Bakersfield news

• HWY 178 widening program gets approval

  23-04-2015 23:24
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - The next phase of construction on Highway 178 has been given the go-ahead by officials.
  The Bakersfield City Council awarded a $22 million contract to Granite Construction on Wednesday night.     Two thirds of the money will come from the Thomas Roads Improvement Program, the other third will come from the city.     The plan is to widen 178 from Canteria Drive to Miramonte Drive and the Rio Bravo estate area.     According to city o
  
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• CALM developing coast room, challenge course

  23-04-2015 23:22
  
  The California Living Museum is developing a new exhibit — the California Coast Room — to bring native coastal creatures to the zoo, including some that people can touch. The first phase of the exhibit, scheduled to open in January, will feature a touch tank with sea urchins, starfish and other marine wildlife you typically find in tide pools plus a second tank — no touching allowed — with jellyfish.
  
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• Murder charges dismissed, man freed after 34 years in prison

  23-04-2015 23:18
  
  A California man who was freed after serving 34 years of a life sentence for murder had the charges formally dismissed Wednesday.
  
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• Graffiti removal program offered by county

  23-04-2015 23:09
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - A graffiti removal program is available for residents and businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county.  According to a report by the Kern County Grand Jury, the county spends more than $25,000 per year on paint and supplies to remove graffiti.The program is called Graffiti-Off and is conducted through the Kern County General Services Department.The report states the county removes about 10 to 15 tags, or "graffiti sites," a day.
  The Grand Jury defines g
  
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• City council approves emergency water ordinance

  23-04-2015 22:58
  
  We can officially say goodbye to lush, green lawns. Bakersfield residents will have to limit the days and times they can water their lawns.
  
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• Governor may speak at Taft oil summit

  23-04-2015 22:37
  
  Congressman Kevin McCarthy will kick things off and Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens will be the headliner, but the last word at this fall's West Kern Petroleum Summit may go to Gov. Jerry Brown.
  After declining an invitation to the previous summit, in 2013, the governor's office has called twice to express interest in speaking at this year's event, Sheri Horn-Bunk, executive director of the event's organizer, the Taft College Foundation, said Thursday.
  
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• Taft to hold disaster drill

  23-04-2015 22:05
  
  The city of Taft said Thursday that it will conduct a disaster exercise.
  
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• Cesar Chavez to receive military honors

  23-04-2015 21:53
  
  KEENE, CA - Farm labor organizer and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez died 22 years ago but when he was buried, he never received military honors.
  On Thursday, that changed as he was honored posthumously with final military honors.     Chavez served in the U.S. Navy. He died in 1993.
  Active duty and reserve sailors will render the military honors at Chavez's gravesite in Keene, Ca.
  
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• U.S. Navy recognizes Cesar Chavez

  23-04-2015 20:40
  
  Civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is receiving military honors more than 60 years after serving in the U.S. Navy. Family members say he never received graveside military honors which he was eligible to have. 
  
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• Cesar Chavez to get Navy funeral honors 22 years after death

  23-04-2015 20:18
  
  On Thursday, the 22nd anniversary of his death, Chavez will get full graveside honors from the U.S. Navy at his memorial in California.
  
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• Cesar Chavez receives Navy honors 22 years after death

  23-04-2015 20:18
  
  The sister of the late labor leader Cesar Chaves says she could feel her brother's presence at a moving ceremony honoring his Navy service 22 years after his death.
  
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• Pedestrian killed on Hwy 99 in Delano

  23-04-2015 20:09
  
  A pedestrian was hit and killed Wednesday night on southbound Highway 99 in Delano.
  
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• Nightclub lets San Francisco symphony tune in to young fans

  23-04-2015 19:50
  
  A Vegas-style nightclub with high-tech light and sound, video screens and several stages has become San Francisco's hottest venue for classical music.
  
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• Emergency drought ordinance limits outdoor watering

  23-04-2015 19:30
  
  Bakersfield residents will only be allowed to water outdoors three days a week.
  
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• Inmate shot and killed at Kern Valley State Prison identified

  23-04-2015 18:57
  
  An inmate fatally shot while attacking another inmate Wednesday at Kern Valley State Prison has been identified as 27-year-old Jose E. Herrera.
  Herrera was shot by a correctional officer at 10:15 a.m. after refusing commands -- including a warning shot -- to stop attacking an inmate who he and another man had beaten unconscious, according to reports. Herrera died at 11:28 a.m. at Kern Medical Center.
  
