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LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

Kern County public health officials announced 663 new COVID-19 cases, but no new deaths related to the new coronavirus yesterday. Sunday’s count bring Kern County’s total COVID-19 cases to 20,545 and 144 deaths. Officials said 5,733 people have recovered from the virus and 258 people are hospitalized for treatment of the virus.

Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth yesterday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit.

A wildfire that has destroyed at least one home and two outbuildings in the Cherry Valley area of Riverside County continued to burn for a third day, charring 20,516 acres—or about 32 square miles—as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Cal Fire officials said. Authorities have not reported any injuries, but they said containment of the so-called Apple Fire remains at 0%. “Several” evacuation orders and warnings are still in effect.

Eight troops missing after their landing craft sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise are presumed dead, the Marine Corps announced yesterday. The Marines said they had called off the search that started late Thursday afternoon when the amphibious assault vehicle sank with 15 Marines and one Navy sailor aboard. Eight Marines were rescued, but one later died and two are in critical condition.

Both Republicans and Democrats want to send Americans a second round of stimulus checks as part of the next coronavirus aid package. While negotiations in Washington didn’t advance much over the last few days, we’re finally hearing about “productive” conversations that could put you closer to receiving the next $1,200 direct payment. The $600 per week jobless benefit officially lapsed on Friday and Democrats have made it clear that they will not extend it without securing other relief priorities. Whatever unemployment aid negotiators agree on will be made retroactive – but antiquated state unemployment systems are likely to take weeks to restore the benefits.

We lost another great one. Wilford Brimley, who worked his way up from movie stunt rider to an indelible character actor who brought gruff charm, and sometimes menace, to a range of films that included “Cocoon,” “The Natural” and “The Firm,” has died. He was 85.

Yu thought Johnny Cash had a compelling story. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the country music legend in “Walk the Line” had all the right ingredients. But Johnny Cash never turned 21 in prison. Miriam served her country when it needed her most and she answered the call. “I saw a sign Uncle Sam needs you, I thought that is me,” Kann said. Her groundbreaking service as a woman in WWII even led to finding new love late in life. While on her Bakersfield Honor Flight in 2013, Miriam met another veteran named Jack. “My boyfriend, I don’t know how old he is, I didn’t ask him, but he knows how old I am.” Jack is 95-years-old and Miriam often jokes that she is robbing the cradle.

Friday, July 31st, 2020

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported one new death and 924 new COVID-19 cases this morning. These bring the county’s total to 19,345 cases and 140 deaths.

Portland police cleared protesters out of parks near the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse early Thursday as state and local authorities began to fulfill their end of an agreement intended to de-escalate tensions and allow federal officers to leave the city, but many questions remained about when and how that “phased withdrawal” will occur. Officials have already sent conflicting signals about what they have agreed to and how it will proceed. While Brown said federal forces would stand down Thursday and begin leaving the city “shortly,” the president and the head of the Department of Homeland Security insisted they are not going anywhere until the state proves it can maintain order without them.

People who live near Bass Lake are fed up with the trash that is being left behind by visitors to the area. Locals are so fed up, that they are now yelling for change. Shaylee Flynn says she wanted this message to be hear loud and clear -- "If you brought trash, pick it up when you leave!" She grabbed a microphone and a speaker at drove up and down the lake yelling for people to pick up their trash.

A portion of a highway in Northern California will be paved with recycled materials and plastic bottles. The pilot project will feature work on three lanes of a 1,000-foot highway segment of Highway 162 in Oroville. Caltrans says crews will be using recycled asphalt pavement and liquid plastic made with single-use, plastic bottles.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that killed a 35-year-old man early Friday morning in East Bakersfield. According to KCSO, deputies arrived at the intersection of Haley and Pearl Streets just before 4 a.m. to reports of a shooting. Suspect information has not been released.

Employees for Yosemite's concessionaire are being asked to leave their housing units and relocate. Back in May, Aramark laid off a bunch of employees and told them they had just 2 weeks to leave their housing units. This time, the company says it isn't evicting anyone; it's giving them a week to relocate from their company-provided homes to tent-cabins.

In 2019, Kern County had the highest homicide in the state for the third year in a row, according to data from the Department of Justice. And this year, is shaping up to be even worse. Sheriff Youngblood says the recent spike is caused by a multitude of factors- including high unemployment and a crushed economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The sheriff also criticized the state's decision to release a number of inmates from prison due to the spread of COVID-19. People who he believes will fall back into old patterns.

