The US House of Representatives recently failed to pass a bill that could have removed the tax-exempt status of “terrorist supporting organizations,” an unclear designation that could be arbitrarily used. The bill, HR 9495, was condemned by many groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). KCSB’s Joyce Chi talked to the ACLU’s senior policy counsel Kia Hamadanchy about the implications of the bill for free speech, why the fight over HR 9495 continues, and how it still could end up passing.

On November 12th, the IVCSD adopted a new parking plan designed to improve the parking conditions of Isla Vista. Here's KCSB's Sofia Aliamus with a breakdown of the upcoming action plan.

Researchers led by UCSB professor Craig Montell found that deaf male mosquitoes do not mate. I talked to Drs. Craig Montell and Dhananjay Thakur to learn more about their study and its implications for controlling the spread of disease.

A federal jury found CACI International Inc. responsible for the torture of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, ordering the company to pay $42 million. KCSB’s Eva Wang has the story.

As the dust settles on a high-stakes 2024 election, student political organizations across campuses are regrouping, reflecting, and preparing for the road ahead. KCSB's Tessa Niu speaks with Juliet Becker, an active member of Campus Democrats, who shares how her organization is responding to the election’s outcome.

Until this year, SpaceX has averaged about 6 launches annually from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX negotiated an increase to 36 in 2024, but now they want to make it 50 this year and 100 next year. Environmental groups are saying: Not so fast! Let’s see an Environmental Impact Statement. KCSB's Ray Briare brings us the story: the newest branch of the United States’ military, the Space Force, has produced a draft environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the proposed increase of SpaceX launches at Vandenberg. This did not sit well with environmentalists.

The 2024 election season has been one of high stakes and rising emotions. As the dust settles in, student political organizations across campus are reflecting and mobilizing for the political future ahead. Micah Littlepage, the president of Campus Democrats, shares how his organization is responding to the election’s outcome and what their focus will be moving forward.

The US has failed to follow up on their Nov 12th deadline for Israel to improve humanitarian conditions or risk losing US military aid. That deadline has passed and the US has not taken any action announcing they will not limit aid to Israel. They also claimed that conditions in Palestine, despite contrary evidence, are improving. KCSB’s Saloni Singhal has the story.

KCSB’s Paris Huynh discusses research and explores the link between climate change and the rise of authoritarian regimes.

The Hongana Manyawa people, a nomadic indigenous group in Indonesia, are at risk of being wiped out. The culprits are Nickel mining companies, looking to provide the raw material for the production of electric car batteries. Rosie Bultman speaks with Callum Russel, a researcher with Survival International to learn more about the struggle of the Hongana Manyawa. Then, we take a broader look at achieving a green transition while preserving indigenous land rights, with Survival International’s Daniel Lavelle.