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• City Council approves odd-even watering days

  23-04-2015 18:57
  
  The Bakersfield City Council dried up residential landscaping Wednes­day, passing an emergency ordinance that immediately limits outdoor irrigation to three days a week. City Council members expressed regret at having to impose their authority, but hope that the cuts will help Bakersfield water agencies comply with a looming state mandate to cut overall water usage by more than 30 percent.
  
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• Body of man who fell into Delano canal recovered Wednesday

  23-04-2015 18:50
  
  The body of a man who fell into a Delano area canal was recovered late Wednesday afternoon.
  Deputies said a sheriff's Search and Rescue team recovered the body at 4:57 p.m. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
  
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• Man who died in plane crash now identified

  23-04-2015 18:08
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA  - The name of the man killed in a small plane crash near Lebec has been released.
  The pilot was identified as 36-year-old Ryan Scott Ward, according to the coroner's office.
  A Tejon ranch hand found the wreckage on private property last week.
  Ward was flying a Pitts bi-plane, according to officials.     He was from Saint Charles, Missouri.     The FAA and NTSB are investigating but there is no word yet on what led to the crash.
  *photo is of a
  
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• Water restrictions go into effect today

  23-04-2015 17:54
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA - Beginning Thursday, Bakersfield residents will be restricted to watering their lawns to three days a week.
  The emergency water ordinance was passed by the Bakersfield City Council Wednesday night.      That means, no matter who your water supplier is, if you live within the Bakersfield city limits the new water restrictions are in effect.     Your address dictates what days you can water.      According to city officials,
  
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• Eyewitness News wins 2 regional Edward R. Murrow awards

  23-04-2015 17:00
  
  KBAK TV, Eyewitness News in Bakersfield, has won two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for journalistic excellence.
  
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• Can a couple stick to their wedding budget of 5K?

  23-04-2015 16:21
  
  BAKERSFIELD, CA.-Can a bride and groom pull off their big day for just 5K? Tiffany and Andrew are seniors at CSUB counting down the days until they say "I do." They're working students on a budget who want to spend a small amount on the biggest day of their lives. They plan to see if they can really spend just $5,000 on their wedding without sacrificing anything they want.
  Here is the bottom line. As they walk by their past where their love began, they're also moving closer to th
  
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• Obama: U.S. drone kills Americans at al-Qaida compound

  23-04-2015 15:58
  
  An American and an Italian held hostage by al-Qaida, as well as two Americans working with the terror group, were inadvertently killed in U.S. counterterrorism operations earlier this year, the White House said Thursday.
  
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• New city water restrctions have passed

  23-04-2015 08:29
  
  No matter who your water supplier is... if you live within the Bakersfield city limits, starting Thursday the new water restrictions are in effect. This means outdoor watering will be limited to three days a week, and your address dictates what days you can water.City officials say water users with an even numbered address may water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. And water users with an odd numbered address may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They say all outside irrigation is proh
  
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• Man found dead in Delano canal

  23-04-2015 07:31
  
  A man was found dead after falling into a canal in Delano.
  
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• Man falls into Delano canal, dies

  23-04-2015 07:31
  
  A man dies after falling into a canal in Delano.
  
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• Pedestrian struck and killed on Highway 99

  23-04-2015 06:53
  
  DELANO, CA - A pedestrian has died after being struck by a car while trying to cross the southbound lanes of Highway 99 near Garces Highway.The accident happened around 9:30 Wednesday night.The southbound lanes are shut down, and traffic is being taken off the freeway at Garces Highway.The closure is expected to last until around 1 a.m.
  
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• Worth noting: Valley Republic posts record earnings

  23-04-2015 06:14
  
  Valley Republic Bank achieved a fifth consecutive quarter of record earnings during the first three months of this year, the Bakersfield-based institution reported. The bank said its net income from Jan. 1 to March 31 came to $789,000, 32 percent greater than the same period a year before.
  
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• Man who died in plane crash near Lebec ID'd

  23-04-2015 05:39
  
  A person who died from what is believed to be a plane crash near Lebec has been identified. 
  
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• Young male cheerleader breaking barriers

  23-04-2015 04:29
  
  It's a sport that's known for being dominated by females.
  
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• No bomb found at Delano High, teen arrested

  23-04-2015 04:19
  
  The KCSO Bomb Squad has found no bomb at Delano High School, but a juvenile was arrested in connection to the bomb threat. 
  
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• Heritage Park becoming dumping ground for trash

  23-04-2015 04:17
  
  Trash, graffiti and even old furniture are becoming a growing site at an East Bakersfield park. 
  
