Bakersfield news

• Bakersfield girl has emotional homecoming after sickness

  05-04-2015 19:35
  
  Lydia Ledford returns home after more than three months in the hospital with the flu.
  
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• SW neighbors say blue light is extraterrestrial

  05-04-2015 19:29
  
  Several neighbors living off Alderpointe Street near Panama and Gosford in southwest Bakersfield  say they first witnessed a mysterious blue light in the sky back in February, and again in March. Both times they saw it on the 14th. 
  
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• County leaders push for Easter park cleanup

  05-04-2015 19:11
  
  Easter traditionally kicks off park season for many families around Kern County.
  
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• Easter church services around Kern County

  05-04-2015 18:26
  
  The following is a list of church services happening around Kern County for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.  
  
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• PHOTO GALLERY: Easter around the world

  05-04-2015 17:43
  
  VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis prayed for an end to the persecution of Christians in his Easter Sunday address, commemorating the students massacred by Islamist militants at Garissa University in Kenya. Francis, after saying Mass for thousands of people in a rainy St. Peter's Square, delivered a mostly somber and grim "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message.
  
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• Firefighters raise thousands for Fresno Captain

  05-04-2015 08:13
  
  Being a firefighter means being a part of a larger brotherhood. 
  
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• Dog costume contest supports local rescue

  05-04-2015 04:28
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A spring dog parade and costume contest brought out all sorts of characters Saturday afternoon in northwest Bakersfield.
  Kiku and Kizzy Bear were the top dogs, taking first place in the contest.
  The event at Brimhall Square raised money for Maryley's Mutts.Marley's Mutts is offering low cost spay and neuter vouchers every Saturday this month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart Neighborhood Market on Chester Avenue. Vouchers are $30 and also include a microchip, medicine and rabi
  
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• BPD investigating possible shooting in southeast

  05-04-2015 03:53
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police officials are investigating reports of a shooting on Saturday afternoon in southeast Bakersfield.
  The shooting happened around 1:30 P.M. on Saturday in the 700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.      Bullets appeared to have hit a building.      Police didn't find anyone injured initially, but are still investigating.
  If you have any information on the incident, call BPD at 327-7111. 
  
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• Stay Focused Ministries reaches out with Easter Blast

  05-04-2015 03:48
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Residents stepped out for a fun-filled day with the family at Martin Luther King Jr. Park for an Easter celebration, hosted by Stay Focused Ministries.
  Organizers said the event is a great way to bring unity, hope, joy and fun to the neighborhood.      The organization partnered with the Bakersfield Parks and Recreation Department for the 22nd annual Easter Blast.     Organizers added that maintaining a presence and building trust in the comm
  
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• CHP arrest man in Oildale after chase

  05-04-2015 03:42
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A man is in custody after leading California Highway Patrol officers on a chase through Oildale.     It happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday night on Oildale Drive.     That's when CHP officials said 41-year-old Danny Olivo entered the intersection on Norris Road against a red light and collided with two vehicles.    Olivo then continued on before crashing into a wall and stopping after his vehicle became disabled.     O
  
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• Kids in hospital get an early Easter surprise

  05-04-2015 03:30
  
  BAKERSFIELD -CA - Children staying in the hospital through the holiday weekend got a visit from some good neighbors with an Easter surprise.
  The Dewar family stopped by the Lauren Small Children's Medical Center today to share a little holiday cheer.     Kids received gift baskets with a chocolate bunny, chews, and other fun easter goodies.     One organizer said she experienced a traumatic time when both of her children were in the hospital and saw how generous th
  
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• BPD: bomb threat most likely a hoax

  05-04-2015 03:21
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Police Department is investigating a bomb threat after a man notified police he had explosive devices and was demanding money.
  It happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friday at the Double Tree Hotel off Rosedale Highway.     That's where BPD said a man claimed to have explosive devices inside the building.    The man said he had access to weapons and was demanding money before a deadline he gave them.     They say he also to
  
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• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Workshop in Delano

  05-04-2015 03:02
  
  Bakersfield, CA - With the last day to file just 11 days away, local volunteers are helping taxpayers file on time. If you make $55,000 a year or less, there is a program offering free tax assistance. The program is called VITA or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.
  Saturday afternoon Assemblymen Rudy Salas hosted a VITA workshop in Delano, with IRS certified volunteers.
  Airica Belis works as a field representative for Salas she says this workshop is open to everyone with translators availabl
  
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• Rundown of California drought stories

  05-04-2015 02:50
  
  With the announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown of a 25 percent reduction in water use due to the state's longterm drought, news agencies around the country began to look at all aspects of the drought. In addition, politicians began looking at the issues and who to blame, including Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield).  
  
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• Funeral services April 5, 2015

  05-04-2015 01:46
  
  Services scheduledNicolas Gomez III, 51, Bakersfield, March 29. Visitation 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. April 8, Basham Funeral Care Chapel; burial Greenlawn Cemetery. Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles St.
  
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• Kids hop to it at egg hunt

  05-04-2015 01:13
  
  With 10,000 plastic Easter eggs strewn across the field, every bunny was a winner at Murray Family Farm's "Easter Fun on the Farm" event Saturday. Hunters retreated with baskets full of eggs and even more left out in the grass.
  "It was fun!" said 4-year-old Logan Hitchcock. "I got two baskets (full of eggs), one for my baby brother and one for me."
  
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• New high school math books on the way

  05-04-2015 01:00
  
  For the first time in eight years, the Kern High School District is adopting new math textbooks and is now at the point where it wants community input. A KHSD textbook review committee of 20 teachers and nine administrators analyzed texts from about a dozen publishers and has narrowed its list down to three.
  
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• Pensions throw wrinkle into library privatization talk

  05-04-2015 00:00
  
  There is, at first glance, an elegant simplicity to the idea of privatizing Kern County's troubled library system. Take retirement costs, for example.
  
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• Other privatized libraries flourish

  05-04-2015 00:00
  
  Kern County isn't treading new ground as it considers library privatization. Library Systems & Services Inc. operates more than 40 libraries in seven cities and two counties in California, its website says.
  
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