LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS

Monday, March 8th, 2021

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported just 61 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. The lowest it has been in quite awhile. Those numbers bring the county’s totals to 104,242 cases and 942 deaths. 

It’s now been almost two and a half months since 3-year-old Orson and 4-year-old Orrin West were reported missing. Law enforcement is keeping much of this investigation under wraps. “The facts of the case are still going forward, the boys have not been located and there has been no arrests made,” said Sgt. Robert Pair with Bakersfield Police Department. But new developments have brought renewed energy to thousands looking for answers.

California officials will allow people to attend Major League Baseball games and other outdoor sporting events, go to Disneyland and watch live performances in limited capacities starting April 1. The new rules announced Friday were part of an update to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy."

A non-military model MB-326M jet trainer belonging to the National Test Pilot School crashed 10 miles out of Edwards Air Force Base Friday morning, EAB announced. According to officials, two pilots were aboard the aircraft and safely ejected.

 People across the country have spent more time this past year on video conference calls and connecting with friends and family virtually. Staring at your own face on a screen has come a heightened awareness of what we look like. It’s one real reason experts say the pandemic has led to a spike in plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is seeing a boom as people staring at themselves online are becoming increasingly critical of wrinkles, laugh lines and even facial features.

Even if you've been tested before, you will have an opportunity to get a free Covid 19 test this Wednesday from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. The drive-thru test only takes a short time and your results will be given to you as soon as they are available. 

If you would like to set an appointment for Coronavirus vaccination, do not call the Kern Valley Hospital or the Mtn. View Heath Center. Call this number. 442 320-3048. 442 320-3248. It may take some time, but they will get back to you with an appointment. 

Authorities say the accidental collision of two surfers in the waves off the Southern California coast left one of the men dead. Emergency crews were called to Rincon Point in Ventura County on Saturday following reports of an unconscious man. Witnesses said the two men had collided in the water and both suffered head injuries. A 51-year-old surfer was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Friday, March 5th, 2021

Update:

Kern County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a carjacking that occurred yesterday afternoon in which a small child was taken while inside. An estimated 20 minutes later, deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle with a child inside about two miles away. They confirmed the vehicle and child were those involved in the carjacking. The child was unharmed.

Pandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders kept many drivers off U.S. roads and highways last year. But those who did venture out found open lanes that only invited reckless driving, leading to a sharp increase in traffic-crash deaths across the country. The nonprofit National Safety Council estimates in a report issued that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years.

U.S. employers added a robust 379,000 jobs last month, the most since October and a sign that the economy is strengthening as confirmed viral cases drop, consumers spend more and states and cities ease business restrictions.

 Kern County Public Health officials reported more people in the community have died in relation to COVID-19. Nine more deaths were reported yesterday in Kern County. That marks 924 lives lost in total. 

The official "Recall Governor Gavin Newsom" campaign has enough signatures to prompt a recall election. Next is the validation process. Around Kern County, there are flags displayed outside of some businesses and homes that clearly read— recall Newsom. It's a bipartisan effort to eventually replace the state governor after an election that would essentially kick him out of office.

Weather in the KRV will be dry and mostly sunny over the weekend with daytime highs in the low to mid 60's. Overnight lows around 40.

Kern County Public Health Services Department reported nine new COVID-19 deaths and 138 new cases yesterday. Those numbers bring the county’s totals to 103,894 cases and 924 deaths. 

A new study reveals a “dramatic” shift in population size in San Francisco during 2020. Net exits from San Francisco increased by 649% when California Policy Lab looked at data from the end of March 2020 to the end of the year, compared to the same period one year earlier. But the research published Thursday shows the county is alone in this mass exodus compared to the rest of California. In fact, many of these ex-San Francisco residents flocked to nearby areas.

 More than 5,000 fentanyl pills and several guns were seized at the conclusion of a month-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of four people, authorities said. All four suspects were arrested on drug and conspiracy charges.

The Senate voted 51-50 to begin 20 hours of debate on President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Vice President Kamala Harris broke the 50-50 tie in the Senate in order to move forward with the bill. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson briefly objected to the vote, but the Senate moved forward to debate.

Three massive earthquakes have struck off the coast of mainland New Zealand, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, spurring four separate tsunami warnings. The first warning was revoked. The first earthquake, of 7.3 magnitude. The second, slightly more powerful quake struck with a magnitude of 7.4. A third earthquake, of 8.1 magnitude, struck in the middle of the ocean near the Kermadec Islands, spurring a tsunami warning.