A campaign bus carrying Vice President Mike Pence was involved in a minor accident in Pennsylvania on Thursday, reported the Washington Times. Pence was uninjured in what was being called a “minor fender bender.” He was transferred from the bus to a limo.

1.4 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment last week, according to weekly statistics from the Department of Labor. That's a slight uptick — about 20,000 additional claims — from the previous week's figures. Last week's report also indicated a slight increase in unemployment claims, the first increase in several months.

Congress has been unable to agree on a new stimulus package, and now, a key feature of the last package--the $600 enhanced unemployment benefit--has lapsed. Food Banks are preparing as best they can. A study done by Feeding America shows 1 in 6 Americans could now struggle with hunger as a result of the financial hardships caused by the pandemic. That is 54 million Americans, 17 million more people since the start of the pandemic.

Protests, elections, COVID-19--these are some of the factors experts say are leading to the rise of gun sales this year. A firearm industry survey showed handguns outpaced shotguns 2 to 1 in sales among first-time gun buyers, following a larger, rising trend. There has been a significant increase in concealed weapon permit applications.

Dunkin' is permanently closing about 800 locations throughout the country — about eight percent of its restaurants in the U.S. The company detailed the changes in its quarterly earnings report on Thursday. Dunkin' described the closures as "real estate portfolio rationalizations." One would think that is a fancy way of saying our sale suck.

Thursday, July 30th, 2020

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 4 new deaths and 1,067 new COVID-19 cases this morning. These bring the county’s total to 18,421 cases and 139 deaths. The department is reporting that 5,527 people have recovered from the virus, 12,525 are isolated at home and 220 are isolated at a hospital. KCPH said 105,035 tests have come back negative and 1,047 are pending.

The statistics are in. In 2019, Kern County had the highest homicide in the state for the third year in a row, according to data from the Department of Justice. And this year, is shaping up to be even worse. Sheriff Youngblood says the recent spike is caused by a multitude of factors- including high unemployment and a crushed economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake centered in the Los Angeles area shook southern California. Citing the U.S. Geological Survey, news outlets report the quake happened Thursday around 4:30 a.m. near Pacoima. The quake was felt across the San Fernando Valley and was followed by an aftershock of magnitude 3.3.

The biggest, most sophisticated Mars rover ever built is on its way to the red planet. NASA's Perseverance blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop an Atlas V rocket Thursday morning. It's the first step in an ambitious project to bring the first Martian rock samples back to Earth to be analyzed for evidence of ancient life. China and the United Arab Emirates also have spacecraft en route to Mars, after launching last week. They are all due to arrive at Mars in February.

California workers will get a promised jump in the state's minimum wage next year, but the higher costs represent another challenge for businesses staggered by the coronavirus outbreak. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says he had the authority to suspend the increase to $14 an hour for larger employers in 2021. But he says those dollars will help lower-income workers who have already borne a disproportionate share of the economic hardship caused by this pandemic.

Kern County Public Health reports as of yesterday morning an increase of 448 positive COVID-19 tests bringing today's total to 17,354. This total includes the 10 non-residents who have tested positive. Public Health reported of the 17,354 cases, 5,466 people have recovered and are no longer considered contagious. That is an increase of 67 recoveries since yesterday.

Dr. Deborah Birx is one of the lead experts advising President Donald Trump in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. As the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Birx has faced both praise and scrutiny for her comments regarding the COVID-19. There have been over 4 million confirmed cases in the United States and more than 150-thousand people have died from the virus. She believes the increase in cases in the South will slowly begin to move North, and one way to combat that, as she mentioned, is to wear a mask to avoid spreading the virus.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is using new powers to withhold money from two cities in California’s Central Valley that are defying his health orders by allowing all businesses to open during the pandemic. Newsom blocked nearly $65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County, the first installments of $2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don’t toe the line on coronavirus safeguards.

Another round of free Covid-19 testing is taking place right now and until 2 this afternoon. Drive into the Kern Valley Hospital off McCray and be in line by 1:30 today. It's a drive through it is at no cost to you whatsoever thanks to the state and the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

One of the nation’s largest teachers’ union is authorizing its members to strike if their schools plan to reopen without proper safety measures in the middle of the global pandemic. The American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.7 million school employees, issued a resolution on Tuesday saying it will support any local chapter that decides to strike over reopening plans. The group says school buildings should open only in areas where coronavirus infections are low enough and if schools enact certain safety measures.