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• Agency offers training for parents of autistic children

  23-04-2015 04:04
  
  Easter Seals is offering Kaiser Permanente members who care for autistic children free training in effective ways to advance behavioral therapy in the home.
  "We realize that our programs aren't going to be successful if caregivers aren't successful in the home, so there was a real need," said Maridith Resendez, regional clinical director for Easter Seals and co-lead on the Caregiver Training Program, which focuses on the concept of "Educate, Model, Empower, Support."
  
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• After delay, lawmakers advance California vaccine bill

  23-04-2015 03:57
  
  Opponents of a proposal that would require California schoolchildren to be vaccinated vowed to continue their fight after a Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the bill Wednesday.
  
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• Young people, officers find common ground with race cars

  23-04-2015 03:49
  
  Several teens who attend Bridges Career Development Academy spent their day out at the Kern County Raceway Park with law enforcement officers, learning how to fix cars.
  
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• 3 big oil companies announce layoffs, local impacts unknown

  23-04-2015 03:40
  
  Within a span of days, the three biggest oil companies in the world all announced that they’d be getting a little bit smaller.
  
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• Bill in Congress sets deadlines for California water studies

  23-04-2015 03:20
  
  A House panel passed legislation Wednesday designed to speed up the federal government's study of five major water-storage projects in California.
  
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• THE GRADE: What voters think about education

  23-04-2015 03:00
  
  POLL RESULTS ON K-12 SCHOOLS Most Central Valley participants in a statewide poll gave their neighborhood schools passing grades.
  
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• Body pulled from Friant Kern Canal

  23-04-2015 02:41
  
  KCSO Search and Rescue divers pulled a body from the Friant Kern Canal near Lake Woollomes.
  
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• How to keep your grass with water restrictions

  23-04-2015 02:33
  
  With looming water restrictions many have messaged 23 ABC asking if it's possible to keep a green lawn with the restriction of watering only three times a week.
  
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• Inmate fatally shot at Kern Valley State Prison

  23-04-2015 02:33
  
  Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) administrators are investigating the death of an inmate who was fatally shot while he attacked another inmate.
  
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• Missouri man killed in plane crash on Tejon Ranch

  23-04-2015 02:29
  
  Wednesday, the Kern County coroner's office released the name of the pilot, 36-year-old Ryan Scott Ward of Saint Charles, Missouri.
  
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• Police: Delano student falsely claimed to have bomb

  23-04-2015 01:48
  
  The police department said no explosive was found after a student at Delano High School claimed to have a bomb in his backpack.
  
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• Police: Delano student claimed to have bomb, none found

  23-04-2015 01:48
  
  The police department said no explosive was found after a student at Delano High School claimed to have a bomb in a backpack.
  
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• Police: Delano student claimed to have bomb in backpack

  23-04-2015 01:48
  
  A police department commander said a student told a teacher that he had a bomb in his backpack.
  
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• Police investigating bomb threat at Delano HS

  23-04-2015 01:47
  
  DELANO, CA- Delano Police are investigating a suspicious backpack at Delano high school.Police say just before 2:30 Wednesday, Delano High School notified the Delano Police Department in regard to a suspicious backpack, possibly containing an explosive device.
  The Delano Police Department responded and evacuated the school, simultaneously calling for the assistance of the Kern County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad.
  The KCSO Bomb Squad arrived and as of 4:35PM, they're still in the process
  
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• Police arrest teen for bomb threat at Delano HS

  23-04-2015 01:47
  
  DELANO, CA- 
  UPDATED 4/23/15 10:36 a.m.A teen was arrested after a bomb scare at Delano High School Wednesday. Police say the student brought the backpack to school and then told administrators there was bomb in it.The KCSO bomb squad rendered it safe and determined there was no bomb.The teen was cited for making a false report and released to his parents._____________________________________________________________ 
  Delano Police are investigating a suspicious backpack at Delano
  
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• PETA offers $5,000 reward in sea lion pup abduction

  23-04-2015 01:28
  
  A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to help find a sea lion pup that was snatched off a Southern California beach over the weekend.
  
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• Search and Rescue look for man in canal

  23-04-2015 01:27
  
  DELANO, CA- The Kern County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team is looking for a man that fell into a canal while fishing.
  The canal is just south of Delano near Lake Wollomes.The call came in just after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
  
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• Funeral Services for April 23

  23-04-2015 01:25
  
  Services pendingCatarino Camacho Aguirre, 94, Bakersfield, April 22. Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles St.
  
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• Police officer charged with stealing from woman he arrested

  23-04-2015 01:23
  
  A former Hayward police sergeant faces nine felony counts for stealingmore than $450,000 from a mentally ill woman he once arrested.
  
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