Thursday, February 1st, 2018

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 Insurance claims from last year's deadly California wildfires have reached $11.8 billion, making it the most expensive series of wildfires in state history, an official said yesterday. The staggering number exceeds the total insurance claims from the top 10 previously most costly wildfires in California. Until last year, California's most expensive single fire was the 1991 Oakland Hills fire that prompted $2.7 billion in claims in today's dollars, according to data from the Insurance Information Institute.

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The Ridgecrest Police Department arrested a man on Monday after he was found to have methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia within reach of a child. Officers arrested Daniel Donner after they had found his 3 or 4-year-old son who had walked away from their home. While returning the child officers noticed Donner appeared to be under the influence and that he had been unaware that the child had been missing. Following a search of the home, officers had deemed the inside was in unlivable conditions.

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California coffee shops may soon be forced to warn customers about a possible cancer risk linked to their morning jolt of java. The state keeps a list of chemicals it considers possible causes of cancer, and one of them, acrylamide, is created when coffee beans are roasted. A lawsuit first filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2010 by the nonprofit Council for Education and Research on Toxics targets several companies that make or sell coffee, including Starbucks, 7-Eleven and BP. 

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 Average gasoline prices across most of California are now at their highest level in over 850 days, according to Gas Buddy. The statewide average today of $3.30 per gallon is the highest it has been since September 4, 2015, with most major California cities including Los Angeles $3.43, San Francisco $3.34, San Jose $3.23, San Diego $3.38 and Sacramento $3.09. California's average price per gallon stands nearly 20 cents per gallon higher than it started the year and 34 cents ahead of where it was a year ago.

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If you are a Harry Potter fan you may want to head to Barnes & Noble on Saturday, February 3 as the store is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter. 2018 marks 20 years since the U.S. release of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 

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Wednesday, January 31st, 2018

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A Hawaii employee who mistakenly sent an alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile earlier this month, creating a panic across the state, thought an actual attack was imminent, the Federal Communications Commission said yesterday. Hawaii has been testing alert capabilities, and the employee for the state Emergency Management Agency mistook a drill for a real warning about a missile threat. He responded by sending the alert without sign-off from a supervisor at a time when there are fears over the threat of nuclear-tipped missiles from North Korea.

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Historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be renamed United Airlines Memorial Coliseum. The University of Southern California President announced the new name Monday during a ceremonial groundbreaking for a $270 million renovation of the 95-year-old stadium.
 

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2018

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Yesterday the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Bureau of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Public Health offered a workshop in Bakersfield about how commercial marijuana will be tracked. The state is using a track-and-trace system called Metrc . It is a large database that will be used statewide to record the inventory and movement of cannabis from cultivation to sale. All state cannabis licensees will need to use Metrc to be in compliance with state regulations. 

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California City Police are investigating the stabbing death of a woman who was found in a field. Police said the stabbing happened Sunday afternoon near Poppy Boulevard and Barron Avenue. The woman was in her early 20s and was stabbed multiple times. She was taken to a hospital where she later died. Authorities provided very few details into what happened but did say a suspect got away in a black SUV. Anyone with information into the case is asked to call California City police.

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A judge on Monday morning agreed to postpone sentencing for Sabrina Limon from Feb. 16 to Feb. 21. The judge also agreed to rule on Limon's request for a new trial when they reconvene in court Feb. 21. Jurors found last fall that Limon conspired with her lover to kill her husband. She was convicted of murder and several other charges, but she's hired a new attorney and is seeking a new trial.
 

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Welcome to tax season!  This is a little later than usual and people have until April 17 to submit them but there are two good reasons to get taxes done as soon as possible. If someone is due a refund -- eight out of 10 people are -- the quicker taxes are filed, the faster those people will see money back in their pockets. The other big reason is that filing quickly is a highly effective way to prevent identity theft. The agency warns this crime is on the rise. Last year the IRS thwarted nearly 800,000 phony returns. This year, people will actually see a verification code box on the corner when e-filing.

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Comedian Kevin Hart will come to Rabobank Arena on Saturday, May 12, after adding more than 100 new dates to his "Irresponsible Tour."  Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday and can be purchased online via Live Nation. The new dates will kick off March 23 in Baltimore, with tour stops in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.

