LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
The Kern County Department of Public Health reported 1 new COVID-19 death and 313 cases yesterday.
Louis Gill, the former CEO of the Bakersfield Homeless Center and Alliance Against Family Violence, has announced his candidacy to represent California’s 23rd Congressional District and unseat Kevin McCarthy. Gill joins several other Democratic candidates vying for McCarthy’s seat in 2022. Like other candidates who have come before him to take on Rep. McCarthy, Gill says it’s time for McCarthy to go.
Amazon is hiring for 150,000 seasonal positions with an $18 average pay and sign-on bonuses, the company said in a statement. Jobs in Amazon’s operations network include stowing, picking, packing, shipping and more. New hires will be trained, and all facilities follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Amazon said.
This weekend, the annual Fall Festival returns to Kernville. All the events that include a chili cook-off and tiny dog races will take place Saturday and Sunday.
With the cost of cell phone plans and streaming TV going up, wouldn't you like to lower that bill? Unfortunately, one offer for a big discount is really a scam. If you get a call wanting account information, simply hang up.
Thousands, if not millions, of people are receiving automated calls that appear to come from AT&T.
New data suggests California’s requirement for state workers to prove they’re vaccinated or get tested regularly may not be as effective as state leaders hoped in getting more people vaccinated. The latest data from California Department of Human Resources shows 62% of state workers are vaccinated as of Oct. 7.
The tourist town of Mendocino is just feet away from the largest water reservoir on the planet, the Pacific Ocean, but it is running out of water. The megadrought gripping the western United States is drying up major water reservoirs like Lake Mendocino. It normally is 131 feet deep and now is expected to be emptied by December. Water levels across California continue to drop despite recent rainfall with a new report says this year was the second driest in state history.
A cold front passing through drought-stricken California has brought snow to the northern Sierra Nevada and rain, showers or drizzle elsewhere. The National Weather Service says the Sierra snowfall Sunday night was significant enough to impact travel over the higher passes.
Tuesday, October 19th, 2021
The KNP Complex Fire got a bit of help from the rain that came through the area, but has grown to over 88 thousand acres in size and is at 55% containment. The Windy Fire is at 88% containment.
Residents who fled the Alisal Fire west of Santa Barbara have been allowed to return home. All evacuation orders and warnings were canceled Sunday afternoon. The fire is 80% contained Monday and its size is holding at about 27 square miles.
The supply chain issues that are hindering the U.S. economy could likely stretch into 2022, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said. In an economy upended by the coronavirus pandemic, shortages and price spikes have hit everything from lumber to computer chips to toilet paper.
Russia is reporting its largest daily number of new coronavirus infections, more than 70% up on the number a month ago as the country faces a sustained rise in cases.
A state-sponsored monoclonal infusion site is now open in Kern County. Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat someone recently diagnosed with COVID-19. If you tested positive, monoclonal antibody therapy could help reduce your symptoms and keep you out of the hospital.
Betty Lynn, who was best known as Barney Fife's sweetheart Thelma Lou on “The Andy Griffith Show,” has died at the age of 95. The Andy Griffith Museum said in a statement that she died Saturday after a “brief illness.”
Investigators believe a massive cargo ship dragging anchor in rough seas caught an underwater oil pipeline and pulled it across the seafloor, months before a leak from the line fouled the Southern California coastline.
After a month of lava flow and ash clouds, officials in the Canary Islands say there is "no end in sight" to the eruptions from a volcano on the island of La Palma. Since the initial eruption, Reuters reports that 2,000 buildings have been destroyed, and 7,000 of La Palma's 83,000 residents are still unable to return to their homes.
This weekend the Fall Festival returns to Kernville. The St. Jude Catholic Church Fall Festival is also this weekend at the Church in Wofford Heights.
Monday, October 18th, 2021
The KNP Complex Fire is coming up on 88 thousand acres in size and is at 55% containment. The Windy Fire at over 97 thousand acres and is at 88% containment.
Friday, the Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 5 new COVID-19 deaths and 430 new cases.
Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients. Some families in need said the checks have been a saving grace during the pandemic.
October is breast cancer awareness month and Adventist Health is hosting free breast exam screening for the uninsured this Friday, Oct. 22nd. The screening will be from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 22nd at Adventist Health Breast Center, 2700 Chester Ave., Suite 103. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, call 661-637-8101.
Gas prices in Southern California reach a 9-year high. According to Automobile Club of Southern California, the average price of gas in Bakersfield is $4.39, that's three cents higher than last month and $1.24 more than this time last year.
This weekend, there a couple of Fall Festivals coming up this weekend in the Kern River Valley. St. Jude Catholic Church is holding there's at the church at the east end of Wofford Boulevard, and the annual Fall Festival returns to Kernville with arts and crafts, food, games for the youngsters, and much more. It's going to be a busy weekend in the KRV.
Today, a statewide walk out is planned at schools across California to protest the potential vaccine mandate. Governor Newsom has said he is trying to enforce a vaccine mandate for kids in grades K-12, and some parents are not happy about it.
As the White House brokers a deal to resolve unprecedented supply chain bottlenecks, small businesses are left feeling the pressure ahead of the holiday season. October is usually the busiest month for shipments into the United States as companies stock up ahead of Black Friday.
As the White House brokers a deal to resolve unprecedented supply chain bottlenecks, small businesses are left feeling the pressure ahead of the holiday season. But products remain stuck on containers and cargo ships off the coast of California, leaving Christmas and holiday deliveries in question.
A woman is dead after getting struck by a vehicle Thursday night in California City. According to California City Police Department, officers were called after a report of a victim lying in the roadway. The 31 year old victim died at the scene. The driver was identified and arrested by CCPD officers, and later booked at the Kern County Jail for felony hit and run charges.
Friday, October 15th, 2021
Shifting winds posed new challenges for firefighters battling a blaze in the Southern California coastal mountains that threatened ranches and rural homes and kept 101 shut down for days. Four buildings have been destroyed, but another 120 structures remain "threatened." The Alisal Fire was sparked on Monday afternoon near the Alisal Reservoir.
Millions of Americans on Social Security will soon have more money in their pockets. Retirees will get a 5.9% increase in benefits for 2022. That’s the highest cost-of-living adjustment in nearly 40 years. The increase in benefits is due to inflation.
Another jump in consumer prices in September sent inflation up 5.4% from where it was a year ago, matching the largest increase since 2008 as tangled global supply lines continue to create havoc.
Data shows Kern County has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country. The county ranks 56 out of 58 counties in California. Numbers show that the county could be bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic as of August 2021. The unemployment rate in Kern County is 10% lower than last month and this time last year.
Another of many issues with our drought. Lake Tahoe's water level has dropped to a four-year low. It was hovering around the natural rim but this week it fell just below it. At that point water stops flowing out into the Truckee River. The level is dropping about a quarter inch per day.
Around 8:30 a.m. the Kern County Sheriff’s Office was called to Fairfax Middle School for reports of a student with a gun on campus. At that point KCSO advised Fairfax Middle School and other schools in the area to go on lockdown, including Mira Monte High School, Shirley Lane and Zephyr Elementary. Deputies finally located the involved student at 9:56 a.m. and located a replica firearm and schools were taken off lockdown.
A judge has partially blocked an order taking effect this week that required California prison employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A Kern County judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevents enforcement of the vaccination mandate for guards represented by a politically powerful union.
Gas-powered lawn equipment like lawn mowers and generators is being phased out in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the new law over the weekend ordering state regulators to ban the sale of new gas powered equipment by 2024.
A Facebook whistleblower recently testified on the basis of protecting kids online, but the bigger question remains: is social media the main issue affecting their mental health? Some evidence proves it’s certainly not. When there is a problem with something as important as adolescent mental health, it’s easy to blame social media. It's an entirely new entity to the current generation and their parents.
