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UC Santa Barbara is looking to extend and establish more Artificial Intelligence Guidelines for academia across campus. There are still several questions about the appropriate use of AI, and debate about how to apply the technology throughout the wide range of disciplines the university offers. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke to UCSB Psychology and Brain Science Professor Miguel Eckstein to learn more.

Santa Barbara's East Beach is found to have consistently high levels of bacteria such as E. Coli and other pollutants. The Sierra Club found significant pollution in the beach's water during rainy winters, prompting the organization to enact the Clean Water Act. To stop the pollution, they've negotiated a settlement agreement with three responsible companies. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke to Sycamore Law Partner Jesse Swanhuyser about the issue.

Since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump last July, it's had an impact on healthcare within Santa Barbara County. The bill has resulted in residents at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage through CenCal Health. Changes to federal eligibility rules and loss of funding have created unique challenges for undocumented patients. I spoke to the director of Santa Barbara County Health, Mohanad Hamami, about the Trump administration's efforts to politicize health care. KCSB's Mavis Holley has the story.

California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is hiring personnel to serve as “fire watch” for prison facilities with malfunctioning or inoperable fire alarm systems. The price to replace the alarms is now in the millions. KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez has more on the story.

UC Santa Barbara lecturer Deborah Williams joined the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame, an award dedicated to honoring women whose significant achievements and contributions have shaped and influenced the direction of Alaska. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke to Williams about her career as an attorney, teacher, and public servant.

On May 15th, 2024, hundreds of law enforcement officers were called to UC Irvine to disperse a peaceful protest on the 76th anniversary of the Nakba. The protest was ruled unlawful, and law enforcement began pushing back the crowd. Tenured Global Studies professor, Dr. Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, was arrested and injured by law enforcement officers while attempting to protect student protestors and de-escalate the situation. Now over two years later, UC Irvine Chancellor Gillman has found her in violation of faculty code of conduct and suspended her without pay and health insurance for an academic quarter. Here is KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez with the story.

Last year on July 10th, one of the largest immigration raids on the Central Coast was carried out by federal agents at the Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria. Around 360 people were arrested and one man, Jaime Alanis Garcia, died after sustaining injuries from a 30 foot fall. On the one-year anniversary of the raids, community members and volunteers from various immigration advocacy groups came together outside the Glass House Farms facility in Camarillo to remember and honor the people whose lives have changed forever as a result of the raids. Here's KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez with the story.

The UC Santa Barbara Office of the Student Advocate is a resource that helps students navigate disputes with the university through confidential peer support, assistance, and advice. The office works to improve University policies on behalf of the student body. To discuss the work that they do, KCSB's Mavis Holley speaks to Student Advocate General, Suyan Wang.

Sable Offshore Oil Corp. reportedly sent a letter to the Trump administration asking to exercise eminent domain over public and private land in Santa Barbara county. Politico published the letter last week, it was dated June second. Sable's pipelines are connected to the land they're looking to acquire. The company has been actively operating after it resumed oil production in March and is looking to bypass prohibitive local and state law. Initially, the Trump administration approved the restart through an emergency order bypassing permission from California. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke to UC Santa Barbara professor Paasha Mahdavi about what asserting eminent domain over private and public land means for both the pipeline project and California state rights.

To learn more about Sacramento-based immigration advocacy, and the conditions of immigrant detention centers across the country, KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez spoke with NorCal Resist Program Director, Giselle Garcia, to learn more about the Sacramento-based group's efforts to aid communities affected by ICE.

When tenants secure housing in Isla Vista, most landlords will ask for a security deposit. AS-UCSB Legal Advisor Robin Unander shares information that renters need to know about security deposits - and how to ensure that all or most of the funds will be returned upon move out. Robin is interviewed by KCSB News Reporter Malia Guy.

On Tuesday June 23rd, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the Sheriff's Department regarding the number of ICE transfers through SB54 and judicial warrants. Community members pushed back, urging the Sheriff's department to end voluntary compliance with federal immigration enforcement. KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez has more on the story.

UCSB has announced a new Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management starting during the 2026-2027 academic year. KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez has more on the new dean, Dr. Elena Irwin.