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A U.S. Marine has been reunited with his belongings after they were stolen during a stop in Bakersfield. The Kern County Sheriff's Office said two people have been arrested in the theft. The Marine's storage trailer was stolen Friday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites on Spectrum Park Way. Stolen along with the trailer were bank cards, uniforms, guns, a memorial burial flag and more personal belongings. Sunday, a deputy spotted a vehicle matching the one connected with the suspects. In the vehicle were Sydney Leanne Waldo and 24-year-old Andrew Darren Crain. The Marine's property was recovered. 

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Two of the candidates for Whiskey Flat Mayor are going to host a free showing of Chuck Barbee's film "Wild West Country" on Sunday, February 11th at the Reel Cinemas. The show will start at 1pm that day. Come meet the Pistol Packin' Preacher and Evangelic Eve. 

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Speaking of good causes, the Eagles in Mtn. Mesa are going to be holding a deep pit BBQ meal on the 23rd of February to raise money to send Wallace Middle Schoolers to Camp Keep. KEEP stands for Kern Environmental Education Program and the kids get to go to the Morrow Bay area to learn about the eco system, teamwork, and to have a very educational adventure. Again, that's the 23rd at the Eagles in Mtn. Mesa. 
 

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Monday, January 29th, 2018

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The worst state in the nation in every way. That's the newest "honor" Florida has been given. Thrillist has created a list to rank each of the 50 states "based on everything," in its Definitive and Final Ranking of All 50 States. The list ranks the states based on their contributions to America, according to their website. Florida came in dead last at number 50. The list ranks the states based on their contributions to America, according to their website. Florida is in the bottom five with Delaware, Ohio, Arizona and Utah. Michigan was declared the number one state 'in every way'. Followed by Maine, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Louisiana. California by the way cracked the top ten, coming in at number 9.

Of course on Saturday, the California Hiway Patrol closed 178 near the mouth of the canyon for several hours while preparing to retreive what was believed to be a body in the Kern River. As it turned out, what they did pull from the water was a mannequin and not a human body. Noble intentions and effort from Kern County Search and Rescue. 

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Kern County Search and Rescue crews were out at Hart Park on Saturday to look for a man who has been missing in the Kern River since June. Juan Torrez went missing after he and four others became stranded in the Kern River over the summer. Search and rescue was able to save the other four members however they were not able to find Torrez. The Sheriff's Office says it has spent more than 1,100 man hours during 15 search missions already to try and find Torrez. On Saturday more than 90 search-and-rescue volunteers assembled to search a 12-mile stretch of the river.

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California City police say they raided 14 illegal marijuana growing operations inside rental homes throughout the city on Friday. Nine suspects were arrested during the crackdown on what police said is "a network of illegal grow operations."  This is the latest in a series of pot-house busts carried out by California City police in the last couple of months.

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While many bettors are taking the Eagles as four-point underdogs in the Super Bowl, other gamblers are wagering that national anthem singer Pink will be airborne at some point during the Star Spangled Banner. People are also betting on things like how many times the outside temperature will be mentioned, What color shades will Justin Timberlake wear for the halftime performance, and even what color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach. By the way, the lime green yellowish punch is the odds on favorite. 

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Donald Trump is launching a major assault on renewable energy in the guise of a free trade policy. His 30 percent tariff announced Monday on solar panel imports from nearly every country around the world deals a major blow to the clean energy industry in the United States. It will cost thousands of jobs here — installation is the big job creator in this industry, not manufacturing — and it will raise costs of solar for California homeowners and utilities. All so the president can further line the pockets of oil and coal tycoons whose industries pollute the environment and deplete the finite supply of fossil fuels.

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Friday, January 26th, 2018

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Want to hit the road like a country music icon? You'll get a chance next month when Merle Haggard's tour bus goes up for sale in Texas. Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels will hold an auction on Feb. 10 featuring a 2008 Motor Coach Industries bus used by Merle. The Austin American-Statesman reports the bus features a vintage train horn, a Santa Fe Super Chief insignia, a master bedroom, four bunks and a lounge area.

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Yesterday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared "California is prospering". It's the 16th such address for the 79-year-old Brown, who served two terms as governor starting in 1975 and returned for two more in 2011. Brown, the son of former Gov. Pat Brown, is termed out of office after the November election. Brown defended two much-scrutinized infrastructure projects that include the bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He's consistently warned that California ought to save for future uncertainty rather than spend. And yet, we have the bullet train. 