McDonald’s plans to accelerate “some restaurant closings previously planned for future years” because of the pandemic, resulting in 200 closures in the U.S. in 2020. More than half of the closures are restaurants in Walmart store locations, according to the company. They did not detail which stores would be closing.

A COVID-19 patient at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital shared his story via social media in hopes the community takes the virus seriously. Daryl Silberberg has been fighting the coronavirus since late June and is now being treated in the COVID-19 section of the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. He wrote, and I quote "Yes quarantine sucks as does social isolation and those damn masks but if is what we have to do in order to LESSEN the effects on our community it is absolutely worth it.”

Wednesday, July 29th, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom for the first time is using his new powers to withhold money from two cities in California's Central Valley that are defying state health orders by allowing all businesses to open. The state is withholding nearly $65,000 from Atwater and more than $35,000 from Coalinga. It's just the first part of $2.5 billion that cities and counties risk losing if they don't toe the line on coronavirus safeguards.

Kern County officials approved more money for hospitals. The state’s model predicted Kern County would exceed its hospital ICU limit by July 28. Those projections have not been too far off. Hospitals managed to keep up with the demand for ICU beds so far, but the concern has shifted to staffing. The money is coming from the “Cares Act” passed by congress. It will add 84 nurses and 40 beds to across all ten acute hospitals in the county.

Know that if you plan on driving Highway 99, it will be closed between Highway 58 and Ming Avenue beginning Sunday, and will not re-open until next Thursday. This is both the Northbound and Southbound. The better news is that the closure is scheduled each day to happen between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am each day.

Education officials in Orange County are planning to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials over rules barring most schools from reopening classrooms when the academic year starts due to the coronavirus. The Orange County Register reports the county’s Board of Education voted 4-0 Tuesday to file the lawsuit. The board majority says the state hasn’t addressed how high-risk students will navigate distance learning.

The Keepers of the Kern are canceling their volunteer trash pick-up operations for the month of August due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a Facebook post, the group announced today will be their “last day on the river for a while.” They will consider future efforts in the coming weeks. Keepers of the Kern said because campgrounds have been overcrowded, there are not enough funds to adequately sanitize the areas and keep up maintenance. The river’s edge has also been overwhelmed by trash, human waste, and damage to the vegetation.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved a revision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding which would in part allocate $12 million to increase capacity at local hospitals’ intensive care units, boost the local small business forgivable loan allocation from $25 million to $30 million and provide $500,000 for a countywide campaign for COVID-19 related advertising.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the man killed in a Tehachapi plane crash. Michael Glenn Phillips, 69, of Westchester was the sole occupant of a plane that crashed into a business complex. Phillips died when the plane he was flying crashed into a building on North Green Street in Tehachapi, not far from the municipal airport. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Again today, you can get free Covid-19 testing done at the Kern Valley Hospital. It will go until 2 this afternoon, but you must be in line in your car by 1:30. The Kern Valley Healthcare District offers the free testing each Wednesday and Thursday from 7 am to 2 pm.

The Trump administration has formally asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations that could apply to Facebook, Twitter and other such platforms. It's a key step toward President Donald Trump fulfilling his executive order to regulate social media. The order asks the FCC to clarify a section of law that has shielded tech companies from much litigation over internet content since 1996.

President Donald Trump’s attempt to project a more serious tone about the coronavirus lasted for about a week. On Tuesday, he resumed spreading misinformation about how to fight the virus and amplifying criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, who said he’d keep his head down and do his job. Social media platforms worked to remove multiple versions of a video promoted by Trump that included unproven claims about treating people who test positive for the virus, but only after more than 17 million people had seen one version of it.

The mayors of six U.S. cities are appealing to Congress to make it illegal for the U.S. government to deploy militarized agents to cities that don’t want them. The mayors of Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Chicago; Kansas City; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Washington wrote to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate pushing for limits on agent deployments.

Kern County Public Health reports as of this morning an increase of 1,893 positive COVID-19 tests bringing today's total to 16,906. There was an increase of 12 deaths as of this morning bringing the total to 135. Another update will come at around 10 this morning. We'll have the information on the noon news.

