a budget workshop, and revised Land Use Designation Map. The meeting is set for 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 18 at in Council chambers at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St. The full agenda is available in English HERE; y en Español AQUI The March 18 staff report (attached below) for the CARE policy item states: "In recent years restrictive policies at state and federal levels have threatened reproductive rights These developments necessitate further action to reinforce Ventura's commitment to diversity The CARE Policy provides a clear framework to protect our most vulnerable populations and maintain Ventura as a welcoming and supportive community." Ventura County based podcast host and California State Democratic Party Delegate Amber Thompson said the CARE Policy is "a crucial measure designed to protect immigrants and all residents from political overreach and discrimination." In urging Ventura City Council to adopt the CARE policy Thompson stated the policy "aligns with Ventura Police Department policies reinforcing Ventura's role as a leader in civil rights and local control This vote is a defining moment for Ventura's future We urge community members to attend the meeting and use their voices to support this critical step toward equity and safety." The CARE Policy states "The City of Ventura and its law enforcement agencies shall not: Participate in the enforcement of any federal or state law that criminalizes or restricts access to reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming care for adults or minors provided such care is delivered with the approval of a licensed healthcare provider and with parental consent in accordance with current California state law," nor "Use city funds or personnel to assist in federal immigration enforcement activities including identifying individuals from photographs home addresses or places of work or share personal or sensitive information about residents’ immigration status or gender identity without a legal judicial warrant with authorized judicial signature affixed."