ToppStories - smayer's Blog - Bakersfield.com

What recession? CEO of agency that administers health care to poor gets $13,000 raise

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:09:20 PST

With unemployment up, wages falling and even the inflated salaries of CEOs hitting the skids, you might think it’s a bad time to give the boss a nice fat raise.

Especially when the boss is paid from your tax dollars.

But on Thursday — over the strong objections of two trustees — the board of directors for taxpayer-funded Kern Health Systems voted 7-2 to give the agency’s chief executive a raise of more than $13,000.

The raise, which will increase CEO Carol Sorrell’s base pay to more than $283,000, doesn’t include the more than $40,000 Sorrell could receive through the 15 percent bonus she takes home annually.

Kern Health Systems is a nonprofit insurance company created by the Kern County Board of Supervisors but independently operated that manages the delivery of Medi-Cal benefits and health care to poor county citizens.

“We are a government agency and every dollar we get comes from another government agency,” said Al Wagner, one of two members of the Kern Health Systems governing board who voted against the raise.

Wagner, along with board members Estela Casas and Bernita Jenkins, argued that awarding the raise was unconscionable in this time of economic upheaval when thousands of workers in government and the private sector are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts and doing more with less.

What do you think? Should CEOs of public agencies be landing big raises in tough economic times?

Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:17:30 PST

Let's say a neighborhood pit bull gets loose from its yard, runs down the street, breaks through your backyard gate and attacks and kills your beloved pet.

Is the pit bull "dangerous?"

Not necessarily in the eyes of the law.

For JoAnn Mayfield, the owner of Tucker, a miniature dachshund mauled to death last month by a marauding pit bull, something is wrong with this picture.

Mayfield was getting dressed Oct. 9 when she heard a commotion in her back yard in northeast Bakersfield. When she ran to the door, she found a pit bull shaking Tucker "like a rag doll."

Mayfield and her 82-year-old mother were powerless to rescue the small dog. He died hours later as a veterinarian worked to save him.

The owners of the pit bull got their dog back the same day.

More than 2,400 dog bites have been documented by animal control services in Bakersfield and Kern County since 2007. The worst offenders by far are pit bulls.

So we ask you: Should Kern institute zero tolerance for dog attacks?

Are Bako's dog control laws strict enough?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:40 PST

Andy Castaneda could hear the man's screams from several houses away.

By the time he and other neighbors in east Bakersfield arrived Tuesday afternoon, they saw 35-year-old Steven Herrera being attacked and brutally mauled by three pit bulldogs.

"I was four houses down," Castaneda said. "I could hear him screaming, 'Oh God, please somebody help me.'"

When he arrived at the scene, Castaneda, 69, had no weapon, except a hardwood cane.

"The big pit was chewing the man's arm off. It was horrible," Castaneda said of the victim. "I've never seen anything like that."

FULL STORY

With some exceptions, it usually takes two attacks against a human and three against another animal before a dog can be ordered destroyed by authorities.

Are we coddling our four-legged criminals?

Bakersfield man needs bone marrow transplant

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:27:00 PST

Houchin Community Blood Bank invites the community to come out and support a local family desperately in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant. The event will be held on:

Saturday, November 7, 2009
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Houchin Blood Bank – 5901 Truxtun Avenue – 323-4222

Mike Person is a local leukemia patient diagnosed in August with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. He is currently receiving blood and platelets at Memorial Hospital and is receiving chemotherapy treatments every 6 weeks. Kaiser doctors informed the Person family that a Bone Marrow Transplant is needed as soon as possible.

Raised in the Pond/Delano area and now living in Bakersfield, Mike has worked 30 years as a truck driver.

Although he experienced no serious health problems in the past, Mike's life was turned upside down after hearing the diagnosis in August. By signing up for the Bone Marrow Registry, you may be found to be a match for Mike — or any number of critically ill individuals in need of this life-saving procedure.

Join the Bone Marrow Registry.
It is a simple procedure. Just three steps:
1) Watch a short video
2) Complete a health history questionnaire
3) Simply Swab your cheeks! – That’s It! (No Needles)

Mojave company qualifies for million-dollar Lunar Lander X-Prize

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:55:46 PDT

With only four minutes to go, the scrappy little rocket team of Masten Space Systems fought through a series of problems and disappointments to qualify Friday morning for the $1 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X-Prize. Mechanical and electrical glitches had dogged the company’s efforts to qualify Wednesday and Thursday even though the rocket had flown flawlessly on Tuesday.

