Bakersfield news

• Obama administration unveils new fracking rules

  20-03-2015 23:24
  
  (NBC News) Fracking has dramatically increased oil and gas production in the U.S. by driving down prices and helping the economy.But according to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, new rules are needed.Pumping high pressure water and chemicals deep into solid rock until the rock fractures and frees the oil and gas can pollute ground water and, some charge, even cause earthquakes.The first-ever federal fracking rules would apply only on federal and Indian lands.They would require reinforced
  
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• Local educator wins prestigious award

  20-03-2015 23:19
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA  - A local educator was selected as one of the recipients for the California Teachers Association's Human Rights Awards.
  
  Union leader Michelle S. Johnson, president of the Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association, won the Lois Tinson Human Rights Award, named after the first African-American president of CTA. 
  
  Johnson is the second African-American president of her union, and its youngest. She is actively involved in engaging the Bakersfield community in a
  
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• Plea agreement reached in kidnapping case

  20-03-2015 23:08
  
  A plea agreement was reached in a case where the boyfriend of a mother was accused of helping her kidnap her two and a half year old daughter.
  
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• BPD looking to change zoning areas

  20-03-2015 23:00
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Police Department is making changes to its zoning areas.
  Last year, BPD broke up zoning into six parts.     This year, the department added a lieutenant and a community relations specialist to each beat.
  Both positions were filled after a 2014 study from the International Association of Chiefs of Police found areas of inefficiency.     However, changes began back in 2013 when police service beats were downsized.
  The departmen
  
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• Life changing work happening at St. Jude

  20-03-2015 22:32
  
  "Your child has cancer." Those are the words thousands of parents will hear every year before they decide to make the journey to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to find a cure. 
  
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• Vehicle theft crime prevention tips

  20-03-2015 22:23
  
  The Kern County Sheriff's Office has provided some crime prevention safety tips to help citizens prevent vehicle theft.
  
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• KCSO offering tips to prevent vehicle theft

  20-03-2015 22:21
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Kern County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide some crime prevention safety tips to help citizens prevent vehicle theft. 
  
  According to KCSO, the following tips will help reduce crime and increase quality of life.
  
  1.      Install an alarm and/or vehicle tracking system. 
  
  2.      Install an ignition kill switch. If stolen, you can disable your car and render it inoperable, making it useless to a thief.
  
  3.
  
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• Lawsuit: Dangerous arsenic levels found in California wine

  20-03-2015 21:47
  
  More than two dozen California vintners are facing a lawsuit claiming their wines contain dangerously high levels of arsenic.
  
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• Man's body found in California high school pool

  20-03-2015 21:46
  
  A man's body was found in a swimming pool at a Northern California high school.
  
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• Police: Man kills fellow senior housing resident, himself

  20-03-2015 21:45
  
  Police say a man who lived at a senior housing complex in Silicon Valley fatally shot a fellow resident before killing himself.
  
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• Pet of the week for March 20, 2015

  20-03-2015 21:39
  
  Norman is our KGET Pet of the Week. This young pup is eight weeks old and is just like all puppies -- he loves to chew and needs lots of play toys.
  Norman was abandoned at the shelter by his owner.  
  Norman still needs to be neutered, but will be available for adoption on Saturday.
  If you're interested in adopting our pet of the week, you can call the SPCA at 323-8353, or go down and visit the many animals they have up for adoption at the Bakersfield SPCA located at 3000 Gibson St. i
  
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• California unemployment rate dips to 6.7 percent in February

  20-03-2015 21:38
  
  California's unemployment rate fell for the second consecutive month since the start of the year to 6.7 percent in February, a state agency reported Friday.
  
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• Local man to serve four years for sex with a minor

  20-03-2015 20:57
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The man accused of molesting a 14-year-old Taft girl took a plea deal earlier this week.
  Efrain Velasco-Palacios pleaded no contest Tuesday to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.     He is expected to be sentenced April 15 to four years and four months in prison.      Five felony counts in another molestation case against Velasco-Palacios were dismissed in July 2013, whi
  
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• Students learn about careers in the justice system

  20-03-2015 20:45
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Local students witnessed first-hand how our justice system works while attending the Careers in Court event on Friday.
  Around 140 students from Project Best Black Excellence in Schoalrship and Teaching, and black student unions gathered in court learning more about the justice system.      They are spending the day downtown with local law enforcement and legal community partners, learning about the fields of criminal law, corrections, law enforcement, pro
  
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• Delano school district names new interim superintendent

  20-03-2015 20:39
  
  DELANO, CA - The Delano Union School District has named a new interim superintendent while the search continues for a permanent replacement.
  At a meeting on Thursday, board members appointed Gary Rice as the interim superintendent.
  Rice was the Greenfield School District's superintendent before retiring.
  
