LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
Tuesday, November 29th, 2022
It's going to be relatively clear and cool for the next couple of days, but we have a chance of rainfall rolling through beginning Thursday and continuing over the weekend.
The closure of a post office in Mount Mesa has residents upset, especially since they Most residents will now have to travel to Lake Isabella to get their mail. While the distance is only around 7 miles, many say the change will be difficult. This is coming at a time right before the holidays when gas prices are higher than ever. The closure is scheduled to happen this Thursday.
The Bakersfield office of the California Highway Patrol arrested 25 motorists over the Thanksgiving holiday for investigation of driving under the influence. California Highway officer Tomas Martinez said in a news release the arrests were made between Wednesday and Sunday during the agency’s maximum enforcement period. Officers also investigated three fatal crashes.
About half of those who qualify for California’s Middle Class Tax Refund (more commonly known as “inflation relief” payments) have received their due, according to the state. The Franchise Tax Board, the state agency in charge of disbursing the payments, says at least 6,739,880 direct deposits have been issued and 2,556,729 debit cards have been sent out, according to the latest numbers available.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he won’t run for president in 2024, even if President Biden declines to run for another term. Newsom said in an interview with Politico that he has told the White House that he is “all in” on Biden running for reelection and told Biden himself during a phone call on Election Day earlier this month. He was less firm about the 2028 election.
Iran's state media has called for the United States to be kicked out of the World Cup. The call comes after the US Soccer Federation changed Iran's flag to remove the emblem of the Islamic Republic. The federation says it changed the graphic for 24 hours to "support the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights." The graphic has since been changed back.
Wednesday, November23rd, 2022
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday morning off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, and rattled residents across San Diego County.
Most Californians don’t expect to see anything like a white Christmas, but this year, even a damp Christmas is looking unlikely. An update to the Climate Prediction Center’s official winter forecast shows a hot and dry season ahead for much of the Golden State. The outlook shows the effects of La Niña still clearly visible. A La Niña climate pattern tends to divide the country in half, bringing a dry winter to the southern half and a wet winter to the northern half.
The Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce is putting on the Christmas parade this Saturday. It's going to be an evening start at 6pm. Come grab a seat after doing your local shopping on "Small Business Saturday".
Gas is still expensive, but those costs are dipping ahead of the holidays. The national average per gallon is $3.66 as of Monday, November 21st. That's down two cents in the past two days and is well below the peak in national prices this past Summer. However, in California, gas prices are significantly higher. A gallon of gas will cost approximately $5.25. That's more than $2 higher than in states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving holiday. Of that number, 49 million will be heading out on the road. The best times to take to the roads is really before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Wednesday is the absolute peak day for travel, about 42% higher than normal volume.
Governor Gavin Newsom was in the North Bay talking about wildfire prevention and highlighting investments in stopping fires before they start. It's what many believe may have contributed to a less severe fire season this year. Newsom gave a shout-out to the men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who he says battled more fires this season compared to 2021, about 7,300. but those wildfires burned far less acreage statewide.
Californians are known for grumbling about traffic, housing costs, and overall quality of life. But in recent years, celebrities, businesses, and regular people have gone from complaining about the state to leaving it entirely. Since 2010, about 7.5 million people moved from California to other states, while only 5.8 million people moved to California from other parts of the country.
It will surprise no one that it can cost an arm and a leg to purchase a home in a pricey town like Los Angeles. But what may shock you is how much you need to earn annually to make home buying work. An analysis from the real estate site Redfin finds that would-be homeowners now need to earn $200,000 or more in eight U.S. cities, including L.A. and San Diego.
Disneyland ticket prices jumped an entire 9 percent in October and now its Floridian sister park is doing the same. As of December 8th, Disney World will be increasing the prices of tickets, add-ons, and passes.
The U.S. Men's National Team tied Wales, 1-1, in their first game of the World Cup, which is being played in Qatar. Tim Weah put the U.S. up 1-0 after 35 minutes of play. The U.S. would hold onto the lead until the 82nd minute. Both teams earned one point in Group B. The U.S. will play its next game on Friday against England.
Amazon, Meta, Snap, Zillow. All of these tech companies have something in common. They’ve laid off hundreds, if not thousands, of employees in recent months. Meta let go of 11,000 people earlier this month, about 13 percent of its staff.
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022
Some high clouds and upper 60s for the next couple of days. We'll start warming this week with 72 predicted for Thanksgiving Day. Overnight lows around 40.
The Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce is putting on the Christmas parade this Saturday. It's going to be an evening start at 6pm. Come grab a seat after doing your local shopping on "Small Business Saturday".
Gas is still expensive, but those costs are dipping ahead of the holidays. The national average per gallon is $3.66 as of Monday, November 21st. That's down two cents in the past two days and is well below the peak in national prices this past Summer. However, in California, gas prices are significantly higher. A gallon of gas will cost approximately $5.25. That's more than $2 higher than in states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving holiday. Of that number, 49 million will be heading out on the road. The best times to take to the roads is really before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Wednesday is the absolute peak day for travel, about 42% higher than normal volume.
Governor Gavin Newsom was in the North Bay talking about wildfire prevention and highlighting investments in stopping fires before they start. It's what many believe may have contributed to a less severe fire season this year. Newsom gave a shout-out to the men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who he says battled more fires this season compared to 2021, about 7,300. but those wildfires burned far less acreage statewide.
Californians are known for grumbling about traffic, housing costs, and overall quality of life. But in recent years, celebrities, businesses, and regular people have gone from complaining about the state to leaving it entirely. Since 2010, about 7.5 million people moved from California to other states, while only 5.8 million people moved to California from other parts of the country.
It will surprise no one that it can cost an arm and a leg to purchase a home in a pricey town like Los Angeles. But what may shock you is how much you need to earn annually to make home buying work. An analysis from the real estate site Redfin finds that would-be homeowners now need to earn $200,000 or more in eight U.S. cities, including L.A. and San Diego.
Disneyland ticket prices jumped an entire 9 percent in October and now its Floridian sister park is doing the same. As of December 8th, Disney World will be increasing the prices of tickets, add-ons, and passes.
The U.S. Men's National Team tied Wales, 1-1, in their first game of the World Cup, which is being played in Qatar. Tim Weah put the U.S. up 1-0 after 35 minutes of play. The U.S. would hold onto the lead until the 82nd minute. Both teams earned one point in Group B. The U.S. will play its next game on Friday against England.
Amazon, Meta, Snap, Zillow.
All of these tech companies have something in common. They’ve laid off hundreds, if not thousands, of employees in recent months. Meta let go of 11,000 people earlier this month, about 13 percent of its staff.
Friday, November 18th, 2022
Sunny and dry weather continuing into the weekend. Daytime highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 30s.
California will likely have a $25 billion budget deficit next year, state officials announced Wednesday, ending a run of historic surpluses and acting as a warning to other states about a potential recession. Democratic-controlled California taxes rich people more than other states, meaning most of its drop in revenue is because the uber-wealthy aren't making as much money as they used to.
The annual Turkey Shoot is happening tomorrow at the Kern River Gun Range. You can win a turkey and other prizes. All guns and ammo are supplied, and it's for all ages. The turkey shoot is target based. No turkeys will be harmed. Tomorrow from 10am to 12noon at the Gun Range at Cyrus Canyon Road and Sierra Way near the airport.
U.S. Rep. Karen Bass defeated developer Rick Caruso to become the next mayor of Los Angeles on Wednesday, making her the first Black woman to hold the post as City Hall contends with an out-of-control homeless crisis, rising crime rates and multiple scandals that have shaken trust in government. With more than 70% of the vote tallied, Bass had amassed an insurmountable lead of nearly 47,000 votes. She had 53.1%, with Caruso notching 46.9%.
A woman who authorities said drove with 30,000 fentanyl pills in her vehicle has pleaded no contest to a felony drug charge. Court records show Johana Gallegos pleaded no contest to transporting a drug, and charges of drug possession and child cruelty were dismissed. A 14-year-old was in the vehicle when she was pulled over, according to a sheriff’s report.
AAA predicts that this year will be the third busiest for Turkey Day travel since the organization began collecting Thanksgiving travel data in 2000. About 54.6 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more to get to their destinations.
The families of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have reached a $3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed after authorities concluded he strangled her during a cross-country trip in August 2021.
The settlement was signed Thursday by Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll. A lawyer for Petito’s parents said whatever money is received will go to the Gabby Petito Foundation dedicated to locating missing people and curbing domestic violence.
Thursday, November 17th, 2022
Despite recent rainstorms across the state, California’s historic drought shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. With the lack of meaningful regular precipitation, capacity at California’s reservoirs continue to decline, putting stress on the state’s water supply. The state’s largest water reservoirs, Lake Oroville in Butte County and Shasta Lake in Shasta County, currently sit just shy of half of historical averages. Shasta, the largest state reservoir with a capacity of 4,552,000 acre-feet of water, is currently at 31% capacity. Historically, capacity at Shasta Lake is usually around 57% this time of year.