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 Remove it, lock it, or lose it. That's the message from Bakersfield Police after seeing an increase in car thefts. BPD officials also saying more than 6,000 cars were stolen in 2016. Over 4,800 vehicles were broken into and 1,680 vehicles stolen totaling over 6,400 vehicles.  Officials advise that you park in well-lit areas, take everything with you when you leave the car, don't leave any visible bags, always protect your car even in places you think are safe.

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 Millennials, for the most part, are a generation of renters, US Census Bureau data shows. There are some places, however, where millennials are overcoming mortgage costs and buying homes, and Bakersfield is one of them, according to a study by SmartAsset. For the second year in a row, Bakersfield comes in third in a study that identified where millennials are buying homes. SmartAsset's study analyzed the 200 largest cities and Bakersfield scores better than 85% of cities in both of the metrics. 

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Thursday, January 25th, 2018

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California's attorney general sued the Trump administration yet again yesterday, this time for rolling back a fracking rule that the state says is designed to protect public health and the environment. The suit challenges the federal Bureau of Land Management's move against the rule that requires drilling companies to disclose what chemicals they've used for fracking.

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The Kern County Sheriff's Office says it will once again conduct a search this weekend for a man who went missing after swimming in the Kern River. Juan Torrez has been missing since June after swimming in the river near Lake Ming. This coming weekend, 90 search-and-rescue volunteers will assemble to again look for Torrez along a 12-mile stretch of the river.

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 A light earthquake has shaken Southern California, and authorities say there have been no reports of damage or injury. The United States Geological Survey reports that the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 occurred just after 2 a.m. this morning. It was centered about eight miles northeast of Trabuco Canyon, which is located 31 miles southeast of Anaheim.

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Local water officials are filtering out a problem in your drinking water, known as 123 TCP. This contaminant was used as a soil fumigant in the 60s and 70s by Dow Chemical and Shell. Over time, it moved into the groundwater and flowed into local water wells, contaminating them with high levels 123-TCP. The best known way of getting rid of the contaminant is through a process known as granulated activated carbon. To help pay for the costs, water companies raised water rates in October 2017. However, a few weeks ago the City of Bakersfield and Cal Water reached a settlement with Dow Chemical and Shell and there is a potential for water rates to go down. 
 

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Wednesday, January 24th, 2018

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USA Today reports Toys R Us will shut down up to 182 stores nationwide as part of the company's bankruptcy reorganization plans. The company says it will try to shrink its number of locations by about 20 percent. According to USA Today, going-out-of-business sales are expected to begin in February. Checking the list of 27 California locations due to close, and Bakersfield is not one of them. 

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The American Lung Association released its latest "State of Tobacco Control" report Wednesday morning and it doesn't paint a pretty picture for the city of Bakersfield or Kern County as a whole. According to the American Lung Association, the report gives out grades for all 482 cities and 58 counties in California when it comes to policies for smoke free outdoor air, smoke free housing, and reducing sales of tobacco products. The report claims that California has the best grades in the country thanks in part to the passage of Proposition 56, which increased taxes on tobacco products. Overall, the cities of Arvin and Taft got the highest grades with Cs. California City, Delano, McFarland, Shafter, Taft, Wasco and Kern County Unincorporated each got Ds. Bakersfield and Maricopa each got Fs.

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Long-time radio talk show host Jaz McKay is out at KNZR in Bakersfield following a racist rant on his personal Facebook page. Last week, McKay came under intense backlash after posting a Facebook Live video showing him making racial slurs aimed at Spanish music radio stations locally.

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Elton John had a press conference today to announce his final world tour. It will begin later this year and go on for 3 years covering every continent on the globe. The tour will begin in the U.S. in Allentown, Pennsivania. 
 

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Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018

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A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska's Kodiak Island early Tuesday, prompting a tsunami warning for a large swath of the state's coast. Officials at the National Tsunami Center canceled the warning after a few tense hours after waves failed to show up in coastal Alaska communities. No serious damage had been reported. The strong earthquake hit at 12:30 a.m. and was recorded about 170 miles southeast of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. Kodiak Island is located about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, which was not under a tsunami threat.