A ban on loud music over the traditional Deltopia 2026 weekend prompted IV's local government to create a new street festival with live music, free food, public art displays and more to bring the community together. This is part 2 of the conversation between KCSB's Dick Flacks speaks with Jonathan Abboud and Myah Mashhadialireza with the Isla Vista Community Services District, IV's local government.

The story behind Isla Vista's new spring festival, Soltopia. Reps from IV's local government organized the inaugural 2026 event as a safer, more community-inclusive event to Deltopia, the unsanctioned Spring street festival that typically draws crowds of revelers from out of town. KCSB's Dick Flacks speaks with Jonathan Abboud and Myah Mashhadialireza with the Isla Vista Community Services District, IV's local government. In the first of this two part series, they dive into the history of Deltopia.

KCSB's Malia Guy speaks with Robin Unander, attorney in the Associated Students of UCSB Legal Resource Center, about what tenants need to know when moving out of their rentals. Topics include, what is a move out inspection, and how to maximize your chances of having your security deposit returned.

Continuing our coverage on hunger and labor strikes in immigrant detention centers, KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez brings you the latest from California's Adelanto ICE Processing Center's hunger strikes, alongside others in GeoGroup-owned facilities across the nation.

SB Resiste is monitoring the streets of Santa Barbara and Goleta to keep the community aware of ICE presence around the county. KCSB's Emerson Good spoke to two representatives from the organization about their efforts.

New Jersey immigrant detention center Delaney Hall has an estimated 300 immigrants partaking in labor and hunger strikes, with demonstrators outside the facility clashing with law enforcement as they continue their multi-day long protest against the mistreatment of detainees. KCSB's Omar Opeyany has the story. Photo credit: Anne-Marie Caruso//New Jersey Monitor (https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/06/05/newark-migrant-jail-delaney-hall-photos/)

After years of Trump stating that the US elections are unsafe and riddled with widespread fraud, he is pushing the SAVE America Act which will "boost election security." In response, critics have declared that the administration is trying to influence the elections while simultaneously reducing voter rights. KCSB's Inesha Ranasinghe-Denish has the story.

California's June Second primary election is approaching, and Santa Barbara County's Board of Supervisors are on the ballot. KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez interviewed incumbent candidate Laura Capps, to learn more about the work she's done in her first term as Supervisors and her stances on important issues constituents care about.

The DACA program, which was established to protect undocumented people who arrived in the US before 2007, is now in jeopardy. An administrative court within the Department of Justice, called the BIA, recently decided that DACA status is no longer sufficient to protect one's immigration status. Now, 500,000 people protected by DACA are at risk of deportation. KCSB's Abbey Guerrero has the story.

Lawsuits against tech companies unethical actions have now reached a local scale, with Santa Clara County Counsel Member Tony LoPresti filing a lawsuit against Meta. KCSB's Giada Rice has the story.

Artificial intelligence now poses a threat to celebrities' livelihoods. A pop super star is fighting back. KCSB Soluna Terrill explains.

Indigenous leaders gathered in New York City this month to discuss stronger climate action and protections for Indigenous lands. Alongside these discussions, many also raised concerns about the future of the Forum itself. KCSB's Ruby Rai has the story.

Since Friday, a wildfire has been spreading on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Santa Barbara. The fire has covered about 17.500 acres and now threatens to destroy many historic structures and a grove of rare Torrey Pine trees. KCSB's Abbey Guerrero has the story.

In conversation with KCSB's Ruby Rai, Salud Carbajal discussed his current campaign for Congress and addresses key issues facing voters, including affordability, ICE activity, offshore drilling, and U.S. involvement in international conflicts.

Ballots were mailed May 4th for the June 2nd primary. The Peace and Freedom Party candidate for California's 24th Congressional District, Helena Pasquarella, spoke with KCSB News about her campaign to unseat Salud Carbajal. Here is KCSB reporter Ray Briare.

Ballots were mailed May 4th for the June 2nd primary. The Republican candidate for California's 24th Congressional District, Bob Smith, spoke with KCSB News about his campaign to unseat Salud Carbajal. Here is KCSB reporter Ray Briare.

KCSB's Nico Brown-Corrada sat down for an interview with Sarah Bacon. Bacon is a candidate running for California's Congressional 24th district, and is currently the Vice President of External Affairs of UCSB's Graduate Student Association.