About 150 firefighters battled a massive blaze that raged through at least six buildings in San Francisco Tuesday, sending embers to a nearby freeway and a thick, black plume of smoke up to the sky and across the bay. One southbound lane of Highway 101 was closed because of the blaze that started in a commercial building in the South of Market, or SOMA, neighborhood, the California Highway Patrol said.

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 12 new deaths and 1,893 new COVID-19 cases this morning. These bring the county’s total to 16,906 cases and 135 deaths.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, more financial relief is on the way for people who have auto insurance with the Auto Club of Southern California. Auto Club members will receive additional premium refunds totaling approximately $59 million. Under this new relief package, every policyholder with auto insurance in effect from May 16 through July 31 will receive a refund check equal to 10% of the premium paid for this period.

President Donald Trump's reelection effort allegedly hid nearly $170 million in spending from mandatory public disclosure by routing payments through companies tied to his former campaign manager, a government oversight group said Tuesday.

An Australian Outback pub has banned emus for “bad behavior,” and erected barriers to prevent the large, flightless birds from creating havoc inside. But things took an intolerable turn last week when two of the birds, Carol and Kevin, discovered they could climb the front stairs of the Yaraka Hotel, the only pub. They strung a rope across the top of the stairs. A sign advises customers to replace the rope once they enter because “emus have been banned from this establishment for bad behavior.

This morning fire crews continue to work to contain a brush fire burning east of Gorman in LA County. The Ridge Fire started Monday afternoon. At last check, LA County fire crews reported the fire at 310 acres but do have it 40 percent contained. Highway 138 has been shut down in both directions as crews continue to battle the blaze.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors will consider increasing the Small Business Forgivable Loan Program from $25 million up to $30 million during its 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday. The program currently provides up to $75,000 in funding for local small businesses.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the GOP coronavirus aid plan Monday which included a second round of stimulus checks. While many Americans will welcome news of another direct payment, it could be a while before you see the cash. McConnell’s $1 trillion HEALS Act proposal was in stark contrast to a $3 trillion package previously approved by House Democrats.

Americans could be getting another check from the U.S. government — up to $1,200 — depending on your income level, after the next stimulus bill becomes law. Just as the first patient to get a phase three trial vaccines for the virus is hoping to find solutions, so are members of Congress working on a phase four stimulus. But the Republican Senate proposal is already behind schedule and will be heavily challenged — and expect a passionate fight over how much additional money should be given weekly to the tens of millions of Americans currently on unemployment.

Republicans are reportedly seeking to extend increased unemployment benefits in the next round of COVID-19 stimulus, but at a much lower rate. Both The Times and The Post report that Republican lawmakers are prepared to introduce a stimulus package that would continue increased unemployment insurance, but would reduce weekly aid from $600 a week to $200 a week.

A small plane was forced to land on a freeway in San Clemente Monday, but no injuries were reported and no vehicles were hit. According to the California Highway Patrol, the emergency landing was reported shortly before 12:50 p.m. on southbound Interstate 5 near Basilone Road, north of Camp Pendleton.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he will not be visiting the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to pay his respects to Rep. John Lewis. During a press gaggle at the White House ahead of his departure, Trump was asked if he would be visiting the Capitol building, where Lewis is lying in state. "No, I won't be going. No," Trump said.

At today's board meeting, Kern County Supervisors will consider an agreement with RightSourcing Inc that would provide more nurses and staff for an additional 40 ICU beds in local hospitals. The deal would cost $12 million and would run through the end of this year.

The California Department of Transportation has appointed a new director in charge of the state highway system in Kern County. Diana Gomez has been appointed as the new director of Caltrans District 6, which oversees highways in Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera counties, along with Kern.

Eight Central Valley counties will receive $52 million from the state to fight a coronavirus surge disproportionately affecting California’s interior, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday.

Kern County is set to receive approximately $7 million of the total, county spokeswoman Megan Person said. She acknowledged the figure was subject to change, and added county officials were working through communications with state leaders over how the funds could be spent.

The Kern County Public Health Services Department announced 442 new COVID-19 cases yesterday morning. That puts the total local case count at 15,013 since the first was announced in Kern on March 13. There have also been 123 confirmed virus-related deaths during that time, according to county data.

Monday, July 27th, 2020

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 442 new COVID-19 cases this morning. These bring the county’s total to 15,013 cases and 123 deaths. The majority of cases are in the 18-49 year old group. Please wear a mask.

Since the beginning of the pandemic parents have been reassured kids are unlikely to get really sick from COVID-19. But now doctors say they are noticing another small trend of kids with coronavirus. They can beat the virus, but the antibodies left over start to attack healthy parts of the body.

