DJ Palladino, local arts & pop culture writer (and owner of the Mesa Books store), joins host Dick Flacks.

Palladino is the director of the Magic Lantern Films programs in Isla Vista. He also just published his first novel “Nothing that is Ours,” which takes readers on an adventure into Santa Barbara’s literary scene in the late 1950s. Palladino also connects the dots between Isla Vista and writer, Aldous Huxley, author of the dystopian novel, “Brave New World.”

The 2017 Arthur N. Rupe Debate will be taking place Thursday, May 18 at Campbell Hall. The topic this year will be “Is ISIS an existential threat to the United States?” KCSB’s Nkechi Ikem interviewed Monica Duffy Toft to get her thoughts ahead of the debate.

The 2017 Arthur N. Rupe Debate will be taking place this Thursday at Campbell Hall. The topic this year will be “Is ISIS an existential threat to the United States?” KCSB’s Nkechi Ikem interviewed Marc Gopin to get his thoughts ahead of the debate.

The event will be taking place today at Campbell Hall. Event starts at 7:30 PM and is free of charge. For more information, visit artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

USA Today calls him the closest thing to a rockstar in the world of graphic design. Chip Kidd, famous art director and designer, is behind many notable book jackets including Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 and David Sedaris’ Holidays on Ice. He’s also is known for his TED talks, most notably “Designing Books is No Laughing Matter. Ok, it is.” He has received numerous awards for his work including the AIGA medal 2014 award. Today, UCSB Arts & Lectures will be bringing Chip Kidd to Campbell Hall at 7:30 PM. KCSB’s Nkechi Ikem interviews Chip Kidd before the talk.

The Los Angeles Riots of 1992, which some call the "L-A UPRISING" - took place this week, 25 years ago. Tensions between races, and against the police were already simmering - ahead of the Rodney King verdict. When it was announced that a jury found four LAPD officers NOT GUILTY in the infamous videotaped beating, which occurred at the end of a high speed police chase, the streets of South Los Angeles erupted in rebellion. Activist and Journalist Thandisizwe Chimurenga was there in Los Angeles as tensions were rising. She speaks to KCSB’s Nkechi Ikem about the several events that sparked an uprising.

This year's Cinco De Mayo, 44th Governor of Arkansas and former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee tweeted: "For Cinco de Mayo I will drink an entire jar of hot salsa and watch old Speedy Gonzales cartoons and speak Spanish all day. Happy CdMayo!"

This tweet was only an example of the long-standing tradition Americans have of celebrating Cinco De Mayo in a culturally insensitive manner. KCSB's Nkechi Ikem spoke with UC Santa Barbara student Veronica Mandujano about her perspective on Cinco De Mayo and how it can be celebrated without being offensive.

The Los Angeles Riots of 1992, which some call the "LA Uprising" - took place this week, 25 years ago. Tensions between races, and against the police were already simmering - ahead of the Rodney King verdict. When it was announced that a jury found four LAPD officers NOT GUILTY in the infamous videotaped beating, which occurred at the end of a high speed police chase, the streets of South Los Angeles erupted in violence. Fires, shooting, looting, murders and beatings spread to other parts of the city. Sharon Dale was the morning news anchor at "Coast 1-oh-3" radio.. the radio station where she worked became too dangerous to go to. She shares memories of the Los Angeles riots with KCSB's Lisa Osborn.

Student activists and unions hold a May Day Rally at UC Santa Barbara, calling for higher wages, better treatment for workers.

25 years ago this week - Los Angeles was burning. Race relations and tensions between residents and police in the city were already simmering, ahead of the Rodney King Verdict. But, when four Los Angeles Police Officers were found not guilty of beating Rodney King, at the end of a police pursuit, South Los Angeles erupted in violence.

The LAPD was later criticized for not being prepared for the rioting that followed. But, retired LAPD deputy chief, Michael Hillmann, tells KCSB's Lisa Osborn that officers had trained in crowd control tactics ahead of the verdicts.

Transparency about oil production in California can lead to greater use of cleaner oils, ultimately reducing California's carbon footprint. KCSB's Kendra Lee spoke with David Livingston, a fellow with the Energy and Climate Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to find out more.