BAKERSFIELD, CA -- You'll want to bring your appetite when you shop the outlets at Tejon. On Wednesday, developers announced, more restaurants are signing on to the project.

They include Don Perico's, Wing Stop, Tony's pizza, Juicy Burger and Dewar's. Construction of the outlets at tejon is still underway.

The mall is selling tickets to its grand opening party on August sixth, to raise money for local charities; those without a ticket can shop beginning August 7.

An investigation was launched Thursday into the death of an inmate at the California Correctional Institution in Tehacapi.

Oscar Rendon, 41, was found unresponsive in his cell around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was taken to prison medical clinic where he was later prounced dead, according to a news release from the Kern Sheriff's Office.

An autopsy was set to be performed to determine a cause of Rendon's death.

Prison officials say the alleged suspect in the case is identified as inmate Billy Guzman, 53, who is serving a 94-years-to-life sentence from Santa Clara County for assault with a deadly weapon. Guzman was received into CDCR on September 6, 1986.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History in Bakersfield is offering several science sessions for first through sixth graders.  The camps start in the first week of July.  Space is limited to 25 students per session. 

July 7th - 10th – DINOSAUR WEEK: Everything you always wanted to know about Dinosaurs, but were afraid to ask! A fun exploration of the massive creatures that lived more than 65 million year ago.

July 14th – 17th – Having Fun with Science! Explore the WEIRD, the WILD, and WACKY World Science! July 21st -24th

SPACE WEEK! Astronomy: Exploring the vast world of outer space! The Moon, Sun, Stars, Planets and much more!

July 28- 31st – SHARK WEEK: The Big, the Bad, and the Ugly Sharks! Everything you want to know about Sharks!

Sessions run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Cost - $85.00 (Members of the Museum $75.00) per student/per session. Mid-morning snack, Camp T-shirt and materials included. Sign-up and pay for 2 sessions to receive a $5 discount. *

BUENA VISTA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: *Discount is per child sign-up. (2 children in the same session do not qualify for a multi-session discount, and students will receive only one Camp T-shirt for the 2014 Camp).

CANCELLATIONS MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 72 HOURS PRIOR TO START OF SESSION TO RECEIVE FULL REFUND

BAKERSFIELD,CA -  Mohawk Extension North is set to officially open to motorists Tuesday morning.

The extension includes a new roadway from Rosedale Highway to Siena Lane and an arched culvert crossing at the Calloway canal.

"We go over to Mohawk a lot off of Rosedale so this will help as far as that because Fruitvale backs up and traffic gets bad," said Mitch O'Connor.

It's a project two years in the making.

"Those residents living in the project vicinity that live adjacent to there, north of Hageman, south of Hageman. We're thinking all the way out to Calloway, people are going to see the benefits of this Mohawk Street," said civil engineer Daniel Padilla.

Officials say the $3.1 million project, funded by the California Transportation Commission and the City of Bakersfield, will ease traffic in northwest Bakersfield.

"We're thinking it will help even a little bit on 99 as some people would take Golden State to downtown. I think this will be another option to get downtown," said Padilla.

But area residents also have concerns about more traffic near San Lauren Park.

"The frisbee golf that everybody plays and the kids and the traffic is going to back up probably at that three way stop," said O'Connor.

The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.  It's scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Calloway Canal Culvert Crossing.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - It has been six weeks since a suspected drunk driver crashed into a Shell gas station in north Bakersfield, critically injuring a 20-year-old woman.

Leann Harris is now a paraplegic and has been at Kern Medical Center since that crash, but she was released from the hospital Monday.

Harris' parents say they haven't thought about Kristoffer Carter, the former Bakersfield police officer accused of putting Leann in the hospital. They say they've been completely focused on Leann as she takes steps toward recovery.

It's the moment the Harris family has been waiting for, for 42 days.

"Last time I was in this thing they thought that I was dying," Leann Harris said from her gurney.

Harris was in good spirits as she was wheeled out of Kern Medical Center, surrounded by loved ones.

"This is a big step forward for us today. I'm happy that she's recovered really fast," said Leann's father, Jeff Harris.

According to the CHP, on April 21st, Harris was pumping gas at a Shell station off Merle Haggard Drive when former Bakersfield Police officer Kristofer Carter was driving drunk and speeding and plowed into Harris.

"That's the past now and we just gotta go further forward and keep her strong. She's a very strong-willed girl," Jeff said.

