BAKERSFIELD, CA - Preparations are underway for the country's biggest 24-hour cancer fundraiser.

Organizers of Bakersfield's Relay for Life, say more than $1 million has already been raised for cancer research.

So far, 290 teams have registered for the event, with nearly 4,000 participants.

Survivors say it's a time to come together and make Relay for Life even bigger.

It's also an event that helps Lisa Sadro, a two-time breast cancer survivor. This year, she and her friends have their own team.

"We're called the "Breast Friends" because we're all best friends and it's breast cancer. We just thought it was the cutest thing," said Sadro.

After she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010, Sadro quit her job and decided to give her kids her undivided attention.

"At the end of the day, I don't want to say that I've worked all my life. I want to say that I've experienced life with my kids and I was there. I was part of their school.I was part of their after school sports. I never missed a game. That's the stuff that's important to me," Sadro continued.

"She's the strongest lady I know," said Ashley McMahan, Sadro's best friend. "Everything that she's gone through, she's done it with a smile and kept everyone in awe of her. She's an amazing lady."

Cancer survivors say Relay for Life makes you realize how precious life is and that cancer research is not over.

"Everybody in one way or another is going to benefit from the research that's being done whether it's you, your family member or your best friend," said Patsy Romero, breast cancer survivor.

"2,900 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Kern County this year, but we'll see fewer people die of cancer this year. So, it's another amazing testimony to the advances we're seeing in research," said Brittney Neal, American Cancer Society.

ACS says research is critical to cancer patients and survivors.

"We're going to finish the fight and we're going to keep moving forward because that's our passion and mission to celebrate more birthdays and have a better world and better future that's cancer free," Romero continued.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the survivor's lap starting at 10 a.m.

BAKERSFIELD, CA --Bakersfield Police need your help finding a sex offender and parolee they say who has disabled his ankle monitor and his location is unknown.

He has been identified as Phillip Eugene Williams, 33.  He is 5’11”, and weighs 190 lbs.

If you have any information, call Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police say two Kern County Sheriff's deputies were arrested late Wednesday night after a fight involving several people at a restaurant in southwest Bakersfield. 

Police say their investigation revealed three suspects were initially involved in a fight inside Applebee's on Ming Avenue  and several other patrons and employees attempted to separate the combatants.

After the fight one of the suspects, Sean Curtis, 24, of Bakersfield, fled in a vehicle driven by Curtis’ girlfriend and was stopped by officers a short distance away. The other two suspects, Christopher Saldana, 23, and Jonathan Nunez, 23, both of Bakersfield, who identified themselves as Kern County Sheriff’s Deputies, remained at the scene.

Witness and suspect statements indicated that the fight started over comments made about Curtis’ girlfriend. Curtis requested citizen arrests of Saldana and Nunez and Nunez requested a citizen arrest of Curtis.

Officers accepted their citizen arrests. Saldana and Curtis were arrested for fighting in public, assault and public intoxication.

Nunez was arrested for fighting in public and assault. All were booked into the Kern County Jail.  A sheriff's spokesman says Saldana and Nunez are on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation.  All three people have been released on bail. 

If you have information regarding this case call Bakersfield Police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police say a 72-year-old man suffered minor injuries after a crash Thursday morning in central Bakersfield. 

Police say the man had to be rescued by firefighters after the Nissan pickup he was driving was struck by a Ford F-450 work truck, towing an empty cement trailer.  It was heading eastbound on Brundage Lane.  The 72-year-old man had been pinned inside after the collision.  The investigation found the Nissan had ran a red light before the collision with the work truck. 

The Ford was driven by a 24-year-old man who was not injured.  Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.  If you have any information, you're asked to call Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A group of local veterans is coming together through art -- to recognize women who served in the military. They say the female veteran is often overlooked.

The committee formed about a year ago, in an effort to reach female veterans in our community. This Saturday, the group is inviting women to come share their story of service through an art project.

Women Veterans Advisory Committee member Jeannine Waits said, "We're going to decorate our combat boot in a way that reflects how we each have viewed our own military journey and how that's maybe impacted our civilian lives."

"Walk a Mile in My Boots" is a creative workshop for female veterans.

Committee member Jenny Frank said, "Well I served four years in the Marine Corps. I served from 1989 to 1993, during Desert Storm."

