Good morning, Ventura.

SpaceX will launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, Aug.

17 at 8:44 a.m. PT and viewers in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties may hear sonic booms—if weather and technical conditions allow the mission to proceed.

Defendants Margarita Jimenez and Jorge Garfias began their trial on Aug.

13 in Ventura County Superior Court as they face charges of kidnapping and murdering 35-year-old Yanelly Vargas in Oxnard in March 2024.

Downtown Ventura’s five-year car-free Main Street has become a pedestrian zone with outdoor dining, arcade games, and live music that has sparked debate among local business owners.

The City Council will vote in September to decide if the street should stay closed to cars & change the downtown experience.

On Aug. 12, Ventura County medical experts warned supervisors that the unregulated herbal supplement kratom is linked to overdoses and deaths—sparking discussions about a new local law to set age limits, require clear labels, or ban the product.

19-year-old Westlake Village native Arjun Malaviya has traveled to over 118 countries—visiting peaceful spots and conflict zones including Kabul and Ukraine—and was briefly detained in Venezuela while continuing his solo journey.

He is finishing his European tour in September and will visit the rest of the world as he studies computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara.