After repeated fires, La Mirage Motel in Bakersfield moves closer to demolition
After nearly 18 fires and years of safety concerns, the city has approved asbestos removal at the former La Mirage Motel, clearing the way for demolition of the troubled Union Avenue property.
Highway 178 closed between Kelso Valley Road and Highway 14 due to weather
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Highway 178 is closed from Kelso Valley Road to Highway 14 due to weather. According to Caltrans District 9, there is no estimated time of reopening. This is a developing story.
Amazing America: Tattoo artist calls the craft a sacred American pastime
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — For 250 years, America has been built on stories that connect us. A special connection that has stood as old as time; "tattoos" and the stories they tell. What became popular for sailors in the late 18th and 19th centuries has evolved globally. In this week’s...
Court docs: Woman was intoxicated, said she accidentally set man on fire in Taft
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Court documents reveal that the woman accused of intentionally setting a man on fire in Taft last month was under the influence of alcohol. Magdalena "Maggie" Junes admitted she was "tipsy" prior to the incident and said that it was an accident. However, Taft police say...
DOJ Challenges Scrivner’s Mental Health Diversion
The California Department of Justice has filed a petition for a writ of mandate with the Fifth District Court of Appeal, asking the court to review a Kern County judge’s December 2025 decision to allow former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner to enter a mental health diversion program instead of going through the...
‘Closure to this chapter’: Justice received for Alvidrez family after a decade of waiting
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A family waiting for justice for over a decade said they finally received it. The man convicted of killing a former Kern High School District Police Chief has been sentenced. Justice came 16 years later for the Alvidrez family, when David Lilly was sentenced 15 years to life. “Being here...
Mother Pleads No Contest After Leaving Young Son in Hot Car: Sentencing, Legal Details,...
You’ll want answers fast: a young mother pleaded no contest after leaving her one-year-old son in a hot car while she got cosmetic treatment nearby, and the case moved to a plea that carries up to 15 years and adds strikes to her record. The article unpacks what happened, why the prosecution shifted from murder […]
California man charged with aggravated assault after Lander stabbing
LANDER, Wyo. — The Lander Police Department recently announced that a California man has been charged with aggravated assault after a stabbing in Lander. A social media post from the LPD says that on Feb. 18 at approximately 8:07 p.m., officers responded to a report of a stabbing on the 400 block of North Second...
Viral TikTok draws attention to alleged 911 operators in Bakersfield
In a single day, a dispatcher could take more than 100 calls back-to-back.
California Resources Corp. to lay off 56 employees in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — California Resources Corp. plans to lay off 56 people in Bakersfield following the company’s acquisition of Berry Corp. last year, according to a WARN letter from Feb. 16. The company sent a letter this week stating the layoffs will affect employees at its offices on...
