Governor Brown releases revised proposed budget

Submitted by KBAK_Web_Staff on Wednesday, May 16th, 11:52 am

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Jerry Brown released a revised state budget Monday that protects funding for public education and public safety. But there are billions of dollars in proposed cuts that local agencies aren't happy about.

The state deficit now stands a $15.7 billion and Brown says nearly $8.3 billion will have to be cut to get California back on track.

"Cutting alone doesn't do it. That's why I'm linking those serious budget reductions. Real, increased austerity with a plea to voters: please increase taxes," Brown said.

That increased tax is currently on the November ballot. According to Brown, if approved by voters, it will bring in a forecasted $8.5 billion.

But an increase in taxes won't fix the deficit. Brown is also proposing cuts to education.

"With the budget cuts we anticipated coming, we are certain that people won't have jobs that currently have jobs," California Faculty Association local union president Bruce Hartsell said.

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Fewer California high school grads going to state universities

Submitted by KBAK_Web_Staff on Monday, May 14th, 1:35 pm

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK - KBFX) -- Fewer California high school graduates are heading off to college at CSU and UC campuses, and critics blame state budget cuts. That’s the finding in a new study, and local students and educators say it’s just what they’re seeing.

“It’s just so expensive to go to California Sate or other colleges or universities,” Scottie Gee told Eyewitness News. He is now a senior at California State University Bakersfield, but the high cost of tuition forced him to start first his first two years at a community college.

Soaring tuition and fees are one reason given by the Public Policy Institute of California for a steep drop in California high school graduates enrolling at CSU and University of California campuses.

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Tour of California starts Sunday, arrives in Bakersfield Thursday

Submitted by KBAK_Web_Staff on Saturday, May 12th, 8:49 pm

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The starting gun fires Sunday morning just before 11 a.m. in Santa Rosa, setting the riders of the Tour of California peloton on a collision course with the "race of truth" Thursday in Bakersfield: the individual time trial.

The 18.4-mile race in Bakersfield could decide the overall winner of the race, the permiere stage race in North America.

Racers consider the time trial the "race of truth" because it pits lone riders against the clock.

The riders work as teams and ride in groups during the other, longer stages.

Before the showdown with the clock in Bakersfield, however, the riders in the 2012 Tour of California must first cover four stages, all over 100 miles long.

Stage 1 on Sunday in Santa Rosa covers almost 116 miles. The next day in San Francisco, racers face a 117 mile course; followed by 115 miles in San Jose on Tuesday.

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Viral Video: Bakersfield puppy won't leave dead mother's side

Submitted by KBAK_Web_Staff on Wednesday, May 9th, 3:55 pm

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Katy Hudson and Courtney Clerico are no stranger to animal rescues. But, the rescue of a puppy April 29 from the side of Comanche Road has captured the attention of Internet users worldwide.

The puppy would not leave the body of its mother who was hit and killed by a car. Hudson said she and Clerico were alerted to the situation through a telephone call and quickly jumped into action.

"This poor dog had been out there. By the looks of his mother, he had been out there several days. He hadn't had food. He was on the verge of dehydration and very scared, too. I mean, he had seen what had happened to his mother and was worried that would happen to him. He didn't trust humans, so it took us a long time and a lot of patience to gain his trust."

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July busy at Tehachapi Museum

Submitted by Cory Smith, Web producer

Monday, May 7th, 2012, 8:15am

Tehachapi Museum will host a variety of activities this summer.

It will celebrate its birthday 1-4 p.m. July 4 by serving free cake and lemonade.

Part II of a lecture series called Growing up Kawaiisu is 5:30 p.m. July 21. It will feature Luther and Lucille Girado, who will share their experiences growing up as Kawaiisu Indians. Following their lecture, archaeologist Amy Girado will present a lecture entitled The Role of Women and Children in the Kawaiisu Culture. A no-host dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and the evening's presentations will begin at 6:30.

July 24, 10 a.m. to noon, Mountains Garden Nursery will present a class called All Things Lavender. The instructor will show how to create soaps, potpourri, cheese, wands and more with lavender.

Call the Tehachapi Museum, 310 S.

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Jury finds parolee guilty in 2009 murder of Tehachapi man

Submitted by KBAK_Web_Staff on Thursday, May 3rd, 10:24 am

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A jury Wednesday returned a guilty verdict for Robert Jessie Alvarez in the Nov. 2, 2009, murder of 58-year-old Jerry Ennis, of Tehachapi.

Alvarez had been released from prison just 36 hours before Ennis gave him a ride from a convenience store. Police said Alvarez stabbed Ennis several times while trying to take his jewelry.

When police were called just after 1:30 that morning to the 3600 block of M St., they found Ennis lying on the ground. His neck had been slashed. Ennis died after being taken to Kern Medical Center.

Investigators said it was apparent that after Ennis was assaulted in his vehicle, he had made his way to the front door of an apartment before he collapsed.

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Parks district celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Submitted by Cory Smith, Web producer

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012, 2:05pm

Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Parks District is celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, which, of course, is May 5.

The celebration at West Park Activity Center will start at 5 p.m. and include "good food, fun and plenty of cerveza," the parks district said. Mariachi Imperial is set to perform 6-9 p.m. TVRPD's Folkorico dance team will also perform.

Dinner will cost $7 for adults and $5 for children.

Call 822-3228 for more information.

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