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A Kern County Sheriff's Office deputy shot a 3-year-old Pitbull that broke loose and was attacking a man on Thursday. The dog attacked the man, biting him on his arm and leg. The deputy tried using his taser to stop the dog but it had no effect on the dog and it continued attacking the man, KCSO said.The deputy then fired one shot from his firearm on the dog and it was immobilized. The man was transported by Hall's Ambulance to Kern Medical for his injuries and is in stable condition.

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 When the Hub Fire started, folks in Lake Isabella thought, "Here we go again" with memories of the Erskine Fire still fresh in their minds. On Monday, the man accused of starting that grass fire pleaded no contest to arson charges in court. Investigators say 34-year-old Michael Bustamante started the so-called Hub Fire on June 12 that burned 35 acres just off Red Hill Road. It took some 70 firefighters to contain it. Dozens of homes were threatened, but none burned. Bustamante was arrested two weeks later and charged with arson and attempted arson. Bustamante will be sentenced on Feb. 22.

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Derek Carr, the Bakersfield Christian graduate and current NFL star, was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl on Monday. Carr will replace New England quarterback Tom Brady, who will take the field in Super Bowl LII in two weeks when the Patriots face the Philadelphia Eagles.

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The Kern County Sheriff's Office is warning the public of a phone scam in which the caller claims to be a deputy and threatens the victim with arrest if they don't make a payment. The caller tells the victim they missed jury duty, have a warrant for their arrest or have an unpaid fine. The caller often orders the victim to purchase MoneyPak or Green Dot cards in which to make the payments. These phone scams are common and have been around for years. Every once in a while, the Sheriff's Office or another law enforcement agency will issue a warning about them.
 

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Monday, January 22nd, 2018

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A Bakersfield woman died of the flu this week, according to Kern County Public Health. Michelle Maroney-Placencia died from complications of the flu on Wednesday. Public Health says her death marks this season's first flu-related death for someone under 65-years-old in Kern County.
 

A racial tirade and foul language posted on Facebook has a local radio host in hot water Friday. Jaz McKay of KNZR posted a live Facebook video on his page Thursday night. And Friday afternoon the show had a fill-in. In the Facebook Live video posted on McKay's Facebook page, the man changed the radio dial and made racial slurs about stations playing Mexican music. A former producer of his, Chad Garcia, said this video isn’t anything unusual for McKay.
 

Unemployment in Kern County went up in the last month of 2017. The unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in December. It was 7.2 percent in November. This is still lower than last year's estimate of 10 percent. Meanwhile, the state average of unemployment is 4.2 percent, while the national unemployment rate is 3.9 percent.
 

Another Food Distribution event is happening this morning beginning at 10am at three locations in the Valley. The Senior Center in Lake Isabella, Mtn. Mesa Grace Chapel Community center, and at Canyon Hills Church in Wofford Heights. This a free food distribution and will start at 10am and go until noon, or as long as supplies last.
 

Today begins the reported modification to 155 at French Gulch Campground between Lake Isabella and Wofford Heights, so you may encounter delays and controlled traffic for the duration of the project.

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Friday, January 19th, 2018

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At approximately 9:00 pm the Kern County Fire Department received multiple calls for a structure fire and explosion at the Kern Refinery on the 7700 block of E. Panama Ln in Lamont.  The first arriving unit encountered a fire coming from the top and bottom of a cooling tower at the refinery. Fire personnel and refinery employees were able to isolate the fire to the tower and stabilize the incident. Due to air quality concerns, air monitors were deployed and Environmental Health were dispatched. Crews will remain on scene for several hours to monitor the fire.   Panama Ln, east of Weedpatch Hwy was closed for several hours, but is open now. No refinery or fire personnel were injured. The cause is under investigation. Cost of property damaged was unknown.

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A winter weather advisory is in effect here in the Kern River Valley for today, tonight, and through tomorrow morning. With an overnight low expected to be around 33 degrees, the chance for snow is there. At this time, that chance is at around 30%.

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Cal City Police uncovered another illegal marijuana grow operation yesterday just before 4 p.m. after homeowners discovered their home had been converted to grow hundreds of marijuana plants. All of the rooms in the home had temporary walls and electrical lines installed. No suspects were located during yesterday's raid. Nine suspects have been arrested over the past six weeks from the 18 raids. Over three tons of marijuana have been seized in total. 

