A Taft man has been arrested for allegedly stealing copper wire. Parolee Steve Havens, 53, was apprehended Thursday in the 900 block of North Lincoln Street after Kern County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly located a basement that contained a large amount of copper wire. Havens has two prior convictions on drug possession and allegedly had drugs…… Read More
KUZZ News
man who destroyed icu room convicted
Kern County prosecutors say he destroyed an Intensive Care room and a jury agreed. Matthew Shapiro was convicted last Thursday of felony vandalism charges at Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley Hospital after he broke a window, medical equipment, and pictures on the walls while he was a patient in ICU in April 2023. He also destroyed…… Read More
accused drunk driver to stand trial
A Bakersfield man will stand trial after an alleged drunk driving crash that killed two women in south Bakersfield. A judge on Friday found sufficient evidence for the case against Arturo Munoz, 26, to proceed. Munoz is charged with two counts of second degree murder in the crash that killed Hortencia De Haro and Vanessa…… Read More
another newsom recall
Another recall may be in the future for Governor Gavin Newsom. A newly formed coalition called Saving California has announced its intent to serve Newsom with recall papers, citing the state’s rising taxes, cost of living, ineffective emergency responses and population decline. This will be the eighth attempt to recall Newsom since he was elected.…… Read More
false reports of shooter at ridgecrest school
A juvenile has been arrested after making false reports of a shooting at Murray Middle School in Ridgecrest. Police report on Thursday a mother got a distressing call from her son who claimed there was a shooter on the campus on Drummond Avenue. Police officers and school administrators responded to find no shooter and no…… Read More
discrimination suit filed
An employee of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools has filed a lawsuit alleging harassment, racial and gender discrimination, and retaliation. Candace Neal claims she was demoted and intimidated by Superintendent John Mendiburu. Neal is the Director of the Developer Fee Joint Powers Authority and is the first African American and woman to hold the…… Read More
bakersfield man arrested in chicago
A Kern County man accused of sexually abusing several children was arrested in Chicago as he tried to board a flight to Mexico. Bryan Munoz, 36, was arrested Jan. 16 and is awaiting extradition to Bakersfield to face seven counts related to the sexual abuse of minors including children 10 years old or younger. Detectives…… Read More
hughes fire burns near castaic
Another Southland wildfire is burning, this one closer to home. Firefighters on the ground and in the air rushed to battle a rapidly-spreading brush fire that exploded near Castaic on Wednesday, forcing evacuations around Lake Castaic and impacting traffic on Interstate Five. The Hughes Fire was reported shortly before 10:45 a.m. on the east side…… Read More
city leaders want bakersfield fire plan
Bakersfield city leaders want a plan in place to avoid the type of devastation happening from the wildfires in Los Angeles County. Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur has asked city staff to draft Bakersfield’s first fire master plan including the construction of another fire station. The city council on Wednesday approved the purchase of two new…… Read More
inmate gets years added to sentence
A prisoner with prior convictions for attempted murder and assault has been found guilty of attacking another inmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. Jonathan Pugh, 40, was convicted last week of stabbing an inmate in the face and upper body with a makeshift knife in a prison dayroom in June 2022. The victim…… Read More
