UC Santa Barbara hosts the UCSB Reads Program, an opportunity for students and community members to engage in multiple activities and programs surrounding one book for the duration of the school year, including a talk with the author. Voting ends August 26th, so head over to library.ucsb.edu to cast your vote for the 2027 book. KCSB’s Mavis Holley spoke to UCSB Exhibitions and Events Manager Sara Kelly about how to get involved.

Free National Parks and Public Land access days are right around the corner. Next Tuesday is the 110th birthday of the National Park Service and an opportunity for parkgoers to access national parks for free. Also upcoming on Saturday, September 26th, is National Public Lands Day, a volunteer event offering free admission to many sites. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke with UCSB Environmental Studies lecturer Deborah Williams about how to find freely accessible public lands near you.

A case of measles was reported in Santa Barbara county last week, contracted while the individual was out of the county. Health officials say the case is no longer a community threat, according to KSBY news. On a national scale, Measles cases have been on the rise over the past two years, says UC Health. Previously, it was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but has since returned. KCSB’s Mavis Holley spoke with the Public Health Officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Dr. Henning Ansorg, about the county's case and the national resurgence.

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.