Bakersfield may soon raise sewer rates. The city sent out a notice Wednesday proposing a hike in annual residential fees from $239 to $950. City manager Christian Clegg, speaking at last week’s city council meeting, says addressing the rates is long overdue. Officials say the increase is needed to fix aging pipes and upgrade a…… Read More
A convicted child molester who sexually assaulted two underage Kern County girls was denied parole on Tuesday. The Board of Parole Hearings found that Ronald Thompson continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office says Thompson sexually assaulted two girls under 14 years old. Two girls…… Read More
A judge has extended a restraining order through October 8, 2025, against a former Kern County sheriff’s deputy. Deputy Carly Snow says ex-deputy Stephen Wells showed up drunk at her home and tried to force himself on her after they broke up in 2018. Snow is suing the county, claiming she faced years of harassment…… Read More
Thousands of people showed up in Bakersfield Tuesday for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the progressive duo’s Fighting Oligarchy tour. The pair appeared at Dignity Health Theater to explain their a vision of America. Sanders claimed America has been taken over by a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals bent…… Read More
A man is under arrest after an officer-involved shooting near Valley Plaza Mall. It happened Tuesday morning when Kern County Sheriff’s deputies chased a man who allegedly stole beer from a Rite Aid at Ming Avenue and H Street. Deputies say Jeremy Pletcher, 34, led them on a chase that ended with a SWAT standoff…… Read More
A Kern County jury has found a 47-year-old man guilty of sexually abusing a girl starting when she was 11. Marco Paiz was found guilty Friday on three felony counts. The victims diary, a DNA-tested towel, and a recorded phone call helped prosecutors build the case after the victim first reported the abuse in 2018.…… Read More
A Ridgecrest man is behind bars after allegedly stealing some high-priced bicycles. Police responded Saturday to a call about somebody leaving a neighborhood pushing a pair of bikes. Officers say they caught up with Johnathan Mancinelli, 34, who was allegedly walking away with the bicycles, one of which cost between $1,000 and $5,000. Mancinelli is…… Read More
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are bringing their Fighting Oligarchy tour to Bakersfield. The pair of anti-Trump lawmakers are set to appear downtown Tuesday morning. AOC and Sanders tore into President Trump’s immigration policies during a rally in Los Angeles on Sunday. Doors to Dignity Health Arena on Truxtun Avenue…… Read More
A 27-year-old man from Elk Grove is accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl from Taft after meeting her online. Deputies say Mathew Naval picked up the girl on Saturday. She was found safe in Sacramento County the next day and is now back with family. Naval will be brought to Kern County to face charges.…… Read More
U.S. Marshals are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Cesar Hernandez. Hernandez, 34, escaped custody of state prison guards in Delano four months ago and was found in Mexico in April. The State Force for Citizen’s Security is the agency involved in a shootout with Hernandez. 33-year-old agent Abigail Esparza…… Read More
