02-08-2010 Kern County Sheriff's investigators say the circumstances of a fatal shooting Sunday evening in Taft are suspicious, and they are treating the death of 46-year-old James Lawrence Cash as a homicide. Deputes responding to a call around 6:45pm for a victim of a shooting found Cash shot in the head in a house at 216 Jefferson Street. Two adults and two children were also in the residence. A handgun was recovered but no arrests were made.

02-07-2010 No arrests have been announced in the death of Patrick Matsuda, 40, the south Bakersfield man that neighbors say stepped out of his house early Sunday morning to tell people across the street to be quiet. Police say those people then attacked him, and his wife says one had a baseball bat. The attackers got into separate cars and drove away from the 4300 block of Whitegate Avenue. Autopsy results are still pending.

02-05-2010 Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) has finally announced she's running for the state senate. Fuller says water, less government and keeping criminals behind bars will be her top priorities in an arena where she'll have more clout. Fuller says wouldn't announce before Friday because she was too busy working. "The thing about the Assembly is that you have a two-year term, so as soon as you get started, almost immediately people start asking you what you're going to do next," she said. "I felt like I needed to do what I went up there to do." Fuller may face a challenger in retiring Kern County District Attorney Ed Jagels, but she says that doesn't faze her. Jagels has not yet officially declared his candidacy.

02-05-2010 Kern County Deputy District Attorney Richard Tae Choi, 29, faces drunk driving charges. Bakersfield police say they arrested him last month. Ironically, his boss, D.A. Ed Jagels, says Choi prosecutes drunk driving cases, and says he likely will again. Jagels offered no other comment. Choi will be arraigned on Feb. 19. If convicted, Choi could be fined and have his driver license suspended.

02-05-2010 Bakersfield Police need the public's help in finding a woman who stole clothing from an East Hills Mall store on Feb. 2. Police say she took them from Touchdown Sports and pulled off most of the sensor tags. One that she missed went off, and police say she told clerks she had a gun. The woman got into a white Chevy S-10 with primer on the passenger side, driven by another woman. The theft suspect is described as black, in her 40s, 5'0", 100 lbs. with long hair. Call BPD at 661-327-7111 if you have any information.

02-05-2010 "Public Policy and Environment" is the focus of the next workshop devoted to methamphetamine prevention in Kern County. Monday's expert speaker is Joel Phillips, founder and president of Evaluation, Management and Training Associates, Inc. He says getting addicts to quit isn't that simple. "If you keep going in with the concept that change is difficult, and you reflect on your own personal behavior," Phillips said, "that gives you insight on the enormity and the difficulty when you're dealing with a highly-addictive substance." Phillips says local governments and prevention programs need more data and evidence to target meth addicts, and that treatment isn't the same as for other drugs. Monday's workshop is at 1:30 p.m. at county headquarters, 1115 Truxtun Ave. in Bakersfield.

02-05-2010 Centennial High School placed fifth in the state's "We the People" competition Friday in Sacramento. Dozens of schools statewide had competed by giving speeches on the U.S. Constitution and theory, followed by grueling questions from a panel of judges. The winning team, Arcadia High School, now represents California in the national competition. Arvin and Foothill high schools finished in the top 12 statewide.

02-05-2010 Kern County firefighters say 20 cats burned to death in an Arvin house fire Friday morning. Six others were either rescued or taken to a veterinarian. The home owner in the 25400 block of Judith Street wasn't home when the blaze broke out, but she suspects a heating element she recently bought for baby chicks could be to blame. The homeowner takes in stray cats and dogs. No humans were injured.

02-04-2010 The repair parts for faulty gas pedals are now available at local Toyota dealers, following the large recall. Bill Wright Toyota General Sales Manager Kevan Juergens says they're small, stainless steel pieces, and his technicians have already fixed dozens of accelerators. Juergens says Toyota owners should make appointments before bringing in their cars. "Someone would bring in a vehicle that had nothing to do with the recall whatsoever," he said. "Our call center will certainly identify the vehicle and let them know if there's a concern or not, which would save them time." Juergens says customers have been patient, and sales are about the same as before the recall.