Thursday’s attempt ended with the company’s rocket in flames, but assisted by volunteers, some of whom work for competing rocket companies, the Masten team repaired and modified their rocket.

It went on to make two successful flights with sufficient accuracy to put the team in first place for the Lunar Lander competition. That purse is worth $1 million. Second place is worth $500,000. Only one more team, Paul Brede’s Unreasonable Rocket, is scheduled to fly its entrant for the Level 2 purse on Saturday.

Masten Space Systems, a six-man rocket company based in Mojave, saw its rocket, XA0.1E, nicknamed “Xoie,” (pronounced Zoh-ee) make two flights to qualify for the X-Prize. The combined purse of $2 million is provided by NASA. The primary sponsor of the contest is Northrop Grumman.

The prize is designed to spur development of the technology needed to land and take off from the moon. The easier Level One contest, involved take off from a flat platform, climbing to an altitude of 50 meters (over 164 feet) moving sideways — in rocketry this is called “translation” — 60 meters and descend to a predetermined spot on another flat surface. The vehicle then can be refueled, and repaired if necessary, but then it must make a return trip to the pad from which it departed.

Both flights must last at least 90 seconds, and have to be performed within a time period of 2 hours and 15 minutes. In the event of two teams qualifying, the tie is broken on the basis of landing accuracy.

The Level Two competition involves flying from a flat pad to one modified with craters and boulders to resemble a lunar landing site. The rocket must also stay aloft for three full minutes during each flight. Texas-based Armadillo Aerospace won the first place purse of $350,000 for the Level One competition in 2008, and was the first to qualify for the Level One competition by making two successful flights in September. It landed with an average accuracy of 89 centimeters, or 35 inches.

Greg Jones of Mojave, and Brian Bernard, of Los Angeles, are both with Orbital Expeditions and worked all night with the Masten crew. So did Keith Stormo, a molecular biologist from Moscow, Idaho, who started the High Expectations rocket team with his adult son. “I took a week vacation to come watch the rocket launches, but it turned out to be a working vacation,” he said with a weary smile. “I wanted to see someone fly, even if it couldn’t be us, so it was good to be a part of the Masten team in this effort.”

By Friday morning, an exhausted team rolled Xoie out to the test site. The rocket made its first flight with an unofficial accuracy of 28 cm, and returned with a ten cm meter accuracy. The average was 19 cm or 7 and a half inches. The team now has to wait out the flights of Unreasonable Rocket. But in true rocket community fashion, most of the Masten team piled into some vehicles and headed out to the secluded Cantil launch site. If needed, they will help Unreasonable with their effort.

After the two flights were finished, company founder Dave Masten said, “I can’t say enough good about the Masten team. They take my crazy ideas and make them work.”

“I also have to say this shows the high caliber of people in the rocket community. People from High Expectations, Speedup, , XCOR, Orbital Expeditions and others volunteered and pitched in on the all-night effort to repair Xoie, and prepare her for flight.”

“Our next stop? We’re going to go for higher alittude flights as we begin designing and building our suborbital launcher.”

“Contests such as this are a very cost-effective way to spur interest in aerospace engineering, developing new technology, and building the foundation of talent and experience that America needs to remain competitive in space,” Masten said.

Blowing dust prompts health warning

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:03:02 PDT

The San Joaquin Air Polution Control District issued a warning today advising south valley residents, especially those with chronic health problems, to take steps to avoid dust being kicked up by high winds.

Here's the release:

Strong, gusty winds causing increases in particulate matter in the southern part of the Valley have prompted local air-pollution officials to issue a health cautionary statement through Tuesday evening.

Winds in Kings, Tulare and the Valley portion of Kern counties may produce areas of blowing dust and unhealthy concentrations of particulate matter 10 microns and smaller in size (PM10).

"Take precautions to protect your health if you are in an area of blowing dust," said Scott Nester, Planning Director for the Air District.

Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, trigger asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. For people with heart disease, short-term exposure to particle pollution has been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmia, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Residents in affected areas are advised to use caution through midnight Tuesday. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion.

