Evacuation orders lifted in ‘Pierce Fire’ in Taft, section of Hwy. 33 closed
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — UPDATED 9:10 PM. Highway 33 near Taft between Hillard Street and Midway Road is closed due to the brush fire and police activity, said Caltrans Central Valley District 6. ---------------- and Kern County Fire officials said evacuation orders have been lifted for all residents affected.
Kern River Valley marks 10 years since Erskine Fire that killed 2, destroyed 280...
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Ten years after the Erskine Fire tore through the Kern River Valley, the scale of its destruction is still stark. The fire destroyed more than 280 homes and killed a married couple, Bryon and Gladys McKaig. The cause was later determined to be an electrical...
Aging alone in the Valley
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY – The number of senior citizens who live alone in the San Joaquin Valley has grown by more than 30% since 2012, adding to a population at increased risk to both physical and mental health. That amounts to more than one in five Valley residents over the age of 65 living with no spouse, family or signi
Bakersfield cyclist races across America for the 20th time
Joe Petersen, 68, is competing in his 20th Race Across America with Team Skipper, riding from Oceanside, California, to Atlantic City, New Jersey
Shafter PD respond to 2-vehicle crash near Amazon Fulfillment Center; closures in place
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Shafter police are investigating a two-vehicle crash near the curve at West Beltway and Express Avenue in the area of the Amazon Fulfillment Center, said officials. Emergency personnel were assisting those involved in the collision as traffic closures were put in place. Northbound West
Ellis reflects on his Kern district priorities in wide-ranging exit interview
With less than a year left in his term, Assemblyman Stan Ellis used an hourlong interview with the Kern Valley Sun to take stock of the issues facing his sprawling district, from river flows and a shuttered fish hatchery to oil regulation and rural hospitals, and to say where he believes the state has fallen short of i
Bakersfield man fights rare form of cancer, tumor removed just in time
BAKERSFIELD, Calf. (KGET) — 37-year-old Justin Miller thought he had a sinus infection. A bad, persistent sinus infection. Turned out it was significantly more concerning, a rare and deadly cancer. 17 News had the chance to speak to him from his hospital bed in Los Angeles, two days after his emergency surgery. Specif
Charges filed after stolen ambulance chase from Tulare County ends in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward announced criminal charges against the man accused of leading law enforcement on a pursuit in a stolen ambulance that ended in Bakersfield. The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Joe Prieto. The Tulare County DA’s office said on June 17,...
Family searching for missing girl, last seen on May 20 at Mira Monte High...
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Family is searching for a missing girl, who was last seen at Mira Monte High School. According to her family, Valerie Zapata was last seen on May 20, 2026, at around 7:45 a.m. at Mira Monte High School on South Fairfax Road. Valerie is described...
KCSO officer accused of rape set for preliminary hearing July 14
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Attorneys on Tuesday said the case against a Kern County sheriff’s sergeant accused of rape won’t be resolved through a plea deal, and a preliminary hearing will move forward. Due to witness unavailability, the hearing for Stephen Wells was postponed to July 14. Wells, who is out on bail, d