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• Oilfield jobs take a hit in latest unemployment report

  20-03-2015 20:22
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - New unemployment numbers are out for February in Kern County, and they show unemployment remains mostly stagnant.
  The rate went down just slightly from 11.1 percent in January, to 11 percent in February.     Numbers show that layoffs in the oil industry continue, though the pace has slowed significantly from the beginning of the year.
  The jobs lost in Kern County oil fields for the month of February total about 1,200.     Unemployment year to
  
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• Walmart hiring for new Neighborhood Market stores in Bakersfield

  20-03-2015 20:04
  
  Walmart will hire as many as 190 people for its two new Neighborhood Market stores, opening this summer in Bakersfield.
  
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• Bakersfield woman arrested for stealing from elderly man

  20-03-2015 20:04
  
  TAFT, CA - A Bakersfield woman accused of stealing from a 93-year-old man in Taft has been arrested.
  According to deputies, 50-year-old Olga Davidson of Bakersfield was found sitting on the front porch of the residence of the victim. 
  During an investigation, deputies learned that Davidson was found by a neighbor inside of the 93-year-old's residence and that a specific amount of cash was missing from the victim's bedroom.
  The victim was not aware of her presence inside the home.
  A
  
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• Drought, warmer weather increase snakebite dangers for pets

  20-03-2015 19:24
  
  Rattlesnake season has come early this year. In the past week and a half, three pets have already been taken to the hospital for bites, just in the Tehachapi area.
  
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• Drought, warmer weather increase snakebite dangers

  20-03-2015 19:24
  
  Rattlesnake season has come early this year. In the past week and a half, three pets have already been taken to the hospital for bites, just in the Tehachapi area.
  
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• School program helping teen girls cope with life

  20-03-2015 19:10
  
  Every Tuesday and Thursday, a group of 40 girls at Compton Junior High spend their lunch time talking about life struggles and personal issues.
  
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• Hit-and-run vic 'Shorty' remembered as 'very generous' man

  20-03-2015 19:04
  
  Family and friends are remembering Lauren “Shorty” Bristol, who was killed last weekend in a hit-and-run crash.
  
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• Elementary school in Weldon closes due to declining enrollment

  20-03-2015 18:41
  
  Students will be relocated from the South Fork Elementary School campus to the middle school.
  
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• KCSO: Woman stole from 93-year-old Taft man

  20-03-2015 18:26
  
  Taft deputies from the Kern County Sheriff's Office said they have arrested a Bakersfield woman for stealing from a 93-year-old Taft man.
  
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• Bakersfield woman accused of stealing from 93-year-old man

  20-03-2015 18:20
  
  A Bakersfield woman is accused of stealing money from a 93-year-old Taft man.
  
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• Walmart hiring for two new Bakersfield stores

  20-03-2015 18:12
  
  Walmart will hire up to 190 associates to work at two new Walmart Neighborhood Markets that are slated to open this summer in Bakersfield.
  
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• Navy identifies SEAL killed in training accident

  20-03-2015 18:10
  
  Navy officials say a SEAL killed when his parachute malfunctioned during training in Southern California was a 29-year-old Colorado man who completed basic training to become a SEAL last year.
  
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• Apartment fire prompts evacuations

  20-03-2015 18:09
  
  People were evacuated for a fire early Friday morning.
  
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• Man injured by hit-and-run driver

  20-03-2015 18:03
  
  A man was injured overnight by a hit-and-run driver.
  
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• District holds cook-off for new menu items

  20-03-2015 17:46
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Young chefs are looking to add their own recipes to school lunch menus, following a district-wide cook-off.
  The Bakersfield City School District held a cook-off competition on Thursday, called "The Golden Spork Awards."     Students and adults from the district's 43 school cafeterias made their favorite dishes over at Thorner Elementary School.     They will be taste-tested by more than 400 students in the after school magnet programs.
  
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• Walmart hiring for two new locations

  20-03-2015 17:18
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Walmart is currently looking o hire employees for two new stores opening in Bakersfield this summer.
  
