I joined Eyewitness News in June 2004. Right now, I anchor the 6 p.m. & 11 p.m. newscasts, as well as the 10 p.m. newscast on sister station, FOX 58. I take pride and feel very fortunate to be able to bring you the news in Kern County and the world that impacts your life. But aside from anchoring the news, I enjoy telling in-depth stories that make a difference. From helping to get thousands of dollars returned to customers of a furniture store accused of fraud to exposing rogue contractors and their scams to shining a light on the medical care of local veterans and their fight with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is an honor to get out from behind the anchor desk and report on stories that can touch the lives of others.

After working part-time radio jobs in Northern California, I began my career in television in 1987 as a news photographer at KESQ-TV (ABC) in Palm Springs, CA. A year later, I became a reporter for KERO-TV (CBS) in Bakersfield, CA. Since that time, I have worked as a reporter at WFLD-TV in Chicago, WXYZ-TV in Detroit and full circle as an anchor/reporter at KGET-TV in Bakersfield and finally here. During my career, I have covered stories across the country. But one of my proudest career achievements includes following a group of doctors to Colombia in 1997. The "Healing the Children" physicians volunteered their time to offer poor patients operations to repair facial deformities. My five-part series became a half-hour documentary and gained critical acclaim in the Detroit Free Press newspaper. I am also the proud recipient of several awards, including a 2006 National & Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Series, a 2005 Regional Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting, seven Emmy nominations including a winner for breaking news coverage in Detroit. I also was awarded an Associated Press award for "Best Individual Reporting" in Michigan. I have been awarded nine Radio/Television News Association (RTNA) Golden Mikes, including best investigative, consumer and news series reporting, among other awards.

I am a graduate with honors from San Francisco State University. I am a huge sports fan (especially the Pacific Tigers and Cincinnati Reds) and self-proclaimed "Parrothead" who enjoys the music of Jimmy Buffett. I live in Bakersfield with my wife and three children.

You can e-mail me any story ideas or just say hi through the link below.

You can e-mail Kurt at krivera@bakersfieldnow.com