Bakersfield news

• Students partake in NASA's Day of Remembrance

  28-01-2015 23:56
  
  NASA pays tribute each year to the crews of Apollo 1 shuttles, Challenger and Columbia and other colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice for science.
  
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• BPD: Men stole money from La Mina restaurant

  28-01-2015 23:56
  
  The Bakersfield Police Department is asking the community for help in identifying and locating men who they say burglarized the La Mina restaurant located at 1300 Coffee Road.
  
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• NFL players who started young show more thinking problems

  28-01-2015 23:54
  
  NFL veterans who started playing tackle football before the age of 12 are more likely to have cognitive difficulties after their careers, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal Neurology.
  
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• 4 buddies win record-setting $736,575 in 'World Series' of NFL betting

  28-01-2015 23:33
  
  For each of the regular season's 17 weeks, contestants pick the team to beat the sports book's point spread in five different games. When the regular season ended Dec. 28, the foursome that called itself the CH Ballers was the clear victor, picking correctly in 64 out of 85 games.
  
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• Moderate earthquake strikes Northern California coast

  28-01-2015 23:27
  
  A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 has struck off the coast of Northern California.
  
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• California declares e-cigarettes a health threat

  28-01-2015 23:00
  
  California health officials on Wednesday declared electronic cigarettes a health threat that should be strictly regulated like tobacco products, joining other states and health advocates across the U.S. in seeking tighter controls as "vaping" grows in popularity.
  
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• World Ag Expo is Feb. 10 in Tulare

  28-01-2015 22:49
  
  The 48th annual World Ag Expo is next month in Tulare County.
  
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• Griffith Park is most popular LA filming location

  28-01-2015 21:50
  
  The city-owned park, covering 4,130 acres, finished ahead of the downtown Herald-Examiner building and the 6th Street Bridge on the list of most popular Los Angeles film sites, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
  
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• LA County issues alert for mosquito-borne illness

  28-01-2015 21:44
  
  Los Angeles County is alerting physicians and hospitals to be on the lookout for patients with symptoms of a rare mosquito-borne virus.
  
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• California man charged with killing newborn daughter

  28-01-2015 21:41
  
  A Los Angeles-area man was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting, torturing and killing his nearly 3-week-old daughter.
  
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• 2 adults die of flu in Central California

  28-01-2015 21:39
  
  Two men have died of complications from the flu in Central California and sick children are packing area emergency departments.
  
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• Man found shot to death in Pasadena park

  28-01-2015 21:35
  
  Lt. Vasken Gourdikian says officers discovered the body Tuesday night while investigating reports of shots fired near Villa-Parke Community Center.
  
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• Bakersfield father not facing death penalty

  28-01-2015 21:27
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A Bakersfield father charged with conspiring in the murder for hire of his son will not face the death penalty.
  
  George Dean faces first degree murder and child molestation in the August death of his son Jonathan Dean.  Jonathan Dean was shot and killed inside his car in the 7700 block of Silver Dollar Way near the family home.
  
  Police believe George Dean hired teenage hit men to gun down his adopted son because his son was having a sexual relationship w
  
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• AG nominee Lynch defends Obama's immigration policies

  28-01-2015 21:22
  
  Challenged by Republicans, Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch on Wednesday defended President Barack Obama's decision to shelter millions of immigrants from deportation though they live in the country illegally. But she said they have no right to citizenship under the law.
  
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• Meet our 23ABC Pet of the Week, Wink

  28-01-2015 20:02
  
  Meet our 23ABC Pet of the Week, Wink! She is a one-year-old short-hair domestic cat looking for a good home.
  
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• High school drama teacher accused of child rape

  28-01-2015 20:01
  
  A teacher from Evergreen High School has been arrested on four counts of child rape, according to Vancouver Police.
  
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• Encouraging others to volunteer

  28-01-2015 19:59
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Laura Mitts grew up in a military family. "My father had his leg blown off in the Korean War, lived with it, he was only 19. He never let it stop him from doing anything."
  
  Seeing "American Sniper" hit close to home.  "I stood up to move over to let other people out and I had to sit back down I was that moved and really kind of moved as I walked out of the theater and it hit me, I just have to do something."
  
  Mitts shared her feelings
  
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• New hen-cage law translates to higher egg prices

  28-01-2015 19:17
  
  Farmers are forced to spend more money on bigger cages for their hens, so now they have to start selling their eggs at a higher price to accommodate for the extra cost.
  
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• CSU chancellor calls for increasing grad rates to 60 percent

  28-01-2015 19:10
  
  The chancellor of the California State University on Tuesday set a new goal for students — increase graduation rates to 60 percent by 2025.
  
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• Taxpayers without insurance may face big bill

  28-01-2015 17:36
  
  Many taxpayers facing their first tax season since implementation of the Affordable Care Act are in for a rude awakening.
  