  Walmart will hire up to 190 associates for two new Neighborhood Markets.
  
  If you are interested in applying, there is a temporary hiring center opened at 4616 California Ave. 
  
  Applications will be accepted Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interested applicants may also apply online at http://careers.walmart.com. 
  
  Additionally, Walmart o
  
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• Golden State Mall gets new owner

  20-03-2015 16:42
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Golden State Mall is under new ownership.
  According to the assessor's office, a deed was filed to transfer ownership to the Canyon Hills Assembly of God, and Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God.     In a statement released on March 19, Canyon Hills representatives said it is stll in the planning stages on what the building will be used for, but are looking to revitalize and restore the historic property.     The mal
  
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• Stuff the Bus food drive taking place today

  20-03-2015 15:53
  
  Kern County needs your help donating for an annual, locally conducted food drive called "Stuff the Bus."
  
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• The Bakersfield Music Theater is bringing Dancing with the Stars to Bakersfield

  20-03-2015 15:10
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA.-The Bakersfield Music Theater is bringing Dancing with the Stars to Bakersfield. In just one week, local community members will dance with professional choreographers in an effort to raise $50,000 for the theater. 
  
  Ryann and her partner have been practicing over the last few weeks, trying to get each step just right, as this will be no easy competition. Not with competitors like county supervisor Leticia Perez and attorney David Torres. 
  
  Which couple will st
  
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• Racist graffiti found at Park at Riverwalk

  20-03-2015 03:27
  
  Vivica Flynn took her daughter to play at the Park at Riverwalk when, to their surprise, it was surrounded with caution tape.
  
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• World War II-era biplane helps dying man complete bucket list

  20-03-2015 02:37
  
  Taft Union High School graduate Tim Caudill is fighting what his doctors say is a losing battle with cancer. It's Stage IV, and it’s in his pancreas. Thursday morning, the thing to do was to fulfill a dream – riding in World War II-era biplane.
  
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• NCAA bracket picks

  20-03-2015 02:36
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - We're bringing back the Bako Brackets for the men's NCAA tournament. Lina Washington caught up with a mascot, a six-year old and a dog who all dropped some knowledge on who she should pick in the big dance.
  
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• Armed suspect shot after SWAT standoff has died

  20-03-2015 02:31
  
  An armed man suspected in a Wednesday night shooting in Northwest Bakersfield is dead after being shot by the SWAT team after a standoff, according to Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood. 
  
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• Standoff, deadly officer-involved-shooting in northwest Bakersfield

  20-03-2015 02:22
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - One man is dead and another man in the hospital in what police believe is a love triangle that sparked a shooting Wednesday night and a SWAT standoff Thursday morning.
  
  Police say a former Department of Corrections worker shot a corrections sergeant Wednesday night -- then was shot by BPD SWAT team members in that standoff Thursday.
  
  Late Thursday afternoon, the coroner's office says the man shot, 36-year-old Robert Burdge, died at Kern Medical Center.
  
  Bakersfield
  
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• Girl Scout teaches students about aging

  20-03-2015 01:35
  
  Less than 5 percent of Girl Scouts earn the highest honor of the Gold Award, but 17-year-old Ireland Eckard just crossed the finish line to achieve hers.
  
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• United Way of Kern County awards $240K to local agencies

  20-03-2015 01:28
  
  The United Way of Kern County said Thursday that it has warded $240,000 in Community Impact grants to nine local agencies.
  
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• BP double-billed government, others for clean-up, state says

  20-03-2015 01:11
  
  California officials say oil giant BP double-billed the government and insurance companies for clean-up of old gas-storage sites.
  
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• California has no ban on use of private email by officials

  20-03-2015 01:06
  
  California has no blanket policy restricting the use of personal email accounts to conduct government business, and it's among about two dozen states that have no clear rules or legal rulings addressing whether those communications are public records.
  
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• Watch: Boiler explodes like a bomb in Bellingham, Wash. home

  20-03-2015 00:43
  
  A boiler turned into a bomb inside a bellingham home and the family's nanny-cam captured the powerful explosion on camera.
  
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• Device not explosive at Waste Facility

  20-03-2015 00:01
  
  The Kern County Sheriff's Office was called out to a possible explosive device at Kern County Special Waste Facility in the 4900 block of Standard Street around 1:10 p.m. on Thursday.
  
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