KCSB News

Since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump last July, it’s had an impact on healthcare within Santa Barbara County. The bill has resulted in residents at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage through CenCal Health. Changes to federal eligibility rules and loss of funding have created unique challenges for undocumented patients. I spoke to the director of Santa Ba...

California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is hiring personnel to serve as “fire watch” for prison facilities with malfunctioning or inoperable fire alarm systems. The price to replace the alarms is now in the millions. KCSB’s Tatiana Jacquez has more on the story.

UC Santa Barbara lecturer Deborah Williams joined the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame, an award dedicated to honoring women whose significant achievements and contributions have shaped and influenced the direction of Alaska. KCSB's Mavis Holley spoke to Williams about her career as an attorney, teacher, and public servant.

On May 15th, 2024, hundreds of law enforcement officers were called to UC Irvine to disperse a peaceful protest on the 76th anniversary of the Nakba. The protest was ruled unlawful, and law enforcement began pushing back the crowd. Tenured Global Studies professor, Dr. Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, was arrested and injured by law enforcement officers while attempting to protect student protestors and...

Last year on July 10th, one of the largest immigration raids on the Central Coast was carried out by federal agents at the Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria. Around 360 people were arrested and one man, Jaime Alanis Garcia, died after sustaining injuries from a 30 foot fall. On the one-year anniversary of the raids, community members and volunteers from various immigration...

The UC Santa Barbara Office of the Student Advocate is a resource that helps students navigate disputes with the university through confidential peer support, assistance, and advice. The office works to improve University policies on behalf of the student body. To discuss the work that they do, KCSB’s Mavis Holley speaks to Student Advocate General, Suyan Wang.

Sable Offshore Oil Corp. reportedly sent a letter to the Trump administration asking to exercise eminent domain over public and private land in Santa Barbara county. Politico published the letter last week, it was dated June second. Sable’s pipelines are connected to the land they’re looking to acquire. The company has been actively operating after it resumed oil production in March and is looking...

To learn more about Sacramento-based immigration advocacy, and the conditions of immigrant detention centers across the country, KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez spoke with NorCal Resist Program Director, Giselle Garcia, to learn more about the Sacramento-based group’s efforts to aid communities affected by ICE.

When tenants secure housing in Isla Vista, most landlords will ask for a security deposit. AS-UCSB Legal Advisor Robin Unander shares information that renters need to know about security deposits - and how to ensure that all or most of the funds will be returned upon move out. Robin is interviewed by KCSB News Reporter Malia Guy.

On Tuesday June 23rd, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the Sheriff’s Department regarding the number of ICE transfers through SB54 and judicial warrants. Community members pushed back, urging the Sheriff's department to end voluntary compliance with federal immigration enforcement. KCSB’s Tatiana Jacquez has more on the story.

UCSB has announced a new Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management starting during the 2026-2027 academic year. KCSB’s Tatiana Jacquez has more on the new dean, Dr. Elena Irwin.

A ban on loud music over the traditional Deltopia 2026 weekend prompted IV’s local government to create a new street festival with live music, free food, public art displays and more to bring the community together. This is part 2 of the conversation between KCSB’s Dick Flacks speaks with Jonathan Abboud and Myah Mashhadialireza with the Isla Vista Community Services District, IV’s local governmen...

The story behind Isla Vista’s new spring festival, Soltopia. Reps from IV’s local government organized the inaugural 2026 event as a safer, more community-inclusive event to Deltopia, the unsanctioned Spring street festival that typically draws crowds of revelers from out of town. KCSB’s Dick Flacks speaks with Jonathan Abboud and Myah Mashhadialireza with the Isla Vista Community Services Distric...

KCSB's Malia Guy speaks with Robin Unander, attorney in the Associated Students of UCSB Legal Resource Center, about what tenants need to know when moving out of their rentals. Topics include, what is a move out inspection, and how to maximize your chances of having your security deposit returned.

Continuing our coverage on hunger and labor strikes in immigrant detention centers, KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez brings you the latest from California’s Adelanto ICE Processing Center’s hunger strikes, alongside others in GeoGroup-owned facilities across the nation.

SB Resiste is monitoring the streets of Santa Barbara and Goleta to keep the community aware of ICE presence around the county. KCSB's Emerson Good spoke to two representatives from the organization about their efforts.

New Jersey immigrant detention center Delaney Hall has an estimated 300 immigrants partaking in labor and hunger strikes, with demonstrators outside the facility clashing with law enforcement as they continue their multi-day long protest against the mistreatment of detainees. KCSB’s Omar Opeyany has the story. Photo credit: Anne-Marie Caruso//New Jersey Monitor (https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/0...

After years of Trump stating that the US elections are unsafe and riddled with widespread fraud, he is pushing the SAVE America Act which will "boost election security." In response, critics have declared that the administration is trying to influence the elections while simultaneously reducing voter rights. KCSB's Inesha Ranasinghe-Denish has the story.

California’s June Second primary election is approaching, and Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors are on the ballot. KCSB’s Tatiana Jacquez interviewed incumbent candidate Laura Capps, to learn more about the work she’s done in her first term as Supervisors and her stances on important issues constituents care about.

The DACA program, which was established to protect undocumented people who arrived in the US before 2007, is now in jeopardy. An administrative court within the Department of Justice, called the BIA, recently decided that DACA status is no longer sufficient to protect one’s immigration status. Now, 500,000 people protected by DACA are at risk of deportation. KCSB’s Abbey Guerrero has the story.

Lawsuits against tech companies unethical actions have now reached a local scale, with Santa Clara County Counsel Member Tony LoPresti filing a lawsuit against Meta. KCSB's Giada Rice has the story.

Artificial intelligence now poses a threat to celebrities' livelihoods. A pop super star is fighting back. KCSB Soluna Terrill explains.

Indigenous leaders gathered in New York City this month to discuss stronger climate action and protections for Indigenous lands. Alongside these discussions, many also raised concerns about the future of the Forum itself. KCSB’s Ruby Rai has the story.

Since Friday, a wildfire has been spreading on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Santa Barbara. The fire has covered about 17.500 acres and now threatens to destroy many historic structures and a grove of rare Torrey Pine trees. KCSB’s Abbey Guerrero has the story.

In conversation with KCSB’s Ruby Rai, Salud Carbajal discussed his current campaign for Congress and addresses key issues facing voters, including affordability, ICE activity, offshore drilling, and U.S. involvement in international conflicts.