Study: Bakersfield most illiterate city in the United States
For the second straight year, a new study shows Bakersfield is the nation's most illiterate city.At Dagny's Coffee Company downtown, those who aren't enjoying a cup of joe are reading. But, bookworms...
View ArticleCounty may change how its health care plan is administered
The county is looking at radically changing how its health plan is administered.Instead of contracting with one company to oversee employee health care, the county is looking at partnering with...
View ArticleOld scams with a new twist
Scammers are always looking for new ways to steal your identity. Or they put a new twist on an old method so they can make a quick buck.One local man says it just happened to him and he recorded the...
View ArticleLocal musicians say they're a big target of theft
Recent reports show crime is increasing in Kern County. Some local musicians say they are a big target of theft in the area. They say people are stealing instruments from concert venues, cars and even...
View ArticleFormer BPD detective pleads guilty in child porn case
A former Bakersfield Police Department detective faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to possession of child pornography.Christopher Kent Bowersox, 41, admitted to a single count in a...
View ArticleBakersfield store owner busts suspected car thief at gunpoint
A fed-up local business owner is sending a strong message to criminals thinking about targeting his property: if you attempt a crime, you could be staring down a gun. He helped police nab a would-be...
View ArticleVote delayed on possible change to county health care
County supervisors say they need more time and information before they decide whether there should be big changes in the way the county's health plan is administered.Instead of contracting with one...
View ArticleKern County oil companies continue to frack, residents concerned
Kern County may be sitting on top of the largest oil reserve in the nation. The Monterey Shale holds an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil, but bringing all of that oil to the surface has some people...
View ArticleUpdate: CHP opens Highway 58
Update: The California Highway Patrol has reopened Highway 58 through the Tehachapi mountains.Highway 58 remained closed through Tehachapi early Wednesday after the CHP shut down the roadway due to...
View ArticleUpdate: CHP opens Interstate 5 over the Grapevine
The CHP has reopened Interstate 5 over the Grapevine just before 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. It had been closed due to snow and ice.Officers reported several crashes due to slick conditions, including two...
View ArticleLocal businesses crack down on counterfeits
From holding money up to the light, to marking it with a pen, retailers have long been looking for counterfeit bills. But, as crooks get more savvy, so are some local store owners, making sure they...
View ArticleAre EPA pollution standards impossible for the valley to attain?
Will we ever reduce air pollution enough in the valley to meet EPA standards? The Valley Air District says if the regulations keep getting stricter, we may not. While the air district wants cleaner...
View ArticleArvin students invited to "We the People" in Washington, D.C.
Students at Arvin High School are celebrating, after they were recently invited to Washington, D.C. to compete in the "We the People" competition.Twenty-six students from Arvin High, along with...
View ArticleNew DNA technology helps convict criminals
Prosecutors are hailing new DNA technology that helped secure two convictions in a string of recent robberies.The new True Allele casework system made its debut in a Kern County courtroom this...
View ArticleGun forum held in Bakersfield
As President Obama continues to push for gun control, some wonder if that's the best solution to the problem of gun violence.Four panelists weighed in on a variety of topics, from the recent increase...
View ArticleList of those arrested in prostitution stings
About two weeks ago, we told you how Bakersfield Police are cracking down on prostitution on Union Avenue. Officers have made nearly 200 arrests, in nine prostitution stings since August.Four of those...
View ArticleBakersfield law enforcement addresses complaints about slower response times
In an emergency, one of the first things you do is dial 911. But, 17 News has received numerous complaints about long response times in a non-emergency. Bakersfield's Chief of Police and Kern County's...
View ArticleLocal World War II veteran receives medals earned decades ago
A local World War II veteran finally has the medals he earned nearly 70 years ago.Private First Class Herman Lippert, Jr. graduated from Taft High School and was drafted in March 1943.He fought on the...
View ArticleAccused killer no longer faces death penalty
A man accused of killing a two-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting no longer faces the death penalty or life without parole.This comes after a judge's ruling in the case of Anthony Chacon....
View ArticleBakersfield showing signs of economic boom
Local economists say Bakersfield is experiencing an economic boom. They say the city is showing vital signs of recovery that haven't been seen in some time. Economists say the boom has to do with...
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