Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
WEATHER / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIADec 4, 20251 minHigh Surf Today, December Heatwave on the Way
King tides, freezing morning temperatures, high surf alerts, and sudden warm spells define the unpredictable and extreme weather patterns of December in Southern California. Residents experience rapid shifts from cold mornings to mini heatwaves, while coastal areas face elevated surf and potential flooding hazards throughout the month.
Joseph Ladra
COMMUNITY / VENTURADec 4, 20251 minVentura Police Connect With Community Over Cocoa
Ventura PD set aside emergency calls Wednesday morning to engage with residents directly, hosting a friendly Coffee-with-a-Cop–style event in midtown. Officers served cocoa and conversation, fostering community connections while residents enjoyed a relaxed environment encouraging dialogue and trust with local law enforcement.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / SANTA BARBARADec 4, 20251 minOne Person Killed After Car Crashes Into Tree on Hwy 101
An early-morning crash on Highway 101 Southbound near Dos Pueblos Canyon Road left one driver dead after a violent collision. The SUV struck a eucalyptus tree with major force, resulting in fatal injuries and prompting emergency responders to secure the scene.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / OXNARDDec 4, 20252 min23-Year-Old Killed in Head-On Collision Outside Oxnard
A 23-year-old man died Tuesday night following a violent collision between two trucks on East Fifth Street, part of State Route 34. The CHP reported that a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and a Toyota Tacoma slammed into each other just before 10 p.m., causing the fatal crash.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / SIMI VALLEYDec 3, 20251 minSimi Valley Double Homicide: Shooter Identified as Victims’ Son
Authorities say the man who killed a Simi Valley husband and wife in their Wood Ranch home was their 37-year-old son, Keith Cordes of Kentucky. Eric and Vicki Cordes died after being shot Nov. 30. Hours later, a man matching the suspect’s description set a car ablaze in a Chino park and fatally shot himself. Officials have now confirmed that man was Keith.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / ID THEFTDec 3, 20251 minTwo Arrested in Mira Monte ID Theft Case
A 27-year-old Carpinteria man and 26-year-old Port Hueneme woman pleaded not guilty after deputies arrested them for allegedly stealing a Mira Monte woman’s identity. The pair was taken into custody Nov. 29 on suspicion of multiple felony counts.
Joseph Ladra
Labor RelationsDec 3, 20251 minSimi Valley Approves $6M Labor Contract for 270 SEIU Workers
After months of friction and a strike authorisation, Simi Valley’s council unanimously approved a new three-year labor contract for SEIU 721 city workers. The deal gives employees annual 3% raises, expanded benefits and a $1,000 bonus. Price tag: just over $5.9 million.
Kind Joe
GeneralDec 3, 20251 minBoeing Hit With Nearly $600K Penalty Over Santa Susana Runoff
Boeing is facing nearly $600,000 in penalties for over 36 stormwater discharge violations at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. The detected pollutants include lead, mercury, and manganese, raising concerns about environmental oversight and the risks posed to surrounding communities and ecosystems. This situation adds pressure on Boeing amid ongoing cleanup debates.
Kind Joe
CRIME / VENTURADec 3, 20251 minVentura Armed Robbery at Marina Park
Ventura police are asking the public for help identifying two men accused of assaulting and robbing a 70-year-old resident during his early-morning walk at Marina Park on Nov. 30. Officers say the men demanded money, then attacked him near the beach. Investigators believe the same pair may be tied to another robbery nearby.
Joseph Ladra
FOOD & DRINK / COMMUNITY VOTE (VENTURA COUNTY)Dec 2, 20251 minVote for Ventura County’s Best Steakhouse
Ventura County residents are choosing the best locally owned steakhouse, and voting closes Friday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. PST. From a $118 bone-in ribeye for two at Casa Bella to a $165 tomahawk at Slate, the county’s steak scene is stacked with contenders.
