KCLU :: NPR and Local News

Tutoring program helps kids in Santa Barbara, Ventura counties

2/5/2008 9:30am

The "School on Wheels" program is helping homeless do well in school, by sending volunteer tutors into shelters, motels, and wherever else the kids are staying.

Piru Charter School proposal rejected by State Board of Education

5/6/2010 10:42am

A controversy over a proposal to convert one Ventura County community's only elementary school into a charter school has been rejected by the state. KCLU's Lance Orozco reports busloads of people drove to Sacramento to take part in the State Board of Education hearing which decided the fate of the plan for Piru Elementary School.

Reading campaign targets gaps in childhood literacy

11/9/2007 10:29am

A pre-school child who's been read to from an early age has a vocabulary of 20,000 words by age six, and statistically does much better in school. Yet...California ranks in the bottom ten states in the nation in this area. A local effort is designed to get more parents to read to their kids.

Campaign to provide wheelchairs comes to Santa Barbara County

5/24/2008 10:55am

Imagine what it would be like to need a wheelchair...but, to be so poor you can't afford one. An estimated 100 million people around the world are in that position. An engineer invented a low cost alternative which uses resin lawnchairs, and bycyclie wheels, and will talk about it in Santa Barbara County over Memorial Day Weekend.

Grammy award winner holds class for Goleta high school students

4/16/2008 10:12am

He's one of the world's most talented vocalists, with 50 grammy nominations to his credit. Bobby McFerrin took time out from a concert tour to work with some aspiring high school singers on the south coast.

Jazz legends hold workshops for local high school musicians

1/22/2009 9:52am

Some aspiring high school musicians on the South Coast got the change to learn from some world famous jazz legends this week.

South Coast school districts seeking help from voters

10/30/2008 9:27am

A number of South Coast school districts are asking for financial help from voters on Election Day next week. The proposals range from parcel taxes, to bond measures.

National champion academic team honored

4/30/2009 9:46am

Community leaders, and fellow students gathered at a Ventura County high school to honor an academic team which brought home a national championship for the second year in a row. KCLU has the story from Moorpark High School.

Santa Barbara students learn about sustainability, nutrition through school gardens

3/10/2010 11:40am

Some local schoolchildren are learning firsthand that while we might buy fruit, and vegetables from the supermarket, it really comes from the ground. KCLU's Lance Orozco reports from a Santa Barbara elementary school campus which can now boast it has its own student designed, and built gardens as part of a community program.

Top local high school football players sign with major colleges

2/4/2010 10:53am

They're some of the nation's top high school football players, and they live here, on the South Coast.

KCLU's Lance Orozco was on hand as about two dozen players to part in ceremonies to sign letters of intent to play for schools like USC, UCLA, and Notre Dame.

Hundreds of college students start school year with community cleanup

9/3/2008 9:51am

Hundreds of South Coast college students kicked off the new school year in a very unusual way. The entire freshman class at California Lutheran University helped clean up Ventura's polluted river bottom area. KCLU's Lance Orozco reports.

Local high school students march to raise money for marching bands

10/10/2008 8:58am

Hundreds of South Coast high school students marched to their own tune October 11th, as some marching bands joined forces in an innovative effort to raise money for their programs.

Ventura County students work with NASA on low gravity experiment

4/13/2010 8:14am

Some Ventura County elementary school students have been working with "NASA" to explore the impacts of low gravity on water. KCLU's Lance Orozco reports on a team of teachers from the Fillmore school who will be traveling to Texas to NASA's headquarters, to test the micro gravity experiment developed by students, and faculty.

Showbiz legend Dick Van Dyke to headline benefit program for high school performing arts programs

5/7/2010 7:37am

A Hollywood legend who's been a part of some of the biggest stage, movie, and television hits in history has teamed up with six local high schools for a big benefit this weekend. KCLU's Lance Orozco talks with Dick Van Dyke, who's hosting and performing in the May 9th event at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, which benefits high school performing arts programs.

Local program promotes tolerance among school children

1/26/2009 10:02am

Some South Coast children are learning firsthand about the destructiveness of intolerance....and hate...as a holocaust survivor speaks in schools as part of a larger effort to counter prejudice. KCLU"s Lance Orozco reports from El Rio.

Constitution focus of national conference for teachers in Simi Valley

7/30/2008 9:28am

A group of teachers from around the country is in Ventura County, learning more about the Constitution from some of the nation's leading experts on the subject. It's part of an effort to better educate high school students about the Constitution.

College students try to excite grade schoolers about Science

1/23/2008 9:36am

Thousands of middle school students in Ventura County are getting fired up about Science, and Engineering thru a traveling program created by some local college students.

New environmental preserve established in Santa Barbara County

5/15/2009 9:14am

There's a new nature preserve on the Central Coast. KCLU's Lance Orozco reports a school which owns the land it is working with two environmental groups to try to insure the land remains as open space forever.

Arrest made in cold case killing of Ventura County teen

7/14/2009 9:41am

It was a crime which rocked the South Coast. A popular Santa Paula Union High School student was shot, and killed at a birthday party which had spiralled out of control. Now, after five years, and one big false call...authorities now believe they have the killer. KCLU's Lance Orozco has the story.

Local program provides audio books for those with disabilities

12/7/2009 10:04am

Imagine what life would be like if you were a student trying to get through school with vision problems, dyslexia, or total blindness.

A unique local program helps many people in that position, by turning educational material into audio recordings. KCLU's Lance Orozco has the story.

Ventura County university celebrates 50th anniversary

10/16/2009 11:48am

It's homecoming weekend for one South Coast university, and it's a special one...because the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary. KCLU's Lance Orozco talks to some of those who've been a part of California Lutheran University, in Thousand Oaks throughout its history.

South Coast college picks up fees for more than 1300 students

3/17/2008 10:00am

A South Coast college is offering would-be students a deal that's hard to beat. It's offering to pay all of the first year fees for every graduate of a Ventura County high school who wants to attend their college.

Ventura County high school students taking part in international DNA catalogue project

1/18/2010 10:33am

A non-profit marine science center in Ventura County is allowing teenage students to take part in a global genetic mapping project, helping to create a landmark new data base for research, as well as practical applications. KCLU's Lance Orozco has the story, from Ventura Harbor.