Leann was critically injured, fell into a medically induced coma, and is now a paraplegic.

"It's not going to be no easy task, but she's doing good though," Harris said.

Harris is optimistic that she can overcome this, but her road to recovery is just beginning.

After undergoing several procedures at KMC, Leann is now headed to Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey, one of the leading spinal rehab facilities in the country.

"It's been a real short but long haul it seems like, but we still got a long ways to go."

Leann's parents say her goal is to be out of rehab by October 25th, which is her 21st birthday, so she can go to Las Vegas to celebrate and attend a national drag racing event.

Meantime, Carter is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday. He faces three charges of felony DUI with bodily harm.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Kern Medical Center is making moves to stop the bleeding at the county-run hospital. Some details of the first proposed layoffs were announced Monday as hospital officials say they will also close two departments. KMC CEO Russell Judd could not say how many people will lose their jobs because of the closures. But, they will be closing home health care and outpatient physical therapy. 
KMC announced the closures at a news conference Monday afternoon. Judd said home health provides ongoing nursing treatments to patients after care, and outpatient physical therapy rehabilitates patients not staying in the hospital. 
Last year both served about 250 patients that will now be transferred to other facilities. Judd said closing these departments will save the hospital about $1.7 million each year. But compared to the hospital's $30 million annual losses, that's just a drop in the bucket, which is why Judd said hospital-wide layoffs are coming. 
"What we're announcing today is the public notification about the closures," said Judd. "The additional layoffs across the organization answer the bigger question." 
The actual number of layoffs will be announced June 12th. Judd said the positions will vary from administration to medical staff. But, Judd said there are no other closures on the horizon. 
These changes still have to be approved by the Board of Supervisors, but it's expected the board will concur and have both departments shut down by August. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA --Police say 34-year-old Christopher Pettenger was released from custody last Tuesday and has not reported to his parole officer.  Latrace Grayer, 46, was released from custody last wednesday and he too hasn't reported to his parole officer.

And police say 33-year-old Adan Barrios has taken off his ankle monitoring device and violated the terms of his parole.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of these three men should call Bakersfield police at 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The city of Bakersfield's animal control division is hosting a low cost vaccination, licensing and microchip clinic Saturday at Jastro Park. 

City officials say the rabies vaccinations from 9:00 a.m. until noon will be offered to all dogs 3 months of age and older. The vaccine cost is reduced however; the licensing fees are regular price. The rabies vaccine cannot be administered without the purchase of a license at the clinics.

The electronic microchip effort is a program focused on reducing the number of impounded animals entering the shelter system and is becoming the “preferred” form of animal and owner identification.

The city is offering the DAPP vaccine at the monthly clinics. Whether it’s a 1st puppy shot or your dog needs its annual booster, they're able to offer disease protection for your dog. Puppies should be 8 weeks of age and in good health to receive a vaccination.

For more information, please contact the City of Bakersfield Animal Control Division at (661)-326-3436. Information regarding clinic services and fees can also be obtained by visiting the city website at:
http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/police/Operations/Animal_Control/index.html

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Police need your help to identify a man they say collided with a car on Gosford Road last month and took off. 

Police say the man, struck the victim's vehicle with his truck, in the 5000 block of Gosford Road on May 6.  Police describe the truck as a: black 2000 or older, lifted, Chevrolet 3500, crew cab. 

Police describe the man as Hispanic, 40-50’s, thick mustache, wearing a black hat, grey work shirt and blue jeans.

If you have information regarding this case, call Senior Officer Chance Koerner at (661) 326-3960 or Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Administrators at Kern Medical Center are recommending closing departments and laying off staff to help solve the hospital's financial crisis. Hospital leaders will officially recommend to the Kern County Board of Supervisors at its June 17 meeting, that the hospital's home health and outpatient physical therapy departments be shut down. Hospital administrators announced the recommendations publicly today to comply with part of the regulatory processes that must be followed by a county-owned public hospital.

Kern Medical Center administrators will publish details of proposed layoffs June 12, the day the Board of Supervisors publishes its upcoming meeting agenda. Administrators say no other details about proposed layoffs will be revealed until that agenda is published. If approved, the expected department closures and layoffs will occur in August. Kern Medical Center CEO Russell Judd says they're difficult decisions to make, but says administrators have to focus on the overall mission and viability of the hospital.

BAKERSFIELD, CA --  If you're looking to brush up on your art skills, check this out.  Officials at the Bakersfield Museum of Art say adults are welcome to participate in a number of workshops and classes offered.