Thursday, October 14th, 2021
Authorities removed all evacuation orders and warnings for the Windy Fire in Tulare County on yesterday at 12 noon.
A wildfire raging through Southern California coastal mountains is a threat to ranches and rural homes and is keeping Highway 101 shut down. The Alisal (Ah-LEE-Sol) Fire covers more than 22 square miles Wednesday in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. The number of firefighters has nearly doubled to 1,300, but containment remains at just 5%.
90 year old William Shatner beamed up yesterday for his first real-life spaceflight and became the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier. In a 10-minute trip, Shatner was joined by three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
It can to come under control if people would trust the science, and stop politicizing the issue. The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 1 new COVID-19 deaths and 340 cases today.
The Biden administration in November plans to reopen the southern and northern borders and will allow travelers who are fully vaccinated to cross into the United States, DHS announced.
The Food and Drug Administration is asking restaurants and food manufacturers to cut salt in their products. The goal is to reduce Americans’ sodium intake by 12% over the next 2 1/2 years. They realize that people have the choice if they wish to have additional salt, but the FDA said more than 70% of sodium intake is from sodium added during food preparation and manufacturing.
A recent report from a West Michigan nonprofit organization has found that frustrations are increasing in the automotive industry as it deals with an ongoing computer chip shortage. Forecasters believe the shortage could last for at least another year, further impacting consumers' ability to get a new car at the price they want.
The state's eviction moratorium ended on October 1, leaving numerous low-income tenants in the dark. Many turned to the Housing Authority's Rental and Utility Assistance Program (RUP) for resources. But, they say it's taking over a month to process applications.
Wednesday, October 13th, 2021
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 4 new COVID-19 deaths and 295 cases yesterday. This brings the county’s totals to 142,932 total cases of COVID-19 among residents, and 1,596 deaths.
Here's your fire update. The KNP Complex Fire is over 87 thousand acres and up to 30% containment. The Windy Fire that began on the Tule River Indian Reservation is more than 97 thousand acres in size and at 88% containment at last report.
Strong winds blowing through Kern County Monday not only creating a blustery day but impacting our air, our health, and our roads. Dust is a major concern not only reducing visibility but causing a mess and increasing health risks for Valley Fever.
Officials say powerful California wildfires driven by intense winds have caused damage at two mobile home parks and destroyed some trailers and that one man suffered severe burns. Authorities say about 30 structures were destroyed Monday afternoon when flames roared through a mobile home park in Sacramento County. In San Joaquin County, a man was severely burned and about five trailers were destroyed at another mobile home park.
Kern County’s 43rd Honor Flight took off Monday morning, bound for Washington, DC. On board? About one hundred veterans, dozens of guardians, and one seeing eye dog. For the first time in the organization’s history, they’ll have a pooch on the trip. The seven-year-old lab’s name is Bradley. Who's a good dog.
California now has more than 700 new laws on the books following Governor Gavin Newsom’s bill signing deadline. Among the final bills to secure his signature, one law makes it illegal to harass people entering a vaccination clinic. Effective immediately, it’s a misdemeanor to harass, intimidate, injure or obstruct anyone on their way to get any kind of vaccine. There could even be penalties of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
Jon Gruden is no longer the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders, said he accepted Gruden's resignation, which came hours after The New York Times published a report that said Gruden had made homophobic and misogynistic comments in the past. Again, you don't have to like him even if he did apologize, but he is a good coach.
Older adults without heart disease shouldn't take daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. The recommendations say bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up outweigh any potential prevention benefits from aspirin. Ask your doctor if aspirin is right for you.
Get your fish sticks while you can. A customs dispute at the U.S.-Canada border is jeopardizing America’s supply of a key fish used for popular products such as fish sticks and fast food sandwiches. The Alaska pollock has a complicated supply chain issue. After being caught as part of the largest commercial fishery in the U.S., the fish are transported by ship to New Brunswick, Canada, near the border with Maine.
