Ventura County Sun

Feds seek to remove steelhead habitat protection in Piru Creek and Santa Clara River According to a petition released July 11 in the Federal Register, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks to remove “critical habitat designation for the Southern California steelhead,” tro...

FEDERAL ACTION | www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Coalitions unite, speak out against ICE raids in Ventura County In response to escalating federal immigration raids, the deployment of National Guard troops at protests in Los Angeles, and the confirmed presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity...

In response to escalating federal immigration raids, more than 100 people attended a press conference at the Ventura County Government Center on June 12 to request ICE be removed from Ventura County. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Residents speak out against launch increases at Vandenberg; virtual hearing June 18 Local residents spoke out against any potential increase in SpaceX Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base during a June 10 public hearingn in Ventura at

Ventura County residents spoke out against an increase in launches from Vandenberg at a June 10 meeting. Many asked for more review into impacts. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Senator Limón will take top state Senate seat in 2026 SACRAMENTO - Senator Monique Limón, a Democrat from Santa Barbara County representing California’s 21st District was unanimously elected Monday, June 9, to the post of President Pro Tempore of the

Senator Monique Limón, a Democrat from Santa Barbara County representing California’s 21st District was unanimously elected Monday, June 9, to the post of President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/governm...

OPINION | A Rebuttal from Robert Salas of Ojai to Wall Street Journal’s June 6 article: ‘America’s UFO Mythology’ By Robert Salas, Special to the Ojai Valley News

www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/opinion...

Congressman Carbajal to speak at Ventura protest on Saturday, June 14 Representative Salud Carbajal, who represents the 24th Congressional District of California, including Ojai and sections of Ventura County, will be speaking at a protest on Saturday, June 14 at the

Representative Salud Carbajal, who represents the 24th Congressional District of California, including Ojai and sections of Ventura County, will be speaking at a protest on Saturday, June 14 at the Ventura County Government Center at 800 S. Victoria Ave. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

VC Sheriff sends deputies to LA for ‘surge’ in mutual aid response to protests & related violence As part of what Gov. Newsom is calling a "surge" in California's mutual aid system, 44 deputies from Ventura County Sheriff's Office are being deployed to Los Angeles to assist

'Peaceful protest is protected — but criminal activity will result in arrest, incarceration and prosecution.'— Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Gov. Newsom and AG Bonta file action challenging Trump’s order to federalize CA National Guard In a press release on June 9 Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced California has filed suit against President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in

Gov. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced California has filed suit against President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth in response to their orders seeking to federalize the California National Guard for 60 days. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/governm...

Local elected leaders call on ICE to end 'destructive practices;' instead focus on 'human dignity' Fourteen local leaders from across Ventura County, including County Supervisor Vianey Lopez, Ojai Unified School District Board President Atticus Reyes, released a joint statement on June 8 denouncing...

Fourteen local leaders from across Ventura County released a joint statement on June 8 denouncing the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity reported in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Ventura to host Main Street Moves input meetings June 11 and July 7 On Wednesday, June 11 and on Monday, July 7 the city of Ventura is hosting visioning events for business and property owners in the Downtown area to provide input on

On June 11 and July 7, Ventura is hosting "visioning" meetings for business and property owners in the Downtown area to provide input on the Main Street Moves plan to make the Downtown area of Ventura permanently close Main Street to vehicles. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Public hearing on proposed doubling of launches at Vandenberg on June 10 in Ventura The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed increase of launches to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space Force Base at an in-person meeting, set for

TOMORROW - Tuesday, June 10 - in VENTURA, public meeting on Vandenberg space launches. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Upper Ojai suspect booked for murder in V.C. on Thursday, June 5, after being returned from Mexico The suspect in the death of a 26-year-old Ojai woman was transported back from Mexico to California by U.S. Marshal's on Wednesday, June 4, and booked in Ventura County on

BREAKING - Suspect in Upper Ojai homicide booked in Ventura County after being extradited from Mexico. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/upper-o...

Sheriff identifies homicide victim as 26-year-old Ojai woman www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/crime_a...

Lower fire insurance costs by being 'Safer from Wildfires' According to the California Department of Insurance, under state law, “every action under Safer From Wildfires will qualify you for an insurance discount.”

RISING FIRE INSURANCE COSTS? | According to the California Department of Insurance, under state law, “every action under Safer From Wildfires will qualify you for an insurance discount.” www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

V.C. Fair poultry shows canceled due to bird flu restrictions The Ventura County Fair poultry shows have been canceled due to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s ban on poultry and dairy exhibitions at fairs and shows due to

“Though we are disappointed by the circumstances, the health and safety of exhibitors, animals, and fairgoers remains our top priority,” said Ventura County Fair Exhibits Supervisor Emilee Inez in a news release. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Serial rapist Andrew Luster denied early release by parole board The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole Board has denied the early release of serial rapist Andrew Luster, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

BREAKING | State parole board denies early release of convicted rapist set to be released in 2016. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko attended parole hearing, speaking against the early release. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/crime_a...

