Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
COMMUNITY / TRIBUTE Jan 21, 20262 minHundreds Gather in Oxnard for 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March
The streets of Oxnard were filled with banners and voices as the community celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The landmark 40th anniversary of the event brought together thousands of residents, including a massive contingent of students from 24 different high schools across the region.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VANDALISM Jan 21, 20262 minOxnard Man Arrested for Felony Vandalism Following Graffiti Investigation
The Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit has arrested a 27-year-old Oxnard man following a months-long investigation into graffiti tagging along the US 101. The suspect, identified through forensic evidence and social media monitoring, allegedly caused thousands of dollars in damage to public infrastructure.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / NARCOTICJan 21, 20262 minTask Force Seizes 350 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Major Smuggling Bust
A joint operation between Ventura and Riverside County detectives has successfully broken up a large-scale drug smuggling ring. After a two-month investigation triggered by a confidential tip, authorities intercepted a massive shipment of narcotics intended for distribution across local neighborhoods.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / FIREARMSJan 20, 20262 minMoorpark High Risk Stop Leads to Family Arrests and Ghost Gun Seizure
A high-risk traffic stop and a subsequent house raid in Moorpark have resulted in the arrest of four men from the same family. The investigation, led by the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit, targeted a suspect involved in a negligent shooting from a vehicle last October and uncovered a cache of illegal weaponry.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / WILDFIRE Jan 20, 20262 minMysterious Fox Fire Ignites Ventura County Hills
Fire crews were dispatched to the Ventura County hills Monday evening to battle a new brush fire first spotted just before 6:00 p.m. Labeled the Fox Fire, the blaze is burning on private land, creating visible smoke plumes that could be seen from across the city as investigators struggle to determine its size and containment.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 20, 20262 minGrand Avenue Homes Teeter on the Edge as Sespe Creek Swallows Land
A decades-old family home near Fillmore is currently teetering on the edge of a cliff after record-breaking storm flows caused massive sections of Grand Avenue to collapse into Sespe Creek. Resident Cindy Jackson described the terrifying moment a large pepper tree "dropped out of sight" as the ground vanished beneath it, leading authorities to deem her house unsafe for occupancy.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / SEISMIC ACTIVITYJan 20, 20262 minCoachella Valley Rattled by 4.9 Magnitude Earthquake Near Indio Hills
A powerful magnitude 4.9 earthquake centered near Indio Hills sent residents scrambling for cover on Monday evening. The quake, which struck at 5:56 p.m., was followed by over ten aftershocks throughout the night, triggering the state’s ShakeAlert system and providing a stark reminder of the region's seismic vulnerability.
Joseph Ladra
COMMUNITY / EVENTSJan 19, 20262 minVentura County Residents Eligible for Early Access to 2028 Olympic Tickets
The race for the 2028 Summer Olympics has officially begun with the opening of the ticket registration portal. Because of its proximity to the action, Ventura County has been named one of the few regions eligible for an exclusive early purchase window before sales open to the general public.
Joseph Ladra
ACCIDENTS / TRAFFICJan 19, 20262 minFour People Injured in Major Multi-Vehicle Pileup on Highway 154
A high impact crash involving up to five vehicles shut down Highway 154 near Lake Cachuma on Sunday evening. Emergency crews worked for over an hour to clear the wreckage and extricate a trapped victim near the entrance to Camp Whittier.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / CONSUMER PROTECTIONJan 19, 20262 minStaffing Agency Ordered to Pay 650,000 Dollars for Massive Workers Comp Fraud
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko has announced a major judgment against Man Staffing, LLC, a temporary agency that operated for years without workers’ compensation insurance. The company, owned by Miguel Angel Navarro, allegedly used stolen policy numbers to create fake proof of coverage while supplying workers to over a dozen local businesses.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / EXPLOITATIONJan 19, 20262 minSerial Offender Gary Steven Daniel II Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse Material Charges
A 47 year old Oxnard man with a decade long history of child exploitation is back in custody after pleading guilty to multiple new felony counts. Gary Steven Daniel II, a registered sex offender, was caught storing vast amounts of illegal material in cloud accounts using a burner phone, even while out on bail for a previous 2024 arrest.
