Trail closures have been put in place for the Ellwood Butterfly Grove. KCSB reporter Amarica Rafanelli has more on what this means for Goleta residents.

Recent shark sightings left some Santa Barbarians uneasy about jumping into the ocean. KCSB’s René Pérez spoke with USCB professor Douglas McCauley about whether we should fear these great ocean predators.

To learn more, you can visit McCauley's website: https://labs.eemb.ucsb.edu/mccauley/doug/

When Santa Barbara received record rainfall this year, it may have done more than fill up our reservoirs. As scientists from the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory recently published in the journal Science, seasonal rain and snowfall may also trigger small earthquakes. KCSB’s Erin Wetherley spoke to UCSB geographer and hydrology resources expert Kate Voss about what this means for California.

Dr. Cristina Sandoval is Director of the Coal Oil point reserve at

UCSB. The 170 acre reserve is located west of Isla Vista and is owned by

the University of California as part of its Natural Reserve system.

KCSB reporter Brady Mears interviewed Dr. Sandoval about the

effects of the Whittier Fire on the local Santa Barbara

ecology.

Santa Barbara's perennial housing problem has worsened over the past few years as a result of long term rental units being converted to short term vacation rentals. This is partly the result of the presence of the vacation rental giant AIR BnB, along with fairly compliant local regulation. But the problem of a shrinking residential rental market has been drawing attention from local activists. KCSB's Harry Lawton spoke with activist Anna Marie Gott on the issue.

The internet was designed as providing free access to information and comment for the whole world. It was not long before giant communications companies saw the same structure as commercial opportunities for profit, which they controlled. The Federal Communications Commission, now headed by a one time lawyer for Verizon, is poised to deny consumers that free access they demand. Organizations like Free Press are organizing their supporters to resist these commercial pressures. KCSB's Harry Lawton talked to Tim Karr of Free Press a day before the the national day of action that happened on July 12.

KCSB News Spotlights a UCSB Aluma. Sandy Goe, a Gaucho from the class of ‘81, says helping others gave her the confidence to soar. KCSB's Alex Casavant sat down with Goe to find out what inspired her to become an entrepreneur. She also shares a painful family secret.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was the first in the u.s. to have 100% native plants, and it's getting some improvements which may make it easier to find your way around. KCSB's Lee Jackson spoke with Dr. Steve Windhager, executive director of the SBBG to find out more.

(Photo credit: Ken Pfeiffer Photography)

A recent study shows that public support for climate-change related legislation may depend more on context than substance. According to UCSB researchers, public support may increase or decrease depending on how a climate policy is framed. KCSB's Amarica Rafanelli spoke with Leah Stokes, a professor of Political Science at UCSB, about the study and the implications it holds for the future of climate policy.

The UCSB food bank offers enrolled students free food resources to those in need. Located on the third floor of the UCen, the bank recently acquired additional space for its operation and is planning on installing new amenities like refrigeration to expand its collection of resources offered. KCSB's Héctor Sánchez Castañeda spoke with Kathy Lopez, the student coordinator on the expansion and future plans.

Image courtesy of the UCSB Associated Students Food Bank.