  "I'm shocked at the number of people who are coming in in a panic who are surprised that they have to pay a tax penalty," said Bakersfield H&R Block enrolled agent Joyous Spicer. "I have people who just didn't believe the tax penalty was real."
  
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• 'First Look': First News for Jan. 28

  28-01-2015 16:34
  
  Lead stories from "First Look with Scott Cox's" Top Stories:
  
  SUSPECTS ROB 'CASH FOR GOLD' BUSINESS: Two men robbed a "cash for gold" business Tuesday afternoon, pistol whipping an employee and prompting a lockdown at a nearby elementary school. The robbery occurred at 12:18 p.m. in the 1300 block of Wible Road, according to police. The reporting party said she saw two sus
  
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• Top high school students perform 'Grand Night'

  28-01-2015 08:52
  
  "It's a Grand Night for Music" is the annual honors music festival for students in Kern County. Tuesday night the event returned to the auditorium in Rabobank Arena and more than 600 high school band, orchestra and choir members from across the county traveled to participate.
  
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• Big news for Mesa Marin Sports Complex

  28-01-2015 08:31
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The public was generally for the expansion of the Mesa Marin Sport Complex, but what they really want, is more commercial development in their budding community. The biggest complaint being, the lack of a supermarket. The plan is to eventually double the size of Mesa Marin Sports Complex. Phase two is set for construction this coming fall. A $2.5 million project, for two more lighted softball fields, a children's playground, a dog park, and more parking. Future plans call
  
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• Residents learn about the progress along 178

  28-01-2015 08:14
  
  Progress continues on several city projects taking place in Northeast Bakersfield.  City leaders held a community meeting to gather input and educate people about the many changes taking place.
  
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• Sun World puts focus to grapes

  28-01-2015 07:48
  
  Bakersfield-based Sun World International LLC announced Monday it will exit the citrus, pepper and strawberry markets to focus more specifically on grapes.
  
  As part of this shift the fruit research, production, distribution and marketing company said it has hired a new president and CEO, Merrill N. Dibble, former vice president of California operations at Utah-based farming company AgReserves Inc. He repl
  
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• GET board interviews new, and old, applicants for at-large spot

  28-01-2015 07:47
  
  Howard Silver held the podium, looked out at the Golden Empire Transit District's board of directors and CEO who were interviewing three candidates Tuesday afternoon for an open at-large position and said what did not need saying: There was no need for an introduction.
  
  But Silver, a GET board member for 30 years until this fall when he was removed by the Bakersfield City Council after a five-week-lon
  
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• PG&E suit says contractor's desire to profit played role in demolition accident

  28-01-2015 07:04
  
  A demolition company's desire to profit from favorable conditions in the scrap metal market contributed to the botched demolition of an old power plant along Coffee Road in 2013, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. alleged last week in a lawsuit against the project's general contractor and its parent company.
  
  PG&E, the plant's owner, noted the plant's scrap was of "significant value,&qu
  
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• Supermarket still hot resident request in northeast

  28-01-2015 06:57
  
  Residential development is returning to the northeast, the widening of Highway 178 should start later this year, and a roughly $2.5 million expansion of Mesa Marin Sports Complex is being designed, Bakersfield officials told residents Tuesday night at a community meeting.
  
  Just don’t expect a grocery store. Not yet.
  
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• Delano eighth-grade boy collapses during gym class, dies

  28-01-2015 05:58
  
  An eighth-grade boy collapsed and died during gym class at Cecil Avenue Math and Science Academy Monday morning.
  Delano police said the incident occurred during class after one of the boy's classmates noticed the boy was unresponsive to questions being asked of him.
  
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• HUD provides $3.75 million to help Kern County homeless

  28-01-2015 04:16
  
  The Kern County Homeless Collaborative has received a $3.75 million federal grant to split among 11 community organizations focused on assisting the homeless this year.
  
  Even though 2015 data from the Homeless Census conducted Thursday and Friday has not been compiled, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the funding Tuesday.
  
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• Former teacher sues school district, super.

  28-01-2015 04:09
  
  A former teacher of the Richland School District is suing the school district and former superintendent after an alleged wrongful termination and breach of contract.
  
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• LOIS HENRY: Back when water barons hired undercover agents

  28-01-2015 04:07
  
  Indulge me while I share a fascinating fragment of Kern County history. And, wouldn't ya know, it has to do with water, sort of.
  
  As anyone who's read my columns knows, I love any and all info related to the Kern River.
  
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• 8th grader dies during PE class in Delano

  28-01-2015 04:06
  
  An 8th grader at Cecil Middle School in Delano, Calif., died Monday after collapsing during a PE class.
  
