The value of Kern County crops fell by 8% in 2024. A new report shows Kern County is trailing Tulare County when it comes to crop values. Kern’s 2024 estimate puts our crop numbers at $7.96 billion dollars, lagging behind Tulare’s numbers at $8.3 billion. Tulare County was behind Kern by $760 million in 2023.…… Read More
A 32-year-old man faces numerous charges after an alleged SWAT standoff in northeast Bakersfield. Police say Ronnie Wiley, Jr. fought officers as they tried to arrest him following the standoff at an apartment in the 2700 block of Eissler Street Sunday night. Two juveniles were safely removed from the apartment. Wiley is also accused in…… Read More
The Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved a new food service contract for county jails. The deal with Trinity Services Group is worth up to $19 million over three years with an option to extend through 2030 for a total of about $33 million. Trinity will provide meals for inmates at Lerdo’s detention facilities,…… Read More
Two men accused in a deadly northeast Bakersfield shooting have been arraigned on murder charges. Prosecutors say Jaden Ambriz, 20, and Justin Hernandez, 24, are in custody after an 18-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday on Meadows Vista Court near Panorama Drive and Fairfax Road. Both men have pleaded not guilty and are…… Read More
New details have emerged in a suspected DUI crash that killed a young girl in southeast Bakersfield. Court documents say the SUV carrying a family rolled and slid more than 300 feet after being hit by a speeding car on East Panama Lane near Cottonwood Road on September 28. Azmeret Mayall, 6, died the following…… Read More
Charges could be dropped for a former Kern County supervisor if he enters a mental health program. Former District Two supervisor Zack Scrivner is accused of child cruelty and gun possession after Kern County Sheriff’s deputies responded to his Tehachapi home in April 2024. Prosecutors say Scrivner used psychedelic mushrooms and sexually assaulted one of…… Read More
A judge has postponed the trial of a Visalia woman facing charges in the death of her 1-year-old son inside a hot car in southwest Bakersfield. On Monday a judge delayed until October 20 trial for Maya Hernandez, 20, who allegedly left her two children alone in a car for hours on the afternoon of…… Read More
The issue of transgender athletes was top of mind Monday night for trustees of the Kern High School District. Several members of the community spoke out in favor of Title IX which asserts biological differences between male and female athletes can create inherent advantages in competitive sports, especially for girls. At a previous meeting, a…… Read More
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a deadly stabbing in Taft. Michael McClintock will spend five years in prison for stabbing Randy Stark, 63, to death in the 300 block of Crystal Street in November 2024. McClintock was tracked to Midland, Texas,…… Read More
Preliminary hearings for an alleged Kern County Sheriff’s escapee and his girlfriend have been postponed to December 18. Francisco Garcia, 22, was sentenced last week to ninety years in prison for two gang-related shootings but he still has to answer to charges that he escaped from Sheriff’s deputies during a visit to Kern Medical September…… Read More
