Bakersfield Daily Brief: Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Good morning, Bakersfield. It’s Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and we’re starting the day with a high of 102° and air quality at a moderate 62. Overnight, a grass fire east of the city drew a heavy response from county crews. Let’s get you caught up on the night, the weather, and the week ahead.

The Kern Overnight

The night’s biggest incident was a grass fire that broke out just after 1 a.m. about 2 miles east of the county dump and north of the railroad tracks. First reports put it at 3–5 acres, but it grew to 5–10 acres as units arrived. Crews dispatched to what they called the Apollo Incident included Engine 345, Water Tender 12, dozers, a safety officer, and helicopter 409. They worked access through corral roads, and Union Pacific train traffic was held while they mopped up.

Around 2:22 a.m., a fire in an alley near 9th & K streets spread into a garage and drew the Station 1 assignment: Engine 1, Truck 1, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, and Engine 6. Just before 2:20 a.m., a burglary in progress sent units searching for a suspect described as a white male, 5-foot-11, about 150 pounds, in a white tank top and black gym shorts. He was last seen riding a blue beach cruiser and exiting onto Union Avenue. Around 12:24 a.m., units responded to 21st & O streets for a person in crisis, reportedly nude with a shirt draped over them and possibly in the middle of a psychiatric episode.

The log also noted a few other incidents: at 22:01, unknown subjects in a blue Honda dropped items off at a vacant residence on Madera Street in Maricopa, then left southbound. At 22:07, a report came in of a 6-year-old possibly locked out of a residence in the 700 block of Jefferson Street. At 23:00, a disturbance was reported at a business in the 2700 block of White Lane. At 23:46, a vehicle was reported not stopping on Highway 99 toward the 223, with a possible pursuit in progress. And at 2:34 a.m., a woman reported a man banging on her door as she screamed at him to leave; banging was audible in the background, and a heavy-duty response was requested.

Today's weather

Today’s forecast calls for a high near 102° and a low around 74° tonight. It’s currently 73° at Meadows Field (KBFL). There are no active weather alerts for Kern County at this time, and air quality is holding at a moderate 62.

Top stories

23ABC reports that college costs continue to surge, with the average family spending more than $34,000 on college this past school year—a sharp 10% jump from the year before. Financial expert Jennifer Finetti, director of student advocacy at ScholarshipOwl, says a combination of factors is driving tuition higher, including changes in federal research funding and a decline in international students. "Plus, of course, inflation. Just like it makes costs for all of us go up, it also makes the cost go up for colleges as well. All the suppliers and things they need to keep running," Finetti said. Finetti says one of the biggest mistakes parents make is waiting too long to have honest conversations about what their family can realistically afford—and what students may need to contribute. "That's something I think parents can talk to their kids about, and to say 'Hey, integrate applying for scholarships into your life. If you want to go to college, you need to do your part,'" Finetti said. Finetti also says families shouldn't rule out community college, even for students who have good grades and could go straight to a four-year university. "They can get two years done at a very low cost, living at home, and then they can transfer to complete their bachelor's degree," Finetti said. For families considering student loans, there are major new rules to watch. Finetti says changes that took effect July 1 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act give new borrowers fewer federal repayment options. One plan can tie monthly payments to a borrower's income, meaning payments could climb.

According to 23ABC, a fake government form is circulating in AI-generated videos online, falsely promising seniors they can freeze their property taxes or stop paying school-bond charges, and Kern County officials say it is already generating calls and walk-ins at the assessor-recorder's office. The videos promote a form called "1098-SR," claiming people over 65 can use it to eliminate certain tax obligations. Kern County Assessor-Recorder Laura Avila says the form does not exist. "In the last couple weeks, we've been receiving phone calls and customers—or taxpayers, property owners—coming into our counter and asking to fill out this form 1098-SR," Avila said. Avila says her office searched for the form and could not find any federal program tied to it. While some other states offer similar property tax programs, California does not. When her staff explains the form is not real, residents are often upset because they heard about it from friends or saw it in videos online and often believe they are being denied. Avila says some of the videos appear on YouTube and are labeled as AI-generated at the bottom. The videos are broad, she says, targeting multiple states without specifying which programs apply where, and they feature what appear to be real people explaining programs that do not exist in California. Avila says her office has not confirmed anyone losing money or being asked to pay, which is why she is calling this a preventive advisory. But she is concerned about what could come next. "My fear is that the next phase of this will be somebody soliciting seniors."

KGET 17 tells us that early heat waves are shrinking Kern County pistachio harvests, raising prices for consumers. Hot summers are nothing new to Kern County, but early extreme heat waves this year are taking a serious toll on pistachio crops, shrinking harvests across the region. Fewer blooms on trees can mean a sharper drop in fruit production, leaving growers with fewer pistachios to harvest. LaBorde's business manager Jonathan Romero says pistachio trees naturally follow a cycle of higher-yield years followed by lower-yield years. Growers are currently facing one of those lower-production seasons, with extreme heat adding even more pressure. "Not only are we faced with a low crop yield this year, but we're also being affected by inflation." Romero says higher market prices help even out the disparity for farmers when numbers rise on shelves. He says he is worried about how this is affecting smaller-scale pistachio farmers who rely solely on a handful of nut varieties. "Pistachios might be a bit more expensive this year, but you're helping the growers—the local growers, family farms; I think that's what they should all take into consideration," Romero said. Dr. Richard Gearhart, a professor of economics at California State University, says that when a product becomes rare, local and overseas shoppers must compete to buy it, which drives up the price for everyone domestically and internationally. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the estimated projected yield for California's total pistachio harvest sits at around 600 to 900 million pounds this year, compared to last year's harvest of 1.63 billion pounds.

Something good

Senators Schiff and Padilla announced $43 million in funding for Kern County's Amtrak Gold Runner Route. This investment will enhance local transportation infrastructure and services.

Coming up this week

This week brings several public meetings and events worth noting. On Wednesday, August 19, the Water Board meets at 10:00 a.m. On Thursday, August 20, the Planning Commission convenes at 5:30 p.m. And on Wednesday, August 26, there are two city council meetings: one at 3:30 p.m. and another at 5:15 p.m.

For entertainment, the Fox Theater has a full lineup. On Saturday, August 22, catch Los Yonic's Zamacona, Los Caminantes, y Grupo Yndio. On Monday, August 24, the theater offers a Cults & Classics: Season Pass 2026–2027. On Thursday, August 27, Rodney Carrington takes the stage. On Friday, August 28, it’s CUMBIATRON: THE CUMBIA RAVE. And on Saturday, August 29, there are two shows: Willie Barcena and Michael Return Of The King Tribute Featuring Michael Phoenix.