KCSB News
1,555 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsNon-commercial, educational, and community-led. KCSB News is dedicated to covering underreported stories of local, national, and international importance. Our team of student and community journalists here in Santa Barbara County produces content encompassing a variety of topics, ranging from politics and public health to environmental affairs and the arts.
You can listen to our newscasts on-air Monday and Thursday at 5:00 pm and new episodes of Inside Isla Vista on Wednesday at 5:00 pm, all on KCSB-FM 91.9 or at kcsb.org.
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Episodes
Church in Ohio Shut Down for Housing Homeless Residents
February 02, 2024 01:30 - 2 minutes - 1.73 MBThe city of Bryan, Ohio is currently confronting the fact that many residents are unhoused, while a local pastor battles the City about helping homeless residents. KCSB's Devon Szalva explains.
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Anti-Camping Regulations Impacting Unhoused People
February 02, 2024 01:30 - 2 minutes - 2.16 MBThe Supreme Court has announced that they will hear Grants Pass V. Johnson - a case from Oregon. Their decision could upset important precedent protecting unhoused people, and has important implications for a recent San Francisco case that Governor Newsom has been very vocal about. KCSB's Annabelle Hurst has the story.
Groundwater Levels Are Declining Worldwide – But There’s Hope
February 02, 2024 01:30 - 8 minutes - 5.18 MBA study published in Nature on January 24th looked at groundwater levels worldwide. The long and short of it: it’s not all bad news. KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke with lead author and UCSB professor Scott Jasechko to find out more.
Mountain Lions In Santa Barbara Are Dwindling
January 31, 2024 02:49 - 4 minutes - 3.3 MBScientists have the first possible mountain lion estimate in years, and it’s thousands fewer than previously thought; the Los Padres Forest Association heads a project to investigate. KCSB's Devon Szalva has the story.
More Than 500,000 People In Gaza Face 'Catastrophic Hunger'
January 31, 2024 02:48 - 1 minute - 2.29 MBAs the War on Gaza continues, the spread of hunger increases in all parts of Gaza. KCSB’s Hayden Stengler describes the hunger crisis.
Cash For Keys? LA Residents Are Being Paid to Leave Their Homes
January 31, 2024 02:42 - 3 minutes - 2.62 MBIn Los Angeles, residents are being paid by landlords to leave their rent controlled apartments. This process, referred to as “Cash For Keys”, is affecting tenants in predominantly working class parts of the city. KCSB’s Mario Fuentes-Godinez has the story.
Santa Maria Meeting to Raise Awareness About Trafficking
January 31, 2024 02:41 - 2 minutes - 2.24 MBSanta Maria Rotary Club hosted a forum about the reality of trafficking on the Central Coast. KCSB’s El Messerschmitt delves deeper on the event.
The Family of Kristin Smart Files A Lawsuit Against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
January 31, 2024 02:39 - 2 minutes - 969 KBThe family of Kristin Smart has filed a lawsuit against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo regarding the handling of her murder case. They allege her murder and other assault cases could have been avoided if the university had acted quicker. KCSB's Ginger Thomas has the story.
A New Fund Helps Santa Barbara Take Measures For The Housing Crisis
January 31, 2024 02:37 - 2 minutes - 1.69 MBMultiple organizations that help low-to-moderate income households fight against the Santa Barbara housing crises qualify for the funds to provide more accessible housing. With KCSB News, Jonathan Coronado explains the story.
UC Regents Stifle Immigrant Employment Initiative Amidst Legal Risks
January 31, 2024 02:35 - 1 minute - 1.59 MBUC Regents defer plan to hire undocumented students at their universities. KCSB's Ashley Segat has the story.
Can Academia Withstand Political Pressure?