There's a bit of relief at the pump with Thanksgiving around the corner. There's a bit of relief at the pump with Thanksgiving around the corner. The national average is $3.77 a gallon, which is $0.13 less than a month ago and $0.36 more than a year ago. In the grand scheme of things, it's much cheaper than the all-time record high in June of $4.86 a gallon.
Productivity in the workforce has slowed down to levels seen almost 100 years ago, and long term, this could have big consequences for the economy. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics creates a productivity score for the country based on how many products companies make—and the hours employee's work. Levels have fluctuated back and forth since COVID began, but the decline we’ve seen this year is the sharpest plunge in 48 years.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office received a $585,000 grant from the State Office of Traffic Safety. It will fund a specialized prosecution team for DUI cases. District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said that the funding is essential to reduce crime and give justice to victims. The team will also partner with other organizations to provide training to prosecutors and investigators.
State air regulators are considering new laws to phase out big rigs and other trucks with internal combustion engines and replace them with zero-emission vehicles. The proposed Advanced Clean Fleets regulation would include vehicles that transport agricultural commodities. Farmers who rely on trucking companies for timely transport of their produce are voicing concerns.
Heavy traffic, delays and long commute times could be on the Thanksgiving menu for American drivers. AAA predicts that this year will be the third busiest for Turkey Day travel since the organization began collecting Thanksgiving travel data in 2000. About 54.6 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more to get to their destinations.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission urges consumers to no longer use Future Motion’s One-wheel self-balancing electric skateboards due to an ejection hazard. The CPSC said that four deaths have been blamed on the skateboards, along with numerous injuries. The CPSC said that skateboards failed to balance the rider or suddenly stopped while in motion.
Wednesday, November 16th, 2022
The United Nations projects the world population will reach ED 8 billion yesterday. China will likely lose its title as the world's most populous country soon. The U.N. projects India will overtake China in 2023. The U.S. is the third most populous country.
Walmart proposed a $3.1 billion legal settlement on Tuesday over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies, becoming the latest major drug industry player to promise major support to state, local and tribal governments still grappling with a crisis in overdose deaths.
According to a new study, more than 40 percent of America's Gen Z are struggling mentally. Millions of Gen Z young adults are dealing with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 75 percent said the pandemic contributed to it, with more than half reportedly taking medication to deal with symptoms. Roughly 20 percent are seeing a therapist regularly. Kern County currently has a suicide rate higher than the state average.
In an interview with ABC News, former Vice President Mike Pence said he was angry when he found out Trump tweeted that the vice president "didn't have the courage" to stop the Electoral College count from going forward. He said "I turned to my daughter who was standing nearby, and I said, 'It doesn't take courage to break the law, it takes courage to uphold the law."
More than $600 million will be paid to customers who are owed a refund by several airlines for flights that were significantly delayed or canceled, the Department of Transportation said. Additionally, the DOT is imposing fines on six airlines that, the DOT said, did not provide timely refunds to passengers.
The University of Idaho is mourning the loss of four students. Officers were responding to a call about an unconscious person lying on a road when they made the discovery. The four deaths are classified as homicides.
The prices for vet services are up more than 10 percent compared to last year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's the biggest spike like this in records going back two decades. This is happening because medical supplies and lab tests are more expensive now. Worker pay has also increased.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Tuesday it would back proposed federal legislation to safeguard same-sex marriages, marking the latest show of support for the measure from conservative-leaning groups.
Tuesday, November 15th. 2022
Police made dozens of arrests and impounded numerous vehicles at multiple “sideshow” events over the weekend where participants blocked streets to perform stunts. Around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police were called to Ming Avenue and Stine Road and arrested two adults and a juvenile and impounded a vehicle, according to a Bakersfield Police Department release. Others involved left and went to the intersection of Wilson and Stine roads and tried to block traffic. One of the participants, a 16-year-old boy, intentionally tried to hit an officer with his vehicle, police said. He led officers on a chase that ended when spike strips disabled his vehicle.
Thousands of workers at the 10 University of California campuses went on strike Monday as their union negotiates for higher wages, amid other contract demands. The members say some receive salaries so low that they cannot afford housing near or on campus.
Law-abiding marijuana enthusiasts could find themselves in a bit of a predicament following voter approval of a recreational cannabis initiative in Missouri. Though it soon will become legal for adults to possess and ingest cannabis, it could take a couple more months before they can legally buy it.