For more information about the Valley Air District, call a regional office: in Fresno, 559-230-6000; in Bakersfield, 661-392-5500; and in Modesto, 209-557-6400

With little ammo against H1N1, officials aim at seasonal flu

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:13:59 PDT

With three deaths and 26 new cases of H1N1 flu documented just last week, Kern County health officials said Tuesday they are addressing the flu threat with an increased level of urgency.

Unfortunately, vaccines to guard against the H1N1 swine flu are not yet available in large numbers -- and no one is sure when they will be ready.

Instead, heath officials have elected to attack the other flu -- the seasonal flu -- as a way to guard against that virus, while helping to prepare for the potential onslaught of H1N1.

The Kern County Department of Public Health, Bakersfield College and Cal State Bakersfield will join forces next week to offer free drive-thru seasonal flu vaccines to thousands of area residents.

At a press conference held Tuesday at the health department, county health officials and the presidents of the two schools said the purpose of the Oct. 30 clinic is twofold.

The first is to provide as many as 3,460 seasonal flu vaccines to area residents in a quick, convenient and efficient manner.

The second is to help prepare health and safety professionals for a potential emergency scenario that could require the mass vaccination of a large population in a short period of time.

Will you elect to get a seasonal flu vaccination?

What about the H1N1 vaccination (when they become available)?

Should the Secret Service have investigated alleged local threat to Obama?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:54:57 PDT

Bill Sekeres of Bakersfield is in a bit of trouble with the U.S. Secret Service.

The 73-year-old retired executive may or may not have threatened to "take out" the president of the United States during idle dinner conversation recently at a Bakersfield restaurant.

Sekeres says he can't recall whether he also included Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in his alleged threat because he isn't sure he made a threat, and if he did make a threat, well, he didn't really mean it.

"Truthfully, I can't remember if I said this or not -- that if I ever get a terminal illness, I'm going to take out Obama and Pelosi," Sekeres said. "I may have. I may not have. I don't know," he said. "If I did, it would have been in jest."

In any case, someone apparently overheard him and took him seriously enough to alert authorities. On Friday, two agents from the Secret Service office in Fresno drove to Bakersfield to have a not so idle chat with Sekeres.

"It is our job to investigate all threats against the president," said Gil Lejarde, resident agent in charge of the Fresno office. "We did speak to him. Right now we're still investigating."

Read the full story by clicking HERE.

In the meantime, the blog question remains: Should the Secret Service have investigated Sekeres' alleged threat to the commander in chief?

VICIOUS ATTACK: Are we tougher on violent humans than we are on violent dogs?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:20:06 PDT

The small group of family and friends had no warning.

One moment they were enjoying a quiet Saturday beneath the shade of their open garage door. The next, two snarling pit bulldogs were biting and tearing at the underbelly of their 9-month-old "pound puppy" Gracie.

"They went right for her gut," said Gracie's owner, Curtis Dalton, of Bakersfield.

By the time the attack was over, Gracie had suffered multiple bite wounds to her belly and chest, amounting to hundreds of dollars in emergency veterinary care.

Mr. Dalton also received a bite that bloodied his left hand -- suffered when he tried to pull the bigger pit bull off of Gracie.

Last week, the dog that led the attack went on trial -- sort of.

At an administrative hearing held Sept. 5 in Bakersfield's City Council chambers, the larger of the two pit bulls was found to be a "vicious dog" in a ruling by administrative hearing officer Mike Yraceburn.

Dog ownership, Yraceburn said, is regulated by local government in the interest of public safety. People have a right to be safe in their own neighborhoods -- safe from uncontrolled dogs running loose.

Yraceburn ordered the dog's owner, 25-year-old Luis Robles, to construct a separate kennel enclosure in his back yard in southwest Bakersfield. He further ordered that the pit bull will only be allowed out of the back yard on a leash if the dog is under Robles' full control -- no one else's.

No other animals are allowed on these walks, Yraceburn said, to minimize the chance that the pit bull will take on a dangerous "pack mentality."

No doubt, this was serious business. But one might have cause to wonder: Do we hold dogs and their owners less responsible in unprovoked attacks than we do people?

If a man had randomly attacked the group, causing great bodily injury to another human, he would cetainly be facing significant prison time. But the offending pit bull gets to remain at home, to go on walks and to enjoy a life not so different from before the incident.