The Bakersfield Police Department said a nine-year-old was hurt in a shooting. According to the department someone opened fire on a woman and two children at around 10 PM last night. None were hit by bullets, but the 9-year-old “sustained minor injuries” from glass debris, according to a news release. No arrests have been made.

California will begin setting aside 40% of all vaccine doses for the state's most vulnerable neighborhoods in an effort to inoculate people most at risk from the coronavirus more quickly. The doses will be spread among 400 ZIP codes where there are about 8 million people eligible for shots. 

The official "Recall Governor Gavin Newsom" campaign has enough signatures to prompt a recall election. Next is the validation process. Around Kern County, there are flags displayed outside of some businesses and homes that clearly read— recall Newsom. It's a bipartisan effort to eventually replace the state governor after an election that would essentially kick him out of office.

Thursday, March 4th, 2021

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 13 new COVID-19 deaths and 134 cases today. These bring the county’s total to 103,756 resident cases and 915 deaths. 

Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest crashes involving migrants sneaking into the U.S. had entered California through a hole cut into the border fence with Mexico in what was believed to be a larger smuggling operation, officials said yesterday. Surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening early Tuesday.

The postponed Tokyo Olympics look like they will take place without any fans from abroad when they open in just under five months. The Japanese newspaper Mainichi said the decision had been made to exclude foreign fans. It cited only unnamed sources “involved in the discussions.” It said a final decision would be made “within the month.”

Masks became our new normal when the statewide mandate was put into effect last June, but soon they will be a thing of the past, at least for Texas and Mississippi, as both state governors announced Tuesday that they would soon be lifting all mask mandates and not only that, they'll also open their states back up 100% which is causing reaction here in California. Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez also weighing in, saying she's pleased with Newsom's stance. “Governor Newsom has not succumbed to the remarkable political pressure that says we just want everything back to normal, of course, we do, everyone does. I'm happy he's holding firm and ensuring vaccination distribution is our top priority.”

A recent Gallup poll found half of U.S. adults now identify as political independents, the highest percentage the analytics company has ever measured in a single poll. The same poll, conducted in late January and early February, determined that support for a third political party in the U.S. is at a high point, with 62% of adults saying the “parties do such a poor job representing the American people that a third party is needed.” That’s an increase from 57% in September.

Blue-collar jobs may be part of what helps millions of Americans get back on their feet. There are currently tens of thousands of open jobs in the construction and skilled trade industry, and substantially, there are more jobs expected over the next year and decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 5 percent job growth in the construction industry over the next 10 years.

New COVID-19 numbers have dropped, but not enough to move into the next level of reopening. Michelle Corson, Public Relations Officer for Kern Public Health, says, “We have a long way to go but we really have our eyes set on getting to that red tier. That’s something that is really important for our counties and businesses. Our testing positivity is below eight percent which clears us for the next tier, however, our case rate is holding us back at about 14%.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021

The governor and legislature’s school reopening proposal cleared its first hurdle in the state capitol late yesterday. The $6.6 billion dollar budget plan aims to reopen schools by the end of March.

Kern County now has a low enough COVID-19 case rate that all outdoor youth and adult sports can immediately resume under state guidance. The Kern County Public Health Services Department said all sports — including high-contact sports — can resume practice, training and competition now that the county has met the state criteria of having a positive case rate of 14 per 100,000 people or lower. 

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 25 new COVID-19 deaths and 200 cases yesterday. The county’s total is now 103,622 resident cases and 902 deaths.

President Joe Biden said yesterday the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccine for all adults by the end of May — two months earlier than anticipated — and he pushed states to get at least one shot into the arms of teachers by the end of March to hasten school re-openings.

A popular internet conspiracy theory believing that former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated on March 4 has prompted the US Capitol Police to step up security. The agency said in a statement on Tuesday that there is concerning information and intelligence pertaining to March 4. Yesterday, FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, said there has been a rise in domestic extremism.

In the world of political correctness, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced this week that they are discontinuing the publication of six children’s books for having “racial overtones.” The announced change drew outrage from parents and conservatives, but praise from progressive groups on the lookout for racial insensitivity in literature and products.

 A Northern California serial killer known as the “I-5 Strangler” has been killed in prison, state correctional officials said Monday. 81-year-old Roger Reece Kibbe was serving multiple life sentences for a string of murders in the 1970s and 80s.

A coronavirus variant that was first detected in Brazil has emerged in Oregon, the first known case of the new variant on the U.S. West Coast, medical authorities said yesterday

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 26 new COVID-19 deaths and 127 cases yesterday. These bring the county’s total to 103,422 resident cases and 877 deaths.

More free Covid 19 testing will be available tomorrow, Wednesday, from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. It's a drive through so remain in your car, follow directions from the staff, and please wear a mask. No appointment is necessary. 

