More traps set after Citrus Psyllid sighting
Solar panel job fair today
Junk-A-Tique yard sale at Calvary Bible Church
The annual Junk-A-Tique yard sale starts today and goes until 6:00 p.m. tonight. It will also be open tomorrow from 6:00 a.m. until noon.
Local foster youth graduate independent living program
M&C Circus in town this weekend
The 90-minute Culpper and Merriweather circus show offers family-friendly, fun-packed entertainment with exotic animals, acrobatics, and clowns.
The big top is set up at Emerald Cove Park in northwest Bakersfield for their 30th annual tour.
"If you haven't had the chance to be a part of a real American traditional circus, this is your chance. This is the real deal," said Leo Acton, a C&M Circus clown.
The circus is in town until Sunday, offering two shows a day.
You can save a few bucks by buying tickets ahead of time at the Greenacres Community Center or North of the River District Office.
You can also get tickets at the door, children under 2 years old are free.
Kern deputy public defender accused of DUI crash
BPD celebrate opening of new substation
Junk-a-tique happening this weekend
Judge puts 24th Street widening project on hold for now
This comes after a citizens group filed a lawsuit last year against the city of Bakersfield and Cal Trans. The widening project would demolish 23 homes on the north side of 24th Street. Residents say the project started being thoroughly discussed about three years ago.
Vanessa Vangel is the plaintiff in this case, along with the Citizens Against the 24th Street widening project. Vangel says since the beginning, she knew the project was flawed and a waste of money.
The environmental impact report on the 60 million dollar project was approved by the city's planning commission in January of last year. But, Friday -- Judge Twisselman agreed with the citizens group about the EIR being flawed, saying some of the project was approved at different times, instead of at once.
"The government agency has to explain why they are doing what they are doing and what the judge said repeatedly today was the city's rational in the environmental impact report was conclusory. He needed to have an explanation so he could better understand why they were doing what they were doing," said Jaime Hall, attorney for Citizens Against.
"This project has been threatening historic neighborhoods for over half of a century and today our voices were finally heard by Judge Twisselman. That's just a feeling of elation that everything I thought was wrong with this project - he confirmed that," said Vangel.
Deputy City Attorney Andy Heglund sent this statement Friday afternoon. It reads, the court has asked the city to provide additional support for the conclusions in the environmental document prepared for the 24th Street, widening project. The city will need to evaluate the court's decision in determining the steps going forward. The item is scheduled to be discussed with the city council at closed session on May 6. We should know more after that.
Attorney Jaime Hall says a new EIR will have to be drafted, which could take a year.
Elderly residents to be relocated
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance long-term care services director Nona Tolentino says relocating Corinthian Gardens residents won't be easy.
Tolentino said, "There's not enough beds."
The facility holds 237 patients. Tolentino says three of Kern County's 19 nursing homes have offered assistance, but some people likely will have to move out of Bakersfield and possibly out of the county.
"We do worry still that the transfers and perhaps inappropriate placements might result in a very negative outcome for them," she said.
The California health and safety code states a long-term health care facility must let residents know 30 days before there is a change in the status of its license and put in place a plan for residents.
Tolentino said, "The closure that they're talking about is imminent and probably irreversible. That's my impression with the activities that are being conducted."
The Kern County long-term care ombudsman program advocates for elderly people who live in licensed care facilities. If you need assistance, call the program 661-323-7884.
LAPD asking for your help to find missing teen
DUI checkpoint results for May 1
One dead in crash involving school bus
2015 Relay for Life another success
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Thousands of people pushed themselves to the limit at this weekend's Relay for Life -- making our hometown event one of the largest in the world.
According to event organizers, this year participants raised more than $1 million, and that's not the final count.
The money raised goes to support the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research.
There were more than 1400 cancer survivors and 230 teams that participated.
Deadly car crash in Rosedale
BAKERSFIELD, CA – A deadly crash in Rosedale Sunday morning is under investigation.
The wreckage is so mangled, police say they don't know how many people were in the car.
It happened just after 1:30 a.m. on Coffee Road just north of Rosedale Highway.
Officers said the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.
They said the vehicle veered into the center median for unknown reasons, hitting three separate trees before catching fire.
Officials say due to the fire and vehicle damage the identity of the driver or occupants is unknown.
Detectives investigating death of man found in orchard
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Sheriff's homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man whose body was found Sunday morning in an orchard west of Bakersfield.
A farm worker found the body in an orange orchard off Highway 166, near Interstate 5, according to KCSO.
Deputies on scene said there are obvious signs of trauma to the victim.
The man's identity hasn't been released.
The coroner's office said an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death is scheduled later this week.
BPD issue warrant for suspected shooter
BAKERSFIELD, CA – A man has been identified in a shooting last night that injured a woman in northeast Bakersfield.
According to Bakersfield police officials, 21-year-old Anthony Jerome Laws allegedly pulled up to a vehicle on Espee Street and fired several rounds at the people inside the car, including two young children.
A woman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police issued a warrant for Laws for attempted murder and participation in a street gang.
He has a criminal history, including gang charges and was released from jail less than two weeks ago.
If you have information on his whereabouts, you are urged to call Bakersfield police at 327-7111.
Wasco prison inmate's death sparks investigation
WASCO, CA - An inmate at Wasco State Prison was found unresponsive Saturday morning.
The coroner's office reports 52-year-old Jose Puentes of Los Angeles was taken to Delano Regional Medical Center where he later died.
The sheriff's office hasn't released any other information about his death.
Probation sweep results in arrests and drugs seized
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Three individuals were arrested for felony probation violations and five were arrested for drug related offenses during a probation sweep in Bakersfield on Friday.
According to the Kern County Probation Department, nine felony warrants and 13 misdemeanor warrants were also served.
Officers conducted 137 home calls and 107 probation searches, which also led to the seizure of various amounts of heroin and methamphetamine.
GET set to announce plans for grant money
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Officials with the city of Bakersfield and Golden Empire Transit are expected to make an announcement Monday regarding a new grant.
Caltrans has awarded a $600,000 grant designated for accessibility improvements to at least 23 GET bus stops.
According to officials, the improvements will include new ground pads for better wheelchair accessibility, as well as sidewalk improvements for many stops.