Bakersfield news

• State faulted for lax oversight of dental program for low-income residents

  12-12-2014 23:49
  
  Millions of children enrolled in California's health care program for low-income residents did not get dental check-ups last year in part because low payments deterred many dentists from participating in the program, according to a new state audit.
  
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• Former police officer gets 5 years for sex assault

  12-12-2014 23:48
  
  A former officer for a Northern California police Department has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman whom he was taking to jail.
  
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• Man who fled with 4 sons arrested in wife's death

  12-12-2014 23:46
  
  A California man accused of abducting his four sons and engaging police in a highway standoff was booked into jail Friday for investigation of his wife's death as well as kidnapping.
  
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• 2 people rescued from swollen Los Angeles River

  12-12-2014 23:37
  
  The Los Angeles Fire Department has rescued two people from the storm-swollen Los Angeles River.
  
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• BPD looking for man who stole from Kohl's

  12-12-2014 23:10
  
  The Bakersfield Police Department is looking for a man they say put items in his backpack at the Kohl's on Gosford Rd. and left without paying.
  
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• BPD looking for male shoplifting suspect

  12-12-2014 23:09
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Bakersfield police are looking for a suspect wanted for shoplifting. 
  
  The incident happened on Oct. 22 around 2 p.m. at the Kohl's store on Gosford Road. 
  
  According to BPD, the subject concealed items in his backpack and left the store without paying.
  
  Police describe the vehicle the suspect fled in as a green, newer model Honda.
  
  The suspect is described to be in his 30s.
  
  Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detec
  
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• BPD: 2 women stole from Walmart on Gosford Rd.

  12-12-2014 23:01
  
  The Bakersfield Police Department is looking for two women they say stole items from the Walmart store located at 5075 Gosford Rd.
  
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• BPD looking for two suspects wanted for burglary

  12-12-2014 22:56
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The Bakersfield Police Department is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating the following suspects wanted for Shoplifting.
  
  According to the BPD, two suspects entered the Walmart store located at 5075 Gosford Rd. and concealed items in a suitcase, then left the store without paying for the items.
  
   Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Rick Dossey at 661-326-3504 or the Bakersfield Police Departm
  
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• Dow drops 300 as oil drags down markets

  12-12-2014 22:52
  
  Oil hauled stocks lower again on Friday, with all major indexes scoring sizable losses. The Dow industrials closed down 315.51 points, or almost 1.8 percent, capping the worst week for the index this year.
  
  The S&P 500 shed 1.6 percent.The Nasdaq declined 1.2 percent.
  
  Brent crude slipped to $61.35 a barrel, its lowest since July 2009, while WTI crude was last down almost 4 percent at $57.66 as worries persisted over a global supply glut and sluggish demand. Oil prices fell after th
  
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• 3 students shot at alternative high school in Portland

  12-12-2014 22:20
  
  Three people were shot at Rosemary Anderson High School in Northeast Portland, Portland Police said.
  
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• County braces for budget hit as crude oil price falls

  12-12-2014 21:33
  
  Kern County faces around a $30 million dollar budget deficit in the next fiscal year if the precipitous drop in the price of crude oil persists, a country analyst said Friday.
  
  U.S. crude fell to $57.81 a barrel Friday. The commodity has lost about 11 percent this week.
  
  Energy companies cut 29 oil drilling rigs in the United States this week, the most in two years, as oil prices kept sliding, bringing crude down 47 percent since June, data showed Friday.
  
  The U.S. is producing the
  
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• PHOTO GALLERY: A golden 50th for iconic clocktower

  12-12-2014 21:00
  
  A small group gathered Friday morning to mark the Beale Memorial Clocktower's 50th anniversary.
  
  Californian photographer Casey Christie shares these images from the event.
  