USDA Forest Service said they are scheduling a public meeting for Saturday, December 3, starting at 12 pm at the Miracle Hot Springs Picnic Area. According to the Forest Service, on Thursday, October 20, officials removed the Miracle Hot Springs tubs on the Kern River Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest. They said the removal of the tubs was because of a death in the area on October 17, and other public health and safety issues.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos awarded Dolly Parton with the Bezos Courage and Civility Award. The award comes with $100 million dollars to give to the charities of the recipient's choosing. Bezos is estimated to be worth $171 billion. He told CNN on Monday that he plans on giving away most of his fortune.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is reflecting on the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. In an interview with ABC News, Pence said he was angry when he found out Trump tweeted that the vice president "didn't have the courage" to stop the Electoral College count from going forward. "I turned to my daughter who was standing nearby, and I said, 'It doesn't take courage to break the law, it takes courage to uphold the law," Pence said.
An injured 10-year-old child helped to lead rescuers to her mother’s crashed car Sunday night in Visalia. According to authorities, the 10-year-old girl walked over half a mile to a gas station around 10:00 p.m. to tell somebody that her mother had been drinking and had crashed their SUV. She told people at the gas Visalia Firefighters were able to safely remove the woman from the vehicle and she was flown to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
Monday, November 14th, 2022
We're going to be dropping to around the freezing mark overnight for the next few days. Daytime highs in the low 60's. No moisture in foreseeable future. If you have had your eye on a new car, well it might be a good time to buy.
New car prices are finally coming down, although just by a little. Analysts say cars are still mostly selling for more than manufacturers' sticker prices, but not as high as they were previously. According to Edmunds, for the first half of the year, new car prices averaged 700 dollars over sticker price. Now that's dropped to about 230 dollars over sticker price.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 around the world are dropping significantly. The World Health Organization or WHO says there's been a 90% decrease in global covid deaths since February. Health leaders credit vaccines and treatment for the decline, however they still encourage people to remain vigilant against the virus.
Whether it’s real or artificial, the cost of your Christmas tree could go up this year. “Like all areas of agriculture, real Christmas tree reproduction, the costs are up,” said Marsha Gray, the executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board. The organization represents companies that produce real Christmas trees grown in the U.S., and those that are imported.
Two teachers in Arizona lost their jobs after students found their Only Fans account that had featured a video made in a classroom, according to news reports. The Today’s News-Herald reported that middle school science teacher Samantha Peer, who made online pornography under the alias “Khloe Karter,” and her husband, Dillon Peer, were former employees of the Lake Havasu Unified School District.
Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto won election to a second term representing Nevada on Saturday, defeating Republican Adam Laxalt to clinch the party’s control of the chamber for the next two years of Joe Biden’s presidency.
California Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agricultural nonprofit, representing over 29,000 members, including over 20,000 small family farms, congratulated Assemblymember Robert Rivas on his caucuses’ selection as the next Speaker of the California Assembly. Assemblymember Rivas, from Hollister, is the first Speaker from an agricultural area since Cruz Bustamante in 1999.
Friday, November 11th, 2022
One person was killed, and four others are missing and presumed dead after officials say 10 people were swept away in a rush of floodwaters in Ontario. This is a result of the storm that dumped heavy rain across Southern California this week. Authorities received calls about multiple people in a wash Tuesday. A swift water rescue team was dispatched to the area and conducted searches up and down the body of water.
The Consumer Price Index, the leading measure of inflation in the U.S., rose 7.7% in the 12-month period ending in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the BLS, 7.7% is the lowest inflation has been since January. Although there are signs that the Federal Reserve’s interest rates are starting to slow inflation, the price of many necessities continues to jump.
Six people were arrested on Monday after police found 2-1/2 pounds of powder Fentanyl and 80,000 pills during a narcotics investigation. During the search, they found approximately 2.5 pounds of powder Fentanyl, 80,000 Fentanyl pills, 1000 Xanax pills, 1.5 pounds of marijuana, and $20,000 in cash, as well as several illegal guns.
Many of the results are obvious after Tuesday's election, but many end results will not be verified as less than 50% of some issues and candidates' votes are yet to be counted.
Today is Veteran's Day and everyone is invited to the annual ceremony at the Kern Valley Cemetary on Burlando. It should be a beautiful day and it will begin at 11am.
A man already in custody in last month's attack on the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of assault and attempted kidnapping.