"I was in the Air Force. I'm actually a third generation Air Force," said Waits.

Committee chair Deborah Johnson said, "I joined the military, the Wisconsin National Guard when I was a senior in high school."

Each woman has a different story, but they all face similar challenges.

"When we leave the military, we take on completely different roles than our male counterparts do when they leave. We become mother, we become wives, we go into the workforce and so those different roles that we take on kind of tend to bury what we did in the military, as far as our own personal identity," said Waits.

The California Veterans Assistance Foundation's Women Veterans Advisory Committee aims to locate females who were in the military and honor them for their service.

Johnson said, "It is a part of who we are and we need to be proud of it and let people know."

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are almost 185,000 female vets in California. So far, the local committee has identified 135 in our area.

"Kern County, being such a large veteran population, that we do have a lot of women veterans out there and there are a lot that haven't been reached yet and just don't know that there are those services out there for them," said Frank.

The group hopes events like "Walk a Mile in My Boots" will help get the word out to more local women.

Waits said, "We want to be able to gather with other women veterans and talk and share the stories and share the memories, share the experience and share the recovery."

The event is Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Mercy Art and Spirituality Center downtown. It's free, but registration is required. To register call 632-5747 and leave a message with your name and phone number.

The combat boots will be provided. Organizers say veterans are encouraged to bring patches, tags or anything to personalize the boots. They also say art experience isn't necessary.

To register, click on the link below.

http://www.mercybakersfield.org/PATIENTS_AND_VISITORS/ART_FOR_HEALING/INDEX.HTM

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- More than 150 Chevron employees have pledged to give back to their community at the 2014 Humankind nonprofit expo.  The event held Tuesday in southwest Bakersfield put together the employees with more than 30 non-profit organizations. 

The goal of the event was to among other things identify board leaderships and charitable donation opportunities for Chevron's employees.  Organizers say the employees can give up to $10,000 of their own money and Chevron was expected to match that donation.  Last year, Chevron employees volunteered more than 7,700 hours to benefit more than a hundred non profits. 

For more information about the company's community programs you can log on to www.chevron.com/countries/usa/chevronincalifornia/partneringwithcalifornia/

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The county is still reeling from Tuesday's grim financial news from Kern Medical Center losing $3 million a month, and the hospital is again considering layoffs. But it brings up the question, do we need this county hospital? 
The county studied eliminating KMC in a report in November. Its answer? We don't need a county hospital by law, but the county is obligated to take care of indigent or poor and uninsured people.
At the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, KMC officials told county officials the hospital is losing patients and as a result, revenue, up to $30 million this fiscal year. It's a rate county staff says is unsustainable.
"It's a needed entity that cannot exist in its current environment," said Russell Judd, CEO of Kern Medical Center Tuesday. 
Which is why Tuesday Supervisor Mike Maggard asked this question. 
"The county should evaluate whether or not we should have a hospital," said Supervisor Maggard. 
County staff studied this in November, drafting this study. By law, the county needs to provide care to the uninsured and poor, but it doesn't need a county hospital to do so. In fact, only 11 of 58 California counties have a county hospital. 
"The county is considering all of its options," said Chief County Administrative Officer John Nilon. 
Nilon said the county could create a separate hospital authority to run KMC or contract out services to another hospital . So far, no Kern County hospital has volunteered to help.
"We're going to need them to come to the table to share some of the load and continue to benefit the community," said Nilon. 
If the county loses KMC, it will lose more than a county hospital. It's the only Level 1 Trauma Center and the only teaching hospital in the county, not requirements but definitely a benefit according to county staff. 
"Kern Medical Center plays a vital role saving thousands of lives every day," said Judd. 
But, if KMC doesn't bandage its financial wounds soon, supervisors warn the whole county could bleed out.
"Are we only going to have county government operate a hospital?" said Supervisor Maggard.
All of these questions will be addressed at a special day-long meeting May 12th. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- His name is Larry Murray, but his co-workers at Occidental Petroleum may be calling him "Lucky Larry" from now on.  During the Links for Life golf tournament Monday at Seven Oaks Country Club, Murray "aced" the par-3 eighth hole and won a three-year lease on a brand new Lexus RX 350.

"I went with a 7 iron. Wasn't going to but one of my playing partners said the wind was with us so I switched at the last second, stood up, took a swing. It's a tough hole to hit and I hit it. I never got to see the ball go in but I heard the ladies screaming and I said either an animal has bitten someone or I did something really good," says Murray. 