BREAKING | Supervisors OK controversial Elections Advisory Committee on 3-2 vote www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

YouTube video by County of Ventura Government Board of Supervisors Meeting - April 29, 2025

LIVE NOW - Ventura County supervisors are hearing from the public about a proposal from two supervisors to form an election advisory commission. The supervisors are now starting discussion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhbu...

Ventura County DA speaks out against serial rapist Andrew Luster’s early release Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko held a press conference April 28 to speak out against the potential early release of convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster, who committed his crimes

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko held a press conference April 28 to speak out against the potential early release of convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster, who committed his crimes in Ventura County from October 1996 through July 2000. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

POSTPONED: Ojai Missing persons event The "Missing in Ojai" event will no longer take place on Saturday, April 26, due to weather concerns, according to Ojai Police Chief Steve Jenkins.

The "Missing in Ojai" event will no longer take place on Saturday, April 26, due to weather concerns, according to Ojai Police Chief Steve Jenkins.
www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/postpon...

CA lawmakers urge state universities to protect First Amendment rights of staff and students In a letter dated April 10 to officials of the University of California and California State University systems, 23 state lawmakers, including Assemblymember Steve Bennett, the universities to “take u...

In a letter to officials of the University of California and California State University systems, 23 state lawmakers urge the universities to “take urgent and all necessary steps to protect students, faculty and staff from being targeted by the federal government for free speech activities.”

State Utilities Commission to hold public meeting on West Ventura gas compressor expansion project On Tuesday, April 15 the California Public Utilities Commission is holding a public scoping meeting to receive input on what should be included in the Environmental Impact Report for a

California Public Utilities Commission is holding a meeting on Tuesday, April 15 to receive public input on the scope of the Environmental Impact Report for a SoCalGas project seeking to expand a natural gas compression facility in West Ventura. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/governm...

A SURVIVOR'S VIEW | Explore the harrowing story of th 1981 13-day airplane hijacking. On Tuesday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m., members of the public can hear firsthand this historic story in the auditorium of Sane Living, 316 E. Matilija St., Ojai. www.ojaivalleynews.com/culture/a-su...

Thousands turn out in Ventura for nationwide 'Hands Off' protest Thousands turned out for the nationwide “Hands Off” protest held at the Ventura County Government Center on Saturday, April 5. Horns honked and crowds gathered on corners waving signs reading

Thousands turned out for the nationwide “Hands Off” protest held at the Ventura County Government Center on Saturday, April 5. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Ventura County Fire to hold Fire Severity Hazard map public meetings in May After the March 10 release of the new Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps by the State Fire Marshal, local agencies have 120 days to adopt the new maps. Ventura County

New areas of moderate, high and very high hazard severity across the county have been designated. Each city designated with new areas must also adopt the maps for their jurisdiction. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

Suspected county serial killer inches closer to trial with another court appearance Alleged serial killer Warren Luther Alexander, 74, appeared in court again on Tuesday, April 1, regarding a motion for a Criminal Protective Order that was issued by the Public Defender’s

LOCAL COURT NEWS | Warren Luther Alexander, 74, is accused of killing three women in Ventura County in 1977: Kimberly Carol Fritz; Lorraine Ann Rodriguez; and Velvet Ann Sanchez. He is also accused of killing Nona Cobb, 29, in North Carolina in 1992. www.ojaivalleynews.com/coldcasefile...

Ojai’s Natalie Gelman to sing with Kray Van Kirk at Ojai Underground Two American folk artists of two generations, Natalie Gelman and Kray Van Kirk, come together for a performance at Ojai Underground, 616 Pearl St., on Friday, April 4, at 7

LIVE SHOW THIS FRIDAY | www.ojaivalleynews.com/culture/ojai...

Seymours bring Grit & Grace to new store and life Grit & Grace, a new business to Ojai, opened Dec. 23 at 1117 Maricopa Highway, in the Ojai Valley Shopping Center.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT | Grit & Grace, a new business to Ojai, opened Dec. 23 at 1117 Maricopa Highway, in the Ojai Valley Shopping Center. Owner Nereyda Seymour says the name of the store is a reflection of her and her family. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/busines...

OXNARD | Fire Severity Hazard map Town Hall meeting this Thursday, April 3. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...

County’s first fentanyl murder case heading to trial Rodney Rey Yanez, 56 of Oxnard, is the first Ventura County resident to be charged with murder for a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred in September of 2023.

County’s first fentanyl murder case heading to trial.
On Sept. 20, 2023, Yanez allegedly sold fentanyl to 23-year-old gas station employee Dylan Rusch, who overdosed in the restroom at his work. www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/county/...