Joseph Ladra
HOUSING / REGULATION Jan 16, 20262 minVentura Anti-Harassment Ordinance for Tenants Moves Closer to Final Approval
A new law designed to protect renters from aggressive landlord tactics moved a step closer to reality after a unanimous vote by the Ventura Planning Commission. The ordinance would allow tenants to sue for damages in cases of harassment, a move both tenant advocates and some real estate groups see as a necessary "middle ground."
Joseph Ladra
TRANSPORTATION / COMMUTINGJan 16, 20262 minCommuter Train Service to Santa Barbara Set for Potential April Launch
After years of delays and a failed deal with Metrolink, transportation officials are nearing a final agreement to launch a reliable commuter train between Moorpark and Goleta. The proposed Amtrak service aims to take thousands of cars off the 101 Freeway by offering a fast, affordable alternative for the 10,000 people who cross the county line daily for work.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / PUBLIC SAFETY Jan 16, 20262 minVentura City Manager Reports Water Caught on Fire in Pierpont Storm Drain
The ongoing gasoline contamination in Ventura's Pierpont neighborhood took a dangerous turn last week when resident reports of strong odors led to a discovery of ignitable fuel in the storm drains. City Manager Bill Ayub confirmed the alarming incident, which stems from a massive underground plume first identified in late 2024.
Joseph Ladra
IMMIGRATION / ADVOCACYJan 16, 20262 minUS Citizen Teen Released Same Day After ICE Detention in Oxnard
Community volunteers in Oxnard report a chaotic scene Tuesday morning after ICE agents allegedly tackled a teenager to the ground in the Lemonwood area. The youth, who was later confirmed to be a U.S. citizen, was released and returned home the same day following a public outcry from neighbors and activists.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VIOLENCEJan 16, 20262 minTwo Men Arrested for Attempted Murder After Baseball Bat Attack in Santa Paula
A violent targeted assault on East Santa Paula Street has left six juveniles injured and two adult men facing attempted murder charges. The attack occurred Tuesday evening in broad daylight, prompting a massive emergency response that saw all six victims transported to local hospitals.
Joseph Ladra
FOOD & WINEJan 15, 20262 minThe Rochers at the Ranch House in Ojai Announces Permanent Closure
The fine dining and event venue at the historic Ranch House property has officially shut its doors after just five months of operation. The announcement came from owners Perfecte and Alia Rocher, who took over the legendary space in July 2025 with hopes of honoring its 75-year legacy of garden-to-table hospitality.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / GRAND THEFTJan 15, 20262 minThree Los Angeles Men Arrested for Brazen Landscaping Equipment Thefts in Fillmore
Three Los Angeles County men with documented street gang affiliations are behind bars following a series of brazen daylight thefts. The group allegedly targeted local landscapers, swiping thousands of dollars in commercial equipment while workers were distracted, only to be caught during a high-stakes traffic stop in Piru.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / WATERJan 15, 20262 minVentura County Reservoirs Lake Casitas and Lake Piru Near Spill Point
Following a holiday season that dumped over 15 inches of rain on parts of the county, Ventura’s primary reservoirs are reaching historic levels. Lake Casitas in the Ojai Valley is officially over 99% full, a staggering recovery from the drought conditions seen just a few years ago.
Joseph Ladra
ACTIVISM / POLITICSJan 15, 20262 minVentura Prepares for 10th Annual Women's March and Rally
Protesters are set to descend on Downtown Ventura this Saturday for the 10th annual Women’s March. Organized by Justice For All Ventura County, the demonstration marks nearly a decade of local activism and occurs exactly one year into the current presidential administration's second term.
Joseph Ladra