California prison officials say two inmates attacked and killed another prisoner Wednesday afternoon at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says Timothy Whelan, 56, was killed Wednesday afternoon. William Nesler III, 43, and Edward Holden III, 35, allegedly attacked Whelan with improvised weapons. Whelan was serving a sentence…… Read More

A state task force uprooted more than 105,000 marijuana plants and seized more than 22,000 pounds of processed cannabis in what officials are calling the Central Valley’s largest pot-busting operation to date. The massive effort involving several agencies took place the week of May 5 and focused on illegal grow operations in Kern, Tulare, and…… Read More

The Democrat Fire continues to burn east of Bakersfield. Cal Fire says nearly 1,000 acres of brush have been scorched since the fire broke out Sunday afternoon along Highway 178 near the Upper Richbar Campground area. Authorities say the blaze started when a pickup crashed into the mountainside. No firefighters have been injured. The fire…… Read More

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 12:09 p.m. Monday west of Mettler. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake caused aftershocks in the magnitude 2 range. There are no reports of damage or injury. Officials with the Southern California Seismic Network say more aftershocks are possible in the next few days, and there’s a 5%…… Read More

The Kern County Coroner says an inmate found dead at North Kern State Prison in Delano was murdered. Officials say Enrique Gomeztagle, 31, died from asphyxiation caused by strangulation and an object blocking his airway. Prison staff found him unresponsive in his cell on January 29. He was later pronounced dead. The case is being…… Read More