As Congress and the White House resume their efforts to agree on a new economic aid package, evidence is growing that the U.S. economy is faltering. And so is concern that the government may not take the steps needed to support hiring and growth. With unemployment still at a high 11.1% and hiring potentially slowing in July, the economy is likely to weaken further without more government aid, economists say.

Attendance at Disney theme parks was flat last year as it limited the number of people allowed in to improve the experience and faced tourism disruptions in Hong Kong, while visits jumped at Universal parks, driven by Harry Potter-themed rides, according to a new report released this month.

On Johns Hopkins University's graph of countries' daily confirmed COVID-19 cases, the U.S. is currently at the top. Parts of the northeast have the virus largely under control, but other states--primarily in the south and southwest--have an increase in the number of new cases, an increase in the percent of positive tests, and reports of hospitals being under pressure for capacity. He says the surge is related to multiple factors, but the primary one is social interaction.

Some good news if you're about to fill up for the week gas prices across the country are about 50 cents lower now than they were this time last year. A new analysis shows gas prices went up less than one cent over the last weeks across the country. At $2.25 a gallon that's 56 cents less than this time a year ago.

Friday, July 24th, 2020 at a time when stress levels are high, many people are wanting fitness centers to stay open. The state said its not safe, but one local gym is inviting members to come workout anyway. The rise in positive COVID-19 cases and growing hospitalizations put Kern County back on the state’s monitoring list, which prompted the closure of many indoor business operations, including gyms, some gyms are defying the order.

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 369 new COVID-19 cases yesterday morning. These bring the county’s total to 14,571 cases and 123 deaths. An update will be available around 10 this morning.

Around 3:20 p.m. Saturday, Highway 178 is closed down in both directions due to reports of multiple vegetation fires in the area of Canteria Road and Fairfax Road according to CHP. One large fire was reported north of the 178 between Morning Drive and Canteria Drive, per officials. Two smaller fires were reported by CHP, south of the 178 just east of Morning Drive.

District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced today that charges have been filed against Brian Pardue, an officer with the California Highway Patrol in the Bakersfield area. Brian Pardue is charged with two counts: Attempt to contact a minor with intent to commit sexual offense, a felony, and arrangement of meeting with a person believed to be a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, a misdemeanor.

The Valley Plaza Mall defied the governor’s orders to close Friday. Eyewitness News reached out to Valley Plaza Mall Management to ask why it had not shut down and is awaiting a response. Kern County Public Health said all indoor malls must close, while outdoor malls can remain open. Stores located inside the mall with immediate entrances and exits facing the parking lot can remain open.

Tuesday will be the hottest day of the week! And we will see temperatures in the triple digits for the entire week! The Kern County desert will see highs reach 107 in parts of the area.

The New York Liberty and Seattle Storm made a statement before tipping off the WNBA season on Saturday according to ESPN. Both teams left the court during the national anthem as a sign of peaceful protest and held a 26-second moment of silence for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old black woman who was killed at her home by Louisville police. Each player also had Taylor’s name on the back of their jerseys.

Another food distribution taking place this morning at the Veterans and Senior Center, Grace Chapel in Mt. Mesa, and Canyon Hills Church in Wofford Heights. the Rotary Club of the KRV and Legion Riders of American Legion post 711 will assist getting you loaded up between 10 this morning and 12 noon.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday assailed Republican “disarray” over a new pandemic relief package as the White House suggested a narrower effort might be necessary, at least for now. Separately, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said a federal eviction moratorium on millions of rental units, due to expire at the end of the month, will be extended. “We will lengthen it,” he said, without specifying for how long.

We lost a couple of famous people over the weekend. 88 year old Regis Philbin passed of natural causes, and movie legend Olivia DeHaviland dieds of natural causes at her home in Paris at age 104.

The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 8 new deaths and 1,038 new COVID-19 cases this morning. These bring the county’s total to 13,370 cases and 123 deaths.

With the Governor ordering certain businesses to shutdown amid rising coronavirus numbers in Kern County many are wondering if those industries are to blame for the increase in case numbers. According to data from local contact tracers no particular industry is responsible. In fact, it appears family gatherings are the leading cause of spread. Kern Public Health contact tracers have followed more than 7,000 COVID-19 infections. More than 3,000 of those can be traced back to a family member.