Latest news with #17News
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains announces 2026 run for Congress for Rep. David Valadao's seat
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) has announced her bid for California's 22nd Congressional District Wednesday morning. Bains will be looking to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. David Valadao of Hanford in the 2026 election. Trump tells Texas Republicans to redraw the state congressional map to help keep House majority In a post on X, Bains emphasizes her career as a family doctor, directly calling out Valadao for voting yes on the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and 'for the largest cut to health care in history.' Bains joins fellow Democrat Randy Villegas in opposing Valadao. 17 News will have a candidate profile with Bains. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Coroner ID's man killed in suspected DUI crash on Union Avenue
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern County Coroner's Office identified a man who was killed in a suspected DUI crash on Union Avenue Tuesday night. Coroner officials said Randy Jason Munoz-Cruz, 27, of Porterville was the driver of a Dodge Charger that was involved in a crash with a white BMW who allegedly ran a red light. The crash was reported in the area of Union and East California avenues around 11:34 p.m. on Tuesday. Munoz-Cruz was taken to Kern Medical where he was pronounced dead, according to officials. The driver of the white BMW has been identified as Nathon Michael Ramirez, 19. Speed and DUI are believed to be factors for Ramirez. BPD told 17 News, it is believed Munoz-Cruz was neither speeding or impaired. An autopsy will be completed to determine the cause and manner of his death. Police told 17 News Ramirez has not been booked and is being treated for his injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
New details in fatal Union Avenue wreck: alleged drunk driver was underage
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — 17 News has long examined a signature issue we call Kern's Sober Reality. The reality is that too many people still drink and drive — often with deadly consequences. The latest case in point, a fiery crash Tuesday night in central Bakersfield that left one person dead and two others seriously injured. The collision was caught on camera just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, at the intersection of Union and East California avenues. A white BMW headed northbound on Union Avenue ran a red light and crashed into a Dodge Charger that was headed westbound on East California on a green light. The crash left the 27-year-old driver of the Charger dead. BPD confirmed with 17 News all three involved were men — the driver of the BMW — who was moderately injured — is 19; the passenger — in unstable condition — is 20. Detectives said both remain in the hospital. 'The driver of the Dodge was pinned inside the vehicle, so officers would've had to wait for fire department personnel to arrive,' said Sgt. Joshua Deutinger, with the BPD traffic division. The BMW crashed into the fence next to San Joaquin Tractor Company, narrowly missing the business, and caught fire. First responders and passerbys rushed to distance them from the car. 'With how north they came from the intersection and the separation of those cars, it definitely speaks to the speed that was involved in the collision,' Sgt. Deutinger noted. In addition to speeding, underage drinking and driving under the influence is suspected by the 19-year-old in the BMW. 1 arrested on Chester Lane after barricaded subject forces SWAT callout: police The sergeant said toxicology results aren't yet available. He also said the deceased driver of the Charger likely was not speeding, nor driving impaired. The speed limit out is 40 miles-per-hour in the area of the wreck. An employee told 17 News speeding and running red lights in this area is not uncommon. 'Usually in that intersection, if there is a major injury crash, a lot of times, speed does have to do with that,' the sergeant said. Chris Hagan with the local law firm, Chain Cohn Clark agreed. 'Union [Avenue] is heavily travelled by pedestrians…and so, we do see a lot of automobiles versus pedestrian fatals on Union,' said Hagan. Hagan detailed that in 2024, there were 37 DUI-related deaths and 731 DUI-related injuries in Kern County. 'In Kern County, we have the highest arrest record in the nation for drivers who are under the influence,' Hagan said of the local severity of driving impaired. 'You are more likely to be involved in a DUI collision in Kern County as compared to virtually any other city or any other county in the nation.' The local advocacy organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) offers resources for victims and their families. You can reach them at 661-203-3996. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
SKIM Act would tap in federal law enforcement to handle EBT thefts
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern County has been plagued with EBT theft for years. A months-long investigation by 17 News uncovered a Romanian Crime Ring behind the card skimming, but the problem went beyond county lines. '$100,00 dollars a month that were stolen before, prior to 2021,' said Congressman Vince Fong, representing California's 20th District. 'Now we're looking at $10 million being stolen a month.' It seems the state ignored this issue for far too long. 'I have my criticism of the state government,' said Fong. Coroner ID's man shot, killed in south Bakersfield in January Fong said it's time the federal government steps in. Officials presented the 'Stopping Klepto-card and Information Misuse Act'; SKIM Act for its initials on Monday. Tapping in the general attorney and homeland security to fight against welfare fraud. 'We need to tie all the dots together, especially when we have international crime rings that are participating not only within California, or within Kern County, but across state lines,' said Congressman Fong. 'So we have to have the ability for the federal law enforcement agency to coordinate and cooperate with state and local entities. Absolutely not, for the amount that's being stolen, there has to be real teeth to those penalties. We're going to work with the attorney general to raise it to as high as we can…we need it to the point where we can deter this criminal behavior.' Congressman Fong said he hopes bringing national attention to this issue will lead to improving security measures in welfare programs nationwide. The 'SKIM Act' has been presented to the judiciary committee, and if approved, it will be sent to the house for vote. For more on EBT fraud you can the special investigation 'Skimming Scheme,' here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bakersfield man accused of killing estranged wife makes first court appearance
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man accused of killing his estranged wife last month at a house in east Bakersfield made his first court appearance Monday, more than a week after he was first scheduled to be arraigned. Rafael Estrada, 44, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, four counts of willful cruelty to a child, spousal abuse, allowing or causing injury to an elder or dependent adult, recklessly evading a peace officer, driving a vehicle in the opposite direction of traffic and resisting arrest. Several prior arraignment dates were postponed. No reason for the postponements was given in court. Court Commissioner Samantha Allen ordered Estrada held without bail. His next hearing is scheduled June 20. Around 8:30 p.m. on May 28, deputies were called to a house in the 2400 block of Monterey Street to reports that a man had seriously injured his wife. They arrived and found Taylor Danay Dominguez Estrada, 32, with 'severe trauma,' according to sheriff's officials. She was declared dead at the scene. Family members have told 17 News that Rafael Estrada showed up to a party uninvited and slit his wife's throat in front of at least one child. Rafael Estrada was spotted by sheriff's helicopter driving away in a white truck before deputies arrived, officials said. Deputies located and chased the pickup until the pursuit ended about 10 miles away in the 9900 block of Ramos Avenue. Officials said a K-9 was used to take Estrada into custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