Word comes from a Japanese newspaper that Toyota Motor Corporation is now recalling 270,000 Prius hybrid models because of faulty brake systems. The company says it hasn't decided officially yet, but it says it is investigating possible brake problems with a Lexus hybrid. In Los Angeles, the family of a woman killed in August has filed suit against Toyota, demanding that it expand its recall to include bad brakes on several models.

02-04-2010 KUZZ is going after its second-ever "Station of the Year" award from the Academy of Country Music. It's almost a perennial nominee for the top industry honor. Judges will consider KUZZ's overall sound, industry leadership, community involvement, and more. The station just won its fourth-ever "Station of the Year" award from another prestigious society, the Country Music Association.

02-04-2010 A worker's compensation case has resulted in a $4.5 million settlement for a farm worker. According to his attorney, Adam Melgar was pulling his tractor out of a grape vineyard and was struck by a truck in 2007. He suffered brain damage and now requires life-long care and rehabilitation. Melgar's wife quit work to care for him full-time, and couple has two children. The attorney says Melgar worked for M. Caratan Incorporated in Delano.

02-04-2010 The Padre Hotel finally opened its doors Thursday, even though the Grand Opening is exactly a month away. People streamed into the downtown landmark during lunch hour to get a look at the interior, and to try out the new restaurants. Hotel co-owner Brett Miller says getting the building up to modern safety standards has been a labor of love. "Financing was extremely difficult to obtain, and the recession definitely didn't help," Miller said. "And it's a huge undertaking. It's easier to build a building new, than it is to remodel one." When complete, the Padre will boast 112 rooms, and 16 of them are already open.

02-04-2010 The American Heart Association wants women to Go Red on Friday. It's their annual campaign to remind women in particular to take better care of their hearts through healthy, lifestyle changes. Go Red Day chairperson Michelle Mize says the statistics are grim. "One in three women die of cardiovascular disease, and 90-percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease in the future," Mize said. The Heart Association in Bakersfield has been encouraging women to wear red on Go Red Day for five years. It's also meant to promote their big fundraiser Tuesday at the Bakersfield Marriott downtown, with 80-percent of the proceeds going to the agency.

02-03-2010 A Bakersfield doctor who took a plea deal for inappropriately touching a female patient was sentenced to 60 days of work release, and 560 hours of community service. The judge said that if Esmail Nadjmabadi had been sentenced to the year in jail that was recommended, he would have been out in just over three months. Prosecutor John Lua still wanted the judge to give Nadjmabadi time behind bars. "He has a lot of discretion in these matters," Lua said. "As much as I can disagree with him -- as most would, because everyone has their own opinion -- his reasoning was sound." Nadjmabadi will also have to serve three years probation, and won't be eligible to get his medical license back for five years.

02-03-2010 Bakersfield police have named Mitchell Green, 30, as the man responsible for a fatal accident Tuesday night at the intersection of Panama Lane and Ashe Road. Sergeant Mary DeGeare says Green, an off-duty Kern County firefighter, was driving drunk and failed to stop at a red light. Green now faces vehicular manslaughter charges. DeGeare says he slammed into a grey Hyundai driven by Michaela Maxwell, 15, whose mother, Michelle Marie Maxwell, 41, was also in the car. DeGeare says Michaela had a learner's permit. The crash killed Michelle and sent Michaela and Green to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries. The intersection reopened Wednesday afternoon, and Pacific Gas and Electric says power has been restored to the nearly 2,200 customers that were without it following the crash. Police say Green's pickup truck severed a power pole and caught fire. The top half was hanging from a single, active power line.