Are we tougher on human offenders than we are on canine criminals?

State asking for billions more in stimulus for high-speed rail

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:23:18 PDT

Board Votes to Include $4.5 Billion for High-Speed Train Projects In California's Federal Stimulus Funding Application

Sacramento – The California High-Speed Rail Authority on Wednesday unanimously approved an application for more than $4.5 billion in federal stimulus funding for engineering, design and construction on the state's high-speed train system – generating an investment of $9.1 billion when state matching funds are added.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to formally submit California's bid by the federal government's Oct. 2 deadline for states to seek a share of $8 billion set aside for high-speed train development under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"California is a leading contender for this federal funding because our true high-speed rail system is further along than any other project in the country," said Authority Board Chairman Curt Pringle. "Plus, we can double the value of the federal government’s dollars by matching them with state bond funds approved by California voters last year, we can break ground before the federal government's deadline, and we can show that our early projects can stand alone as important improvements in their own right."

The Board approved a detailed package of dozens of engineering, environmental review, design-build, train control and electrification projects among every section of the 800-mile system.

The state's application includes:

• $1.28 billion for San Jose to San Francisco, including station improvements, grade separations, electrification and safety state-of-the-art "positive train control" in an upgraded, shared alignment with Caltrain.

• $466 million for Fresno to Merced, including right-of-way acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures and track.

• $819.5 million for Bakersfield to Fresno, including right-of-way acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures, track relocation and new track.

• $2 billion for Los Angeles to Anaheim, including high-speed train facilities at Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS), Norwalk Station, and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC); right-of-way acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures, tunneling, and track work.

• Community, business and government leaders from around the state packed the hearing room in support of California's application. The mayors of San Jose, Fresno and Fullerton were among those who called on the Authority Board to approve the application package.

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, author of the legislation that placed Proposition 1A, the successful high-speed train bond act on the ballot last November, told the board she wholeheartedly supports the Authority's recommendation.

"Our application is very competitive – the only true high-speed system in the country capable of travel up to 220-miles an hour," said Galgiani, who represents a Central Valley district. "It will bring badly needed jobs and economic activity to the state immediately."

The Authority Board also received dozens of letters of support for the application from local governments and agencies, business groups and other organizations around the state.

The full staff recommendation for stimulus funding is available at:

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/library/Default.aspx?ItemID=8648

Pit bulls No. 1 in bites

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:37 PDT

English teacher Peggy McCabe is armed and prepared for combat when she takes her dogs for their morning walk.

"Every time I step out the door I'm in warrior mode. You have to be," she said. "I love animals but after what happened to me, I have to be willing to kill or injure a dog to protect myself and my dogs."

Last year, McCabe was walking her dog when a neighbor's rottweiler attacked. The 49-year-old bravely stepped between her pet and the rottweiler.

Although she was not bitten, McCabe was knocked to the pavement by the powerful attacker and suffered serious injuries to her knee, elbow, wrist and thumb. No more will she be able to ride a bicycle or bound up a flight of stairs, she said.

Now when she leaves the house for her morning walk, McCabe carries an 18-inch long, 800,000-volt stun baton capable of temporarily disabling an aggressive animal in a matter of seconds.

More than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thousands are mauled so badly they require reconstructive surgery.

And closer to home, more than 2,400 dog bites have been documented by animal control services in Bakersfield and areas of unincorporated Kern County since January 2007. Many bites are simply not reported, officials say.

By a wide margin, the breed that bites most often is the pit bull, according to records compiled by county animal control.

Since 2007, pit bulls have bitten 389 victims in Kern. Mixed-breed dogs hold a distant second place with 254 bites, and German shepherds are third with 140 bites reported.

According to DogsBite.org, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks fron 2006 through 2008. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 73% of these deaths.

OK, idea people. What do we do about this epidemic of dog bites? Some cities have tried to ban specific breeds. Is that an option? What about mandatory spay and neuter laws? Helpful?

Hefty fines for people who let their dogs run wild? Other thoughts?

Bullet trains: Great new mass transit or fiscal boondoggle?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:55:05 PDT

As a structural engineer, longtime Bakersfield resident Ed Creswell is thrilled that America's first bullet trains will fly right through his city's downtown district.