Tuesday, October 12th, 2021
Good progress is being made on the wildfires in our area. The KNP Complex Fire is well over 87 thousand acres and at 30% containment. The Windy Fire is over 97 thousand acresw and 88% contained.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 10 new COVID-19 deaths and 747 cases for the weekend.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law directing regulators to eventually ban the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment. Newsom signed a law Saturday that orders state regulators to ban the sale of new gas-powered equipment that uses small off-road engines. That's a broad category that includes generators, lawn equipment and pressure washers.
There are a near-record 146 cargo ships off the California coast either anchored or at berth with billions of dollars worth of merchandise — and not much can be done about it. About half of all imports come into Southern California, but it’s now a major choke point in the global supply chain. The mess was partly triggered by a COVID-19 outbreak among dockworkers at the start of the pandemic. Staffing is healthier now, but crews can only work so fast. Even when cargo is finally offloaded, there are other kinks in the supply chain.
There was no tsunami threat to Hawaii Sunday after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit off of the Big Island. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake had a magnitude of 6.2 and struck about 17 miles south of Naalehu. Its magnitude was originally reported at 6.1 before being revised. The National Weather Service in Honolulu said there was no tsunami threat. No injuries were immediately reported.
Drug maker Merck has asked U.S. regulators to authorize its promising antiviral pill against COVID-19, setting the stage for a decision within weeks. If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19, adding a new, easy-to-use weapon to the world's arsenal against the pandemic.
Monday, October 11th, 2021
Regarding the wildfires around us, the KNP Complex Fire has grown to more than 87 thousand acres and is at 20% containment. The Windy Fire is approaching 98 thousand acres in size and is at 85% containment. The smoky air should diminish significantly.
A judge has ordered Kern County to stop issuing permits for new oil and gas fields until at least next year. A court is working to decide whether an ordinance passed earlier this year properly meets environmental reviews.
After a crude oil sheen was detected on the waters off the Southern California coast, environmentalists feared the worst: A massive spill that would wreck the ecosystem. A week later, the region and its signature beaches appear to have been spared a potentially calamitous fate, though the long-term toll on plant and animal life remains unknown.
You may wind up having to pay more for health insurance if you are not vaccinated against COVID-19. More employers and insurance companies are considering raising health insurance premiums for employees who choose to forego vaccination. Starting in November, Delta Airlines will charge unvaccinated employees an extra $200 a month for the company health plan, citing the high cost of COVID hospitalizations.
The Los Angeles County sheriff says he will not enforce the county’s vaccine mandate in his agency. Sheriff Alex Villanueva oversees the largest sheriff’s department in the county with roughly 18,000 employees. He said Thursday in a Facebook Live event that he does not plan to carry out the county’s mandate.
A Navy nuclear engineer with access to military secrets has been charged with trying to pass information about the design of American nuclear-powered submarines to someone he thought was a representative of a foreign government but who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent, the Justice Department said yesterday.
California high school students will have to take a course in ethnic studies to get a diploma starting in the 2029-30 school year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that makes California among the first in the nation to list ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all public high school students.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has rejected a bill that would have made California the first state to pay people to stay sober. But just because Newsom vetoed the bill on Friday does not mean the drug treatment program won't happen in California. However, California is moving to extend the sale of cocktails to-go and keep alcohol service for outdoor dining at parklets as it aims to help restaurants recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Friday, October 8th, 2021
The KNP Complex Fire is now nearly 86 thousand acres in size and still at 11% containment. There are multiple evacuation orders and warnings in place. The Windy fire is approaching 98 thousand acres and at 75% containment. Smoky air will continue throughout Kern and Tulare counties.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported seven new COVID-19 deaths and 361 cases yesterday. The county has 257 cases of the B 1.617.2 delta variant.
A powerful magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the Tokyo area on Thursday night, injuring at least 17 people and halting trains and subways. Officials said there was no major damage or danger of a tsunami.
Honor Flight 43 will take off on Monday for Washington, D.C., and is the last trip of 2021. More than 100 veterans, guardians, and support staff will be in the very capable hands of Glenn Nakashima. A Veteran's Voice that is well known on this adventure. The Army veteran will be a tour leader for the first time after being part of the leadership group 16 times over the years.