This is the first time a golfer has won a car with a hole in one in the 21-year history of the Links for Life golf tournament in Bakersfield.  It was Murray's fifth "ace", but his first with a prize attached. Murray will enjoy a no-cost lease on that SUV for three years, courtesy of Motor City Lexus.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A civil case against the Kern High School District will continue Thursday.

Parents of a young, autistic woman claim their daughter was mentally damaged when she was sexually assaulted at school five years ago.

On Wednesday, the girl's stepmother and a teacher's aide took the stand.

The girl's stepmother says her daughter has changed since the attack. She told the jury and judge her daughter no longer touches or hugs boys or men, not even her father.

The incident happened in October 2009 at Independence High School. That's when a teacher's aide found the, then, 16-year-old autistic girl with an autistic boy, both with their pants down in the bathroom.

On Wednesday, the high school district's attorney showed the girl's stepmother pictures of her daughter after the attack, which show the girl smiling. But, her stepmother testified, not all of those smiles were genuine.

In fact, she said it seems in some, her daughter was agitated and it appeared she was told to pose.

The school contends expert psychologists say they cannot find the girl was damaged from the incident.

"This is a national precedent," said Ralph Wegis, attorney for the family. "This will be a road show on how to defend sexually assaulted autistic children cases, that it's harmless, that it means nothing, that it's o.k. to do this because it is without harm. And, this is critically important that it gets stopped right here because we have people that are in charge of these children that are putting forth this position. This attitude of this leadership that when our children are there, if they are sexually assaulted, it's harmless."

The aide who found the students in the bathroom testified Wednesday he did not consider the whining, crying sound he heard the girl making from the bathroom unusual. He said the, then, 16-year-old would make that sound a hundred times a day.

Again, the Kern High School District did not comment.

This case is expected to last three weeks.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Country music star Josh Turner is coming to Bakersfield this fall. His "Roughstock and Rambler tour" is making a stop at the Fox Theater November second.

Ticket pre-sales are Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The promotion code is "Rambler."

For ticket information visit the Fox box office, or go to www.vallitix.com

BAKERSFIELD, CA-- Potential layoffs could be looming at Kern Medical Center as it was revealed Tuesday as the county hospital continues to lose more than $3 million a month.

CFO Sandra Martin and CEO Russell Judd appeared Tuesday morning with more grim news for eight months of budget activity presented through February. They revealed KMC lost $3.4 million in February.

"As an organization, it's a needed entity that cannot exist in its current environment," Judd said.

The main reasons they say is fewer patients than budgeted for, compensating physicians and mainly managing salaries, wages and benefits for staff whose numbers can vary based on patient admittance.

"The biggest struggle of managing health care is you have to match staffing to that volume and it's hard, we're beginning to, I had lunch with some of the staff last Friday and some of the nurses saying, it's hard, we come in, we don't have the staff we're used to and you're having to make changes,” Judd said.

The board and Judd discussed the possibility of layoffs but those wouldn't be easy and would take considerable time to implement.

"There are specific elements of the layoff which would require individuals to be noticed, then individuals would have an opportunity to bump, based on seniority in other positions that they have held in the past,” said John Nilon, Kern County Administrative Officer. “That then requires those individuals who would be bumped to receive the 30 day notice, and so on and so on and so on. Because of that, it can be a very lengthy process to layoff staff."

Nilon added the layoff process could swell to as long as 90 days.

BAKERSFIELD, CA-- Golden Empire Transit bus drivers and maintenance workers Tuesday night rejected the latest contract offer from management. It's a bold move by union members considering their current contract will expire soon.

A veteran bus driver told 17 News one of the main reasons for voting down the contract was union members did not like a rule that employees must work at least 2,080 before they are eligible for a raise. Under this proposal if an employee calls in sick or misses work it will delay the raise until the hours are met. They are used to getting annual pay hikes regardless of the hours worked. 17 News talked with a GET official about the union vote and the possibility of a strike.

"Well we will go back to the table and we will certainly be bargaining in good faith and truly believe they are doing the same,” said Gina Hayden, GET. “We feel that we will come to an agreement fairly quickly. We want what's best for our employees and we also want what's best for the district."