"It's a great project," he said. "And I'm excited for our community."

But for Ed, his wife Judy and some of their neighbors there's also a downside: The 220-mph electric rail line is being routed right through his Rosedale-area neighborhood on an elevated track 30- to 40-feet off the ground. And that will affect property values and the quality of life in their horse-friendly tract.

"A lot of families have been out there 35 to 40 years or more," Creswell said. "They're not really anxious to move."

The Creswells were among dozens who showed up at the Red Lion Hotel in Bakersfield on Tuesday to attend a scoping meeting held by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

With a $40 billion estimated price tag on the one hand, and clean 200 mph transportation on the other -- what do you think about California's plans to build a high-speed rail system?

Conservative bloggers want kids to stay home from school Tuesday

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:13:23 PDT

When word started circulating that President Barack Obama would deliver a national address directly to the nation's students on Tuesday, it didn't take long for the decision to become politicized.

Some conservative bloggers and reportedly one local talk radio host have already called for parents to keep their kids home from schools that air the president's address, in which he will challenge students to work hard, set education goals and take responsibility for their learning.

That may not sound like an agenda to transform the children of conservatives into lifelong liberals, but some suggest Obama has Pied Piper-like powers.

"The fascist in chief is taking his special brand of brainwashing to the classroom. Keep your kids home," one blogger begged.

Which brings us to the question of the week: Does anyone take this seriously? Would you keep little johnny home from school to protect him from presidential brainwashing?

British team breaks oldest land speed record

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:04:52 PDT

Edward’s Air Force Base, California: Tuesday August 25th

Today at 8.19am (California time) Charles Burnett III successfully broke the land speed record for a steam-powered car – which has stood for more than 100 years – achieving an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile.

Driver Charles Burnett III piloted the car for both runs reaching a peak speed of 136.103mph on the first run and 151.085 mph on the second. The new international record, which is subject to official confirmation by the FIA, breaks the previous official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by American, Fred Marriott, driving a Stanley steamer at Daytona Beach.

As he was congratulated by his jubilant crew, principal driver, Charles Burnett III said: "It was absolutely fantastic I enjoyed every moment of it. We reached nearly 140mph on the first run before I applied the parachute. All systems worked perfectly, it was a really good run. The second run went even better and we clocked a speed in excess of 150 mph. The car really did handle beautifully. The team has worked extremely hard over the last 10 years and overcome numerous problems. It is a privilege to be involved with such a talented crew, what we have achieved today is a true testament to British engineering, good teamwork and perseverance”

Project Manager Matt Candy said: "The first run took place at 7.27am when the air temperature was a cool 63 degrees Fahrenheit, the team turned around the car in 52minutes (with just 8 minutes spare) in preparation for its return run. The British Steam Car takes 2.5 miles to accelerate and after the measured mile, a further 2.5 miles to decelerate – so each run was over 6.5 miles. The FIA requires that the return run takes place within 60 minutes. The times of the two runs are then averaged to obtain the official recorded speed. Compared to the testing we did in Britain, the British Steam Car ran 12 times the distance and twice the maximum speed – all within one hour. It’s been a huge challenge for all.

Pam Swanston wife of the late project manager Frank Swanston was overcome with emotion after seeing Charles power the supercar across the dry lake bed, she said: "If only Frank was here today, it was his vision that made it a reality. He would be incredibly proud of the team's achievements and always believed we would succeed. Today we celebrate this record for Frank"

Weighing three tons, the sleek 25-ft British Steam Car is made from a mixture of lightweight carbon-fibre composite and aluminium wrapped around a steel space frame chassis. It is fitted with 12 boilers containing nearly two miles of tubing. Demineralised water is pumped into the boilers at up to 50 litres a minute and the burners produce three megawatts of heat. Steam is superheated to 400 degrees Celsius which is injected into the turbine at more than twice the speed of sound.

What's the deal with so many unlicensed drivers?

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:52:34 PDT

Sobriety checkpoints set up in Bakersfield in recent months have not nabbed huge numbers of drunken drivers.

But they’re finding unlicensed drivers by the hundreds — with 92 cited at a single checkpoint in east Bakersfield last month.

There’s little doubt that the number of unlicensed drivers on Kern County’s roads is way up, and that means more drivers with no insurance — and higher costs and higher risks for the rest of us.