The United States Department of Education says college graduates with a bachelor’s degree typically earn 66 percent more than someone with only a high school diploma. But not everyone is able to get a college degree because of the rising cost of higher education. On yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven bills into law that he said will help combat that issue by making college more affordable across the state of California.
The U.S. Coast Guard has boarded a massive cargo ship as it investigates the rupture of an offshore oil pipeline that sent crude washing up on Southern California beaches. They want to know whether a ship anchor snagged and bent the pipeline off Huntington Beach.
People want to live where they want to live, and selling them on climate change is difficult. In Arizona, high heat and drought are already redrawing the landscape, killing off some of the state's most iconic plants. The U.S. Census shows a population boost in Arizona, with 90,000 people moving there in 2020.
Police say the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old woman by a Southern California school safety officer is being investigated as a possible homicide. Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez was declared brain dead after last month’s shooting and died on Tuesday after she was removed from life support. The officer who shot her has been fired by the Long Beach Unified School District.
Thursday, October 7th, 2021
The KNP Complex Fire is up to nearly 85 thousand acres in size and at 11% containment. There are multiple evacuation orders and warnings in place. These are issued by the Fresno and Tulare County Sheriff. Offices. The Windy Fire is well over 97 thousand acres in size ant at 75% containment. Nearly 2000 firefighter are on that wildfire.
Beginning Thursday, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City will begin requiring proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative virus test results from all guests 12 and older. Six Flags is requiring it on certain days, while Universal Studios is asking guests to always be prepared to show their vaccine proof or test results.
Los Angeles leaders on Wednesday approved one of the nation’s strictest vaccine mandates — a sweeping measure that requires the shots for everyone entering bars, restaurants, nail salons, gyms or even a Lakers and Clipper games. The City Council voted 11-2 in favor of the ordinance that will require proof of full vaccination starting Nov. 4.
A domestic violence suspect armed with a firearm was killed Wednesday morning in an officer-involved shooting, according to Kern County Sheriff’s Office. According to KCSO, deputies found a domestic violence suspect armed with a firearm in a parked vehicle. The suspect was declared dead at the scene, according to KCSO.
With COVID-19 vaccinations being required widely by employers, at events, healthcare facilities, and schools. California reported nearly 80-percent of the population over 12 years of age is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In Kern County, public health reported only 51% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Kern County is reporting about 243 patients are hospitalized because of COVID and about a third of them are in the ICU.
California highway officials say they will close three mountain passes near the Nevada line between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park on Thursday as a precaution ahead of an early winter storm that’s expected to bring rain and snow to the Sierra. Several inches of snow are possible at the higher elevations. An even older air mass is expected to drop into the region Monday and Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 6th, 2021
The KNP Complex Fire in the Sequoia National Park has burned close to 77,000 acres with only 11% containment. New evacuation warnings affecting the Hume Lake area and north of Sequoia Lake are now in place. Plus, the Windy Fire has burned just over 95,000 acres and is 70% contained. Officials expect full containment by the 14th. The fire grew by 10,000 acres on Monday night in just a matter of hours. Containment was closer to 20% last week but then dropped as the fire grew.
Multiple officials at Kern County school districts paint a picture of intense competition for substitute teachers. It’s sparked a bidding war, raising daily rates for subs higher than $200. Bakersfield City School District has seen students reassigned classrooms because schools couldn’t find a substitute.
California continues to boast the lowest coronavirus rate in the U.S., with the latest data from the CDC showing that the state’s transmission level has decreased yet again. As of Monday, California is now the only one that falls under the “moderate” transmission category, which is the second-lowest level, behind only the “low” tier. Much of this reduction in cases is due to vaccination mandates.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported seven new COVID-19 deaths and 276 cases yesterday.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer issued a consumer alert warning to Kern County residents not to print fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards at home and not to purchase them from individuals selling counterfeits. Additionally, forging or possessing forged documents, like a fake COVID-19 vaccination record card, is a crime in California.
