Kern Sol News

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As many prepare for the general election on November 3, a local organization in Kern County is reflecting on voter turno...
06/15/2026

As many prepare for the general election on November 3, a local organization in Kern County is reflecting on voter turnout in the June 2 primary elections. Loud for Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization based in Delano, focuses on voter turnout in the rural community. Although voter turnout among young adults remains low, Delano youth have shown a higher turnout in this area.

Voters ages 18 to 34 account for 32% of registered voters in Kern County, according to Political Data Inc (PDI). They currently make up only 17% of ballots returned. In Delano, that demographic represents 27% of ballots returned, a higher share than the county average.

In Delano, young adults and first-time voters are actively engaging in the electoral process and following candidates. A total of 7,557 youth have registered to vote in Delano for this election, and 1,222 have returned their ballots so far.

Throughout California, the youth population has been recognized as less engaged and with lower voter turnout.

Biviana Camacho, Loud for Tomorrow’s civic engagement organizer, noticed that many individuals were not engaged or motivated to participate in the voting process.

The Bakersfield City Council held a public hearing during Wednesday’s meeting on the City’s proposed 2026-27 budget. Dur...
06/12/2026

The Bakersfield City Council held a public hearing during Wednesday’s meeting on the City’s proposed 2026-27 budget. During public comments, the Council heard from residents who urged leaders to rethink spending priorities before June 24’s vote.

City Manager Christan Clegg presented the proposed budget as a balanced financial plan that begins the first year of a long-term fiscal restructuring effort aimed at reducing operating costs while maintaining core city services. This proposal, he said, reflects months of workshops, town hall meetings, and internal reviews aimed at aligning expenditures with projected revenues.

Some of the most significant changes are the elimination of 72 vacant positions, a move Clegg said would save more than $9.4 million as Bakersfield works through a multi-year strategy to address long-term fiscal challenges. He also noted that nearly 62% of the City’s general fund supports police and fire services, while personnel costs account for the majority of overall spending.

But during the public comment period of the hearing, speakers repeatedly questioned whether the city’s financial priorities reflect the residents’ values.

Read the full story at https://southkernsol.org/2026/06/12/bakersfield-residents-urge-changes-to-proposed-city-budget/.

06/11/2026

Earlier this week community members asked the board of supervisors to create county guidelines for data centers.

Community members, local leaders, and state officials gathered Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a $9.5 million ...
06/09/2026

Community members, local leaders, and state officials gathered Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a $9.5 million renovation project that will transform Lamont Park with new recreational facilities designed by and for Lamont residents.

The project was funded with more than $6.5 million in Proposition 68 state grant funding and County investment and will bring a variety of new features to the park, including a lighted soccer field, splash pad, shaded playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, multipurpose courts, and a community pavilion.

County officials said the project represents one of the largest park investments Kern County has taken on in recent years.

“This isn’t just a park that was designed in an office far, far away,” said Kern County Chief General Services Officer Michelle Burns-Lusich. “The improvements of this park came from the imaginations of the people who will be using it most.”

According to Burns-Lusich, local organizations worked with Lamont youth over several years to identify amenities they wanted most in the park. The resulting design reflects ideas gathered through community meetings and outreach efforts led by local advocacy groups, residents, and the Boys & Girls Club of Kern County’s Lamont Club.

“Because of that incredible collaboration, we are getting a space that truly reflects the heart and soul of Lamont,” she said.

Read the full story at https://southkernsol.org/2026/06/09/lamont-celebrates-long-awaited-park-renovation-project/.

The latest update from the Kern County Elections Office on some of the local races we are following. These are still uno...
06/08/2026

The latest update from the Kern County Elections Office on some of the local races we are following.

These are still unofficial results.

Here is the most recent update from the Secretary of State website for some of the state races we are following. Accordi...
06/08/2026

Here is the most recent update from the Secretary of State website for some of the state races we are following.

According to the website, election results will be certified by July 10.

On Wednesday, the California Endowment hosted an informational webinar to discuss H.R. 1, also known as the “Big Beautif...
06/05/2026

On Wednesday, the California Endowment hosted an informational webinar to discuss H.R. 1, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed under President Donald Trump, and Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision, an updated interpretation of California’s state budget.

The May Revision was released on May 14 as an adjustment to the initial January budget proposal. Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto, senior policy fellow with the California Budget & Policy Center, began the webinar by discussing the May Revision and how it affects Californians.

