SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Soccer fans and players of all ages filled Harder Stadium at UCSB on Tuesday night, but not to see the Gauchos play, they came to see the USWNT also known as U.S. Women's National Soccer Team play Chile.

There are 17,000 seats in the stadium named after a football coach when UCSB had football was upgrades about a decade ago.

It is considered one of the best soccer venues and referred to as Soccer Heaven by some athletes.

Some local AYSO players and members of Central Coast Surf club soccer teams got to enter the stadium early and take photos on the field.

Cydney Justman of Girls Inc Santa Barbara brought dozens of girls to the game.

Many of the girls and young women said they couldn't to see a certain Olympic Gold Medalist with a famous last name.

"Trinity Rodman. Why? Because she's a really good soccer player and i just want to see her really bad"

Leh Gomen Rylee McGill Viviana Reyes and Hazel Mcgill from Central Coast Soccer Club came hours before the games started at 7 p.m.

Brooke, Carter and Ellie Rozhko dressed in team US colors.

Mila Mctiernan, Sierra Hope, Page Hall and Merrick Hope came from San Luis Obispo to watch and went in with the crowd that looked like a sea of fans.

Dennice Marin of Oxnard doesn't play but appreciated seeing women in the spotlight.

"Also excitingly she just signed the largest women's project ever she signed with washington spirit and we are going to watch her play tonight," said Sydney Baritone, who used to play club while at UCSB.

The girls also play for Central Coat Surf. They love to play and this is their first time seeing the pros in person rather than on TV.

Your News Channel will have more fan reaction tonight on the news

The post Young Soccer players flock to see U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Lex Harvey, CNN

(CNN) — US forces will conduct a multi-day air exercise in the Middle East as Washington bolsters its military presence in the region amid tensions with Iran.

US Central Command said the exercise is “designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution,” in a statement Tuesday.

The announcement comes after President Donald Trump warned an “armada” is heading toward Iran and threatened possible military action against the regime, which has launched a brutal crackdown on against a wave of anti-government protests.

The first of those ships – the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group – have already arrived, according to a Monday post by Central Command, which oversees US forces in the Middle East and West and Central Asia.

However, Trump is still considering his options and there is no indication any decision has been made on Iran, sources have told CNN.

“We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” Trump said Friday.

The CENTCOM announcement did not specify the exact location or duration of the drills, or what assets would be taking part.

Tensions between the US and Iran have been inflamed in recent weeks over the regime’s bloody crushing of dissent. More than 5,500 protesters have been killed since demonstrations began late last month, according to a Sunday report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which said an additional 17,091 deaths are still under review.

Trump has warned against killing protesters and had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Tehran does not change course. Last week, however, Trump said that Iran “wants to talk,” suggesting a possible diplomatic solution.

On Monday, the administration reiterated it is open to having discussions with the Iranian regime if “they know what the terms are,” a US official said.

Meanwhile, Iran has been escalating its rhetoric against the US, warning that any attack would be met with force capable of destabilizing the entire Middle East. Tehran is “more than capable” of responding to any aggression from the US with a “regretful” response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told journalists Monday.

“The arrival of one or several warships does not impact Iran’s defensive determination,” he said. “Our armed forces are monitoring every development and are not wasting a single second to enhance their capabilities.”

In Tehran a four-story poster in the capital’s Enghelab – or Revolution – Square threatens the destruction of an American aircraft carrier, according to CNN journalists on the ground.

“If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind,” it warns in English and Farsi over an image of the deck of the aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked in blood that trails into the water behind in a shape similar to the stripes of the American flag.

A few blocks away, another government poster shows the 2016 capture of a US Navy boat, its crew of US Marines kneeling in surrender, their hands clasped behind their heads.

According to CENTCOM, the readiness exercises will be conducted with approval from host countries and in “close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, emphasizing safety, precision and respect for sovereignty.”

Other countries in the region, including US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have recently warned they would not let their airspace be used for any military action against Iran.

The UAE, which hosts Americ

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) - An inspirational group of men and women took part on Tuesday in the 2026 California Blind, Disabled and Adaptive Winter Golf Classic.

Held at the picturesque Sandpiper Golf Course, the tournament drew a few dozen players from around the state for the 18-hole scramble format event.

"This is a gathering of adaptive players paired with PGA professionals and local amateurs to support, champion and celebrate our adaptive golf community," said longtime tournament director Robert Kotowski. "We're gathering golfers from the adaptive golf community, blind, amputees, veterans, disabled vets."

Now in its 28th year, the tournament allows adaptive golfers to showcase their remarkable talents in a competitive environment.

"It's an awesome tournament," said golfer Bill Davis. "It is very rewarding. I enjoy it because the fact that it's a sport the where a blind person who can actually take part of.  I'm just like any other golfer. I'm what they refer to as long hitter, hitting it 250 to 300 yards."

Through the use of an assistant, visually impaired golfers are able to not only play golf, many of them are able to achieve remarkable success.

"I enjoy it," said golfer Carlos Franco, who traveled from Monterey. "Everybody around my town, including my son and lots everybody have has tried to beat me. They beat me one time and they're all happy, but now they don't want to play with me anymore!"

For Kotowski, who has long been the driving force behind this tournament, this year's event was especially meaningful.

"It was a year ago today here at Sandpiper," explained Kotowski, who suffered a heart attack while playing at the seaside course. "Ten days later, I was blessed with an amazing gift of a heart transplant, so this is a significant day and a couple of areas. One of my motivating factors was I wanted to get back, get healthy, work hard. Amazing people I want to thank. How do you thank everybody who has been there for me, the community, friends, all the medical workers. I bet 1,500 different medical workers were involved in my being here right now, so thank you all. It's a chance to say thank you and celebrate these great adaptive athletes."

