http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local RSS Feed for KBAK - News - Local & Regional en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:16:32 GMT http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70655667.html California is investigating several companies suspected of bilking churches nationwide of hundreds of thousands of dollars through fraudulent computer leasing schemes, authorities said Friday. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70655317.html A federal appeals court in San Francisco has rejected three grape growers' challenge to a mandatory advertising campaign for California table grapes. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70654667.html An independent eye will take a look at SmartMeters, the highly vilified electrical meters deployed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The California Public Utilities Commission declared "extraordinary circumstances" Friday to quickly hire an independent examiner. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70650657.html A Los Angeles gang member has been sentenced to death for fatally shooting two people at a Watts housing project. A Superior Court judge sentenced 32-year-old Kai Harris on Friday. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70650552.html A 17-year-old Mexican immigrant has pleaded guilty in San Diego to murdering a Border Patrol agent who was shot eight times in July. The U.S. attorney's office said Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez entered the plea Friday in federal court. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70650187.html Prison officials say a man convicted of a 1987 double murder has died of natural causes, 16 years after he was sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70650082.html California medical professionals who have abused drugs will now face drug tests twice a week and be immediately removed if they relapse. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70649847.html A 39-year-old Thousand Oaks man has been arrested for misdemeanor child annoyance after allegedly paying a teenager $31 to spit in his face. Investigators say several teens also alleged the man offered them money to urinate and defecate on him. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70649562.html A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a gang-related shooting that killed a man and wounded two others near a fire station in San Bernardino. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/70634812.html Movies based on books, such as the "Twilight" series, may draw millions of people to theaters, but they also inspire people to sit down and read a book. "(Sales) definitely pick up before the movie comes out and during the opening weekend," one Russo's Book employee said.