January 27, 2024 01:31 - 27 minutes - 17.4 MBIn December, the House of Representatives heard testimony from university presidents as part of an inquiry into antisemitism on college campuses. The fallout, including the resignation of the presidents of Harvard and UPenn, has divided the public, leaving some to wonder, can academia withstand political pressure? KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke with UCSB Professor Emeritus Chris Newfield to try to answer that question. (Audio from C-SPAN)
Oakland Port Shutdown by Protesters Opposing US Support to Israel
January 26, 2024 01:30 - 3 minutes - 2.79 MBAbigail Alberti with KCSB News brings coverage of a recent protest in Oakland, CA that shutdown port operations. Claims that the ship known as the Cape Orlando was returning to the port sparked the protest, as a continuation of the original protest in November which took place when the ship set sail towards Israel.
Murder Trial for Westlake Village Car Accident Slated to Begin Soon
January 26, 2024 01:30 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MBMore than three years after two young boys were fatally struck down in a crosswalk in a quiet Westlake Village neighborhood, jury selection has begun for the trial of their accused killer. KCSB’s Ginger Thomas has the story.
Society of Women Engineers Announces End to Northrop Grumman Partnership in Response to Protests
January 26, 2024 01:30 - 2 minutes - 1.63 MBProtesters interrupted an internship recruitment meeting last Friday in response to the partnership with Northrop Grumman. KCSB's Ashley Segat details the reasoning for the protest and how the Society of Women Engineers ended their partnership with the military manufacturing group.
Inside IV: Your Brain on Neuro Music
January 25, 2024 20:13 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBDiscover the connection between music and your health with this year's UCSB Reads 2024 selection, Your Brain on Art. In this episode of Inside IV, we focus on the neuro-arts and music. KCSB's Brandon Chi speaks with Gene Coleman, a composer exploring and furthering neuro-asthetic music. Listen and learn about neuro-aesthetics and their relationship to art, as well as how human perception and cognition plays into creativity, and about Coleman's own methods for exploring and creating art with...
How Antiwar Protests Against the War on Gaza Echo Those Against the Vietnam War
January 23, 2024 04:02 - 29 minutes - 22.7 MBSince the increasingly deadly War on Gaza began, many Americans have protested the war, with campuses acting as a center for antiwar sentiment. The New York Times notes that a “sustained antiwar protest like the one against the Gaza invasion has not been seen for decades,” -- arguably, since the Vietnam War. KCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with leftist activist and UCSB professor emeritus Dick Flacks, who was a founder of the antiwar and leftist group Students for a Democratic Society in the 60s, to...
South Africa Accuses Israel of Committing Genocide in Gaza to Top UN Court
January 19, 2024 19:43 - 2 minutes - 4.37 MBIsrael is accused by South African lawyers of committing genocide in Gaza. KCSB’s Ashley Segat details the different accusations made and Israel’s denial.
Donald Trump Wins First Republican Contest of the Year
January 19, 2024 19:42 - 2 minutes - 1.87 MBFinal results in the Republican party Iowa Caucus revealed that former president Donald Trump won by a record setting margin. Despite many of his legal challenges, Trump has maintained a strong approval rating within the Republican party. KCSB’s Mario Fuentes-Godinez has the story.
New Housing Laws for the New Year
January 16, 2024 04:43 - 10 minutes - 7.29 MBSome new state laws went into effect on January first that make it easier for developers to build more housing, even if it's not affordable for most California residents. KCSB's Robert Stark spoke with Ben Christopher, housing reporter with CalMatters, to learn more.
Monterey's Hospital Crisis
January 16, 2024 04:42 - 1 minute - 1.15 MBMonterey County hospitals are undergoing an “affordability crisis," where patients must travel hours to obtain free, covered medical care and avoid extreme prices. KCSB's Devon Szalva has more.
New Student Housing Plans Relieve Many Fears of the Former Munger Hall Housing Project
January 16, 2024 04:41 - 1 minute - 2.01 MBThe chaos from the Munger Hall proposal is finally over, as two new housing solutions for undergraduate students have been announced. KCSB's Ginger Thomas explains.
