A sweep of homeless encampments in southeast Bakersfield leads to nineteen arrests. Police, city code enforcement officers, and workers with Kern Mental Health cleared fourteen camps along the railroad tracks near South Williams Street on Tuesday. Officers issued five citations and took eleven dogs into temporary custody. Charges included trespassing, outstanding warrants, and violations related…… Read More
teacher arrested for alleged sex crimes
A teacher with the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District has been arrested for alleged child sex crimes. Kimberly Tull, 45, was arrested April 2, 2025, on suspicion of engaging in lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. The Bakersfield Police Department says Tull is no longer in custody. Charges had not been filed…… Read More
feds cancel csub grant
The Trump Administration has canceled a $190,000 federal grant to California State University Bakersfield. The money was meant for a program that supports teaching the history of farm labor and migration in the San Joaquin Valley. The National Endowment for the Humanities says it is shifting funding under a new presidential order. The grant funded…… Read More
threat made at bakersfield school
Bakersfield Christian High School was placed on alert Tuesday morning after police responded to a reported threat. Officers blocked access and searched the campus on Stockdale Highway out of caution but determined the threat was not credible. No arrests were made.… Read More
former wrestling champ serving time in wasco
A former Ultimate Fighting Champion is serving time at Wasco State Prison after being sentenced to five years for attempted murder. Cain Velasquez, 42, pleaded no contest to shooting at a man accused of molesting his son. The victim was shot but survived the attack. The mixed martial arts star fired into a truck carrying…… Read More
foods co killer sentenced
A 36-year-old man convicted of murder outside the Foods Co. in east Bakersfield has been sentenced to fifty years to life in prison. Adrian Sanchez Jr. was sentenced Friday after his conviction in March on charges of first degree murder and drug possession while armed with a loaded gun. Sanchez shot Chad Reeves, 31, in…… Read More
new name for popular bakersfield venue
The City of Bakersfield will officially unveil the new Dignity Health Arena Theatre and Convention Center next week. The venue formerly known as Mechanics Bank Arena is host to numerous concerts, sports, and community events. Dignity Health took over naming rights in February. The public is invited to tour the arena after the sign is…… Read More
man acquitted after alleged scuffle with bakersfield police
A Bakersfield man has been acquitted of all charges after being punched by police during his arrest in December. A jury last week acquitted Victor Ayala of charges including resisting arrest and giving police a false ID. He was also cleared of spousal battery because of a lack of evidence. Ayala’s attorney says Ayala followed…… Read More
inmate dead at tehachapi prison
An investigation is underway after an inmate was found dead in his cell at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Parish Duren, 31, was found unresponsive with obvious injuries in his cell Saturday morning after his cellmate Demetrius Cole, 37, made a distress call to guards. Duren died at the prison triage center. Cole has…… Read More
fatal shooting in southwest bakersfield
At least one person is dead following a shooting in southwest Bakersfield. It happened late Saturday night in the parking lot of Blue Clouds Market on Wible Road south of Belle Terrace.near Santiago’s Grill and Seafood. Witnesses reported to law enforcement hearing about ten gunshots. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office says there’s no suspect information,…… Read More