“The May Revise includes common-sense revenue solutions, but makes affordability challenges worse. And it also fails to fully protect Californians from harmful federal cuts…He also makes it harder for Californians with low incomes to access basic supports, and he fails to propose more substantial ongoing revenue that is needed to protect vital services and to respond to the growing needs of Californians,” said Ramos-Yamamoto.

Ramos-Yamamoto continued by highlighting some of the positive aspects of the revenue forecast, including revenues that are already allocated to specific areas such as K-14 education through Proposition 98 and the state’s rainy day funds. General Fund revenues are projected to be $17 billion higher across the three-year budget window.

“More revenues are always a good thing, but we need to keep in mind that most of these revenues are actually already spoken for because of requirements that are in California’s Constitution,” noted Ramos-Yamamoto.

The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network held a panel discussion on the current state of transgender, gend...
06/05/2026

The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network held a panel discussion on the current state of transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) immigration on Monday.

The virtual event brought together community leaders to discuss the unique barriers TGI immigrants face as political debates over immigration and transgender rights continue to intensify.

The panel was moderated by Mito Aviles, program associate for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, and Sol Lagos, a program intern for Big To***co LA.

Panelists began by highlighting growing concerns over the injustices faced by TGI immigrants. Participants discussed immigration status, healthcare access, and economic stability, noting that marginalized communities often experience disproportionate impacts from policy changes.

Ana Alvarez, campaign organizer for Health Access, said, “I feel like injustice in health helps frame the attacks on TGI immigrants as a public health crisis because there are folks in our society, like TGI folks, like immigrants, like folks that have both identities, that get unequal access to all aspects of healthcare. And it causes them to stay sick, have worse health conditions, etc.”

During Wednesday evening’s Ridgecrest City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to begin the process of seeking i...
06/04/2026

During Wednesday evening’s Ridgecrest City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to begin the process of seeking intervenor status in the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) review of the proposed Inyokern Data Center.

The decision came after more than an hour of discussion among councilmembers that highlighted community concerns over water use, energy consumption, and noise and environmental impacts, questions to Sean Hungerford, a representative of the project developer, and public comments.

Although the councilmembers stopped short of taking a stance in support or opposition to the project, they repeatedly stressed the need for Ridgecrest to closely monitor the CEC’s review and ensure local concerns are represented throughout the process.

Councilman Kyle Blades said the city should closely monitor the project and remain involved as state and county agencies evaluate the proposal.

“What I hope we do as a council is that we direct staff to be in the business of the state and the county staff because that’s where real work gets done. Being in their business and making sure we’re monitoring what’s going on, understanding the calendar, understanding the schedule, and holding them accountable,” he said.

Councilmembers also discussed the project’s review timeline and the role the CEC will play in determining whether the proposal can move forward.

Read the full story at https://southkernsol.org/2026/06/04/ridgecrest-seeks-intervenor-status-in-inyokern-data-center-review/.

As people across the Central Valley are prepping for the summer heat, a California rebate program is offering up to 90 p...
06/03/2026

As people across the Central Valley are prepping for the summer heat, a California rebate program is offering up to 90 percent of the cost of repairing a car’s air conditioning unit for low-income residents.

Edith Duarte, the Cool Air Rebate Program Manager, explained that the importance of the program is that not only is it uncomfortable to drive around the heat, but when people ride around with their windows down, it can pose a health risk during Valley Fever season.

“Driving in a car with a, with a broken AC system, it’s not very comfortable, but it’s also not great for kids, and for seniors to be in a, in a hot car, it could be bad for your health,” said Duarte. “And then additionally, too, when it does get really warm, people tend to open the windows and try to just get at least some airflow through, but we know that there’s Valley Fever that lives in some of the dust that can get into your system and into your respiratory system when you do that.”

To qualify for the program, residents must have a vehicle that was manufactured between 1993 and 2019, or a vehicle with R-134a refrigerant. Applicants can check the income reference chart here or answer questions to see if they pre-qualify. To qualify for the program, community members can provide a CalFresh or CalWorks verification of benefits letter or income verification, such as a W2. Applicants must also provide a California address where they reside.

Duarte stated that it takes about a week after applying to know if you are approved for the program. Once approved, the applicant will receive an email that they can show to any shop that is certified with the program. The rebate program will pay the shop directly for 90 percent, and the applicant will pay the remainder.

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