Joseph Ladra
HEALTH / SENIOR CARE (VENTURA COUNTY)Dec 2, 20251 minEight Local Nursing Homes Score Top Rankings
Eight local nursing homes landed among California’s and America’s top-rated facilities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings released Nov. 13. The scores are based on 17 long-term care measures and 17 short-term rehab factors, using data from CMS and the Long-Term Care Community Coalition.
Joseph Ladra
LEGAL / WILDLIFE (FRAZIER PARK)Dec 2, 20251 minFrazier Park Sanctuary Fined $50K
A Frazier Park animal sanctuary, Born to Be Free, Inc., must pay over $50,000 in penalties for keeping 15 exotic animals, including a leopard, warthog, European brown bear, and wolf-dog hybrid, without a valid permit. A Ventura County Superior Court judgment now permanently bans the facility from possessing restricted species without approval.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / LEADERSHIP (VENTURA)Dec 2, 20251 minVentura Fire Chief Retires After 30+ Years
Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya, 55, is preparing to hang up the helmet on Dec. 19, closing out more than three decades of service. He started as an emergency first responder in 1994, joined Ventura Fire in 1996 as a paramedic, and rose to fire chief in 2014. Endaya reflected on a career that evolved from paper maps and clipboards to fully digital response systems.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PURSUIT (VENTURA)Dec 2, 20251 minWild Ventura Chase Ends in Arrest; Another Case Tied to Nyeland Acres Shooting
A 32-year-old man was arrested Nov. 30 after leading Ventura police on a chaotic vehicle and foot chase through the west side. Police tried pulling over a northbound pickup around 9:25 p.m. on Ventura Avenue, the truck had been reported stolen, but the driver bolted, sparking a high-speed pursuit that spilled into neighborhood streets and ended only after officers chased him down on foot.
Joseph Ladra
Public HealthDec 1, 20251 minReports of Rabid Bats Climb in Ventura County
Ventura County is experiencing a significant rise in rabid bats, with 21 cases reported in 2025, up from 6 in 2024. Officials urge caution, especially for those outdoors or with pets, as rabies can be fatal if untreated. No human cases have been reported this year, but public health officials emphasize the importance of awareness and vaccination for pets.
Kind Joe
Labor RightsDec 1, 20251 minOxnard Farmworker Joins Lawsuit Against Federal Wage Policy
Isabel Panfilo, a farmworker from Oxnard, has joined 17 others in a federal lawsuit challenging a Trump-era revision to the H-2A visa wage policy. Filed on November 21, the suit argues that the new wage structure undermines fair pay for both domestic and foreign agricultural workers. This case could significantly impact wage standards in California's agriculture industry.
Kind Joe
CrimeDec 1, 20251 minCamarillo Mall Theft Sting Leads to Seven Arrests
A recent theft sting operation at Camarillo Mall resulted in the arrest of seven individuals. The operation aimed to address ongoing retail theft issues in the area. Law enforcement agencies collaborated to conduct the sting, highlighting their commitment to maintaining safety in shopping environments. Further details on the arrests and the operation's impact are pending.
Kind Joe
GeneralDec 1, 20252 minVentura County Teens Arrested After Nyeland Acres Party Shooting
An 18-year-old and four juveniles were arrested following a shooting at a Nyeland Acres party on November 25. Deputies found a loaded rifle in their vehicle, believed to be used in the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the event raises concerns about youth access to firearms and the risks of unmonitored gatherings.
Kind Joe
CrimeDec 1, 20252 minSimi Valley Doctor and His Wife Found Executed in Their Home Garage
Dr. Eric Cordes and his wife Vicki were found shot to death in their Simi Valley home, with reports of gunfire from neighbors. A second body discovered in a burning car 70 miles away may be linked to the case. The investigation is ongoing, raising community safety concerns in the area.
Kind Joe
EducationNov 28, 20252 minVentura County Graduation Rates Climb in 2025, Outperforming State Averages
Ventura County's graduation rates have increased to 90.5% in 2025, surpassing state averages, with improvements in absenteeism and suspensions.
Kind Joe