Local News
Quadriplegic gets day in jail for killing woman in wreck
With his wheelchair turned toward the family he devastated, Danny Espinoza desperately sought to apologize for the 2006 car wreck that killed 69-year-old Dorothy Anne Walter.
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Piute fire and flood cleanup underway
A security fence recently placed around a Pearl Harbor Memorial in Lake Isabella Park protected the memorial from flooding this past week. The monument, which has original pieces of the USS Arizona, only received a dousing of mud.-
Lottery official: We'll consider Florez gas giveaway idea
The term “scratch and pump” could become the latest catchphrase if Dean Florez has his way.
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BREAKING NEWS BLOG: Officials need Piute Fire damage information
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Man run over by city truck in Jefferson Park dies
The man run over by a city truck while laying in the grass at Jefferson Park last week has died from his injuries, according to the coroner's office.
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Neighborhood meeting on freeway route Monday
A possible routing of Highway 58 up Union Avenue will be the subject of a neighborhood meeting Monday.
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Gas prices burden delivery drivers
If gasoline prices are putting a damper on your daily commute or annual road trip, imagine how they’re affecting people who drive for a living.
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Appeals court throws out child rape conviction
A state appeals court has thrown out the conviction of a Bakersfield man found guilty last year of raping a 10-year-old girl.
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Man pleads guilty to shining laser at sheriff's helicopter
A Bakersfield man pleaded guilty Friday to shining a laser beam into the cockpit of a Kern County Sheriff’s Department helicopter last November.
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Mojave gold mine project stands alone
With the price of gold reaching record highs in recent years, a mining project near Mojave marches alone as the only gold mine going through the permit process in California.
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Marylee Shrider: Voters should decide on same-sex marriage
Looks like voters will still have a say on a same-sex marriage ban in November, thanks to the California Supreme Court’s decision to keep the measure on the ballot.
Lois HenryLois Henry: 4th celebrants lose their minds, fireworks should be banned
I can come up with a number of words to describe what I saw riding along with one of the special fireworks enforcement teams in southwest Bakersfield on the Fourth of July.
Marylee ShriderMarylee Shrider: Voters should decide on same-sex marriage
Looks like voters will still have a say on a same-sex marriage ban in November, thanks to the California Supreme Court’s decision to keep the measure on the ballot.
Leonel MartinezLeonel Martinez: I told you Latinos would embrace Obama!
It doesn't take long as a columnist to discover that, as if being scolded about your real opinions isn't bad enough, a lot of readers are anxious to slap fight you over something you never said. Take the argument that relatively few of the nation's Latinos voted for Sen. Barack Obama in the presidential primary because they are racist.
Dianne HardistyDianne Hardisty: 'We the people' aren't always right
We the people aren't always "right." And it ticks us off big time when we are told that.
Robert PriceRobert Price: Smile! It’s only an interview (and a glimpse of the real world)
When I was 17, I flitted from one job to another on the most trivial of pretenses. Fast-food fry cook, furniture delivery man, sprinkler-installation ditch digger.
Special Reports
It's the classic fight — the Yankees versus the Rebels!
Only this time (and every third Sunday between May and October), the Civil War (OK, it's just re-enactment) will take place at Fort Tejon. Not a Civil War enthusiast? We've got you covered, too.-
Get your tickets now! Martina McBride and Kid Rock coming to town
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The weekend that lasts all month! See what Philippine Weekend events are still to come
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Local young actors to perform 'Charlotte's Web'
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Want to rock 'n' roll all night? KISS tribute band will be here to help Saturday
Gods of Thunder, the Los Angeles-based tribute band, will make its first trip to Bakersfield. See who else is coming to town and what's going on this weekend.
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Runners will be 'Howlin at the Moon' this weekend for a good cause
Special Sections
Election
Here, you can find the latest local and national headlines, opinions from Californian staff and local bloggers, local polls and much more.
Weighed Down
The Californian sought out local children -- and their families -- to look at obesity through their eyes. We followed four families over several months to get a better understanding of their lives and the difficulties in achieving a healthy lifestyle. Each family represents a different aspect of the obesity epidemic.
The Future of a Refinery
Read the ongoing coverage on Bakersfield's largest refinery. We've got stories, blogs and video.Advertisement