A wind-driven fire northwest of Rosamond that’s challenged firefighters for days has been fully contained. The West Fire broke out Sunday and was marked by erratic winds that kept changing directions, with flames that threatened solar farms and homes at times. Kern County crews got reinforcements from the BLM and LA County Fire, with a…… Read More
The huge building that once housed the Great American Antiques store in downtown Bakersfield is a total loss from an overnight fire. Bakersfield Fire Battalion Chief Tim Ortiz says they got the call around 11:40 p.m. Monday. The fire also destroyed a power pole on 19th and R streets but Ortiz says the two story-structure…… Read More
A Sacramento man who lured a 16-year-old Bakersfield girl into working for him as a prostitute has been sentenced to 15-years-to-life for sex trafficking of a minor. Prosecutors say Rico Herring met the victim through an app and sent her a bus ticket, promising her a romantic relationship, but then assaulted and stranded her in…… Read More
Kern County firefighters needed a ladder truck, a dozer and a backhoe to put out a two alarm fire in an East Bakersfield warehouse. It was reported around 8:00 a.m. Thursday at the 30,000 square foot steel structure on Washington Street and East Brundage Lane, but burning flares and hand sanitizer at the property made…… Read More
Kern County is celebrating the completion of a $41-million, state-of-the-art Coroner’s Facility in north Bakersfield. Division Chief Dawn Ratliff says the need for the expansion became especially dire during Covid but the project has been in the making for decades, and great care was taken to include security and fire safety protections… The current Coroner’s…… Read More
A Kern County man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for contacting a minor online with the intent to commit a sex act. Prosecutors say Daniel Reed began a relationship with an undercover deputy who was posing as a 16-year old boy, sending explicit messages and a nude photo over the course of…… Read More
Bakersfield Police and investigators from the DA’s office busted two illegal marijuana dispensaries in town and made six arrests. The first shop was on Stine Road near White Lane, where over $2,300 in cash and a pistol were seized, in addition to numerous cannabis products. The second location was on Brundage Lane near Spruce Street,…… Read More
A man who caused a triple fatal crash while high on meth has been convicted on six counts involving murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Supervising Deputy DA William Schlerth says Jose De Jesus Velazquez-Gomez was coming down hard from being high for several days last November, when he slammed into the victims as they…… Read More
The sign at the mouth of the Kern River Canyon has been updated to show another 10 drownings since last year in the Kern River. The sign now reads 335 drownings since 1968, and KCSO Sergeant Joe Saldana says that does not include victim’s whose bodies have not yet been recovered. Warning signs in English…… Read More
The Open Door Network and Bakersfield college are celebrating the graduation of students who earned their certificate in basic office or beginning computer skills. Director David Madding says many of the participants in the Work Force Development program have overcome obstacles such as homelessness and drug abuse. Eighteen people were awarded certificates on Wednesday. Photo…… Read More
