BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- Former Cal State Bakersfield assistant men's basketball coach Kevin Mays has pleaded no contest to three felony charges including possession of child pornography, pimping, and drug possession while armed. Mays entered the plea in court on Wednesday. Under a plea agreement, Mays will receive fo...

TAFT, CA (KUZZ) -- The West Side Health Care District in Taft is finalizing a $10.7 million operating budget including $1.2 million for new hires, mostly at the West Side Family Health Care Clinic. The budget shows a $250,000 surplus. Meanwhile, construction continues on a new dental clinic and renovations at the forme...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- The attorney representing a man accused of crashing his pickup into onlookers at the Bakersfield Christmas Parade has withdrawn from the case. Alan Booth, 75, will now be represented by BreAnne Ruelas through the Indigent Defense Program after Jeremy Brehmer backed out because of a conflict of...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- There's startling new information about a dog attack that left a boy dead in California City. The owner of three dogs that attacked two children at a Central Park pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder charges, but police say Kenneth Dobbins, 68, knew the dogs had a history of violent behavior. ...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- Criminal proceedings have resumed against a Bakersfield man accused of torturing and murdering his daughter. The defense attorney for Ray Mata, Jr., 31, says he won't challenge the findings of a hearing declaring Mata competent to stand trial for allegedly killing Genesis Mata, 8. The child's...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- A monthslong investigation has led to the arrest of a suspected Bakersfield drug trafficker. The California Highway Patrol, Bakersfield Police, and the DEA arrested Jesus Marquez-Ruiz, 27, after observing alleged drug transactions. Search warrants served June 29, 2026, at properties on Whitloc...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) --A 68-year-old man charged in connection with a fatal dog attack in California City refused to appear in court. Authorities say Kenneth Dobbins of Palmdale remains in custody but failed to show up for his arraignment on Monday. Three dogs reportedly owned by Dobbins attacked two children at Cent...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) --A trial date has been set for August 10, 2026, for a 33-year-old man accused of driving drunk and killing an 8-year-old boy in east Bakersfield. Prosecutors say Andres Serna's blood-alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit when his pickup left the road and struck Xxavien Alvarez a...

DELANO, CA (KUZZ) -- A death at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano is being investigated as a homicide. Tyrin Meeks, 31, was found unresponsive in his cell just before 3 a.m. Sunday and was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. His cellmate, Robert Green, 41, has been placed in restricted housing as the investig...

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) -- Eleven people were arrested and more than 1.5 tons of trash were removed during a homeless encampment cleanup in Bakersfield's Old Town Kern area. Police say the operation June 24, 2026 cleared seven encampments after outreach workers first offered services to homeless individuals on Baker, Ke...