County abuse numbers improve but are still high

April 27, 2015, 9:26 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- April is Child Abuse Awareness month.

The most recent report from the Kern County Network for Children shows 3,575 local children were abused or neglected last year.

Although the number of cases continues to decline, Kern County has the 12th highest rate in the state.

Last year, two infants in Kern County died of abuse of neglect, according to the Department of Human Services a little girl only 3 months old and a little boy just one month old.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected call the CPS hotline at 661-631-6011.

If the situation appears to be an emergency, call 911 immediately.

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Mandatory dyslexia testing proposed

April 27, 2015, 9:44 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA.-A proposed state bill would require all public schools to test public elementary school students for dyslexia and other learning disabilities. 

The legislation is an effort to identify more students in the classroom who learn differently. But some California agencies say the mandate may come at a cost too high for districts. 

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools office says they have already identified 7500 children in Kern County with some kind of learning disability. 

Assembly Bill 1369 would require districts to test all students from Kindergarten to third grade yearly who may have been missed. 

Advocates of the bill say yearly screenings of learning disabilities will help schools identify students who have phonological deficiencies-a common trait of dyslexia. 

A phonological deficiency is the inability to hear sounds that make up words in spoken language. The Superintendent of Schools office is encouraged by the state's focus on learning disabilities. But the special education local plan area worries the proposed requirement would lead to over-testing of normal development. 

Three state education agencies, including the California Teachers Association, wrote a letter in opposition against the bill. The organization agrees the mandate could lead to over-diagnoses and believes the cost to screen all children in third grade and under will be more than schools can afford. 

The bill has passed the assembly education committee and is heading to the appropriations committee within the next couple weeks. That committee will determine the potential cost of the bill. 

Overnight shooting lands teen in hospital

April 27, 2015, 10:09 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A man is recovering in the hospital this morning after being shot in east Bakersfield.

It happened around 10:00 Sunday night in the area of Dublin Manor court and Guinness Way.

Where the Kern County Sheriff's Office says they found Ulises Alvarez, 18, suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.2

The Sheriff's Office says Alvarez told them he was walking with friends through the area when three black males in a black colored late model Chevy Cavalier approached them, using a rifle to fire mulitiple rounds toward Alvarez and his friends.

Alvarez told investigators the shooter was wearing a dark trenchcoat.

Alvarez was struck by one round and taken to Kern Medical Center where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. No one else was injured.

If you have any information regarding this case you are encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 861-3110 or the secret witness line at 322-4040.

Reminder: No watering on Mondays in the city

April 27, 2015, 10:26 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A reminder this morning that new water regulations prohibit all outside irrigation for Bakersfield residents Monday.

The new ordinance says nobody is allowed to water their lawns on Mondays.

City officials say water users with an even numbered address may water on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Water users with an odd numbered address may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday.

City officials say if a person continues to water on days they aren't supposed to they will be cited.

Tuesday County Supervisors are expected to discuss further methods to conserve water.

Drunk driver sentenced to prison Monday

April 27, 2015, 11:15 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A drunk driver who slammed into an Hall Ambulance vehicle injuring a paramedic and a firefighter was sentenced to 4 years in prison Monday.

Fermin Garcia, 19, pleaded no contest to the charge in March.

In November 2014, 19-year-old Fermin Garcia's van slammed into an SUV on Taft Highway injuring paramedic supervisor Armando Lazaro and firefighter Adam Bickford.

Bakersfield Police seek suspect couple

April 27, 2015, 12:56 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Bakersfield Police are looking for a couple they say tried to steal merchandise and then fought with store employees.

Police say it happened on April 11 at the Target Store on Mall View Road.

A man and a woman went into the store stuffed items in the woman's purse and tried to leave without paying.

When employees stopped them they struggled with them and then took off.

The merchandise was recovered by store employees.

The suspects are described as:

#1 – hispanic male, 30, 6’1”, 170 lbs., dark hair, multiple tattoos on face, wearing a grey baseball cap, black “Cali” t-shirt and black pants

#2 – hispanic female, 25, 5’2”, 110 lbs., black hair, wearing a black long sleeved shirt with royal blue undershirt and blue jeans carrying a black purse.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Daniel Brewer at (661) 326-3519 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Local high school artists to have work displayed at Capitol

April 27, 2015, 1:29 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Two local high school students will have their art work displayed at the State Capitol.

Jazmin Davis of South High School and Ali Vaughn of Bakersfield High School won this years Youth Art Month for the Central Area.

The winning artworks from across the state will be on display at the State Capitol, in Sacramento, in the 3rd Floor Gallery, May 17-May 29, 2015.

Legislators, staff members and general public are encouraged to visit the exhibit. The show features Augmented Reality in which viewers can access video shorts of the students discussing why art is important to their education.

The show, sponsored by members of the California Art Education Association, features nearly 50 pieces of artwork from students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 from across the state.

The artwork has been created using a variety of media in both 2- and 3-dimensions. Youth Art Month Shows are held across the county to highlight the need for art education for today’s students.

Youth Art Month began in 1961 by the Art& Creative Materials Institute, INC and the National Art Education Association. The California Art Education Association is the state partner of the National Art Education Association.

Puppy rescued from dumpster

April 27, 2015, 2:18 pm

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(KPNX) How far would you go to save a puppy? Joanna Cipriani wouldn't let a dumpster stop her.

She saved a 7-day-old puppy she found crying in a Glendale, Arizona dumpster, inside a Panda Express bag.

It was midnight when Cipriani ran across a community Facebook page called Straydar. The original post was was from someone under the impression there were kittens in the dumpster.

I wasn't doing anything, so I grabbed two of my kids and headed out there," Cipriani said.