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• BPD arrest 3 for burglary, looking for 2 more

  12-12-2014 20:57
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Bakersfield police have arrested three suspects in connection with a string of organized retail thefts, but are still searching for two more.
  According to the BPD, a group of suspects were involved in retail thefts for numerous businesses throughout Bakersfield. 
  The suspects reportedly entered these businesses and intimidated employees before leaving with merchandise.
  Detectives from the General Crimes Detail were assigned the cases and were able to identify each
  
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• Huge storm closes freeways, kills power in and around Bakersfield

  12-12-2014 20:48
  
  Bakersfield was spared the torrential rains that crippled northern California this week but what it did get Thursday night and Friday forced highway closures, downed trees big and small and caused widespread power outages throughout town.
  
  And more rain was coming.
  
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• Update in TUHS shooting trial jury deliberations

  12-12-2014 20:17
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The jurors have asked for testimony to be read back to them at the Taft High shooting trial.
  
  Jurors said they want to hear the testimony of Rebecca Jackson, a friend of Oliver who testified he warned her something bad would happen at the school the day before the shooting.
  
  There was a motion to have the defendant present during the reading but that motion was denied.
  
  Testimony read back is not considered a critical stage so Oliver will not be present. 
  
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• Nonprofits to benefit from AGM-hosted Bakersfield Holiday Toy Drive

  12-12-2014 19:54
  
  The on-and-off rain Friday morning did not stop Santa's helpers from waving and smiling as motorists made their way down Ming Avenue and Wible Road.
  
  With buckets in hand, staff from American General Media scattered down Ming Avenue receiving a buck or two for the first Bakersfield Holiday Toy Drive hosted by AGM.
  
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• Glorious Christmas this weekend in Bakersfield

  12-12-2014 19:54
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The highly-popular Festival of Christmas opened last night, with a benefit performance for low income and disadvantaged families in the Bakersfield area.     Glorious Christmas is an entertaining mix of traditional Christmas music with a spiritual message of faith.
  The show includes flying angels, toy soldiers, and a giant singing Christmas tree 
  "It's something we love doing for the community," said producer/ director Rick Moore. "It's
  
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• Technical and weather issues delay deliveries

  12-12-2014 19:24
  
  The Californian had several issues Thursday night that delayed the press start by approximately three hours. Some issues were technical and some were due to the weather.
  
  First, a page transmission issue arose from The Californian's switch to a new system. Then, a power surge at The Californian's press facility due to the storm caused the loss of several digital pages. Finally, a bad electrical re
  
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• Highway weather updates

  12-12-2014 19:09
  
  Update:
  
  10:18 a.m.
  
  Northbound 99 near Bear Mountain Blvd now open.
  
  ____________________________________
  
  10 a.m.
  Southbound 99 is now open near Taft Highway. 
  Northbound 99 near Bear Mountain Blvd is still closed.
  
  ____________________________________
  
  8 a.m.
  
  Northbound & Southbound Hwy 99 shut down due to flooding. Southbound traffic is being diverted at Taft Highway. Northbound traffic is diverted to Highway 223 to Union Avenue, and then back onto
  
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• Law enforcement to crack down on drunk drivers

  12-12-2014 18:35
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Local law enforcement will be cracking down on impaired drivers this holiday season.
  The Bakersfield Police Department's zero tolerance crackdown begins tonight, Dec. 12, and runs through Jan. 5.
  The BPD said there's an increase in drunk driving related fatalities around the holidays each year.     The public is asked to call 911 and report drivers they suspect of being under the influence.
  
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• Christmas tree shopping: Cost vs. convenience

  12-12-2014 18:13
  
  Some U.S. consumers are going over the Internet or through the woods to find fresh Christmas trees this year, taking advantage of shopping options at opposite ends of the cost spectrum.
  
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• Law enforcement join to donate Christmas baskets

  12-12-2014 18:07
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The Kern County Sheriff's Depatment, the Bakersfield Police Department, and W.A. Thompson Distributors, will join together again this year to deliver 400 Christmas food baskets to local families in need.
  
  Baskets will be delivered on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The gift baskets are made possible through generous donations from benefit associations, volunteer organizations and business owners throughout Kern County.
  