Because there's a strong possibility the GOP will take the House of Representatives back Bakersfield congressman and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is moving to lock down the votes, He needs from Republican colleagues to secure the role of speaker of the house. However, his ambitions could be challenged by the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus. A source familiar with the deliberations says about two dozen current and incoming GOP representatives are open to opposing McCarthy unless concessions are made.
Infowars host Alex Jones and his company were ordered by a judge Thursday to pay an extra $473 million for promoting false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook school massacre, bringing the total judgment against him in a lawsuit filed by the victims' families to a staggering $1.44 billion. On his show yesterday, Jones called the award "ridiculous" and a "joke" and said he has little money to pay the damages.
Thursday, November 10th, 2022
The storm that rolled through this week didn't disappoint. Bakersfield picking up over .30″ of rain. Some areas of our Mountains received more than 1.00″. No rain for the next 7 days in Kern County, and below normal temps are expected.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) handily won re-election over state Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), the Associated Press projects. This means Newsom will get to serve a second term as California’s governor.
According to the latest data from the secretary of state, Kern County had a voter turnout rate of about 13.1 percent. Statewide, the turnout is about 25.2 percent But that's with plenty of ballots yet to be counted.
There is a Veteran's event going on this morning ahead of tomorrow's Veteran's Day. There is an 8am breakfast at Woodrow Wallace at 8am, and a ceremony at 9 this morning. Tomorrow at 11am, the Kern Valley Cemetary will hold it's annual salute to veterans at the cemetary on Burlando between Wofford Heights and Kernville. Again, that is tomorrow at 11am.
U.S. gas prices are inching upwards. Triple-A is reporting the average price at $380 per gallon. Officials say that's about a four-cent hike from last week and roughly 38 cents more than this time last year. The least expensive gas in the U.S. is in Georgia currently sitting at $3.13 per gallon. The highest average in California is at $5.45 a gallon.
Alex Padilla has been elected to serve a full six-year term as the U.S. Senator representing California. He is the first Latino to be elected to the U.S. Senate in California. However, Padilla isn't a newcomer to the Senate. He filled the seat vacated by Kamala Harris after she became vice president.
Voters in California, Michigan and Vermont approved measures that are backed by supporters of abortion rights while a bill in Kentucky supported by proponents of abortion restrictions lost. Another bill pushed by abortion opponents was losing in Montana as of yesterday morning.
American elections occasionally provide a moment of national unity. This is not one of them. The 2022 midterms, deciding the balance of power in Congress, has been bitter, fractious and expensive in the billions. Even the very notion of democracy and the civil ritual of voting were under attack. Republicans hoped for a wipeout. They didn't get it. After Democrats racked up several hard-fought wins in swing districts,
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022
One big winner for Powerball. One lucky Californian got all the numbers for a prize of 2.04 billion dollars.
All the weather that rolled through California yesterday and last night prompted mandatory evacuations from areas in SoCal and Northern California near areas of recent wildfires. The danger of flash flooding and debris slides come into play. We should clear this afternoon.
A Bakersfield woman pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor on Monday in connection with a fentanyl overdose suffered by her 9-month-old son, according to court records. The boy survived.
In honor of Veterans Day, Knott’s Berry Farm is offering discounted tickets for veterans, fire, and law enforcement officers. Active or retired personnel can purchase tickets for themselves and up to five others for $19.99, not including taxes and fees, on the theme park website or in person at a ticket booth. The website stated that visitors must show a military ID or proof of U.S. military service to receive discounted tickets. The ticket deal will be available Monday through Thursday until Nov. 17 and again from Nov. 28 to Dec. 15.
Not as RED as you may think. Here at home, 35 percent of voters registered in Kern County are Democrats while 36 percent are Republicans. In the city of Bakersfield, 37 percent are Democrats while 34 percent are Republicans. Some cities have a starker difference though. In Arvin, About 57 percent of voters are Democrats while about 13 percent are Republicans. In Taft, 15 percent are Democrats while 59 percent are Republicans.
Tesla is recalling about 40,170 of its Model S and Model X vehicles over concerns they could lose power steering, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Only around 1% of these 2017-21 Model S and Model X vehicles are affected.
The National Park Service is urging the public to not lick the Colorado River Toads. Some believe they bring on a hallucinogenic effect, however, the toxin on the frogs can paralyze or kill dogs, and they can harm humans. These toads are commonly found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.
Elon Musk appears intent on charging Twitter users for the blue verification checkmarks. It would be one of the first major moves by the new Twitter owner that would directly impact users. The fee being discussed would be 8 dollars.