No experience necessary – all classes are open to beginners in an non-intimidating, non-judgmental environment. Start enriching your life with these summer workshops for teens and adults!

-Beginning Digital Photography with Andrew Hawley (Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 3 - 12, 2:00-3:30PM)
-Drawing Workshop with Art Sherwyn (Saturday, June 7, 9:00AM - 3:30PM)
-Art for the Non-Artist (Tuesdays, June 24-July 15, 2:00PM-4:00PM)
-Beginning Clay with Yvonne Cavanagh (June 16-20, 1:00PM-4:00PM)
-Creative Clay with Yvonne Cavanagh (July 21-25, 1:00PM-4:00PM)
-Printmaking Workshop for Teenagers (July 7-11, 2:00PM-4:00PM) *Scholarships available for those unable to afford this opportunity.
-Stop Motion Animation Workshop for Teenagers (July 14-18, 2:00PM-4:00PM) *Scholarships available for those unable to afford this opportunity.


There's also art in the classroom.  Organizers say this new workshop series addresses the commonly asked question “How do I teach art to my students?” For teachers who have little or no access to art specialists, each workshop will introduce a project that you can teach in your elementary school classroom. Art specialist Darla Kendrick will show you how to connect your arts activities to the Common Core and how to utilize the supplies already in your classroom.

Participants may sign up for all or select a number of classes.
-Teaching Art in Elementary Schools (Wednesdays, June 25 - July 16, 2:00-4:00PM)
Direct online link for all workshops: http://bmoa.org/adult/

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police need your help identifying a man they say tried to steal merchandise from Sports Chalet last month. 

Police say the incident took place on May 7 and when confronted by an employee the man tried to punch the employee. That employee did not suffer any injuries and the suspect fled on foot.

The merchandise was recovered at the scene.  Police describe the suspect as white, 30’s, with brown short hair, wearing a dark tank top and dark pants and a cross pendant on a chain.

If you have any information regarding this case, call Detective Todd Dickson at (661) 326-3501 or Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A heartwarming follow up to a Contact 17 News story we brought you a few weeks ago. A local woman, adopted at birth, is getting to know her biological family after decades of searching.

First, Jean Phillips learned that her biological niece was right under her nose. Phillips is not only her niece's hair stylist, she has also styled her biological mother's hair and none of them knew it.

On Friday, Phillips met her older brother for the first time - a moment 50 years in the making.

It was graduation day inside Marinello School of Beauty in Bakersfield.

But outside...

"Here comes your sister!"

...It's a family reunion.

"Wow, you're you!"

After 50 years of searching, Jose Ramirez of Sacramento finally met his biological sister, Jean Phillips.

"It feels like a big part of my life has been put in place. That's what it is to me," Phillips said.

Phillips was adopted when she was just days old and after moving from Simi Valley to Frazier Park, she ended up in Bakersfield. Just weeks ago, she learned one of her clients, Angelina Ramirez, is her biological niece.

"All I can say is that a huge hole has been filled, a big puzzle piece or something, the missing piece," Phillips said.

It's a puzzle that both Phillips and her brother have been determined to piece together for decades.

"What can I say? I'm just overwhelmed right now. Call it divine intervention and also human effort, you know, and I'm happy that it came to pass," Ramirez said.

Despite the setbacks, Ramirez says he always believed this day would come. And, he's encouraging others who are searching for a long lost loved one to keep the faith.

"Well, I can say to anybody who's looking for their biological people, families, brothers, parents, don't give up. It's there," Ramirez said.

"It's just huge. It means the world to me, it really does. To have all this family, they're huge, and I see in their faces, I see the resemblances and I just think 'there's my people! I love them! I want to hold them' so it's just overwhelming and amazing. I'm really happy," Phillips said.

The family is planning on bringing Jean's biological mother from San Antonio, Texas, to Bakersfield next month.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A unique and careful rescue was done Friday morning by workers with the California Living Museum.

Wildlife officials rescued a severely injured American White Pelican in Hart Park.

"Toward the end, she simply walked up onto the bank and we were able to capture her there," said Lana Fain, California Living Museum.

Staff at the museum say the pelican suffered severe injuries after having a fishing lure in its beak for about six months and several hooks in its body.

"It looks like something that's probably used in ocean fishing. These are migratory birds so we're not sure where she picked this up from," said Fain.

