The U.S. Effort to Expand Vaccine Access Overseas by KCSB News

With a spike in anti-Asian violence and racism during the Covid-19 pandemic, organizations like Stop AAPI Hate and Asian American scholars are looking to the history of discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islander people in American history. Not only this, but speech targeting China as the source of the pandemic by Donald Trump as well as Biden’s own tough on China stance is seen as adding fuel to such racism. KCSB’s Aubrey Valerio spoke to Dr. Diane Fujino, a professor at UCSB’s Department of Asian American Studies, about how the history of discrimination in America and geopolitics have influenced the current wave of Asian hate in the country.

Laura and Jim Wing-Kamoosi are bringing an important documentary to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Friday -- Reclaiming Idaho.

In it they follow a small group of civic activists determined to give back to the people of Idaho the right to access Medicaid, as promised in Obama's Affordable Care Act. This right had been denied Idahoans by the State's republican Legislature. KCSB's Harry Lawton spoke to the filmmakers.

Dozens of people gathered outside Santa Barbara City Hall on Saturday, April 3rd to show support for Juana Flores – a 57-year old grandmother of 18 who has been separated from her family in California since being deported to Mexico two years ago. KCSB's Ashley Rusch has the story.

The Santa Barbara Democratic Party has endorsed incumbent Cathy Murillo for mayor for the second time. Murillo received the endorsement over candidates James Joyce III and Debora Schwartz. KCSB’s Alexandra Goldberg sits down with Murillo to discuss her plans and initiatives for the city as she runs for re-election.

Director Mike Webber is bringing a powerful documentary, THE CONSERVATION GAME, to the SB International Film Festival this week. It is a detailed expose' of the dark world of the black market in some of the most exotic and threatened species of wild animals in the world: tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars, etc sold off to private buyers. Webber follows the determined investigative work of retired Ohio police officer Tim Harrison, as he tracks how and to whom these animals are trafficked, all the way to the Halls of Congress.

BACKYARD VILLAGE by Martin Thorsson is one of a number of fascinating Nordic films in this year's SB International film Festival. A tense and intimate drama involving 2 wounded people seeking refuge from their respective crises, it was shot in the director's own compound of tourist cottages, while most film production was on hiatus during the Covid shutdown. Dramatic. personal and resonant, this film deserves your attention. There are 2 Drive-In screenings: April 2 at 8.00pm and April 6 at 8.30 am. KCSB's Harry Lawton has the story.

KCSB's Jennifer Yoshikoshi speaks with Atmika Iyer of the Daily Nexus about what Associated Students and other student orgs are doing to keep Deltopia, Isla Vista's unsanctioned spring street party, pandemic safe.

They also talked about other important issues in Isla Vista this spring including the houseless community.

Robin Hauser has directed a timely documentary about women and finance, above all about taking control of personal finances. Essential knowledge when at some point around 50% of American women will be on their own and obliged to look after themselves financially.The film is part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, starting March 31. It can be seen at home from April 1-10.

The shooting of eight individuals, six of which were Asian women, on March 16th was yet another example of the increase in anti-Asian sentiment and hate in the United States amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. KCSB’s Yulene Teagle takes a closer look at what is unfortunately a history of events of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States.