A UCSB professor has won the Conference of College Composition and Communication’s Richard Braddock Award for her work on bringing Black linguistic justice into the classroom. Dr. Michelle Petty says the article, which she co-authored, focuses on the research behind and the details of a website with guides for Black students to advocate for themselves in the classroom and for writing instructors to better evaluate students' work. From the Independent and KCSB News, Christina McDermott has this story.

As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches in May, individuals are stressed now, especially with the state of the country. The Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness is inviting people to light up their buildings green as a form of solidarity. KCSB News’ Alice Dehghanzadeh has more.

Since the devastating effects of urban infrastructure destruction in the wake of the Eaton fire on January 7th, the Army Corps of Engineers decided not to conduct soil testing but has been clearing 6 inches of topsoil from the burned areas as a precaution against ash that has landed on the soil. Only on April 11th, preliminary testing released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revealed elevated levels of toxic chemicals, including lead and arsenic, in the soil, raising health concerns about community interaction with these sites. Community members who garden and who are working on revitalizing the land are responding to these catastrophic results in unique ways.

In the state of Wisconsin, those seeking to legally change their names must do so publicly; however the process poses a risk to transgender people who may face harassment due to the publicity. State Senators have introduced a bill that attempts to grant confidentiality to transgender people seeking a name change. KCSB’s Clarissa Hom has the story.

According to CalMatters, lobbying spending in California surged to a record-high $540 million in 2024, a 10% increase from the year 2023. The rise was fueled by major players like Google, Chevron, and PacifiCorp. KCSB’s Eva Wang has the story.

On April 10, the California Coastal Commission approved changes to UCSB's long range development plan, which will allow construction of San Benito student housing to start. The plan is to break ground this year. Here's the Santa Barbara Independent's Christina McDermott with this story.

April 24th marks the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. UCSB’s Armenian Student Association chanted and held signs outside of Storke Tower to raise awareness.

All spring elections at UCSB have been halted following an injunction issued by the AS Judicial Council. KCSB's Joyce Chi has more.

Dennis Mitchell with Carpinteria Valley Radio brings you the latest from Carpinteria.

For more, visit carpinteriavalleyradio.com.

Santa Barbara’s bus service is holding meetings to get feedback on the “Tap2Ride” payment system and to propose an addition to the UCSB Express line 24x and a new microbus service. The company’s aim is to speed up transit during rush hour. KCSB’s Devin Greer explains more on the possible changes to the Metropolitan Transit District.