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Thursday, January 18th, 2018

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Amazon announced the top 20 finalists for the company's second North American headquarters. The company reviewed 238 proposals from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to host HQ2. Bakersfield was among those who submitted proposals, but does not appear on the list of finalists. In fact, the only west coast city to make the final 20 was Los Angeles.

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 Assemblyman Vince Fong, in partnership with Kern County health officials, has introduced two bills in an ongoing effort to fight valley fever. AB 1880 provides consistencies and transparency in the reporting of valley fever cases so that the state and local health officials are looking at accurate data, according to a news release from Fong's office.

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More moisture is headed our way and normally that would be welcome news, except to those crews clearing mud and restoring utilities in Montecito, California. They have another day of dry weather before the next chance of rain, but forecasters say the approaching system is weakening. The National Weather Service says Montecito should see very little precipitation tonight into tomorrow, and overall the area from Santa Barbara County southward should expect a tenth of an inch or less.

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 According to the CHP's Fort Tejon office, a big rig driver was heading south on the I-5 in the No. 4 lane when he tried to make a lane change. The CHP says the big driver noticed a car in the lane then tried to get back into the No. 4 lane. The driver then went too far into the lane and ran into the bridge railing, causing his trailer to overturn, leading the cab to catch fire. The driver suffered only minor injuries. Lanes were closed for several hours.

 

California City police raided two homes last night suspected as illegal marijuana grow houses. Authorities said a tip led them to a second home used as an illegal grow house. Police said they seized hundreds of plants. 

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Wednesday, January 17th, 2018

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Officials are raising the projected cost of the first phase of California's bullet train by 35 percent, to $10.6 billion. The extra $2.8 billion comes on a 199-mile segment in the Central Valley that is partly under construction. The California High-Speed Rail Authority board discussed the increase Tuesday. It boosts State Senator Andy Vidak of Hanford calls high speed rail a failure and an embarrassment on several fronts. He cites massive cost overruns, constant construction delays, zero private-sector money and loss of federal funding. He adds that voters deserve a re-vote on this boondoggle. The project has been plagued by cost hikes and lawsuits since it was projected to cost $40 billion in 2008. The overall cost of the project now stands at nearly $67 billion. 

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More than $5.5 million is being awarded to help homeless people in Kern County. The funding comes five days after Ben Carson, the U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development, announced $2 billion would be allocated to nationwide programs, according to the United Way of Kern County.

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Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, will introduce two bills Wednesday aimed at combating valley fever, the orphan disease which infected Californians at epidemic levels last year. His proposed legislation promises to provide more accurate case counts while standardizing testing for valley fever. In the past two years, cases have been spiking statewide to epidemic levels, prompting warnings from the state health officer as the disease spreads outside of its traditional Central Valley boundaries.
 

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The public is invited to take part in the Women’s March Kern County this coming weekend. The event is part of a coalition of other marches happening across the state and begins a yearlong campaign called “Hear Our Vote!," according to organizers. The march will last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, and will begin at Central Park at Mill Creek in Bakersfield. Organizers say this march will be family-friendly and nonpartisan.

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Officials are raising the projected cost of the first phase of California's bullet train by 35 percent, to $10.6 billion. The extra $2.8 billion comes on a 199-mile segment in the Central Valley that is partly under construction. The California High-Speed Rail Authority board discussed the increase yesterday. The added cost is due to delays in obtaining rights of way and barriers needed along parts of the track, among other things. It boosts the overall cost of the project to nearly $67 billion, which officials say they hope to recover later.

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Parts of Kern County are suspected to get some snow starting this Friday and if you would like to play in the white stuff, here are the suggested locations if and when the snow hits. Alta Sierra Ski Resort Alta Sierra and Greenhorn Mtn. They're projected to get at least 2.0 inches of snow Friday night. Mountain Park, Tehachapi - There have been a several problems with individuals trespassing on privately owned land especially in Tehachapi. But, this park is open free to the public!  Frazier Mountain County Park - The park is also open free to the public as well as a recreation area. 

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Bakersfield fire crews returned home Monday after going to Santa Barbara County with one fire engine. Kern County Fire has about 25 firefighters and four engines deployed.
 