After 40 drawings without a big Powerball winner, a single ticket sold in California matched all six numbers and was the lucky winner of the nearly $700 million jackpot prize. The California Lottery says the winning ticket was sold at a grocery store in Morro Bay. The winner will be able to choose between the annuity option paid over 29 years or the cash option of $496 million. Both prize options are subject to taxes.
Film and television production in North America is in jeopardy of coming to a standstill after its behind-the-scenes workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike for the first time in its 128-year history. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said that nearly 99% of registered members who participated voted in support of a strike over the weekend.
Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
The Windy Fire is approaching 95 thousand acres and 68% containment. The KNP Complex Fire is nearly 68 thousand acres in size and at 11% containment. We can expect the smoky air to be a factor here in the KRV and many other areas of Kern County.
A data scientist who was revealed Sunday as the Facebook whistleblower says that whenever there was a conflict between the public good and what benefited the company, the social media giant would choose its own interests. Frances Haugen was identified in a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday as the woman who anonymously filed complaints with federal law enforcement that the company’s own research shows how it magnifies hate and misinformation.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer issued a consumer alert Monday warning Kern County residents not to print fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards at home and not to purchase them from individuals selling counterfeits. The release stated that along with putting community health at risk, forging vaccination records is also a crime.
The Bakersfield Police Department said it is working with officials including the FBI as it investigates threats made against Thompson Junior High School and Golden Valley High School. In comments consistent with what the sheriff said earlier Monday, police said the anonymous online threats appear to be part of a national trend.
California will become the first U.S. state to require COVID-19 vaccinations for children to attend public and private schools in person in a mandate that could effect millions of students. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced that the coronavirus shot will be added to 10 other immunizations already required for school kids, including those for measles and mumps.
We should get an update at some point soon, but according the last report from Kern County Public Health, we have had three new deaths and 533 new cases in the county.
Residents, business owners and environmentalists were questioning whether officials reacted quickly enough to contain one of the largest oil spills in recent California history, caused by a suspected leak in an underwater pipeline that fouled the sands of famed Huntington Beach.
Film and television production in North America is in jeopardy of coming to a standstill after its behind-the-scenes workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike for the first time in its 128-year history. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said Monday that of nearly 99% of registered members who participated, or 52,706 people, voted in support of a strike over the weekend.
Monday, October 4th, 2021
National Guard teams have been called to assist staffs at Adventist Health and Dignity Health hospitals in Bakersfield amid the latest surge of COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages. Dignity Health staff and patients at Mercy Southwest and another 10 are providing assistance at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. In a statement, Dignity says the caregivers are assisting in emergency rooms and other departments as needed.
The Windy Fire, as of yesterday afternoons report has surpassed 92 thousand acres and is at 56% containment. The KNP Complex Fire is approaching 68 thousand acres and is at 20% containment. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office has downgraded some evacuation orders for residents who live along Sierra Drive from Mineral King Road north of the entrance to Sequoia National Park, including the residences on Sycamore Drive. Meanwhile, in other parts of the forest, more evacuations orders were issued for some Tulare County residents.
he biggest lottery prize in months grew larger after no ticket matched all five numbers and the Powerball drawn on Saturday night. The estimated jackpot for the next drawing this evening is $670 million.
One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. At least 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of oil spilled into the waters off Orange County, according to a statement from the city of Huntington Beach.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a COVID vaccine mandate for eligible school children on Friday morning. Newsom said the mandate is for children ages 16-18 and will be added to the list of necessary vaccines and immunizations school children will need to have for in-person learning.
A preliminary 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeast of Tehachapi Friday night, according to the United States Geological Survey. According to the website, the quake happened at around 6:42 p.m.
California's reservoirs are so dry from a historic drought that regulators warned Thursday it's possible the state's water agencies won't get anything from them next year, a frightening possibility that could force mandatory restrictions for residents.