Negotiations for the GET employees were being handled by the teamsters from local 517 in Visalia. A Teamster official said it was not likely a strike would occur, for now.

SHAFTER, CA - Shafter area schools will not be unifying under one district anytime soon. The Richland School District board voted Tuesday to delay a vote, so more studies could be done. 
The seats were filled in Shafter Tuesday night to discuss forming a new district.
"The communication to this point has been dismal, and it looks like you don't know anymore than I do," said Michael Carty of Shafter.      That's why the district brought in its outside attorney. He and district staff drafted a feasibility study that came out in March. It says the Richland School District has the funds to merge its junior high and elementary schools with Shafter High School. But some in Tuesday's audience, disagreed with the studies findings.
"Should we be speculating on a newly unified district that has already shown fiscal irresponsibility in a study that is supposed to display its feasibility?," said Pablo Reyes, a teacher at Shafter High School. 
The idea behind unification is to get the best by providing a consistent education kindergarten through 12th grade.  "We can all agree in this room we want the best for our children, and I think if we look at the results of our schools we haven't hit the best yet," said Natalie Feinberg, a teacher at Shafter High School. 
But, some feel unification is an effort not for students but of a few administrators looking for more control, citing lines from the district's study.
"It states the theme of unification is simple local responsibility," said Brian Feaster, a teacher at Shafter High School. "It should state it is there for the betterment of our students not local responsibility A.K.A. power grab. That's how a lot of people feel." 
Richland School District Superintendent Ken Bergevin was hoping to put the unification measure to a vote for all residents on the November ballot.
Instead, after an hour of testimony the board decided to delay the vote to an unknown time and form a subcommittee of two board members to study the issue without the district staff. 

KERN COUNTY, CA - If Irwindale can't stand the heat, come to Kern County. That is the message the Kern Economic Development Corporation is giving the maker of Sriracha hot sauce.

The Irwindale plant has been the focus of numerous health complaints from people who live nearby.

As their city council considers forcing the plant to move, its owner is already weighing his options.

Its packaging is undeniable, but Sriracha's taste is what's made it popular.

"Yeah, that sauce is pretty good," said Luis Fernandez, a fan of the sauce.

Last year, Huy Fong Foods, sold $60 million worth of the spicy sauce. 

So, when word got around that the Irwindale plant might consider moving, Richard Chapman, President and CEO of the Kern Economic Development Corporation, was hot on its trail.

"Rather than move to a new state, Texas, our belief is that you can come here and save a lot of money, keep a lot of your workforce, and see a pretty business friendly environment," said Chapman.

Around 600 acres of the red jalapenos used to make Sriracha are grown in Kern County. Chapman says the move would reduce some truck traffic and emissions.

But, it's what is emitted from the Irwindale plant that might force it to relocate.

Some living nearby have complained pepper fumes have irritated their lungs and eyes and caused nosebleeds.

"Every morning it smells like chili powder and that it gets irritating," said nearby resident Edward Anthony, in October.

"The Air Quality District investigated it and there were no violations found. Some of these complaints have come when chili pepper grinding is not occurring," said Chapman.

While Chapman admits he is unsure how far the smell can carry, he says Kern County has plenty of designated industrial districts like near Tejon Ranch and Shafter.

"They are not going to plop down in the middle of Seven Oaks or wherever you live in the northwest. This is not where one of these goes," said Chapman.

And, Chapman says the plant comes with 70 full-time jobs, 200 seasonal. That sounds good to Charlie Chiang who supports the plant relocating to Kern County.

"Anything that creates jobs in Kern County would be just fabulous. That's what we need around here. I know that we already have things that smell like the dairies, but as long as we keep people employed and Kern County going, I think that's really important and it's their loss," said Chiang.

Chapman says a congressman from Dallas County, Texas is set to tour the pepper plant next week. And, other California counties have expressed interest.

The Irwindale City Council isn't expected to make a decision until May 14th.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Kern County Sheriff's Department says a report of a downed plane in Rosamond Tuesday afternoon turns out to be untrue.  The Kern County Fire Department had received a call about a downed aircraft in the 10600 block of McConnell Avenue shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.  The report indicated a passenger suffered a broke leg. 

Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt says the report of a downed airplane was false and the department is investigating.  We'll have more information on this developing story as it becomes available. 

