Kern County’s assessed property sees $3.2 billion increase in value: Assessor’s office
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The value of local property assessed in Kern County increased by about $3 billion in one year, according to the Kern County Assessor’s Office. The total assessed value of all taxable property in Kern County as of Jan. 1 was $129 billion. This marks a $3.2 billion increase in local...
Public health confirms first case of West Nile virus in Kern County this year
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern County Public Health Department confirmed that Kern County has reported its first case of West Nile virus in 2025. County health officials said there were 12 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Kern county in 2024. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes during the summer months...
Homeless Student Counts in California Are Up. Some Say That’s a Good Thing
In Kern County, the first rule in counting homeless students is not saying “homeless.” Instead, school staff use phrases like “struggling with stable housing” or “families in transition.” The approach seems to have worked: More families are sharing their housing status with their children’s schools, which means more...
Survey shows Bakersfield ranks top 10 in worst DUI rate in the nation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A survey by LendingTree ranked the highest DUI rates in the nation, with Bakersfield at number eight. The survey looked at the DUI rate for the 50 largest U.S. cities. Omaha, Nebraska, ranked number one with a rate of 4.48 DUIs per 1,000 drivers. Bakersfield,...
Convicted murderer, gang member to remain in prison; parole board cites risk to public
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A convicted murderer and gang member from Arvin, Jose Valencia, was denied parole on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, after the California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) determined he continues to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Valencia, 30, was involved in a shooting on August...
Deputies: Man uses fake registration stickers on vehicle plates
A 42-year-old Bakersfield man was arrested on suspicion of having “fake registration stickers on his plates” that he made himself in Castaic on Thursday evening, according to an email statement from Shirley Miller with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. During the investigation in the area of...
Residents reeling from murder on Ream Way say suspect regularly disrupted neighborhood
According to neighbors, they did not know Williams by name, but said a man matching Williams' description regularly disturbed the neighborhood.
Kern County law enforcement agencies react to deadly explosion in LA that killed 3...
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Law enforcement agencies throughout Kern County came forth to send words of support to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department after an explosion at a training facility in East Los Angeles killed three deputies on Friday. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Shafter Police Department and...
BPD requests public’s help to identify man who allegedly hammered down home garage door
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield Police Department asked for the public’s help in identifying a man who is accused of striking the victim’s home garage door with a hammer in January. The incident occurred Jan. 26 at around 1:50 a.m., in the 3000 block of Apollo Street, according to police. Officials said...
Verdicts reached in 5-defendant murder trial
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Verdicts have been reached in a monthslong murder trial involving five defendants and separate shootings at Mesa Marin Sports Complex and on Kentucky Street. Some verdicts were announced Thursday, with the rest being reached Friday. 17 News will live blog Friday’s proceedings. Francisco...