“There’s a high incidence of people driving on a suspended license. Plain and simple, they are breaking the law,” said Charlie Fivecoat, the chief of police in Shafter and the administrator in Kern County of a statewide DUI task force.

“They absolutely don’t have insurance, so you end up paying the bill for them” when they get in an accident, he said.

There's more to it. Read the entire story by clicking here. Then let us know what you think of this worstening situation?

Fruitvale slashes and saves in one stroke

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:55:13 PDT

Settling on a course of action that would have been unthinkable in years past, Fruitvale School District trustees said state budget cuts left them little choice as they voted 5-0 to reduce -- but not eliminate -- the district's celebrated music program.

"Heartbreaking" cuts also are expected in counseling and physical education, though specifics have yet to be worked out, district officials said. But the instrumental music program and chorus for grades 4-8 will be retained -- at least for now.

Much is on the line, including the equivalent of more than 12 full-time teaching and counseling positions.

Some of those jobs may be saved, said District Superintendent Carl Olsen. But he wouldn't provide details.

Will all of those who received layoff notices be rehired? Olsen said. No.

Full story: click here.

What do you think of Fruitvale's action?

Two-year-old taken in car theft

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:27:18 PDT

For Immediate Release Thursday, July 30, 2009 -- 11 pm

On 7/30/09, at approximately 8:37 p.m. Bakersfield Police received a report of a

stolen vehicle which had just occurred in the 4300 block of Tierra Verde Street.

The victim also reported that her 2-year-old son was in the vehicle at the time it

was stolen. The mom had left her vehicle running inside her garage while she

retrieved something from her apartment. When she returned several minutes

later, the vehicle was gone.

Approximately 10-12 minutes later, the vehicle was located by officers in the 800

block of Johnnie Street. The vehicle was abandoned. Officers also located the

victim’s son walking near the vehicle. The child was not injured and was

returned to his mother.

There were no witnesses to the theft and there is no suspect information at this

time. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call BPD at 327-7111.

What's your favorite radio station?

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:32:10 PDT

Pirate Radio has been sunk. It's no longer flying the skull and crossbones on its main mast.

It has walked the plank -- and any other awful metaphor you can pull out of your pirate's chest.

ARRGH!

After several hours Monday running an audio loop that said KKXX was "under construction," the local office of American General Media announced that the station format known for playing an unusually wide variety of music is history.

For good or for ill, Capt. Jack Sparrow has given way to contemporary crooner Jeremiah doing "Birthday Sex."

"Hot Hits 93.1 will play ALL of today's hottest hits from pop to hip-hop," explained Monday's news release from AGM California.

What do you think of Pirate's demise? And where do YOU go for your music?

GANGS: Have we stopped caring?

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:29:35 PDT

Bakersfield Police Lt. Hajir Nuriddin is worried.

You can see it on her face and on the faces of Capt. Joe Bianco and Sgt. Joe Aldona as the trio gathers in the basement of police headquarters.

Gang-related shootings in Bakersfield have spiked in the first half of this year, Nuriddin says. And to make matters worse, witnesses, street-level informants, and even anonymous tip lines have fallen all but silent.

(One member of Bakersfield's black community asks for extraordinary measures by police.)

"Has our city become desensitized by the violence that is occurring right in front of our eyes?" Nuriddin asks.

Have we become desensitized, especially to black-on-black violence?

Too much bad news? Try this on for a CHANGE.

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:57:10 PDT

Terry Bowe is a lifesaver.

In 2005, he donated his blood stem cells to a critically ill patient whose name he didn't know and whose city of residence remained a guarded secret.

Nearly four years after receiving Bowe's life-saving gift, Arizona resident Kimberly Richards remains a survivor -- and a thriver.

"Terry considered it a privilege to be given the opportunity to save someone else's life," Richards said Wednesday from her home in Arizona. "Where would I be if he hadn't?"

Now at age 54, Bowe has the rare chance to do it again. The Bakersfield husband and father's bone marrow has been matched to a 59-year-old man suffering from leukemia. Once again, Bowe doesn't even know the recipient's name.

"I'm amazed that I get to do this again," Bowe said. "After my first experience, I swore I would do it again in a heartbeat. And I am. No hesitation.

What do you think of Bowe's actions?

Read the full story here.