02-03-2010 Local gas station owners gathered at Bakersfield City Hall on Wednesday morning to hear a presentation by the Bakersfield Police Department on how to stop rip-off artists from using skimming devices to get customers' credit card information. Police Community Relations Specialist Sandy Morris says motorists can take action if they think their information is being copied. "They need to notify the management of the establishment immediately," she said. "And I can guarantee that they will automatically call us, because they don't want to be a victim either." Rip-off artists work in teams in order to distract the station attendants. Another method is to put the device into a pump's card reader when the station as closed, and then simply pick it up later. The credit card information is then transferred to any card with a magnetic strip, and used to make purchases at any store they choose.

02-03-2010 He's retiring as Kern County's District Attorney, and now Ed Jagels says he might be running for the State Senate now held by Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield). He says he just started thinking about a campaign a few days ago, because he says he learned that Governor Schwarzenegger plans on releasing more felons from prison and de-criminalizing property crimes. Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield), widely believed to be eyeing the same spot, has yet to formally delcare her intent to run.

02-03-2010 Padre Hotel officials hope to start checking-in overnight guests on Friday, after one elevator and other parts of the downtown Bakersfield landmark passed inspection. Owner Brett Miller says floors 2, 7 and 8 will have their final review from city officials Thursday morning. Miller gave us a tour Wednesday and says the contractor has run behind, but adds that he needed to set deadlines for the rest of his staff. The grand opening is now slated for March 4. Miller says the city has been more than helpful in the Padre's reopening efforts, and all sides want to ensure the hotel is completely safe.

02-02-2010 Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio and his staff are reviewing the first batch of cancelled checks and documents he requested from Kern Health Systems, in light of its almost $8 million audit. Meantime, Wagih Michael resigned from the Kern Health board, citing too much public pressure is interfering with day-to-day operations. Board member Al Wagner says scrutiny is part of the program. "If you put yourself out there to be a member of a public board, I think you need to be aware that there's going to be some public scrutiny," Wagner said. "That comes with the territory." Rubio's office says Kern Health is cooperating and will provide more documents later this week. Kern Health Systems provides health care to low-income families with taxpayer dollars.

02-02-2010 After two weeks in Haiti helping earthquake victims survive, Kern County firefighter Leland Davis says he will miss them, in spite of the grueling work. Davis says his outreach with "Firefighters for Christ" focused on children. "I lost count of how many kids were born right on or about the earthquake, severely dehydrated and malnourished," he said. "We had one little boy in particular who saw both of his parents killed, and he basically -- just from the shock -- was deaf. He wouldn't respond; he was catatonic." Davis says there's no counseling available, and food and medicine are in short supply. He says that, through all the doom, Haitians are finding God.

02-02-2010 Alon Israel Oil Company is bidding $40 million to buy Big West Refinery on Rosedale Highway. It's been nearly shut down since its parent company, Flying J, declared bankruptcy. Alon Israel owns another plant in Los Angeles County that it wants to link with Big West. The company says more jobs and cheaper gas will be dreams until the deal is done.

02-02-2010 A man who Kern County Sheriff's deputies say exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl while she walked to East High School has turned himself in. Authorities say Victor Pulido-Hernandez, 27, called the teenager over to his car to ask for directions and had his pants down. Pulido-Hernandez was booked into the Kern County jail.

02-02-2010 A Wasco man has died in a crash between two big-rigs at the intersection of Highway 43 and Pond Road. The Kern County Coroner's Office says Moises Vargas Gonzalez, 34, died at the scene just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when his truck carrying a load of eggs hit the other tractor trailer. The road was blocked for just over four hours.

02-02-2010 Kern County Sheriff's investigators are looking for a motive behind a deadly shooting Monday night on the 600 block of Jastro Avenue in east Bakersfield. They say Gary Grimes, 31, was shot eight times in front of his girlfriend, her family, and their baby as he was getting out of his car around 7:30 p.m. He died Tuesday morning at Kern Medical Center. Detectives say the suspects are two teenagers around 18 or 19 years old, one Hispanic and one black.