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Monday, January 15th, 2018

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Today is the day the Fox Theatre in Bakersfield will be turned into a movie set and they need about 400 people to be "the audience" during the filming that will take from 3 to 4 hours. If you are interested in participating, they need you at 4 this afternoon but get there early as they will take the first 400 to show up. The filmakers also ask you bring no young children as they may disrupt the audio recording. 

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A Kern County jury has found a 68-year-old Ridgecrest man not guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of a part-time employee who refused to leave his property. The jury acquitted Philip Norwood of a charge of first-degree murder on Friday, and he has been released from custody, according to court records. He had faced 25 years to life in prison if convicted. 

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At least 20 people have died as a result of the mudslides that devastated Montecito, California, according to the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection. Four people, ranging in age from 2 to 53, remain missing. Those killed ranged in age from 3 to 89, and all lived in Montecito in Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles.

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In 2016, more than 2,000 people in Kern County were diagnosed with Valley Fever. Valley Fever is caused by inhaling air that is contaminated by infected soil containing a fungus. We have also found that our pets can be infected. After rainfall or a dust storm, it is best to keep your pets indoors, and yourself as well. 

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A Kern County supervisor unleashed intense attacks on another accusing her of of dirty politics in an upcoming re-election battle. Supervisor Mike Maggard went on a local radio show and accused Supervisor Leticia Perez, her husband Fernando Jara, and others of perpetuating a "scam" and "fraud" as he faces re-election later this year. Maggard believes Perez and Jara have been trying to recruit a candidate to run against and eventually unseat him. Maggard says people in the marijuana industry want this too since he voted to ban marijuana businesses in the county in 2017.

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Police say former NBA star, and BFF to Kim Jung Un, Dennis Rodman was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Southern California. Lt. Rachel Johnson of the Newport Beach Police Department says Rodman was pulled over late Saturday for a traffic violation. Johnson says officers administered a field sobriety test, which Rodman failed. She says he submitted to a Breathalyzer test and blew over the .08 legal limit.

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It's going to be the Jacksonville Jaguars going up against defending champs New England Patriots for the AFC title this Sunday after the Jags beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42. The most incredible ending to a game also happened yesterday when the Minnesota Vikings scored a touchdown on the final play of the game to defeat the New Orleans Saints 28 to 24. The Vikings will go after the NFC championship against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. 

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Friday, January 12th, 2018

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The Valley lost one of our own yesterday when three kayakers were having problems near the bottom of the canyon. Rescue was able get all three out of the water, but one had been trapped under the water for a long time and was pronounced dead early this morning. Our condolences to family and friends of Seth Smith. 

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Valley fever is a disease we commonly hear about occurring in people, and assembly member Rudy Salas even introduced legislation this week aimed at combating valley fever. But our four-legged family members are seeing an increase in valley fever cases too. Kern County have seen an increase in dogs being diagnosed with valley fever in the past three months. The only way to prevent your dog from getting valley fever is to keep them inside right after rain and dust storms. And if your dog has a cough that has lasted longer than a week you may want to take them to the vet.

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There was an explosion and fire last night in Wofford Heights in the Panorama Drive area. The fire department was able to keep the blaze to that single home. The residents were able to get out, but we heard they lost their family dog in the fire. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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It is now officially official. Jon Gruden was welcomed back for a second stint as Oakland Raiders coach with an elaborate introductory news conference. Gruden was greeted by owner Mark Davis on Tuesday with a video of the highlights from his first tenure in Oakland nearly 20 years after he was first introduced as coach as an unproven 34-year-old by late owner Al Davis. Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001 before being traded to Tampa Bay 16 years ago. Mark Davis said he had been trying to bring Gruden back for six years ever since taking over the franchise following his father's death and the opportunity was finally right this year.

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Nearly two dozen Kern County Fire members are in Southern California helping crews alleviate the destruction after deadly mudslides ravaged the area. 19 members from heavy equipment to search and rescue teams are on scene navigating the destruction and helping locals.

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Gary Sinise Foundation is hosting a “Walls of Honor” event Wednesday morning for the United States Marine Corps Corporal Joshua Brubaker. Veterans, community leaders, family, and friends are invited to write personal messages of gratitude on the walls of the new specially adopted smart home smart home currently under construction for USMC Corporal Brubaker and his family.

