Lance Orozco

News Director

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, developing the station's local news coverage as it transitioned to a news/talk format. He has provided award-winning local coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, from brush fires and mudslides to Ronald Reagan's funeral. 

Lance has won more than 200 journalism awards for KCLU, including more than 90 Golden Mikes, 20-plus regional Edward R. Murrow awards, a national Edward R. Murrow Award (an honor which came to David Letterman’s attention on “The Late Show.”), and a national Society Of Professional Journalists Award  He has been AP's small market reporter of the year in the western U.S. nine times. 

Lance is a familiar face in the region, having worked nearly two decades as a television reporter and weathercaster in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. His adventures included an unexpected guest appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman."

You can reach Lance here.

South Coast Museum Gets Major New Contributions For $50 Million Dollar Renovation Project

By • 20 hours ago
(SBMA)

A South Coast museum has received $1.8 million dollars in new contributions towards its $50 million dollar renovation project.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is in the middle of a project to do seismic retrofitting, as well as renovating and expanding its State Street complex. The project includes the addition of two new galleries.

Scorching Temperatures, Elevated Brush Fire Danger In Forecast For Central, South Coasts

By • 21 hours ago

Near record heat is hitting the Central and South Coasts, with sizzling high temperatures and an increased danger of brush fires.

High pressure is creating a strong offshore flow. It means we are getting very little marine layer so there is no relief even on the coast. There is a Red Flag Warning for high fire danger in place for much of the South Coast, with gusty wind in the forecast.

New Coast Guard Cutter To Be Named After Officer Killed By Smugglers In Channel Islands

By • Aug 6, 2018

A new Coast Guard cutter which will be stationed in Southern California will be named after an officer who was killed trying to intercept some drug smugglers in the Channel Islands.

The 154 foot long cutter will be named Terrell Horne III.

Diver Found Unconscious In Channel Islands; Coast Guard Airlifts Her For Treatment

By • Aug 5, 2018

A woman injured in a diving accident in the Channel Islands is reported to be in stable condition.

The crew of a dive boat off of Santa Barbara Island called the Coast Guard Sunday morning after discovering a woman surfacing from a dive was unconscious.

Father, Son Victims Of Brutal Attacks in Ventura County

By • Aug 5, 2018

Detectives are trying to unravel what led to brutal attacks on a father and son in Ventura County. I

t happened at about one a.m. Saturday on Fashion Park Place in Oxnard. Police called to the scene found a 52 year old Oxnard man who had been assaulted with a bat. They learned that the man’s 24 year old son had already been taken to a hospital with multiple stab wounds.

Contraband Found At Santa Barbara County Jail Called Largest Seizure In Jail's History

By • Aug 3, 2018
(Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office photo)

Deputies say they’ve made a drug bust which wasn’t large scale compared to some others in Santa Barbara County. But, what makes it very unusual is where they made it. It was in the Santa Barbara County Jail.

Ventura County Community One Of First In State To Permanently Shelve Gas Powered Leaf Blowers

By • Aug 3, 2018

Gas powered leaf blowers are important time and labor saving tools for landscaping and maintenance crews. But, they are also major sources of air and noise pollution. Now, one Ventura County community is taking a cutting edge approach to the pollution problem.

2018 Ventura County Fair in Full Swing

By • Aug 3, 2018
(Photo courtesy Visit Ventura)

It’s the first weekend of the Ventura County fair, and the entertainment lineup includes some big names. The “Plain White T’s” are the headliners in the main grandstand Friday night, and country star LeeAnn Rimes takes the main stage Saturday night.

75 Year Old Conejo Valley Man Shot To Death; Wife Arrested On Murder Charge

By • Aug 3, 2018

A 75 year old Conejo Valley man is dead, and his 75 year old wife is accused of killing him.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives say officers were called to a home on the 500 block of Westlake Boulevard late Wednesday night. They found the body of Arnold Farran, who had been shot. 

City Of Santa Barbara Steps In To Stop Crackdown On Fiesta Tradition

By • Aug 2, 2018

A longtime Santa Barbara Fiesta tradition was almost derailed over a tax issue.

The issue is over a longtime Fiesta tradition, called cascarones.  Cascarones are hollowed out eggs filled with confetti.  You crack them over the head of a family member or friend as part of the celebration.

Santa Barbara's Fiesta Means Fun, and Lots Of Food

By • Aug 2, 2018

It’s been a tough few months for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties in the wake of the Thomas Fire, the Montecito debris flow, and most recently the Holiday brush fire north of Goleta. But, people in the region are getting a welcome distraction from the difficult times this week. The Ventura County Fair and Santa Barbara Barbara’s Old Spanish Days both kicked off Wednesday.  

Ventura County Man Arrested On Hate Crime Charge

By • Aug 2, 2018

A Ventura County man is facing hate crime, and other charges after a bizarre series of incidents Wednesday.

Oxnard Police say they received a call just before five Wednesday night about a man bothering some teenagers on the 100 block of West Esplanade Drive. When officers arrived, they say Rafael Lopez of Port Hueneme tried to get into a car parked in a nearby parking lot with adults and children inside.

Woman Arrested On Arson Charge In Wake Of Eastern Ventura County Brush Fire

By • Aug 1, 2018
(Ventura County Fire Department photo)

A woman has been arrested on an arson charge in the wake of a brush fire in eastern Ventura County. The fire was discovered just after 9 a.m. Wednesday off of Tapo Canyon Road north of Simi Valley. The blaze moved quickly through brush in rugged terrain. Firefighters stopped the growth of the fire in less than two hours, and were focused on mopup work by midday.

Firefighters Quickly Get Upper Hand On Brush Fire In Eastern Ventura County

By • Aug 1, 2018
(Ventura County Fire Department photo)

Firefighters are trying to determine the cause of a fast moving brush fire in eastern Ventura County.

The fire was discovered just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, off of Tapo Canyon Road north of Simi Valley. The blazed moved quickly through brush in rugged terrain. Firefighters stopped the growth of the fire in less than two hours, and were focused on mopup work by midday.

Ventura County Ag Industry Revenues Show Slight Dip In 2017; Strawberries Remain Top Crop

By • Aug 1, 2018

Ventura County’s agricultural industry remained strong in 2017, but showed a slight dip in overall value. The industry generated nearly $2.1 billion dollars in revenue last year. That’s down four tenths of a percent from 2016.

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