KUZZ News

SEIU, county to resume negotiations

SEIU, county to resume negotiations

Kern County’s largest labor union has agreed to more contract talks with the County. A one-day strike following months of negotiations dating back to May 2024 have yielded no results, and members of the Service Employees International Union Local 521 announced Friday the two parties will return to the bargaining table with a mediator to…Read More

fatal hit and run in south bakersfield

A hit and run crash has left one person dead in south Bakersfield. California Highway Patrol officers responded Saturday night to the intersection of South Union Avenue and White Lane to find a pedestrian dead at the scene. Officers are looking for the driver. Southbound lanes of South Union Avenue were closed during the investigation.Read More

kern employment numbers released

kern employment numbers released

The Employment Development Department has released the latest unemployment numbers, and it’s not good news for Kern County. The county’s unemployment rate was 9.3% in February, up from 9% in January and 8.2% in December. Kern’s unemployment rate was higher in February of 2024 at 9.7%. California’s unemployment rate in February was 5.5%. Nationwide, the…Read More

supervisor praises sheriff’s office after online threats

supervisor praises sheriff’s office after online threats

Kern County Supervisor Jeff Flores has released a statement following the arrest of a man who allegedly threatened a member of the Board of Supervisors. On Thursday, the 3rd District supervisor expressed his gratitude to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for the arrest Wednesday of Parrish Buzzard, 61, who allegedly sent several credible threats through…Read More

fallen bakersfield couple laid to rest

fallen bakersfield couple laid to rest

A young Bakersfield couple killed during a Lyft ride home have been laid to rest. A funeral service was held Thursday at Canyon Hills Assembly of God church for Max and Desiree Mooney, both 30, who died when a suspected drunk driver reportedly blew a red light and struck their rideshare vehicle at the intersection…Read More

man pleads no contest to assaulting developmentally disabled victim

A no contest plea has been entered by a suspect accused of assaulting a developmentally disabled man at a grocery store in southwest Bakersfield. Isaac Figueroa admitted to felony assault after pushing the man out of the store and attacking him in the parking lot of the Ming Avenue grocery store in March 2024. Figueroa…Read More

dead body launches homicide investigation

dead body launches homicide investigation

The discovery of a dead body in Mojave is being investigated as a homicide. Timothy Welch, 56, was reported as missing before his remains were found near East Trotter Avenue last November. His identity was confirmed through DNA by the California Department of Justice. The time and cause of death are still unknown. The Kern…Read More

silver alert issued for missing los angeles man

silver alert issued for missing los angeles man

The California Highway Patrol is searching for a missing Los Angeles man suffering from dementia who could be in Kern County. A Silver Alert was issued Thursday for Dennis Cutting, 76, who was last seen in the 22800 block of Vanowen Street in the city of West Hills on March 26. He was traveling in…Read More

man sentenced after pistol-whipping his girlfriend

A Bakersfield man who repeatedly pistol-whipped his girlfriend will spend twelve years in prison. Stephen Swain, 40, must also pay restitution to the victim on behalf of the four young children who witnessed the assault which resulted in the victim’s broken jaw. The incident took place in April 2023 during an argument at the couple’s…Read More

man jailed for alleged threats against kern supervisor

man jailed for alleged threats against kern supervisor

A 61-year-old Bakersfield man has been arrested for allegedly sending email threats to a Kern County Supervisor. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Persons Unit arrested Parrish Buzzard on Wednesday on suspicion of threatening with the intent to terrorize, extortion, threatening certain state officials or judges, and stalking. There’s no word about exactly which…Read More

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