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• Rosedale widening project has owners concerned

  28-01-2015 03:55
  
  The Rosedale widening project that is aimed to add two additional lanes to Rosedale highway has several business owners concerned over the upcoming construction beginning in April.
  
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• February's drought emergency food distribution announced

  28-01-2015 03:55
  
  The Community Action Partnership of Kern will distribute emergency prepackaged food boxes in February to families affected by the drought.
  
  To receive a food box, families must certify they live in a household where drought conditions have caused their underemployment or unemployment.
  
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• Supervisors approve hospital authority transition plan

  28-01-2015 03:52
  
  Plans to create the Kern County Hospital Authority moved from talk to action Tuesday.
  
  Kern County supervisors reviewed and approved a $2 million transition plan that would create the authority and move Kern Medical Center and its employees into authority control.
  
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• Kern County supervisors declare fiscal emergency

  28-01-2015 03:45
  
  The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare a fiscal emergency, allowing the county to tap into its $40 million reserve fund.
  
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• Eighth grader in Delano dies in P.E. class

  28-01-2015 03:26
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A tragic death of a eighth grader in Delano leaves Cecil Avenue Math and Science Academy in mourning. Fourteen-year-old Jose Beltran died Monday after collapsing in his second period P.E. class.
  
  It happened around 9:30 a.m. during a routine run in the gym when witnesses said Beltran became unresponsive and collapsed. School officials said he was given CPR immediately and when the ambulance arrived he was taken to Delano Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced de
  
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• Mexico: Captured drug lord 'Chapo' Guzman to stay put

  28-01-2015 03:03
  
  Captured Sinaloa drug cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman will not be extradited to the United States anytime soon, Mexico's top prosecutor said Tuesday.
  
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• Bakersfield Prayer Breakfast this week

  28-01-2015 02:54
  
  The 35th annual Bakersfield Prayer Breakfast is Thursday morning.
  
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• TRIP plans community meeting for 24th St project

  28-01-2015 02:39
  
  Officials will provide updates on the 24th Street Improvement Project during a community meeting Feb. 4.
  
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• Local veteran given new car

  28-01-2015 02:38
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A Bakersfield veteran is able to burn rubber again. Thanks to a local non-profit, Dallas Christison received a car to replace the one that was recently stolen.
  
  Dallas Christison spent nearly five years in the Army and a year in Iraq, before he came home on medical leave. After his car was stolen, he was in desperate need of a way to get to work so he can provide for his family.
  
  "On behalf of our grateful nation and American Warrior Customs we want to than
  
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• Man suspected of stealing farm equipment in Wasco area

  28-01-2015 02:31
  
  A man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing farm equipment.
  
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• Boy dies after collapsing in Delano gym class

  28-01-2015 02:12
  
  An eighth-grade student has died after collapsing in gym class.
  
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• DOUG GREENER: Don't underestimate the life-saving nature of smoke alarms

  28-01-2015 01:36
  
  Another difficult holiday period of fire-related deaths in our community prompts me, as the Bakersfield fire chief, to offer a life-safety reminder about the value of installing and maintaining smoke alarms in residences. Three fire fatalities within the last four months is unacceptable in any case, but particularly so when they might have been avoided with simple, smart and cheap technology.
  
  Fires insid
  
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• Community meeting next week for 24th Street improvement project

  28-01-2015 01:24
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Those interested in the 24th Street improvement project can learn more at a community meeting next week.  The meeting takes place February 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Rabobank Convention Center. Organizers say this meeting will be held in an open house format and the public is encouraged to attend and provide their input at any time during the three-hour period.
  
  The open house is intended to provide the community with an update on the project’s d
  
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• Funeral Services for Jan. 28

  28-01-2015 01:09
  
  Services scheduled
  
  Sarah Donna Burk, 71, Bakersfield, Jan. 23, Celebration of Life 3 p.m. Jan. 28, Heritage Bible Church, additional info at: kernriverfamilymortuary.com. Kern River Family Mortuary, Oildale.
  
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• Store robbed at gunpoint, employee hit with gun

  28-01-2015 01:04
  
  The Bakersfield Police Department is looking for two men who they say robbed the Original Design store at gunpoint around noon on Tuesday.
  
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• Love Letters for East Bakersfield

  28-01-2015 00:48
  
  The Children First Campaign is hoping to get more love letters to post around Williams School in East Bakersfield for Valentine's Day.
  
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• Spray safe event set for Friday

  28-01-2015 00:00
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Ensuring pesticide spraying safety.  That's the focus of the ninth annual spray safe event taking place Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kern County Fairgrounds.  
  
  Organizers say the program was born in Kern County and created by a group of Kern County farmers to
  reduce spray drift, enhance worker safety and protect public health through more effective communications.
  
  All members of Kern County agriculture are encouraged to attend this year&
  
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