Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 2, 20262 minNewbury Park Veterinarian Confirmed Dead Days After Arrest
The community is in shock after the Kern County Medical Examiner confirmed the death of Dr. William M. Thomas, the longtime owner of Midtown Veterinary Clinic. The 30-year veteran of the clinic had recently been hit with 21 firearm-related felony charges and was released on bail just days before his passing.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / EMERGENCYDec 30, 20252 minState Route 118 Reopens After Violent Santa Ana Winds Cause Hours of Chaos
Powerful wind gusts reaching 60 mph caused major destruction across Moorpark on Monday, toppling trees and downing live power lines across State Route 118. The dangerous conditions forced a total closure of the highway, trapping drivers and knocking out power to nearby residents.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY Dec 30, 20252 minVentura Woman Arrested Following High Stakes Vehicle and Foot Pursuit
A 37-year-old Ventura woman, Brooke Lawton, is behind bars after leading police on a dangerous vehicle and foot pursuit. Officers were forced to terminate the initial high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods and a construction zone to protect the public before catching the suspect on foot.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / GUN VIOLENCEDec 30, 20252 minPort Hueneme Teen Arrested in Connection with Shooting on Surfside Drive
Port Hueneme police quickly apprehended a local teenager following a shooting incident on Sunday afternoon. The 16-year-old was spotted fleeing on a bike path after allegedly opening fire on a brown sedan traveling near Miranda Park.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / ATTEMPTED MURDERDec 30, 20252 minSanta Paula Man Facing Attempted Murder Charges After Christmas Eve Shooting
A 29-year-old Santa Paula man is in custody after allegedly opening fire on a vehicle containing an adult and two children on December 24. The terrifying Christmas Eve attack left the targeted car riddled with bullet holes, though the passengers miraculously escaped injury.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VIOLENCE Dec 30, 20252 minJuvenile Arrested for Attempted Murder After Simi Valley Bus Stop Stabbing
A weeks-long investigation into a violent confrontation near a Tapo Canyon Road bus stop has ended with the arrest of a juvenile suspect. The incident, which occurred on December 8, left a teenager with non-life-threatening injuries and sparked concerns over youth violence in the community.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / PROPERTY DAMAGEDec 29, 20252 minSanta Ana Winds Topple Large Tree Near Simi Valley Mobile Home
Powerful Santa Ana wind gusts peaking at 70 mph caused property damage across the region on Christmas night. In Simi Valley, a large tree was completely uprooted, narrowly missing a mobile home on Los Angeles Avenue and crushing a perimeter fence.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / EMERGENCYDec 29, 20253 minMassive Gas Line Rupture Shuts Down 5 Freeway and Shakes Homes in Castaic
A 34-inch natural gas transmission line ruptured under 600 psi of pressure Saturday afternoon, causing a "sonic boom" that shook homes miles away. The incident forced a total shutdown of the 5 Freeway and a shelter-in-place order for nearly 15,000 residents in the Castaic area.
Joseph Ladra
TRAFFIC / ACCIDENTSDec 29, 20252 minHighway 101 North of Ventura Reopens After Overturned Big Rig Causes Gridlock
A massive semi-truck accident paralyzed the northbound Highway 101 north of Ventura early Saturday morning. The truck ended up on its side across all three lanes near Padre Juan Canyon Road, forcing a total closure and a major traffic diversion onto the Pacific Coast Highway.
Joseph Ladra
AVIATION / INVESTIGATIONDec 29, 20252 minNew Info on Westlake Village Father and Son Killed in Simi Valley Plane Crash
The investigation into the May 2025 crash that claimed the lives of Westlake father and son, Paul and Matthew Berkovitz, along with their dog Brody, is entering a critical final phase. Federal investigators are currently analyzing whether the self-built Vans RV-10 suffered a mechanical failure or if the pilot experienced "spatial disorientation" due to the low cloud ceiling reported at the time.
Joseph Ladra
CULTURE / LOCAL HISTORYDec 29, 20253 minFormer Hells Angels Leader Reveals the Secret Law of the Land in Ventura
George Christie, the long-time former president of the Ventura Hells Angels, is revealing how the club functioned as an unofficial policing force for decades. Christie claims the club maintained a strict "moratorium" on street chaos and drive-by shootings, effectively keeping the city calm through an era of rising gang violence.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / TECHNOLOGYDec 26, 20252 minCamarillo Man’s Clever Theft Foiled by Stolen Camera Connecting to Internet
A 20-year-old Camarillo man, Tristin James Yanez, found himself in handcuffs after a stolen security camera reconnected to the internet and "called home." The high-tech equipment, swiped from St. John's Seminary, gave detectives a digital map straight to the suspect's front door.
Joseph Ladra
CULTURE / ARTSDec 26, 20252 minDowntown Oxnard Secures Elite Status as California Cultural District
The California Arts Council has officially put Downtown Oxnard on the map by designating it a California Cultural District. As the only city in Ventura County to earn the title this year, Oxnard is set to receive new recognition and support for its unique local heritage and art scene.
Joseph Ladra
ACCIDENTS / PUBLIC SAFETY Dec 26, 20251 minOne Person in Critical Condition Following Two Vehicle Collision on State Route 126
A violent two-vehicle wreck on State Route 126 turned Christmas morning into a life-saving operation for local fire crews. One driver was left in critical condition and required an emergency airlift after being trapped inside a mangled vehicle for over ten minutes.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / NARCOTICSDec 26, 20252 minVan Nuys Kingpin Faces 15 Years for Massive Ventura County Drug Operation
Van Nuys resident Jose Trinidad Bueno Garcia has pled guilty to heading a massive drug trafficking operation that funneled thousands of fatal doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine into Ventura County. This case marks one of the first major test results of Proposition 36, as the kingpin now faces a significantly longer prison stint than previously allowed under state law.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / DEVELOPMENT Dec 23, 20252 minMature Trees Cut Down at Ventura KB Home Project Sparks Resident Outrage
A major development project on Vista Del Mar Drive is facing intense community backlash after several mature eucalyptus trees were cut down this week. The incident has not only enraged local residents but may also constitute a breach of the agreement between the developer and the city.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / ALERTSDec 23, 20252 minHigh Wind Advisory Issued for Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
The National Weather Service has issued a major wind advisory for most coastal and valley areas, warning of dangerous gusts peaking through mid-week. With soils already saturated from recent rains, officials are bracing for downed trees and difficult travel conditions during the holiday.
Joseph Ladra
ENVIRONMENT / RECOVERYDec 23, 20253 minEight Years After the Thomas Fire: Some Families Return Home While Empty Lots Remain
As the eighth anniversary of the devastating Thomas Fire passes, many residents are still fighting to return home. While some have finally moved into new houses this month, others face a ticking clock as the City of Ventura’s "Rebuild Overlay Zone" is scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
Joseph Ladra
LOCAL NEWS / COLD CASEDec 23, 20253 minCause of Death Undetermined for Missing Ojai Woman Zyanya Valora
A year and a half after 21-year-old Zyanya Valora vanished from her home, a medical examiner’s report has left her family with more questions than answers. Despite the discovery of her remains in the Ventura River bottom, forensic experts were unable to find clear evidence of what led to the death of the young woman known as "Z."
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYDec 23, 20252 minOak Park Man Charged After Death Threats and Bomb Hoax in Thousand Oaks
Prosecutors have filed nine criminal charges against 32-year-old Michael Weisman following a series of violent threats and a public safety scare. The Oak Park resident allegedly threatened to kill his parents and responding deputies before calling in a false bomb threat to a business in Thousand Oaks.
Joseph Ladra