SpaceX Sues National Labor Relations Board
January 16, 2024 04:39 - 3 minutes - 5.77 MBThe National Labor Relations Board has accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX with illegally firing 8 employees for engaging in legally protected workplace actions. SpaceX has responded by attacking not the government’s claim, but the horse it rode in on. KCSB's Ray Briare explains how it came to this.
Everything You Need To Know About the Iowa Caucuses
January 16, 2024 04:38 - 2 minutes - 1.8 MBThe Iowa caucus will establish front-runners for the Republican party nomination. It is the first step in a long road toward the general election in November. KCSB’s Lily Ulrich has the story.
How Santa Barbara Will Honor MLK Day
January 12, 2024 01:30 - 8 minutes - 4.68 MBMartin Luther King Jr. Day is this Monday, January 15th. To find out more about upcoming events and celebrations in Santa Barbara in honor of the holiday, KCSB's Joyce Chi spoke with E. Onja Brown Lawson and Miriam Dance of MLKSB.
Santa Barbara's Point-In-Time Count Seeks Volunteers to Help Measure Homelessness
January 12, 2024 01:30 - 9 minutes - 6.09 MBThe annual Point-In-Time Count records the number of homeless people living in Santa Barbara County each year. Jett Black-Maertz with the County and Rich Sander of SB Act talked about the importance of the Point-In-Time Count and how you can get involved. The 2024 Point-In-Time Count will take place on Wednesday, January 24th from 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM. To learn more about the count, and if you are interested in volunteering, please visit countyofsb.pointintime.info. (song used: Appreciation b...
The American Love For Avocados Is Fueling Deforestation And Violence In Mexico
January 08, 2024 19:12 - 2 minutes - 2.58 MBEnvironmentalists in Mexico are condemning America’s demand for avocados. They claim this demand is causing high rates of deforestation and corruption. KCSB’s Lily Ulrich has the story.
Unpacking COP28's Implications with Professor Lorelai Moosbrugger
January 06, 2024 01:30 - 10 minutes - 5.88 MBOn Dec 12th, 2023, COP28 came to an end after discussions between international leaders on climate change initiatives and to assess countries’ carbon emissions, as well as to come to new agreements on which steps to take next. To learn more, KCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with professor and environmental politics expert Lorelei Moosbrugger.
Inside IV: Recap of 2023 Housing Challenges + What's Ahead
January 03, 2024 17:34 - 29 minutes - 16.2 MBUCSB's big plans to build the world's biggest dormitory died quietly in 2023. Earlier in the year, hundreds of longtime IV residents, many on lower fixed-incomes, were handed 'renoviction' eviction notices. Finding an affordable place to live in IV and the greater Santa Barbara South Coast area did not get any easier in 2023. KCSB's Dick Flacks speaks with housing advocate Stanley Tzankov with CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) to recap the year in housing, and di...
Inside IV: Isla Vista Youth Speak Up
January 03, 2024 17:13 - 30 minutes - 18.7 MBFind out what's on the minds of some of IV's younger residents. KCSB's Elle Viefhaus speaks with Megan Molina and her peers at IV Elementary.
The Growing US Labor Movement for Palestine (Abridged Ver.)
December 22, 2023 01:29 - 28 minutes - 18.9 MBKCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with Clarence Thomas and Michael Letwin, two representatives of Labor for Palestine (LFP), a union-led campaign which endorses the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) picket line against Israeli occupation and apartheid in Palestine, to learn more about anti-war organizing in wake of the increasingly deadly War on Gaza. This interview was conducted on November 13, 2023. The music used in this story is Insatiable Toad by Blue Dot Sessions.
The Growing US Labor Movement for Palestine (Full-Length Ver.)
December 22, 2023 01:26 - 38 minutes - 26.1 MBKCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with Clarence Thomas and Michael Letwin, two representatives of Labor for Palestine (LFP), a union-led campaign which endorses the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) picket line against Israeli occupation and apartheid in Palestine, to learn more about anti-war organizing in wake of the increasingly deadly War on Gaza. This interview was conducted on November 13, 2023. The music used in this story is Insatiable Toad by Blue Dot Sessions.
