Tuesday Night - Clear. Low of 63F. Winds from the North at 5 to 10 mph shifting to the SSE after midnight.

Wednesday - Clear. High of 91F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph shifting to the NW in the afternoon.

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.

ADELANTO -- Ben Lively improved to 9-1 and the Bakersfield Blaze hit five home runs in a 14-8 win over the High Desert Mavericks on Monday afternoon.

Lively pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (all earned), seven hits and zero walks while striking out seven.

ADELANTO -- Ben Lively improved to 9-1 and the Bakersfield Blaze hit five home runs in a 14-8 win over the High Desert Mavericks on Monday afternoon.

Lively pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (all earned), seven hits and zero walks while striking out seven.

The Kern High School District appointed two coordinators in special education at a school board meeting Monday night at the KHSD district office.

Michelle Mills and John Eldridge, program specialists at KHSD schools according to the district website, will begin their new roles July 1.

The pitcher's mound is no place for an outfielder.

That is, unless you're Bakersfield native and Stockton Ports slugger Dusty Robinson and it's the 18th inning of your home opener against the Visalia Rawhide on April 10.

Centennial junior Tyler Burnes shot a 1-over-par 73 on Monday in the CIF Southern Cal Boys Golf Regional at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, finishing one stroke out of a playoff to determine the final state-championship qualifiers.

The top three teams and top nine individuals not on a qualifying team reach the state tournament, which is Wednesday. Burnes finished in a tie for 16th, needing a 72 to get into the playoff. He was at even par going to the 18th green, but he made bogey on the par-4.

Yes, it's been a pretty sleepy primary. But actually, there are a lot of interesting, impactful races on Tuesday's ballot -- most intriguing, believe it or not, a county assessor's contest.

We're picking finalists to run in several statewide offices including governor as well as always competitive westside state Assembly and congressional seats and the aforementioned assessor's post (though someone could win that one outright).

Adding playing fields at city parks and new convention center theater lights, and saving up for a new arena ice chiller will all be weighed by the Bakersfield City Council at its meeting Wednesday.

The council will also consider a two-year extension of the city's contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems, which operates red-light cameras at 12 intersections in Bakersfield.

Two defendants in the Crisp & Cole Real Estate mortgage fraud scheme were sentenced Monday in federal court.

Christopher Lance Stovall, 41, of Bakersfield, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, followed by 30 months of supervised release, for four counts of mail fraud and aiding and abetting.

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.

We like stories, especially ones that flow leisurely like the summer Kern rather than end abruptly.

Tennis flows in that its storylines move from tournament to tournament and one year melts into the next. This is the second week of the French Open, (Roland Garros, insiders call it). Roland Garros is played on red clay (the players call it dirt) and if tennis had an egalitarian appeal, you could imagine a kid with a racket and a couple of dead balls hitting against a wall on a baked-dirt lot. Maybe a stretch, because tennis at a high level involves coaching, gear, travel and usually private clubs; still, there is joy in hitting a ball back and forth in the simplest of settings.

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.

The first cut won't be the deepest.

On Monday Kern Medical Center CEO Russell Judd announced plans to terminate the home health care and outpatient physical therapy departments at the county hospital in August.

Services scheduled

Travis Luman Bullock, 24, Bakersfield, May 24. Chapel service 11 a.m. June 3, Basham Funeral Care Chapel; interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Basham Funeral Care.

Services scheduled

Travis Luman Bullock, 24, Bakersfield, May 24. Chapel service 11 a.m. June 3, Basham Funeral Care Chapel; interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Basham Funeral Care.

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.