ROSAMOND, CA -- Kern County Fire crews are responding to a report of a downed aircraft on a street in Rosamond.  Fire officials say there were two people were on board when the plane went down in the 10600 block of McConnell Avenue around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday. 

Fire information officer Sean Collins says one passenger has a broken leg.  We have a photographer en route and will have more information as it becomes available. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Deputies need your help to identify three people wanted for a suspected burglary which took place in Lamont last month.  Deputies say around 9:00 am on March 31st three people forced their way into a home and removed several items, including a television.

Deputies say they then fled in a white over green Chevy four door which was later located by deputies and impounded. The vehicle has also been identified as possibly being used in several residential burglaries in the Bakersfield area.

If anyone has information on the people in this case they are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110, Senior Deputy Daniel Perez at 661-868-5755, or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

Anonymous text tips can be sent to TIP411 (847411). Just type the keyword “KCSO” prior to the message.

(MSNBC) -- Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life Tuesday, and Commissioner Adam Silver announced at a news conference in New York that he would urge owners to force a sale of the team.

Sterling confirmed to Silver that it was his voice on an audio recording made public by TMZ over the weekend, in which Sterling was heard making racist remarks.

The league fined Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum penalty under NBA rules. Sterling is worth $1.9 billion, and the team is valued at more than $500 million.

Silver expressed “personal outrage” over Sterling’s remarks and said “the hateful opinions” expressed by Sterling had no place in an “organization that has taken a leadership role in race relations.”

On behalf of the NBA, Silver apologized personally to some of the NBA’s greatest athletes – and specifically to Magic Johnson, who was a target of Sterling’s rants.

Johnson welcomed the decision.

BAKERSFIELD, CA--There's a new contract on the table Monday night for employees of Golden Empire Transit in Bakersfield. In a private meeting at the Clarion Hotel on Rosedale Highway, union members heard the latest proposal.

Here are some of the key points in the new contract proposal union members told 17 News about, off camera.

There's a two percent raise for full time and part-time or "flex" employees.

Bidding for schedules would now be based on seniority regardless of whether employees are full time or part-time.

One of the more controversial items is a rule that employees must work at least 2,080 hours before a raise can occur. One bus driver told 17 News off camera this is controversial with some union members because under the old contract employees received a raise on a specific calendar date. Under this proposal if an employee calls in sick or misses work it will delay the raise until the 2,080 are met.

Officials from GET said they would rather wait until a final vote is made on the contract at around 6 p.m. Tuesday before making comment. Teamsters officials would not comment on specific terms of the contract either but think overall it's a step in the right direction.

"Really, just increases is all we are looking for,” said Chester Suniga, Teamsters Local 517. It is not a bad offer it comes with a recommendation from the union and the negotiating team."

Rank and file union members told 17 News they did not want to speak on camera about the contract because they are fearful of being blacklisted by GET management if they talk to the media. However, they did tell 17 News they feel this contract will be voted down.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The man accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a pregnant woman on January 17, is back behind bars. Joseph Maine had his bail increased to $2 million when a report from the alcohol ankle monitor he was ordered to wear after the crash, said he wasn't in compliance.

It was checked because Maine was re-arrested while out on bail earlier this month, and accused of assaulting his girlfriend.

Maine had a prior record for "wet reckless" before he was involved in the deadly crash at Monitor Street and Fairview Road. Deputies said Maine was drunk when he ran a light and struck the passenger side of a car carrying Vanessa Carrillo. She was 32 weeks pregnant when she died.

Maine's first bail was set at $97,000, but he had to wear a SCRAM alcohol detection monitor.

"Ankle monitors are on the rise and the reason for that is that AB 109 has really impacted the local jail," said Superior Court Executive Officer Terry McNally. "Every American has the right to bail. People go to a bail bondsman and the bail bondsman charges a fee for that bail. They generally try to ensure their client appears at court."

Maine was arrested earlier this month for spousal abuse and assault after officers said he fought with his girlfriend at a Bakersfield hookah bar. Results of his ankle monitor showed he was not in compliance, but prosecutors said that could mean one of three things: he drank alcohol, put something in between his skin and the device to prevent an accurate reading, or he took it off.

The prosecution requested the full SCRAM report, but does not know when it'll be released.

The judge increased Maine's bail to $2 million and he was ordered to stay away from all places that sell alcohol.