Good morning, Ventura.

An Oak View man died on May 21 after his car struck a tree in east Ventura near the intersection of Foothill and Kimball roads—Ventura Police said he lost control while driving east on Foothill Road and veered into oncoming lanes before crashing, and they are investigating the cause.

Spencer Cabral (38) from Camarillo died May 9 during a rescheduled half-marathon on the Santa Monica Mountain trails near Newbury Park, and his family said high heat may have played a role while emergency crews treated three other runners.

Kevin Ray James, a 57-year-old San Bernardino man, pleaded guilty on May 16 to second-degree murder in the 1997 bank robbery in Thousand Oaks that fatally shot Monica Leech—he will face a sentence of 19 years to life and be eligible for parole after serving 19 years with his sentencing hearing set for June 13.

Some Ventura County high schools held graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2025 earlier in May, while others will celebrate through June 13 at locations such as Ventura High, Newbury Park High, and Camarillo High (and more across local districts).

Each school or district provided set times and venues so families and graduates can check with their respective institutions for full details.

On May 2, 50 students and parents held a protest outside Westlake High School demanding teacher Lauren Zasadil's return after she was placed on paid administrative leave on April 15 amid an investigation—students say her removal could be retaliation for her advocacy for sexual assault survivors. The protest reflects growing concerns about campus safety and the handling of misconduct reports.

Longtime Conejo Valley resident Dan Weikel, a small business owner and member of the Thousand Oaks Traffic Commission, announced his candidacy for the 42nd District Assembly seat next year to promote common-sense, people-first leadership.

He said he will work to fix the state’s affordability crisis, cut crime and homelessness, and improve local infrastructure.

The Ventura County Fire Department will use a $1-million grant awarded on May 12 by the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy to build Firewise USA Communities, educate residents, remove flammable material from over 150 acres, and purchase a water tender truck — officials say the funding is key to protecting local neighborhoods in Conejo Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains.