A tough-on-crime Republican sheriff who was a supporter of President Donald Trump in the 2024 election on Monday launched a campaign for California governor. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced his candidacy at an event Monday in Riverside in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Bianco has been a vocal critic…… Read More
More than $45,000 in cash and over 100 pounds of weed were seized in a Fresno County traffic stop. Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle February 12 on northbound Interstate Five south of Russell Avenue in Fresno County where they detected a strong smell of weed. A K-9 officer helped to find 109 pounds of…… Read More
A Kern County man accused of defrauding the California unemployment system out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has pleaded no contest to felony charges. Ruben Rodriguez entered the plea last week to two counts of making a false statement regarding unemployment compensation and preparing a false insurance claim. Rodriguez was arrested in 2023 for…… Read More
The trial of a man accused of driving under the influence of marijuana in a crash that killed a woman and left himself and two others injured has been postponed until June 9th. Karim Reyad, 20, faces several charges including second degree murder after the accident in April 2023 that killed Gayla Price, 66. Price’s…… Read More
Former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner entered a plea of not guilty Friday during his arraignment on child abuse and gun charges. The former District Two supervisor was charged with three felony counts of alleged child abuse, and two felony counts of alleged possession of assault weapons, but no sexual abuse charges were filed. Scrivner stepped…… Read More
A settlement has been reached with a property management company that covers nearly 200 rental units in Bakersfield. The $280,000 settlement involving RCM SoCal resolves claims that one of the company’s property managers engaged in years of sexual harassment against female tenants and that the company failed to act to stop it. RCM must pay…… Read More
Two motorcycle gang members were arrested after Kern County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly found drugs and a loaded gun during a search in Mojave. Deputies with the Gang Unit served a search warrant Thursday in the 9000 block of 60th Street West where they reportedly seized 44 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded gun, and items associated…… Read More
A suspect has been arrested after a home burglary in Ridgecrest. Officers responded February 7 to the 900 block of West Hermosa Avenue where several valuable items had been stolen. Police say surveillance video showed John Tagman, 54, and a car believed to be involved in the case. Investigators were able to link the vehicle’s…… Read More
The investigation continues after an 80-year-old woman was assaulted at a car wash in southwest Bakersfield. Police responded Friday morning to Mister Car Wash in the 3200 block of Panama Lane to find Patricia Blackwood lying face-down on the pavement. Authorities say she suffered several injuries trying to chase down a woman who stole her…… Read More
Students from several high schools in the Kern High School District walked out of class Wednesday morning and made their way to downtown Bakersfield to protest the recent ICE raids and deportations throughout California. District officials said they were aware of the impending walkout and sent a message to parents the day before. About 1,000…… Read More