When she arrived, the dumpster was full but she was determined to find where that cry was coming from. 

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Police looking for burger joint bandit

April 27, 2015, 3:06 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Police want the public's help in finding a man they say busted into a burger joint and stole property.

Cops say the man is wanted for burglary because he broke into Nagi's Burgers on Brundage Lane.

The suspect is described as a: black or Hispanic male, 20’s, 5’7”, slim build, wearing a light colored hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Ryan Vaughan at (661) 326-3810 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Deputies arrest man for selling drugs to kids

April 27, 2015, 3:21 pm

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TAFT, CA- Deputies have busted a man they say was selling drugs to kids.

KCSO says they were investigating a report of an out of control juvenile in Ford City when they learned Rubicel Marroquin, 19, had been selling drugs to a teen girl.

Investigators learned Marroquin sold marijuana and Xanax to a 13-year-old girl at least 5 times in the last month.

Deputies arrested Marroquin for selling marijuana, selling marijuana to a minor, unlawfully selling Xanax, and being an adult while selling a controlled substance to minor.

Family of 5 hospitalized when home burns down

April 28, 2015, 11:19 am

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MACFARLAND, CA- A family of 5 is hospitalized after an early morning fire at their home.

Kern County Fire Department was called to the scene just before 4:00 Tuesday morning.

They say a driver on Highway 99 spotted the fire and called it in.

Fire crews say it was a double-wide mobile home fully engulfed in fire on Zachary Ave.

The family was outside when the first engine arrived but all were suffering from smoke inhalation according to KCFD.

The family was taken to San Joaquin Community Hospital for treatment.

The home is a total loss. Firefighters were able to save one of the family's two cars.

The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical.

KCSO hopes video can solve a murder

April 28, 2015, 11:43 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Kern County Deputies are hoping a piece of security camera video can help solve a murder.

Detectives say Nicolas Gomez, 51, was shot to death just after 4:00 a.m. on March 29th in the 1200 block of Quincy Street.

Gomez suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the face and torso and died at the scene according to deputies.

Video footage from a nearby business captured several people running and walking from the area after the shooting.

If anyone has information on any of the persons seen leaving the area after the shooting, or any information on this case, they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

D.A. investigator earns statewide award

April 28, 2015, 12:04 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- The Kern County District attorney has announced that one of their investigators has one a prestigious statewide award.

D.A. Lisa Green said Investigator Greg Jehle was selected California District Attorney's Association Outstanding Investigator for 2014.

Jehle spent 30 years in law enforcement before joining the D.A.'s office.

He works with a special prosecution team that focuses on gang related crime. Jehle also does victim relocation and protection.

He is the first investigator from the D.A.'s office to win this award.

Local law enforcement to get big cash boost

April 28, 2015, 1:28 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Local law enforcement will be getting a big boost thanks to a drug bust.

The Department of Justice will present the Kern County Sheriff's Office and the Bakersfield Police Department with $500,000 each as part of an equitable sharing agreement.

The money comes from a drug bust and property seizure that both agencies took part in.

Officials are not releasing details of the bust but are expected to give more information at a Thursday press conference.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office has not decided what it will do with the extra funds, according to a spokesperson.

KCSO: Man arrested for having sex with teen

April 28, 2015, 2:01 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A Taft man is in jail for having sex with a teen girl, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies say they got a report of a 22-year-old man having sex with a 14-year-old-girl.

A detective assigned to the case discovered that Isais Perez-Jacinto, 22, was involved in a seven month dating relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

He was arrested and transported Taft City Jail where he was booked for two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor (more than 3 years younger).

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Man convicted of molesting two girls for years

April 28, 2015, 2:47 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A man charged with molesting two young girls has been convicted.

Jesus Rivera, 35, was convicted Friday and faces up to 60 years to life in prison.

Rivera was convicted of 6 counts of sexual abuse, including one county of oral copulation of a child ten or younger and two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of fourteen.

The District Attorney's Office says Rivera committed the crimes over a period of ten years.

Rivera is set to be sentenced on May 21.

Its still not too late to sign up for Relay For Life

April 28, 2015, 3:11 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- The American Cancer Society says its still not too late to sign up for the 2015 Relay For Life.

People who are interested can go to the American Cancer Society office at 1831 Truxtun Ave.

They are open everyday until 5 p.m.

Fore more information click here.

Kern County's graduation and dropout rates improve

April 28, 2015, 4:23 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Kern County's High School graduation rate is up and the dropout rate is down, according to state Department of Education.

Kern County's graduation rate was 76 percent last year, this year its up to 79 percent.

The county's dropout rate was 16 percent last year but dropped to 14 percent this year.

If you would like to see how your high school compares to others all the numbers are here.

Missing teen's death ruled a homicide

April 28, 2015, 5:07 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A Wasco teen's death has been ruled a homicide.

Yoselin Calderon's decomposing body was found November 5.

Calderon, 17, went missing in July 2014, but months of searching turned up nothing until workers found her in Poso Creek in a remote area four months later.

The Kern County Sheriff's says they gathered information throughout the course of the investigation to determine that it was a homicide.

The coroner has ruled the death a homicide but its still not clear how Calderon died so the cause of death is officially undetermined.

Calderon was identified using dental records.

Bakersfield Police investigate suspicious death

April 28, 2015, 5:19 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Bakersfield Police are investigating what they are calling a suspicious death.

Police say they were called to a report of a man down behind the Autozone store on Brundage Lane and H Street about 9:30 Tuesday morning.

The first officers on scene say they found a male dead behind the store.

The male subject was in a condition that was suspicious to the officers so they notified detectives who responded to the scene.

The victim's name has not been released.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.