KCSB News

The world was shocked when thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon last Tuesday, September 24th, in an act of sabotage targeting Hezbollah members carried out by Israel. Thousands of civilians were maimed or killed, sparking widespread condemnation. Yet the situation has only worsened with continued bombings across the country, leading human rights experts to warn that war crimes may be being committed with the support of the United States. KCSB's Brenna Boldt has the story.

In the wake of new UC policy on student protests and demonstrations, student activists at UCSB have started the year off strong. A vigil was held this Tuesday for people to express their grief over the genocide in Palestine. KCSB’s Rosie Bultman attended the event.

A new study by a team of researchers including UCSB scientists found that billions of people worldwide consume inadequate levels of micronutrients. KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke to Dr. Christopher Free of UCSB’s Marine Science Institute to discuss the study’s findings and implications.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed SB 1035 into law, which effectively bans grocery stores from offering plastic bags at checkout. CALPIRG was involved in these efforts, so KCSB’s Joyce Chi talked to Hudson Truchard and Sofia Perez of UCSB CALPIRG to find out more.

The Coalition for Palestine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently announced an end to the MIT-Lockheed Martin Seed Fund. Activists say this is the first known instance of an end to a partnership between an American university and a weapons manufacturer in Israel since the War on Gaza began. KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke to Zeno of MIT’s Graduates for Palestine to learn more.

Alberto Fujimori was President of Peru from 1980 to 1990. Both during and after his ten-year term, he faced praise for his handling of the economy and crackdown on communist rebels, but also drew condemnation for corruption and violations of human rights. To understand his life and legacy, KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke to Dr. Cecilia Mendez, a professor of Peruvian history at UC Santa Barbara.

Rosie Bultman and Victor AhiumaYoung, labor editor at Vanguard Nigeria News, discuss the significance of National Labor Congress President Joe Ajaero's arrest.

Environmental Activists spoke out at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting this week, demanding a public hearing over the county’s recent pro-oil decision. Following a lawsuit from Sable Offshore Oil Company, the Board of Supervisors recently decided to allow the energy giant to construct emergency shutoff valves on the pipeline that caused the 2015 Refugio oil spill. This major step toward restarting the Central Coast pipeline has sparked harsh criticism from advocates. We hear from one of them in this story.

Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments at universities across the country drew brutal responses from university administration during the 2023-2024 school year. At UC Santa Cruz, students were injured, jailed, and banned from campus. Civil Rights groups and the ACLU think that the UC Campus’ response was unconstitutional. In this story, KCSB's Rosie Bultman explores why.

Measure P is a bond measure that seeks to raise money to repair and upgrade the facilities of Santa Barbara City College, or SBCC. To understand the need for as well as the opposition to the measure, KCSB’s Joyce Chi spoke to SBCC’s Superintendent/President Dr. Erika Endrijonas and Trustee Jonathan Abboud, and op-ed author Denice Spangler Adams.

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Correction: A previous version of this story included mention of a contract between SBCC and a legal firm in regards to a proposed P.E. building. This contract does not yet appear to have been voted on.

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Music used: Front Runner by Blue Dot Sessions