A federal appeals court ruling in threatening access to medication abortion across the country and the fight has now reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Here with KCSB's Lina Lim.

As the U.S. and Iran discuss reopening and stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, KCSB's Saniaa Ambardekar looks at why this narrow waterway has been at the center of global conflict for centuries.

The Association for Women in Communications Santa Barbara recognized four local women whose work has strengthened and supported immigrant communities across the Central Coast. The 2026 Women of Achievement honorees include leaders in education, legal defense, civic engagement, and community advocacy. KCSB's Juliana Chandler has the story.

Spirit, the budget airline, released the bombshell announcement that the company would be “winding down” all operations. This shocking announcement was a surprise to loyal customers, but not to the airline industry. KCSB's Giada Rice has the story.

KCSB's Devon Szalva brings us the latest news from around the world.

KCSB's Annabelle Hurst brings us the latest social justice and activism news.

The Associated Students Black Women's Health Collaborative (BWHC) alleged anti-Black actions by the AS Finance Committee and AS Senate following a 67% decreased budget recommendation for their organization. Members noted the cuts were disproportionate to all other BCU budget recommendations, and were the result of anti-Black sentiment. BWHC board members and community members took to the April 22nd Senate meeting to speak on the recommended decreased budget, advocate for BWHC, and shed light on the events the organization hosts for UCSB's student body. KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez brings us the full story.

The Sudanese people have faced genocide since the civil war broke out in their country, forced to flee to neighboring countries in North Africa. KCSB's Inesha Ranasinghe Denish covers the opposing forces that caused the war and the effects that it's had on its people.

UCSB is executing cuts to foreign language departments. KCSB's Emerson Good talked to UCSB's David Moak, a French and Italian professor who is being laid off in the face of the budget cuts.

A deadly shooting took place in Shreveport, Louisiana, resulting in eight children being killed and severely wounded, Hayden Stengler with KCSB News has the story.

KCSB's Devon Szalva brings us the latest news from around the world.

Florida's attorney general James Uthmeier has opened a criminal investigation into ChatGPT and its parent company, OpenAI after a gunman confided in the AI before a Florida State University shooting last year. KCSB's Inesha Ranasinghe-Denish has the story.

AFSCME 3299 is planning an open-ended strike beginning May 14th. They hosted a rally at UCSB on May Day to bring awareness to the unjust treatment of workers, undocumented students, and unfair labor practices that are taking place in Santa Barbara and its surrounding area. KCSB's Jose Vidaurri attended this rally and brings you this coverage.

KCSB's Devon Szalva brings us the latest news from around the world.

KCSB's Annabelle Hurst brings us the latest news regarding social justice and activism.

An eight-year legal battle between a Dutch environmental activist group and Shell enters a new phase as the group seeks to block future drilling. The proposed case could redefine how far courts will go in policing corporate emissions. KCSB's Shayna Bearby has the story.

This weekend, the Literary Festival is happening in Santa Barbara. Leslie Zemekis, the founder of the festival, tells us all about the exciting events and panels coming. KCSB's Abbey Guerrero has the story.

At this year's Environmental Stewardship Awards Luncheon, hosted by Explore Ecology, it wasn't just individual achievement being celebrated, but the collective impact of student-led environmental work. Among the honorees was the aquarium club at Cabrillo High School, a program that gives students the rare opportunity to learn inside one of the largest public aquariums on the Central Coast. KCSB's Juliana Chandler spoke with club member Ilene, who reflected on how the aquarium functions as both a shared responsibility and an immersive learning space for students passionate about marine life and conservation.

Following Australia's ban on social media use for teens under 16, governments globally are attempting to follow suit. However, many critics argue that the bans are only a quick and ultimately ineffective solution. KCSB's Shayna Bearby has the story.

40,000 University of California workers are planning an open-ended strike across the state. This would disrupt dining services, hospital procedures, and even janitorial cleaning across the UC campuses. KCSB's Jose Vidaurri has the story.

Alligator Alcatraz, the ICE detention center in the Everglades, will continue to operate despite a lawsuit filed to shut it down. An appeals court decided that the facility does not violate environmental law. However, environmental groups plan to continue to fight the initiative. KCSB's Abbey Guerrero has the story.