   The Christmas food baskets consist of two large boxes of
  
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• Chrysler expands air bag recall

  12-12-2014 18:06
  
  Chrysler is bowing to demands from U.S. safety regulators and will add about 179,000 vehicles to a recall for air bags that could explode with too much force.
  
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• Storm aftermath: Kern County deals with flooding, wind damage

  12-12-2014 18:00
  
  Flooding closed Kern County highways Friday morning after a big storm blew through. The worst of the storm, and most of the highway closures had ended by midday.
  
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• Kern County highways closed after storm flooding

  12-12-2014 18:00
  
  Several highways are closed Friday morning after a big storm blew through Kern County.
  
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• Kern County deals with flooding, wind damage from storm

  12-12-2014 18:00
  
  Flooding closed Kern County highways Friday morning after a big storm blew through, with more rain expected through the day.
  
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• Storm blast wreaks havoc on Kern roadways

  12-12-2014 17:40
  
  The worst storm to hit California in years left Kern County wind-whipped and drenched Friday with hard closures on Highway 99 in Delano and in south Bakersfield.
  Highway 99 was closed at Taft Highway in both north and southbound direction as of  8 a.m.  The CHP enforced a similar hard closure in Delano on Highway 99 at Cecil Avenue.  Mud and water also forced the shutdown of the Ming Avenue on ramp to Highway 99 around 7:30 a.m.  In both cases traffic was being detoured ar
  
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• School Delays, closures for Kern County

  12-12-2014 17:35
  
  Most schools in Kern County remain open despite heavy rain, flooding and power outages.
  
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• Jury deliberating in case against Bryan Oliver

  12-12-2014 17:33
  
  The trial against accused Taft High School shooting suspect Bryan Oliver is now in the hands of the jury. A verdict is expected any day now.
  
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• Mudflows spur evacuations in Southern California

  12-12-2014 17:19
  
  A dangerous storm system blamed for two deaths in Oregon, thousands of power outages in Washington and flooded roadways in the Bay Area that kept many from work and school pushed into Southern California on Friday, causing mudslides and evacuations.
  
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• Major storm sweeps through Southern California

  12-12-2014 17:19
  
  After drenching Northern California the previous day, the storm dumped up to 5 inches of desperately needed rain in Southern California. A landslide left 10 homes uninhabitable and fire officials executed a dramatic rescue of two people from the Los Angeles River.
  
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• Senate to take up $1.1T bill to keep govt running

  12-12-2014 16:24
  
  A battle between the Senate's old school veterans and new-breed freshmen such as tea partier Ted Cruz and liberal Elizabeth Warren is taking shape Friday as leaders push for passage of a $1.1 trillion spending bill needed to keep the government running.
  
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• Road Closures throughout Kern County

  12-12-2014 16:21
  
  The Californian Highway Patrol is saying that areas around Kern County are starting to flood due to the rainy weather and officials are starting to close down roadways. 
  
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• Winds cause big mess around Kern County

  12-12-2014 08:41
  
  Power outages continued through Thursday night as strong winds blew everywhere, knocking down powerlines and several trees.
  
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• Monster storm rips through Kern County with a vengeance

  12-12-2014 07:29
  
  Here it comes. The weather front some are calling Stormageddon blew into Kern County Thursday, bringing winds that surpassed the standard for a category-one hurricane.
  
  Winds approaching 80 mph hit Grapevine Peak at about 8 p.m. -- 74 mph qualifies as a low-level hurricane -- and wind gusts at Meadows Field exceeded 50 mph, according to meteorologist Christine Riley of the National Weather Service in Hanf
  
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• PG&E: Power outages in Bakersfield, 3k+ affected

  12-12-2014 05:59
  
  About 3,000 Bakersfield residents have no power due to the strong storm that's currently making it's way to Bakersfield. 
  
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• Kern County Weather maps, alerts, temps

  12-12-2014 05:47
  
  23ABC News and our Storm Shield Doppler meteorologists are tracking the Kern County winter storm and have you covered.
  
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• Plan your commute through winter storm

  12-12-2014 05:43
  
  You'll probably want to leave a little early for work Friday morning considering the amount of rainfall that's expected.
  
