Local & Regional News

Local & Regional State Senate seat up for grabs in special election Tuesday (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 6:16 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM PDT

The five candidates running to replace Michael Rubio for the 16th state Senate district seat are squaring off in a special election Tuesday.

Local & Regional Rare island fox on the rebound from near-extinction

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:44 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 10:59 AM PDT

A rare and tiny island fox is on the verge of making a comeback from near-extinction in the Channel Islands, a rugged and wind-swept chain off Southern California, officials said Monday.

Local & Regional More community college classes possible, but it will cost

By LAURA OLSON, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM PDT

Fees for the classes authorized under AB955 would be charged at nonresident rates. The average cost is $200 per unit, compared with $46 for state-subsidized credits during traditional semesters.

Local & Regional State Senate OKs regulations for medicinal marijuana

By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM PDT

California would take steps to regulate the sale of medical marijuana under a bill approved Monday by the state Senate, restricting cannabis dispensaries that federal prosecutors say have grown out of control.

Local & Regional Customs seizes elephant meat, dead primate in LA

By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:33 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 5:33 PM PDT

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Los Angeles have made some unusual seizures, including elephant meat, a dead primate and hundreds of handbags made from the skin of snakes, lizards and crocodiles.

Local & Regional Obama, China's president to meet in June in California

By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:32 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 5:32 PM PDT

President Barack Obama will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping early next month in California.

Local & Regional Frazier Park wildfire 90 percent contained (Video)

By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:02 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 6:19 PM PDT

A fire that broke last week south of Bakersfield has closed a state park and already has cost more than $6 million to fight.

Local & Regional Bumbling crooks accidentally dial 911 during crime

By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 7:50 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 12:24 PM PDT

Two suspects arrested for breaking into a car in Central California accidentally called 911 on a cellphone, which led police to them.

Local & Regional CHP: Coughing big rig driver crashes into canal; 1 dead (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 3:44 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM PDT

A Wisconsin man died Monday afternoon when a semitruck crashed into a canal, caused by a coughing driver, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Local & Regional Witness video shows arrest of man who died in custody (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 3:13 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 5:27 PM PDT

Video was released Monday of a confrontation between Kern County deputies and a suspect who died in custody soon after that confrontation.

Local & Regional 2 men arrested in killing over iPad in Las Vegas

By MARTIN GRIFFITH, Associated Press Published: May 19, 2013 at 3:27 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 9:28 AM PDT

Jacob Dismont, 18, and Michael Solid, 21, were booked Saturday into the Clark County jail on charges of open murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Local & Regional Explosions prompt early dismissal at Bakersfield High School (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 12:05 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 6:19 PM PDT

Bakersfield High School was locked down and then students were released early during an investigation into small explosions on campus.

Local & Regional Trains crash and derail in Tehachapi area (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 10:29 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 12:58 PM PDT

A derailment has stalled train traffic on Union Pacific track in Kern County.

Local & Regional U.S. Marshals Most Wanted: Alfred Aukema (Video)

By BakersfieldNow.com staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 12:16 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 12:16 PM PDT

U.S. Marshals, Eastern District of California, Bakersfield Division, is looking for Alfred Aukema.

Local & Regional McFarland murder: 'I don't want them to forget their mom' (Video)

By Mike Dinow and BakersfieldNow.com Staff Published: May 19, 2013 at 4:34 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 1:33 PM PDT

The brutal murder of a McFarland woman Penelope Sanchez left three young children without a mother. Sanchez's sister Georgina Rocha is among the family members that are now trying to deal with the tragic loss.