Santa Barbara Teachers Association Fights For Local Educators
December 19, 2023 01:28 - 23 minutes - 18.5 MBWith historic writers, actors, and auto workers strikes in 2023, labor is having its moment this year. That includes local educators as well. KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke with Hozby Galindo, president of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association, to learn more about the SBTA’s demands. Music used: Rate Sheet by Blue Dot Sessions, Bon Journee by Chad Crouch
An Interview With SB Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio
December 15, 2023 19:15 - 12 minutes - 13.7 MBSanta Barbara's current Poet Laureate, Melinda Palacio, joins KCSB for a conversation around poetry and its significance alongside Brandon Yi with KCSB News.
Monarchs Arrive in Goleta Butterfly Grove - A Conversation With A Monarch Expert
December 15, 2023 19:14 - 14 minutes - 8.6 MBEvery year, Monarch butterflies migrate to the Goleta’s Ellwood butterfly grove. Annabelle Hurst speaks with Charis Van der Heide, monarch expert and monarch count coordinator. Music used: Woods by Hawkin
YouTube Click-Baiter Who Crashed Plane for Views Headed to Federal Prison
December 15, 2023 19:14 - 1 minute - 852 KBTrevor Jacob, a Lompoc Youtube click-baiter who crashed plane for views, is headed to federal prison. KCSB's Devon Szalva explains.
What Will Henry Kissinger's Legacy Be? (Full-Length Ver.)
December 12, 2023 04:24 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBHenry Kissinger’s death in November renewed attention to his foreign policies as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. KCSB’s Joyce Chi talked to Dr. Salim Yaqub, a professor of history at UCSB, to try to answer the question: what will Henry Kissinger's legacy be? ----- TIMESTAMPS 00:01:45 - beginnings 00:18:36 - détente & Cold War strategy 00:25:30 - relationship with China 00:31:00 - Paris Peace Accords & the end of the Vietnam War 00:39:15 - domino theory 00:45:18 - Cambodia...
What Will Henry Kissinger's Legacy Be? (Abridged Ver.)
December 12, 2023 04:14 - 31 minutes - 19.9 MBHenry Kissinger’s death in November renewed attention to his foreign policies as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. KCSB’s Joyce Chi talked to Dr. Salim Yaqub, a professor of history at UCSB, to try to answer the question: what will Henry Kissinger's legacy be? ----- Music used: Rate Sheet and Tower of Mirrors by Blue Dot Sessions; Hot Pink by Chad Crouch Artwork based on Kissinger's official portrait as Secretary of State
Inside IV: Honoring "UCSB's Most Dangerous Professor" Dick Flacks
December 08, 2023 22:09 - 31 minutes - 20.6 MBDick Flacks has been blamed for sparking the civil unrest in Isla Vista in 1969, but the protests had started before he arrived at UC Santa Barbara to teach sociology. He did, however, have a reputation as a leftwing activist and was well known enough for then-CA governor Ronald Reagan to say UCSB hiring Dick at the time was like 'hiring a pyromaniac to work in a firecracker factory,' writes Nick Welsh in the Independent. In this episode, you'll learn more about the storied career of Profes...
Disrupting the Rhythm: Spotify’s New Plan for Payout
December 08, 2023 05:36 - 15 minutes - 21 MBSpotify is set to put a minimum streams count into effect next year that will impact many artists across the globe. KCSB’s Clarissa Rios has the story.
Recapping the First Ever “Red State vs. Blue State” Debate
December 08, 2023 05:35 - 3 minutes - 2.55 MBLast Thursday, on November 30th, California’s Gavin Newsom went up against Presidential Candidate Ron DeSantis on Fox News. They discussed Biden, taxes, COVID-19, and more. KCSB’s Annabelle Hurst has the story.