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California's new law placing restrictions on the sale and purchase of ammunition is drawing some gripes from local merchants and their customers. They say the new rules will limit access and raises prices. Also, as of Jan. 1, it's illegal to bring ammo purchased out of state back to California. Some people travel elsewhere to purchase ammunition in bulk at a reduced rate. 

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Thursday, January 11th, 2017

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California Governor Jerry Brown released his final budget proposal and he wants to put billions of dollars in reserves. Although the state currently has billions of dollars in surplus the governor believes the funds are best saved for a rainy day. " It is so important that we prepare for that recession, not when it comes, but years before," said Governor Brown. Brown believes the money will help his successor deal with a future recession. Opponents of Brown's proposal say there are programs that need funding now.

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"Ridgecrest Shoutouts!" has been active for 2 weeks and already has over 1,000 members. The purpose of the page is to provide a space for residents to thank anyone they want; shout-outs have gone to everyone from hairdressers to Taco Bell employees. Stephen Birdwell founded the page, and he says hundreds of shout-outs have been posted in the early lifespan of the group. Just a bit different than what I heard about the KRV "complaint" page where folks can gripe about anything. But, that is just my opinion. 

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Eight people are missing after the deadly mudslides in Montecito, according to the Associated Press. There have been 17 confirmed deaths from the Southern California mudslides. 

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The White House ban on staffers using personal cellphones in the West Wing will go into effect next Tuesday, according to an internal memo sent Wednesday by chief of staff John Kelly. The new policy includes "all portable electronic devices" not issued or authorized by the White House from "being carried into or otherwise possessed" in the West Wing from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

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Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood will run for another term in office. Youngblood first won election as a retired sheriff’s commander in 2006 and has served as Kern County’s  conservative, straight-talking top law enforcement officer since then. “There’s just still a lot to do,” he said.
 

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Wednesday, January 10th, 2017

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According to the Vandenberg AFB website, they are set to launch Delta IV today at 1 p.m. Last month, you might remember seeing Streaks of light above California were SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg AFB. Delta IV will use two solid rocket motors when it is launched.

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At least 15 people were killed and dozens of homes were swept away or heavily damaged Tuesday as downpours sent mud and boulders roaring down hills stripped of vegetation by a gigantic wildfire that raged in Southern California last month. Helicopters were used to pluck more than 50 people from rooftops because downed trees and power lines blocked roads, and dozens more were rescued on the ground, including a mud-caked 14-year-old girl pulled from a collapsed Montecito home where she had been trapped for hours.

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Mountain communities are left with plenty of snow after this week's storm, meaning 'snow bunny' tourists are likely not far behind. California Highway Patrol says they will be cracking down on visitors to make sure they are respectful to locals. Last winter, many residents were not happy with traffic and litter from the 'snow bunnies.' CHP says a new county ordinance means they will tow any vehicle not in marked parking and on blacktop.

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Next week, Fox Theater will transform into a movie set for a Hollywood film. In the movie, a young girl tries to win money from a talent competition at the Fox Theater, and that's where you come in. Filmmakers want a packed house so they're looking for extras to sit and cheer in the audience. You won't get paid, but you might be able to spot yourself in the final product. If you're interested, you can head to the Fox Theater on Monday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. Organizers say they need about 400 people and filming could last 3-4 hours. I don't know if there will be donuts. 

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Kern County and California health officials held press conferences Tuesday to talk about the recent widespread outbreak of influenza cases. During the press conference, Kern County Public Health officials said they were going to begin partnering with hospitals and schools to get real-time data on new cases. So far the flu has killed 27 people and has hospitalized at least 87 more, according to the State Health Department. Emergency rooms have seen an increase in patients across the nation and officials say this is one of the most powerful flu strains they have seen in years. They also say getting a flu vaccine can help reduce a person's chances of catching this year's strain.

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The Oakland Raiders held a press conference to introduce Jon Gruden as their new head coach. Gruden reportedly agreed to a 10-year, $100 million deal to leave the broadcast booth and coach the Raiders. Chucky is back. 

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If you plan to travel on the West side, you should know that CHP has closed southbound 101 just south of Santa Barbara for flooding, debris flow, and possible gas leak. CHP suggest taking Interstate 5 over the Grapevine as an alternate route.
 

