Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
CRIME / SENTENCINGJan 9, 20262 minOxnard Woman Sentenced to Two Years for High Speed Fatal Racing Crash
Ricki Newton, 24, has been sentenced to two years in state prison following a high speed disaster on Highway 101 that claimed the life of a 77 year old Santa Paula man. Despite her defense team’s plea for probation, the judge ruled that the gross negligence of racing a friend at triple digit speeds warranted a prison term.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / DEVELOPMENT Jan 8, 20261 minDeveloper Facing City Sanctions After Cutting Protected Monarch Habitat
Outrage continues to grow in Midtown Ventura after KB Home contractors cut down several mature eucalyptus trees at a project site on Vista Del Mar Drive. The trees are a known habitat for endangered monarch butterflies, and the move may have violated a formal agreement with the city.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / ENVIRONMENT Jan 8, 20261 minPlastic Bag Ban Sparks Heated Debate at Ventura Checkouts
As of January 1, a new state law has officially removed the option for plastic bags at grocery and convenience stores across Ventura County. While some shoppers are cheering the environmental win, others at local spots like WinCo Foods are expressing frustration over the mandatory 10-cent fee for paper alternatives.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 8, 20261 min“All Clear” Given at Naval Base After Active Shooter Report Deemed a Hoax
For the second time in recent weeks, Naval Base Ventura County was forced into a total lockdown following a report of an "active threat" at the base medical clinic. After a tense 45-minute search involving multiple tactical units, officials determined the call was entirely unfounded.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / SENTENCINGJan 8, 20261 minHomeless Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Violent Downtown Spree
Efrain Troncoso, 23, has been officially sentenced to state prison following a terrifying 30-minute rampage through downtown Ventura in late 2024. The transient, who had been released from jail just one week prior to the attacks, pleaded guilty to a string of violent assaults involving both a knife and a metal pipe.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / ARRESTSJan 8, 20261 minSanta Clarita Couple with $450K in Warrants Arrested After Sephora Heist
A high-stakes crime spree spanning three counties came to an end in Irvine this week after a man and woman were caught casually shoplifting inside a Sephora. Investigators soon discovered the duo wasn't just hitting a single store; they were wanted on nearly half a million dollars in outstanding warrants across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / FORECASTJan 7, 20262 minVentura County Weather Expected to Flip as Holiday Rain Subsides
After a relentless holiday storm cycle that pushed rainfall totals past 100% of the annual norm, the weather is finally shifting. Meteorologists are forecasting a break from the rain, but warning that a developing offshore wind event could pose a new set of risks for the saturated region.
Joseph Ladra
COMMUNITY / HOLIDAY SUPPORT Jan 7, 20263 minVentura County School Districts Step Up to Feed Kids Over Holiday Break
With many families losing access to free school meals during the winter break, the Oxnard and Fillmore Unified school districts stepped in with massive food distribution efforts. Hundreds of families gathered at local campuses to receive fresh produce and hot meals to bridge the gap during the holiday closure.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / ALCOHOL ENFORCEMENTJan 7, 20262 minThree Camarillo Restaurants Cited for Serving Alcohol to Minors
Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and local police conducted a major sting operation targeting underage drinking. Several well-known local bartenders and servers were cited after failing to check the identification of a minor decoy sitting at their bars.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / ENFORCEMENTJan 7, 20262 minVentura Sheriff Increase E-Bike Enforcement in Camarillo Due to Rising Collisions
Citing a staggering rise in traffic incidents, the Camarillo Police Department has officially ended its "education-only" phase and begun issuing citations to e-bike and e-scooter riders. Local statistics show that collisions have spiked from just two in 2024 to twenty through the end of 2025, with a massive increase in juvenile injuries.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 7, 20262 minSimi Valley Man Arrested After Police Use Pepperball and K-9 Unit
A 33-year-old resident was taken into custody early Saturday morning after a high-stakes standoff with the Simi Valley Police Department. Officers were forced to utilize a pepperball projectile and a police K-9 to secure the suspect after he refused to comply with orders to exit his home.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / GANG VIOLENCE Jan 6, 20262 minFive Arrested Following New Years Eve Shooting in Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks deputies have apprehended five individuals, including three juveniles, in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred just after midnight on New Year's Eve. A specialized enforcement team tracked the group down two days later, recovering a handgun and evidence linking the crime to local street gangs.
Joseph Ladra
ACCIDENTS / FARM SAFETYJan 6, 20262 minSomis Farmworker Identified as Victim of Tragic Tractor Rollover Accident
Authorities have released the name of a 52-year-old Somis man, Gustavo Valencia Chavez, who was killed in a workplace accident at a farm on Berylwood Road. The fatal incident prompted a response from both local sheriff's deputies and state safety investigators from Cal/OSHA.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PROPERTY THEFTJan 6, 20263 minThieves Ransack Simi Valley Card Shop in Massive Pokémon and Sports Card Heist
Burglars completely depleted the inventory of Simi Sportscards early Sunday morning, leaving the business with empty shelves and thousands in property damage. The high-value heist has local detectives investigating a possible connection to a string of card shop robberies across Southern California.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / EMERGENCYJan 6, 20262 minSheriff Proclaims Emergency as Storm Damage Tops 14 Million Dollars
Sheriff Jim Fryhoff has officially signed an emergency proclamation following a series of relentless storms that began on Christmas Eve. The move comes as Ventura County grapples with severely damaged roadways and a growing crisis at Lake Piru caused by excessive debris and flooding.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 6, 20262 minLockdown Lifted at Naval Base Ventura County After False Active Shooter Report
A heavy law enforcement response paralyzed Naval Base Ventura County Tuesday morning following reports of an "active assailant" inside a medical building. Military personnel were ordered to shelter in place for nearly an hour before base security and local police determined the threat was entirely unfounded.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / BEACH SAFETJan 2, 20263 minDangerous Rip Currents and Coastal Overflows Expected Through Sunday Afternoon
The National Weather Service has issued an urgent warning for coastal residents as a combination of storm swells and tides up to 7.5 feet threaten the shoreline. Dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding are expected through Sunday afternoon, making jetties and shorelines a "dead zone" for the unwary.
Joseph Ladra
IMMIGRATION / ACTIVISJan 2, 20263 minICE Actions Trigger Public Outcry and Calls for Local Council Intervention
A wave of activism is sweeping through local government meetings as families share emotional stories of recent immigration enforcement actions. From Warwick Avenue to Cochran Street, residents are demanding that local leaders take a stand against what they describe as aggressive and racially profiled arrests.
Joseph Ladra
HOUSING / REGULATIONJan 2, 20262 minConstruction Finally Commences at Dilapidated Surfside Site in Port Hueneme
Signs of life have returned to the dilapidated Surfside Motel and Apartments as owner Dario Pini officially begins construction under a strict city compliance contract. After decades of health and safety violations, the site is now on a ticking clock to meet state standards or face a total takeover.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / EMERGENCYJan 2, 20262 minDebris Flow Slams Into Backyard of Sherman Oaks Home Forcing Evacuations
Saturated hillsides finally gave way under the weight of a pounding rainstorm, unleashing a wall of mud and debris into the 3900 block of Pacheco Drive. The dramatic event forced an immediate evacuation as emergency crews monitored the shifting embankment.
Joseph Ladra