Kern County Environmental Health Services released an analysis of air samples in Arvin homes -- eight weeks after residents were evacuated because of a gas leak -- that found high levels of at least two toxic chemicals: benzene and naphthalene.

The air sample results were taken on three dates -- March, 24 and 31, and April 15 -- by Advanced GeoEnvironmental Inc., a company hired by Petro Capital Resources LLC, the owner of the pipeline, and provided to the county. When PCR refused to release the results, the county did, instead, on Thursday.

Budget maneuvering has begun at the county of Kern.

On Tuesday, District Attorney Lisa Green will ask the Kern County Board of Supervisors to approve the hiring of two deputy district attorneys, an investigator and a legal secretary to investigate and prosecute a growing number of crimes committed in Lerdo Jail and local community correctional facilities.

Alternative B through the Westpark neighborhood remains Caltrans' preferred and least expensive route for Centennial Corridor, the controversial freeway link between Highway 58 and the Westside Parkway -- but would require the demolition of far more homes and businesses than previously thought.

With its release Friday of the project's draft Environmental Impact Report, the state transportation agency found Alternative B would improve traffic throughout metropolitan Bakersfield -- but as currently planned would require the demolition of 200 single-family homes, 110 multiple-family structures and 121 commercial buildings.

PORTERVILLE: A Porterville man out of jail on bail was nabbed by law enforcement officers after he allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of cargo.

On Thursday, Robert Wayne Blackwell, 35, broke into the back of a trailer that was parked on Highway 65 a few miles north of the Kern County line, according to The Recorder. California Highway Patrol officers witnessed Blackwell break in to the staged, locked tractor trailer at about 1:30 a.m., according to the report.

Anna Marie Reynosa’s failure to obey traffic laws — including not texting while driving — despite three speeding tickets and repeated warnings from law enforcement resulted in the death of a motorcyclist and calls for a conviction of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, prosecutors said during opening arguments Friday.

Reynosa’s trial is unique for Kern County in that it’s the first time a motorist has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with texting while driving.

The injured American White Pelican is now in good hands.

Three staff members from California Living Museum captured her Friday and are busy nursing the beautiful, large, white bird back to health.

The Bakersfield man accused of initiating a March 14 gunfight and police standoff lasting several hours pleaded not guilty to all charges Friday in his first court appearance.

Bond was set at $5 million for Miguel Villanueva, 29, who is charged with attempted murder, assault with a firearm on a peace officer, assault with a firearm on a person and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, as well as several misdemeanors.

Services pending

Josephina Romero De Gomez, 68, Bakersfield, May 9. Basham Funeral Care.

Services pending

Josephina Romero De Gomez, 68, Bakersfield, May 9. Basham Funeral Care.

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I don't think it would be much of a stretch to say that I have a passion for dogs; this weekly love letter attests to that.

But training man's best friend requires training man himself, which often proves more difficult than training the dog.

Reader: In the May 5 Bakersfield Californian, buried at the bottom of page 18, in the Nation section, were two brief articles that, in my opinion, should have received a little more visible coverage. They certainly received more coverage when they were originally considered news.

Headline 1: "Gay bishop divorce." The first openly gay Episcopal bishop and his partner of 25 years are divorcing. This marriage was an event that ripped the Episcopal Church apart in 2003. Hundreds of parishes left the umbrella of the Episcopal Church and formed a more conservative branch. Some even left the church for good. People were hurt. Christianity was attacked by those who believe that God intended marriage to be for both male and female same-sex couples. The gay community was literally dancing in the street. Now the famous bishop is divorcing his "husband." Think of all the emotional damage this man and his "husband" did to his congregants across America, and to each other and their families. Divorce is sad business. If we have to face the fact that a husband can have a husband and a wife can have a wife, we have to face the fact that divorce can creep into these relationships, too. I doubt the bishop gave much thought to that when he married his husband.

Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, said she's staying the course and using the election plan of two years ago while campaigning for re-election in the 34th Assembly District race. She's concentrating on putting up signs, doing interviews and being a part of debates.

"We continue to get our message to people," Grove said Friday on "First Look with Scott Cox." "I'm pro jobs, helping people in the community and fighting for veterans."

LOS ANGELES -- When Rep. Gary Miller announced in February he would retire from Congress, it was hardly a surprise. The surprise was that Miller was a member of Congress.

The wealthy Republican's unexpected 2012 victory in a Southern California district President Barack Obama carried by 17 points was largely attributed to the quirks of the state's primary election rules, which get their second test June 3.

Clark, a 7-month-old Vizsla dog, was very affectionate and playful Friday on "First Look with Scott Cox," and at one point, simply lounged across the studio table.

"He's so sweet and you can't get a better personality," said Julie Johnson, who runs the shelter on Mount Vernon Avenue and is also Bakersfield SPCA director.

More than 18,000 Kern County residents signed up for health plans made possible by the Affordable Care Act during the first open enrollment period for those plans, according to new local data the state released Wednesday.

Between Oct. 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014, 18,083 people got health insurance through the state's health insurance exchange, nearly 91 percent of whom were eligible for subsidies, according to Covered California and the California Department of Health Care Services

With tax revenues improving in the aftermath of the Great Recession, city officials revealed plans Wednesday to hire five more police officers and make nearly $5.6 million in park improvements as they gave the Bakersfield City Council its first look at the proposed new budget.

As might have been expected for an area that received $630 million in federal earmarks for major highway projects, secured by former Congressman Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, highway improvements left skid marks all over this year's budget.

Lead stories from "First Look with Scott Cox," Top Stories:

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE OKS CREATION OF KMC HOSPITAL AUTHORITY: Kern County supervisors have started a process that could turn control of troubled Kern Medical Center over to an independent hospital authority, and on Wednesday got help from a state Assembly committee. Supervisors say the county hospital can operate more efficiently -- and profitably -- outside of the county bureaucracy. They voted unanimously Tuesday to take the first step in creating an authority and support passage of Assembly Bill 2546. The legislation would give supervisors the power to create the authority and disentangle themselves from the financial millstone KMC has become. Read the full story here.

Kern County supervisors have started a process that could turn control of troubled Kern Medical Center over to an independent hospital authority, and on Wednesday got help from a state Assembly committee.

Supervisors say the county hospital can operate more efficiently -- and profitably -- outside of the county bureaucracy.

The image of Tehachapi test pilot Bill Dana wearing a gleaming silver pressure suit, flying alone in a black X-15 rocket plane hurtling toward the edge of space, is practically the definition of the iconic phrase, The Right Stuff.

Dana, one of the nation’s most respected aerospace pioneers, and a distinguished research pilot and aeronautical engineer, died Tuesday after a long illness, according to a NASA spokesman. Dana was 83.