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Locals making headlines at both party conventions
Kern County has been making its mark this week on both the ongoing Democratic convention in Denver and the soon-to-start Republican one in St. Paul, Minn.-
Assembly candidates weigh in on Parra-speaker spat
The two candidates running to succeed Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, had slightly different takes on her high-profile tussle with the Democratic leadership.
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Coroner can't say what killed man found in trunk
An autopsy performed Wednesday on a body found in a car trunk has not determined the victim’s cause of death.
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Bright spot: Office, industrial real estate market stay strong
Recent data suggest Bakersfield’s market for office and industrial real estate remains relatively strong despite the slowing economy, a trend local brokers attribute to strength in Kern’s oil and agriculture industries.
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Farmland conversion tops planning commission meeting
Proposals to convert farmland for development and a commercial and housing project will be considered by the Kern County Planning Commission Thursday night. But county planners aren’t recommending either project.
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Are you the winner? Lotto looking for Mega Millions ticket holder
Somebody in Bakersfield could be holding a $245,771 lottery ticket.
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Learn about refinery expansion plans at workshops
Three public workshops have been scheduled to provide information on the proposed Big West of California refinery expansion.
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Two furniture stores to close
Two furniture store chains with operations in Bakersfield are going out of business.
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Bodies found in storage unit were children
Last week’s grisly discovery of skeletal remains in a storage unit turned even more unsettling Wednesday.
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Two men get life for teen's 2003 shooting death
Christopher Stoner was shot in the head, but before he died, his organs helped save eight lives.
Lois HenryLois Henry: Luck is in the eye of the beholder
The way you look at this story will tell you a lot about yourself.
Marylee ShriderMarylee Shrider: If officers are on cell phones, it's because they need to be
A friend was sitting at a red light the other day, chatting on her cell phone, when she glanced up to lock eyes with a police officer in the next lane.
Dianne HardistyDianne Hardisty: Age may make a difference in race
Ya gotta give Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign points for spin. While late night comics are ridiculing the guy for his age, McCain's campaign is turning it into a money-maker.
Robert PriceRobert Price: Advance of hybrids will make world sound different too
About 350,000 hybrid and electric vehicles share California roads with traditional smog-spewers these days. That might sound like a lot, but it's still barely 1 percent of the state's tailpipes. California has nearly 33 million registered cars and trucks.
Special Reports
INVASION OF THE CATERPILLARS: Are you having one in your yard?
Read gardening columnist Joan Swenson's article for advice on how to get rid of the voracious eaters before the trees' green is gone.-
Joey Porter's wife to open day care for special-needs children
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SPECIAL EDITION SOUND OFF: Executive Editor Mike Jenner answers readers' criticisms, compliments and questions
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THE TILTED KILT: Been there yet? These guys have, and they aren't impressed
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An OLD WEST-style SHOTGUN wedding: 'You’re going to do right by that woman!'
Couple renews vows for 50th wedding anniversary with theatrics
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Say hello to Kern's first prep WATER POLO teams
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