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Tuesday, January 9th, 2017

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Two people were killed and homes were swept from their foundations as mud and debris from wildfire-scarred hillsides flowed through neighborhoods and onto a key Southern California highway Tuesday during a powerful winter storm that is dropping record rain across the state. The bodies were found buried during rescue operations in the foothill enclave of Montecito northwest of Los Angeles. Several houses were destroyed and residents were unaccounted for in neighborhoods hard to access because of downed trees and power lines, he said. Helicopters were being used even during the downpours because of blocked roads.

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This rain we are having will remain throughout the day and will be heavy. It will start to taper off tonight with mostly sunny conditions expected tomorrow. During these winter storms, it's alway a good idea to be prepared for outages by keeping flashlights handy, water on hand, and another good idea is to freeze some water to put in the fridge in case of a power failure. 

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There have been multiple collisions in Kern County as of this morning. Lanes of 99 were closed for some time while they investigated crashes northbound at White Lane and at California Avenue. Slow down, both hands on the wheel, and drive with extra attention and caution. 

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There have also been numerous power outages that have cause problems all around Kern County due to the weather. There have been outages in portions of Bakersfield, Arvin, Mojave, and two thirds of California City was without power due to what is being called equipment failure. Most of that power is back now, but they had to set up an emergency shelter at Mojave High School, and then they lost power. 

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Monday, January 8th, 2018

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A California Highway Patrol car was involved in a crash Monday morning, after it was hit by a pickup truck that spun out. According to the CHP, an officer was investigating a scene in the area of Highway 178 near Union Avenue. Two pickup trucks reportedly spun out and went down an embankment. The officer was not in the vehicle at the time. The CHP says everyone is expected to be OK. 

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Japanese air bag maker Takata is recalling another 3.3 million faulty airbag inflators.The latest recalls cover frontal airbags in certain 2009, 2010 and 2013 vehicles made by by Honda, Toyota, Audi, BMW, Daimler Vans, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Jaguar-Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Tesla. Automakers will provide specific models in paperwork that will be filed later this month with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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With all this welcomed moisture coming through our area of the state, hopes are not only high for snow pack in the Sierra Nevada, but hopes that Alta Sierra will be opening. Last year, they were able to open the day after Christmas. This current system will certainly help that situation. Because of the Forest Service land ownership, it is free to go up and play in the snow if you like. Be sure your car is ready and capable of journey. 

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Ten people in California have died so far this winter from influenza, evidence that health professionals' warnings are valid: this flu is hitting harder and earlier than it has in years. The virus has hospitalized scores of people, leaving the state to contend with widespread outbreaks and, locally, a dwindling supply of antiviral medications. Every county in the state has seen elevated flu activity, outbreaks and hospitalizations, according to the California Department of Public Health.

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 If you enjoy camping in the Kern River Valley, there's a new way you can camp. Four western style covered wagons are coming to the Frandy Park Campground. These wagons are handmade in Utah and will be headed to the campground before Whiskey Flats Days next month. The wagons can sleep up to six people and come with a king size bed, and two double bunk beds. And to show you are really "roughin' it", these wagons, they come with a heating and air conditioning unit.

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For us nostagia freaks... Sales of cassette albums grew last year — fueled by either a sense of nostalgia or curiosity. Cassette tape sales grew 35 percent in 2017 with 174,000 units sold, marking the most sales for the format since 2012, according to the Nielsen Music's year-end report. In the same Nielsen report, vinyl sales also jumped nine percent, the format's 12th-straight year of growth. Vinyl sales last year were led by The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," which sold 72,000 units.

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California City police has been cracking down on illegal pot grows, and officer arrested a man following another raid on Saturday. In the past 30 days, the California City Police Department has served 10 search warrants, arrested 8 people and seized more than 8,000 marijuana plants.

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The good news is that no one in Kern County has died of the flu this season according to the Public Health Department. But that doesn't mean lots of aches and pains haven't been felt across our community. The Emergency Department at our Kern Valley Hospital is seeing a high amount of people coming in for diagnosis and help. As for tips to stay healthy, in addition to rest, always be washing your hands. Warm water and soap if possible and hand sanitizer works as long as you rub until dry. Also, with disinfectant wipes, wipe down your electronics. computers, radios, and especially your phones. They can get very dirty according to doctors, and during this time of year, every little bit helps.
 

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