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• Students compete in Oral Language Festival

  12-12-2014 05:04
  
  A group of about 20 students from Standard and Bearsley Middle Schools went in front of a crowd for a special competition.
  
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• Friends of dead man suspected love triangle among wife, victim and accused killer

  12-12-2014 04:21
  
  Jonathan Michael Hearn was described by someone who knew him as "the smartest man he's ever met."
  
  But that same man, according to redacted Kern County Sheriff's Office reports, said Hearn, 24, of Hesperia, was capable of murder and it couldn't be "put past him."
  
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• Parents of the developmentally disabled express concern over lack of services

  12-12-2014 04:18
  
  More than 50 people attended a meeting Thursday with a panel of officials with the California Department of Developmental Services and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to share how recent budget cuts have hurt the needs of developmentally disabled county residents.
  At the four-hour meeting held at the Exceptional Family Center on North Sillect Avenue, the impact of the cuts on the H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center was
  
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• Good Samaritan worries after 4th crash in his neighborhood

  12-12-2014 03:56
  
  A Good Samaritan who lives in southwest Bakersfield says he was first on the scene of a deadly crash Wednesday morning, and it's the fourth accident just yards from his front door.
  
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• DEA restrictions a pain for those with legitimate prescriptions

  12-12-2014 03:45
  
  “The DEA stepped in and decided to make it a harder product to get,” said Diana Lee of Lee’s Pharmacy.
  
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• Strong winds hit southwest, BPD: avoid area

  12-12-2014 03:34
  
  The day started with blustery winds around Bakersfield with leaves and debris cluttering streets around town, but that soon changed when dangerous blowing dust hit the city hard, reducing visibility on the roads to near-zero. 
  
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• Digester project near Tulare would turn organic waste into renewable transportation fuel

  12-12-2014 03:02
  
  Food processors, dairies and others in Kern County may soon have a new place to send their organic waste -- and with it, a new source of renewable, compressed natural gas.
  
  This month, two state agencies awarded grants totaling $8 million to help fund construction of a $25-million biogas digester outside Tulare believed to be the first commercial-scale project of its kind in the Central Valley.
  
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• Council, supervisors to talk high-speed rail settlement

  12-12-2014 02:48
  
  The Bakersfield City Council will likely meet next week to discuss settling its lawsuit against the multi-billion dollar bullet train, City Attorney Ginny Gennaro said Thursday.
  
  Bakersfield filed a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit in June to stop the train, alleging the project's environmental impact report is "legally inadequate."
  
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• Jury continues to deliberate in Bryan Oliver trial

  12-12-2014 02:42
  
  Jurors deliberated for five hours Thursday but did not reach a verdict in the trial of school shooter Bryan Oliver.
  The jury of seven women and five men left the courthouse at 4:30 p.m. and will resume deliberations 9 a.m. Friday. Thursday was the first full day of deliberations following an 11-day trial, and just 10 minutes of deliberations Wednesday.
  
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• Woman struck by two different vehicles on Niles

  12-12-2014 01:58
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - A woman is in the hospital with major injuries after being struck twice by two different vehicles while walking through an intersection last night in east bakersfield.
  According to the California Highway Patrol, 57-year-old Maria Elena Frias was struck by a 2014 Nissan Rogue while in the crosswalk of Niles Street and Webster Street, driven by 42-year-old Patricia Castillo.     After being struck by the Nissan, CHP officials said Frias was then run-over while
  
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• Funeral services for Dec. 12, 2014

  12-12-2014 01:44
  
  Services scheduled
  
  Julie A. Busby, 99, Bakersfield, Dec. 6. Service 10 a.m. Dec. 15, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara Funeral Directors.
  
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• Strong winds and dust causing low visibility in southwest

  12-12-2014 01:43
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Bakersfield Police are advising residents to exercise caution in the southwest area because of extreme low visibility.
  
  The particular areas of concern are around Panama Lane and Gosford, where it is reported there is zero visibility.
  
  BPD is also reporting there are numerous crashes in the area.
  
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