02-02-2010 Attorneys delivered their opening statements Monday in the Babies R Us kidnap and rape trial. Prosecutors say Anthony Graham Jr. approached a woman and her baby in the parking lot of the Rosedale Highway store in a year ago, and forced her at gunpoint to drive to her ATM to withdraw cash, then to a school parking lot where she was raped. Graham's defense attorney, Paul Cadman, argues it was a drug deal gone bad and the sex was consensual.

02-01-2010 Even though Gov. Schwarzenegger says he will not cut education funding, Kern High School District officials say their research shows he'll cut $1.5 billion, and possibly more if he can't make all the social services deductions that he wants. This compounds the effects of increasing unemployment, a drop in income tax revenues and California simply running out of cash. Associate Superintendent Dennis Scott says the district could lose $8.7 million in the next state budget, bringing the 4-year total to $85 million. State employees have to brace for a decrease in a cost-of-living adjustment.

02-01-2010 Toyota is sending out replacement parts for sticking gas pedals, but they're stopping at the factories instead of heading straight to the dealerships, where the repairs will be made. Regardless, Bill Wright Toyota General Sales Manager Kevan Juergens says once the parts come in, repairs will be quick and easy. "We'll receive the technical bulletin from Toyota, stating what to do," he said. "It doesn't appear that we're going to have to send any of our technicians off-site to be trained." Juergens says Toyota owners that have called in with recall questions have been understanding. The corporation has recalled more than 4 million vehicles, but not may be affected. Juergens expects the replacement gas pedals to arrive later this week.

02-01-2010 A contract dispute between the U.S. Borax mine management and its workers has resulted in the miners being locked out and no new negotiations scheduled. International Longshore and Warehouse Union chapter President Jack Leibengood says the new management group claims that the old contract is confusing, and a new one is needed. "They're saying it's complicating things, they can't get things done, they've got to be competitive, they need to save money, but it's at the employees' expense," Leibengood said. U.S Borax used a clause in the old contract to prevent strikes to lock the workers out, while bringing in replacement workers. The contract expired last September, and according to Borax General Manager of Operations Dean Gehring, the Union's negotiation tactics have hurt business. "The union has engaged in a letter-writing campaign to our customers, which has cost us $6 million in revenue this year," Gehring said. "Additionally, they have invited our competitor into the negotiating process, which is unheard of." The Union also claims that U.S. Borax wants to turn full-time jobs into part-time jobs without benefits.

02-01-2010 A man stepped outside of his east Bakersfield apartment bedroom and was shot in his right hand. Kern County Sheriff's deputies say Richie Valenzuela heard a man and a woman arguing Monday morning and confronted them. When Valenzuela tried to get back to his bedroom, deputies say the other man fired his gun and hit Valenzuela. He was taken from his apartment at 1348 Lincoln St. to Kern Medical Center. The suspect is described as a 30-year-old Hispanic man, light complexion, short brown hair, wearing a royal blue sweatshirt and black pants. The handgun is described as a blue steel automatic handgun. Call 661-861-3110 if you have any information.

01-22-2010 North Bakersfield High School graduate Colby Lewis is making his return to major league baseball, after spending two years playing in the Japan Central League. He dominated batters as he averaged more than one strikeout per inning. Lewis sat down with us first to talk, and he says he only went to Japan to provide for his family. "If I get another shot, then great, but if I finish my career over here [Japan], then fine," he said. "I'm going to be able to make enough money for us to be able to retire. I'm still playing a game that I truly love and doing the things that I'm still doing at 30." Now, Lewis has a two-year, $5 million deal with the Texas Rangers, and is expected to be the team's third starter. Lewis weighed in on the steroid controversy still surrounding baseball. He says he knows they're bad, but the attitude among players in the majors is that they simply wanted to extend their careers, so they gave into the temptation. KUZZ's interview with Colby Lewis is offered in part one and part two.