Tainted Applesauce Pouches Caused Lead Poisoning in Dozens of Children
December 08, 2023 05:34 - 3 minutes - 3.62 MBRecent testing on children 1-4 found over sixty with elevated lead levels, linking to pouches of cinnamon applesauce manufactured in Ecuador. Even after an FDA recall, some products are still found on shelves at several Dollar Tree stores in multiple states. KCSB’s Emily Kimmel has the story.
Millions of Children Lose Health Insurance as US Government Ends Relief Policies
December 05, 2023 18:00 - 1 minute - 946 KBMillions of low-income children lost their health insurance this past week in the United States, as the federal government ended a program that guaranteed coverage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As respiratory illnesses circulate during the fall and winter seasons, medical expenses could prove costly as families scramble to insure their children. KCSB’s Mario Fuentes-Godinez has the story.
The End of a Truce Leads to an Increase of Violence in Gaza
December 05, 2023 02:50 - 3 minutes - 2.89 MBThe Israel Defense forces increase their bombardment in Gaza. KCSB’s Ashley Segat details the torment citizens are experiencing with unclear instructions of where to evacuate for safety.
UCSB’s YDSA Renews Calls for Divestment From Defense Contractors
December 05, 2023 01:30 - 8 minutes - 4.29 MBOn Thursday, November 30th, the local YDSA chapter held a sit-in at Cheadle Hall to protest the university’s relationship with military defense contractors. KCSB’s Joyce Chi attended the sit-in and spoke to YDSA leaders to learn more.
Student Dining Hall Workers Move Closer to Official Unionization
December 05, 2023 01:30 - 9 minutes - 6.51 MBA couple of weeks ago at the UW rally held one year after the historic UC academic workers' strike, representatives from the Student Dining Labor Union, or SDLU, updated attendees on their progress towards full unionization status. To learn more, KCSB's Joyce Chi talked to Carlos, a communications major at UCSB and a member of the SDLU's organizing committee.
UCSB Student Groups Hold Die-in to Call for Ceasefire in Gaza and Protest University Inaction
December 01, 2023 20:18 - 2 minutes - 2.15 MBOn Wednesday, November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a die-in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza occurred on campus. Student groups condemned the failure of the university to divest from companies violating the rights of Palestinians and protect student organizers. KCSB's Zoha Malik has the story.
AS Senator Renee Faulk Alleges Unnamed Senator Used Political Leverage to Obstruct BDS Bill
December 01, 2023 20:11 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBDuring the AS Senate meeting on November 15th, during which a major walk-out occurred, the bill to condemn Hamas passed and the bill to condemn Islamophobia and antisemitism didn’t, Senator Renee Faulk spoke during the walk-out and alleged that an unnamed fellow Senator heavily discouraged her from bringing a BDS bill to the floor, going so far to say that if she did so without consulting them, they would block all of her future legislation. KCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with Senator Faulk about th...
AS Senator Renee Faulk Alleges Senator Used Political Leverage to Obstruct Possibility of BDS Bill
December 01, 2023 20:11 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBDuring the AS Senate meeting on November 15th, during which a major walk-out occurred, the bill to condemn Hamas passed and the bill to condemn Islamophobia and antisemitism didn’t, Senator Renee Faulk spoke during the walk-out and alleged that an unnamed fellow Senator heavily discouraged her from bringing a BDS bill to the floor, going so far to say that if she did so without consulting them, they would block all of her future legislation. KCSB's Zoha Malik spoke with Senator Faulk about th...
Humanitarian Pause in Gaza Extended as It Inches Closer to a “Full Scale Humanitarian Crisis”
December 01, 2023 05:07 - 1 minute - 1.17 MBThe Israel Defense Forces are still exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees. KCSB’s Ashley Segat explains the details of the deal and how international peacemakers call for a "true" humanitarian pause in Gaza.
More Than a Third of Women Under 50 are Iron Deficient
December 01, 2023 05:05 - 4 minutes - 3.02 MBIron deficiency rates are disproportionately high for women compared to that of men, yet there are no widespread recommendations of screening for iron deficiency for women. KCSB’s Abbey Guerrero has the story.