The Bakersfield Police Department is taking over as the lead investigators in the case involving the disappearance of 3-year-old Orson West and 4-year-old Orrin West. The two boys were reported missing in California City on December 21 by their adoptive parents. The California City Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation will continue to have active roles in the investigation.

California’s public schools could get $6.6 billion from the state Legislature if they return to in-person instruction by the end of March, according to a new agreement announced Monday between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s legislative leaders.

Congress is beginning debate on the biggest overhaul of U.S. elections law in a generation. House Resolution 1, introduced by Democrats, would touch virtually every aspect of the electoral process — striking down hurdles to voting, curbing partisan gerrymandering and curtailing big money in politics. 

Democrats' efforts to include a minimum wage increase in their $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill seemed all but dead Monday as Senate leaders prepared to begin debate on their own version of the House-passed aid package. The Senate is divided 50-50 between the parties, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast only tie-breaking votes.

The Kern County Emergency Medical Services system took another step forward yesterday as COVID-19 cases continue to subside locally. According to a news release from the Kern County Public Health Services Department, the county’s EMS system met the threshold of Level 1 on Monday, also known as the green tier. It’s the lowest of four tiers.

Monday, March 1st, 2021

Update:

California’s public schools could get $6.6 billion from the state Legislature if they return to in-person instruction by the end of March, according to a new agreement announced Monday between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s legislative leaders.

Over the weekend, the country moved a step closer to $1,400 stimulus checks hitting bank accounts as the House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that was championed by President Joe Biden. The big question now: How quickly will the measure move through the Senate and could we see those direct payments this month?  Democratic leaders hope to spend two weeks debating the relief package and get it to Biden’s desk before the most recent emergency jobless benefits end on March 14.

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 26 new COVID-19 deaths and 127 cases today. These bring the county’s total to 103,422 resident cases and 877 deaths.

Stocks are rising across the board on Wall Street as traders welcomed a move lower in long-term interest rates in the bond market. Investors were also watching Washington as a big economic stimulus bill moved to the Senate. More than 95% of the stocks in the index were higher, led by energy companies and airlines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2.2% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.1%.

It would seem there is very little Americans can't argue about or politicize. From Oregon to Tennessee to New York, politicians and organizations are arguing that rural communities are not getting the amount of vaccine or the amount of attention that urban areas are getting. This is pushing many GOP politicians yet another disagreement point with Democratic states. 

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths and 152 cases yesterday. These bring the county’s total to 103,295 resident cases and 851 deaths. 

The U.S. is getting a third vaccine to prevent COVID-19, as the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two.

Wednesday will be another day of free testing for Covid 19. It's from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. Remain in your car, follow directions from the staff and please wear a mask. You'll be notified of the results as soon as they are available. 

 Multiple law enforcement officers have been called to Kern Medical after a crowd gathered in the hospital’s parking lot not long after midnight Sunday. A large crowd gathered at the hospital following a reported shooting at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park before 9 p.m. Saturday night, but it was still unclear if the crowd at Kern Medical was connected to the shooting. Sheriff’s deputies and police and California Highway Patrol officers arrived to keep people away from a hospital entrance.

Gas prices were expected to increase 10-20 cents following the devastating winter storms in Texas and other southern states earlier this month. Experts are now predicting prices could get close to $3 a gallon this summer as a national average. The last time the national average for a gallon of gas was near $3 was in 2018.

With the floodgates set to open on another round of unemployment aid, states are being hammered with a new wave of fraud as they scramble to update security systems and block scammers who already have siphoned billions of dollars from pandemic-related jobless programs. The fraud is fleecing taxpayers, delaying legitimate payments and turning thousands of Americans into unwitting identity theft victims.

Lady Gaga's two French bulldogs, which were stolen by thieves who shot and wounded the dogwalker, were recovered unharmed Friday, Los Angeles police said. A woman brought the dogs to the LAPD's Olympic Community Police Station, just northwest of downtown, around 6 p.m. The woman who dropped off the dogs appears to be “”uninvolved and unassociated" with Wednesday night's attack.

 At the end of 2020, California had lost a record 1.6 million jobs during the pandemic. Nearly a half-million people stopped even trying to look for work. Business properties saw their value plummet more than 30%. However, the rich are richer. California's bank account is overflowing. As of January, the state's tax collections were $10.5 billion ahead of projections. By the end of the fiscal year on July 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature could have a $19 billion surplus to spend. It's so much money that, for just the second time ever, the state is projected to trigger a state law requiring the government to send refunds to taxpayers.