BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- An event centered around horticulture and health is scheduled for the upcoming weekend at Bakersfield College. On April 27, Garden Fest is headed back to the Bakersfield College campus. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will feature gardening seminars and helpful tips from experts. Food trucks will be on-site, as well as various plants for sale. Traffic closures in downtown Bakersfield for 10th Annual Victim’s Rights March Arts and crafts, a farmers market and other activities will be entertaining guests all afternoon. Admission and parking are free, according to o ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- It's that time of year again -- caps and gowns will be taking over town in just a few weeks. On May 10, more than 3,200 graduates from Bakersfield College are set to take the stage at Memorial Stadium, with 17 of them receiving a baccalaureate degree. This will be the school's first commencement ceremony under Dr. Jerry E. Fliger, the newly appointed president. GoFundMe created for 2 victims killed in train crash The ceremony begins at 7 p.m., and will be streamed online on Bakersfield College's website and YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A brush fire has been contained, just south of the Bena Landfill in northeast Bakersfield. On April 24, a vegetation fire burned three acres of land before Kern County Fire Department contained the spread of flames. The fire started burning around 6:40 p.m., burning vegetation near Bena Road, just south of the landfill. Man gets 16 years to life for deadly stabbing Kern County fire officials say the blaze has been contained after approximately three acres were burned. The cause of this fire is unknown at this time. This brush fire is under investigation ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- As California cracks down on crime, Bakersfield and Kern County residents will see more law enforcement moving forward, due to a new partnership between the Bakersfield Police Department and California Highway Patrol. It's what Governor Gavin Newsom calls a "crime suppression partnership," and it's part of more than $1 billion spent on crime in the state since 2019. "You'll definitely have a lot more presence when it comes to the CHP officers," said Officer Tomas Martinez with CHP Bakersfield. "We'll have personnel from the surrounding areas that can come and assi ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report is out, and as usual, Bakersfield comes in right where no city wants to be -- at or near the top of every meaningfully negative air quality ranking. Progress has been made nationwide over the past year, but data suggests nearly four out of 10 Americans still live in places with unhealthy air -- and Kern County has more than its share ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Driving down 19th Street can look like a display of plywood due to continuous vandalism striking downtown businesses. The latest target happens to be the Mill Creek Antique Mall. "I'm feeling very frustrated, seems like it's a never-ending story here," said Jose Flores, owner of Mill Creek Antique Mall. "Seems like once we fix it, we come back next week with another broken window." It's been only 9 months since Flores took over the business. "It's six windows broken within July of last year," said Flores ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A 26-year-old man found guilty of fatally stabbing a stranger who bought him a beer at a Bakersfield convenience store was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years to life in prison, according to court records. Miguel Cervantes stabbed Jesse Mata on Aug. 29, 2021, outside the El Milagro Market on Panama Lane. Mata had bought a beer for Cervantes after finding him wandering around the parking lot, and Mata's daughter, then 12, gave him some crackers, prosecutors said. The stabbing occurred after Cervantes took issue with something Mata said about a passing car, prosecutors ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A woman accused of driving under the influence of a drug in a Valentine’s Day crash that injured four people was transported to a state hospital Wednesday, where she'll receive treatment to restore her to competency. Found not competent to stand trial, Joanna Bojorquez-Higuera, 29, was also ordered to be given involuntary psychotropic medication, according to the District Attorney's Office. GoFundMe created for 2 victims killed in train crash Bojorquez-Higuera was arrested after allegedly driving a under the influence of a drug and speeding through a red light at ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A teenager who was transferred to adult court on charges including first-degree murder pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Bretton Wallis was arrested last year in the fatal shooting of Leonel Gonzalez, 17. His case was recently transferred from juvenile to adult court. Court Commissioner Sally Ackerknecht ordered him held without bail. Forgiveness expressed at sentencing in street racing crash that killed 2 The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. May 16 on Camino La Jolla. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other defendants — Nathan Lopez and Oscar Zuniga ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A 56-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to a life term in prison for sexually abusing a girl over several years, starting when she was 6. Arcadio Cuahtemoc Ceja was sentenced to 115 years and eight months to life in prison, court records show. He was found guilty this year of multiple counts related to sexual abuse of a minor. Search for new CSUB President begins with forum Prosecutors say Ceja engaged in dozens of sexual acts with the victim. He has prior convictions in misdemeanor cases, including for drunken driving and spousal abuse ..read more