Good morning, Ventura.

Ventura County Credit Union donated $150,000 to the Community Development Corporation to expand homeownership programs for low- and moderate-income families — the matching grant now brings the total gift to $225,000.

This donation is part of the credit union's Year of Giving campaign supporting affordable lending and financial counseling.

Al and Phyllis Nordquist, who lost their home in the November 6, 2024 Mountain fire, broke ground on a new house on Garrido Drive.

They are rebuilding in the same neighborhood with local builder Mike Liacko and plan to finish by April when Al turns 91—standing by their strong faith and ties to the community.

Fire crews are containing a fast-moving brush fire that started before 1:30 p.m. near Lake Piru in Ventura and Los Angeles counties — the blaze threatens Halsley Canyon and Hathaway Ranch and has sparked evacuations.

The Camarillo Wings Association will honor wildfire community responders and present aerobatic flights, vintage WWII and classic aircraft, plus a display of classic cars at the 44th Wings Over Camarillo Air Show on August 16 and 17 at the Camarillo Airport — gates open at 9 a.m. with air demonstrations starting at noon. The event will also include a STEM Pavilion with hands-on exhibits to inspire youth in aviation.

Ventura County's increased immigration enforcement has left children scared and farmworkers unsettled as school officials block immigration officers on campus without a valid court order—local educators prepare for a new school year that emphasizes safe, inclusive environments.

The policies aim to protect every student's right to learn while addressing the ripple effects on families and local agriculture.

Dan Hirsch, a nuclear safety advocate who fought to secure a full cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, died at his Ben Lomond home at 78 after resigning as president of his public-interest group.

His colleagues said his work to hold agencies accountable for radioactive contamination will continue—honoring a four-decade legacy dedicated to public health and safety.

A new COVID variant, Stratus, has grown in the U.S. and become the third most common strain—by June it accounted for 14% of new cases while California saw positive rates nearly double in July as more people stayed indoors; health officials continue to track its impact and note it does not cause different symptoms from other strains.