Wildlife officials say the lure was stuck so deep in its beak, the pelican had a hard time eating and drinking.

Officials say the bird was running out of time.

"They migrate here in October. So, she was probably too weak because of her injuries to fly out with the rest of the flock," said Fain.

The California Living Museum says although it doesn't rescue animals, staff knew this was a serious situation and acted fast.

"This is something we do not normally do. We had to get Fish and Wildlife's permission to do it," Fain continued. "They're the ones who do the captures and the rescues and everything like that. They gave us the permission to do it and that's why we went out and did what we did today."

A successful rescue that now gives this American White Pelican the chance to roam free again, uninjured.

Fain says they will keep the pelican a little longer and it will then be seen by a veterinarian before it's released into the wild.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The trial began Friday for a woman accused of texting while driving then causing a deadly crash in 2012. Anna Marie Reynosa is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. 
Opening statements were given Friday afternoon. The families of both the victim and the defendant sat in the audience. 
The District Attorney's Office is trying to prove cell phone use is to blame for the death, the first case of its kind. 
Covering her face, Anna Marie Reynosa sat crying in the courtroom as the prosecutor laid out the night of April 14, 2012. 
"She didn't slow down even though she knew the speed limit at the intersection was 45 miles per hour," said Esther Schlaerth, Deputy District Attorney. 
Prosecutors say Reynosa was going 65 to 68 miles per hour when she hit and killed 20-year-old Charla Wilkins that night. Not only that, prosecutors claim Reynosa was texting when she hit Wilkins who was on a motorcycle stopped at the intersection. 
"She slammed her Toyota Tacoma truck in the back of Charla Wilkins' motorcycle so hard that that motorcycle was eaten up by the front of her truck," said Schlaerth.      The prosecution says this was five days after Reynosa got her third speeding ticket. But, Reynosa's public defender said just because she was speeding then doesn't mean she was speeding the night of April 14th.
"It's not evidence she was speeding in this case," said Ernest Hinman, Reynosa's attorney. 
The defense also claims the prosecution cannot prove Reynosa was texting.
"There is zero, zero, zero physical evidence of the time stamp of when the text message was made or saved on that phone," said Reynosa. 
Reynosa pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. If found guilty, she could get up to six years in prison. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA - We should all be looking for ways to conserve in our state as we face ongoing water woes. People can take shorter showers, not water lawns as often, and go to the bathroom outside. Yes, a Bakersfield man has invented a way guys can conserve at the can.

It's called "Sweet Pea." It's basically an outdoor urinal for men. Because we are in a drought, and everyone has to go at some point, inventor Mike Henson thought now was the time to throw Sweet Pea into the marketplace.

As a third generation farmer and professional landscaper at Maranatha, the custom clay can was his next pit stop.

"You know, I would be in the backyard taking care of the flower beds and I would hear, "You kids! Don't go in the house soaking wet. Go over there and pee in the flower bed." And, I'm thinking, I'm going to be digging in that in a little bit," said Henson.

Henson came up with the backyard Sweet Pea a year and a half ago. It’s a decorative clay sculpture with a drain fitted to a pipe.

"This fits down into the pipe and it's shaped so it won't splash and the urine runs out real quickly," said Henson describing how his invention works.

Its patent is still pending. But, as our state has seen so little rain this year, Henson couldn't hold it any longer.

"But as the drought got worse, I thought just throw the dice and let them go," said Henson.

And speaking of going, our state's 16 million men go, on average, six times a day. That's two gallons a flush. That's 192 million gallons of water a day.

"They're cool," said customer Erica Hurley. "I'm definitely going to look into more about it and see where we can put one and eventually have one one day."

Henson says Sweet Peas can drain deep into the ground. A three-foot pipe will bury the business. And, Henson says it won't harm plants. Or, Sweet Pea's pipes can be thread into the clean out line leading to the sewer.

"There's no air that brings the stench back up like a porta-potty or porta-bathroom. The air (from those) you can smell them a block away," said Henson.

Each is handmade and kiln-fired into a flower, acorn, beehive, or fish, sure to lure urine to the loo.

The Sweet Peas take three to four weeks to make and run $150 to $350. There is not one designed yet for women, but Henson says it's in the works.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Bakersfield's Derek Carr is headed to the silver and black.  The Oakland Raiders has selected Carr as the fourth pick in the second round of the NFL draft.

Carr is the younger brother of former number one overall pick and fellow Fresno State Bulldog David Carr.  Experts seemed to be split on if Carr was a late first round or second round pick, and Carr said Thursday night he knew he might not go until day 2.