Players added that no matter the outcome, just being on the course, especially under such ideal weahter conditions on Tuesday, is truly what the nature of adaptive golf is all about.

"It's not the thing about being able to beat people," said Franco. "It's getting out there and having fun and getting to know others. It's really great having just getting out. You get to meet so many people and they're all very helpful. It really feels great."

The post Visually impaired players showcase abilities at annual blind golf tournament in Goleta appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Ana María Cañizares, Fernando Ramos y Mauricio Torres, CNN en Español

Las relaciones entre Ecuador y Colombia, en las que se había abierto una puerta al diálogo a finales de la semana pasada, volvieron a tensarse este martes. Esta vez, el diferendo se debió a la decisión de Quito de aumentar en 900% la tarifa por transportar petróleo colombiano, una medida que Bogotá consideró “una nueva agresión” por parte de su vecino.

El incremento de US$ 3 a US$ 30 por el uso del Sistema de Oleoducto Transecuatoriano (SOTE) fue dado a conocer el lunes por la ministra de Ambiente y Energía de Ecuador, Inés Manzano.

Durante una entrevista con la emisora local Radio Sucesos, Manzano dijo que el aumento de la tarifa es una medida “en reciprocidad” a la decisión de Colombia de suspender la venta de energía a Ecuador. A su vez, Colombia había anunciado dicha suspensión en represalia por los aranceles del 30% a sus productos que Ecuador busca imponer a partir del 1 de febrero.

En la conversación, Manzano defendió el argumento del presidente de Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, quien la semana pasada señaló que la imposición de aranceles a Colombia se debe a que, a su juicio, este país no ha hecho lo suficiente para combatir la inseguridad en la zona fronteriza común.

“El tema con Colombia es por la seguridad”, dijo la ministra. “El Ecuador no puede ser el único que esté salvaguardando la frontera”, insistió.

Por la mañana de este martes, el ministro de Energía de Colombia, Edwin Palma, rechazó el incremento anunciado por Ecuador, que consideró perjudicial para la relación bilateral.

“La decisión del Gobierno ecuatoriano es una nueva agresión contra nuestro pueblo, contra el pueblo colombiano, es una medida desproporcionada, utilitaria y que viola acuerdos entre los dos países. Aumentar en un 900% la tarifa de transporte de crudo que sale de nuestro país hacia el Pacífico colombiano, insisto, es una agresión contra el país”, dijo Palma en un video publicado en la cuenta de X del Ministerio.

Este nuevo diferendo se suma a las tensiones que comenzaron el 21 de enero cuando Noboa anunció los aranceles para los productos colombianos, que llamó “tasa de seguridad”.

Después vino la respuesta del Gobierno de Gustavo Petro, que defendió sus acciones contra el crimen y adelantó una suspensión de la venta de energía a Ecuador, que en años recientes se ha visto afectado por desabasto y apagones producto de sequías o falta de mantenimiento en el sistema eléctrico nacional.

En medio de este conflicto político y comercial, ambos gobiernos dieron a conocer a finales de la semana pasada que estaban en negociaciones para una posible reunión en la que se sentaran a hablar para intentar resolver sus diferencias.

La canciller de Colombia, Yolanda Villavicencio, dijo en una rueda de prensa este mismo martes que Bogotá primero propuso el 25 de enero como fecha para un encuentro y después el 27 o el 28, pero hasta ahora la Cancillería de Ecuador no ha respondido.

“Por ahora, y como se ha evidenciado, Colombia continuará llamando al diálogo y al buen entendimiento, como ha sido la costumbre de este Gobierno. Esperamos lograr un diálogo franco, sincero y constructivo con nuestros homólogos del Ecuador esta misma semana, con el fin de evitar la implementación de aranceles con carácter unilateral”, señaló.

Analistas consultados por CNN la semana pasada consideraron probable qu

CNN

By Eric Bradner, Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar ignored staffers’ pleas to end a town hall early and get a medical check Tuesday after a man rushed the podium and sprayed a substance at the Democratic congresswoman.

Omar said after the town hall ended that she has “survived war” and that she is “definitely going to survive intimidation and whatever these people think that they can throw at me because I’m built that way.”

The man who sprayed the substance has been charged with third-degree assault and was booked into Hennepin County Jail, a police incident report said, according to CNN-affiliate KARE. It was not immediately clear what the substance was.

Omar was “uninjured and resumed speaking at the event,” the incident report says. City forensic scientists responded to process the scene, according to the report.

The US Capitol Police said in a statement the incident is “an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice” and said it’s working “to see this man faces the most serious charges possible.”

The dramatic moment punctuated a high-profile public appearance for a progressive lawmaker who has been the subject of Republican attacks and scrutiny, as President Donald Trump’s administration focuses its attention on Minneapolis, the city she represents.

Omar condemned federal immigration agents’ “terrorizing” tactics and “reckless and lawless” actions, as she told attendees that the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities is antithetical to “the America we love.”

She also called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s abolition and said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign or be impeached. And she praised how Minneapolis has responded to immigration agents’ presence and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“Minnesotans are showing up for one another in ways that people didn’t expect. We are showing the country and the world what real solitary looks like. And we should be goddamn proud of ourselves,” she said.

Long a target of Republicans, Omar is now the subject of investigations by Trump’s Justice Department and the House Oversight Committee, after both Trump and the committee’s chairman, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, said this week they were probing her finances.

Omar, 43, is a Somali-born refugee whose family immigrated to the United States when she was 12. She was first elected to the state legislature in 2016 and became one of the first Muslim-American women elected to Congress in 2018, when she won a House seat representing much of the overwhelmingly Democratic city of Minneapolis.

She has been a frequent target of political attacks and at times Read more