ARVIN, CA -- A brand new environmental report on soil contamination in an Arvin neighborhood is now under review.
But seven weeks after being forced from their homes, evacuated residents have no idea when they'll return.

The lengthy report was prepared by Petro Capital Resources, the owner of the gas pipeline that burst, and contaminated those properties.  The study examines conditions at each of the eight evacuated homes.

Thursday night, fifth district Supervisor Leticia Perez told us, county experts will now study that report.  But there's still no timeline for when evacuees can go home. "We simply don't know how long it's going to take, until the levels are safe. As you can imagine, experts will disagree as to when that is. Ultimately the county is responsible to determine if and when that is safe. But the process from here to now, moving forward, is really on the company."

Perez says, PCR will continue soil clean-up efforts at those homes.  But until it's certain those displaced families won't be facing unsafe conditions, she says they'll remain evacuated.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Community Action Partnership of Kern honored its Humanitarian of the Year at a banquet Thursday night. The award went to CEO of the Bakersfield Homeless Center and Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Louis Gill.

He began working with the Bakersfield Homeless Center 14 years ago. Even before then, Gill had a strong work ethic -- growing up on his grandfather's ranch outside Porterville.

"I had a very rural upbringing, chores in the morning. We had cattle and pigs and going and getting the eggs and for a while milking the goats, the whole deal," said Gill.

A trip to Mexico as a foreign exchange student inspired gill to help others.

Gill said, "I learned to speak Spanish and realized how truly fortunate we are, by simply being born in this country."

Gill went to college in San Francisco.  He majored in Spanish and eventually earned a master's degree in non-profit administration.

"I started working in non-profits there and it's become my life," Gill said.

Gill, his wife and son moved to Bakersfield after finding out they were having twin girls.

"We wanted to move closer to family," he said.

When he started at the Bakersfield Homeless Center in 2000, Gill said family services were lacking.

Gill said, "It was focused on single men. There were ten beds for families. It was set up to deal with your stereo typical homeless individual."

Since Gill took the reins, the homeless center's mission has shifted.

"Our focus has gone from just thinking about beds and meals to how do we help people be successful in permanent housing. How do we help them finish their education? How do we make sure that they can get a job, get on that path to self sufficiency," said Gill.

As for his thoughts on being humanitarian of the year -- he's grateful.

Gill said, "I'm incredibly fortunate. I do a job that I love. It's not easy, but I love it. I have the best staff in town. I can promise you they're amazing people and it's easy to be proud of them.It feels great to be a part of that. It feels great to be in a community where you can say I need some help and folks show up. They want to help. It feels, all I can say is grateful."

Awards were given out in three categories: humanitarian, community partner and volunteers.

Honorees are selected based on support of CAPK programs and individual involvement of helping people and changing lives in our community.

BAKERSFIELD, CA- It was a huge heroes welcome home Thursday night at Meadows Field, as hundreds of people awaited the arrival of our veterans from their whirlwind trip to Washington D.C.

Banners, posters and patriotic music filled the lobby as the 10th Honor Flight group touched back down from the trip of a lifetime. For many family members it was a time to celebrate their loved ones who fought for our nation, but it was also a time to commemorate a trip that was a long time coming.

The Perez family is one of many crowded inside Meadows Field to give the greatest generation the warmest welcome home.

"It is such an honor for our family to be here to honor our father that is so deserving to go to this Honor Flight and we're all excited," said Rachel Perez whose father went on this Honor Flight.

Stanley Perez is one of the 75 local veterans returning from the 10th Kern County Honor Flight. He and his new buddies received a hero's welcome home.

"It was an honor to be with them i met quite a few people and I talked to them and I can't describe it," said Korean War veteran Stanley Perez.

Not everyone in the audience was family, many people just wanted to cheer our local veterans on as they returned. Young Kelsey Holloway-Rizo raised enough money at her lemonade stand to send a vet to the capital.

Her message to her local vets was simple.

"I hope you had a great day, two days at the memorial and I hope you had the best experience of your life," Holloway-Rizo said.

They had smiles for miles as they arrived home from the nation's capital and an unforgettable trip. Celebrating their battle years ago, that have protected our freedoms today.

"It's hard to go describe what it's really like to go over there and I'd like to go back," Perez said.

The trip is free to our veterans, thanks to donations from our community to Honor Flight Kern County.