Bakersfield Daily Brief: Thursday, August 20, 2026

It’s Thursday, August 20, 2026, and we’re waking up to a warm morning in Kern County. Today’s top story is the preliminary hearing now underway in the alleged hit-and-run crash that killed a 17-year-old girl in Bakersfield. We’re looking at a high near 104° today with an air quality index of 71 — moderate. Let’s get you caught up on the night, the news, and the week ahead.

The Kern Overnight

The night brought a heavy response to a train striking a pedestrian near the rail line off Lynwood and Height streets in south Bakersfield just before 11:34 p.m. Engines 37, 34 and 33 went out with Battalion 3, and crews worked access around the train to reach the patient on the far side. Around 9:22 p.m., a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision downtown left a pedestrian down at the scene, described as a woman on probation or supervised release; officers had surveillance video archived as part of the investigation. Just after 12:39 a.m., a domestic call on Butterfield Avenue escalated when a man hit a woman and attempted to take an infant before officers arrived, with a kitchen knife mentioned on the air. The subject was described as a 34-year-old Hispanic man in a white t-shirt and gray shorts; a heavy-duty response was requested. Around 9:19 p.m., a burglary at a furniture business on Baker Street had suspects possibly still inside, with a silver Prius spotted in an alleyway nearby. Officers set a perimeter at Baker and Kentucky with a second boundary at Baker and Jackson. Just before midnight, a person in crisis on Di Giorgio Road reportedly made threats against family members and was possibly in possession of a knife, with a child present in the residence. The reporting party said an uncle had seen the knife. The rest of the night ran to the usual spread: burglaries, domestic violence calls, a preschool alarm, a flooding home and a string of medical aids.

Today's weather

Expect a high near 104° and a low around 75° tonight. It’s currently 84° at Meadows Field (KBFL). No active weather alerts for Kern County. Air quality is 71 — moderate.

Top stories

KGET 17 reports that the preliminary hearing has begun in the alleged hit-and-run crash that killed a 17-year-old girl in Bakersfield. The hearing is expected to establish whether enough evidence exists to proceed to trial. According to 23ABC, the CDC’s latest data show COVID infections are trending up across the country, including in California. But a local emergency room doctor says he hasn’t yet seen a large increase in COVID patients in Kern County. Dr. Willie Franklin, with Adventist Health, says the reports of growing cases aren’t necessarily cause for concern. 23ABC tells us that Bakersfield residents are raising privacy concerns over the Flock camera network logging 850,000 plate reads a month. The Bakersfield Police Department’s own transparency portal shows the scale, and residents and organizers raised questions at a community meeting about who can access what the cameras collect. Bakersfield Now reports that the Kern County District Attorney’s Office is set to reopen the case of a controversial YouTuber. Details on the case are still emerging, but the move signals a new look at the matter. KGET 17 said that Bakersfield residents are reacting strongly to fears that church expansion funds may be lost in the Diocese of Fresno bankruptcy. During Sunday services, Monsignor Perry Kavookjian of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church shared with the congregation that locally raised funds to expand the church could potentially be used to help pay settlements — specifically, sexual abuse claims against the Diocese of Fresno.

Something good

A Bakersfield resident has won a $350,000 slot jackpot at Hard Rock Casino Tejon. This local win brings excitement and a significant financial gain to the community.

Coming up this week

The Planning Commission will meet on Friday, August 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. The City Council Meeting 330 is set for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., followed by City Council Meeting 515 at 5:15 p.m. on the same day. At the Fox Theater, Los Yonic’s Zamacona, Los caminantes, y Grupo Yndio will perform on August 22, 2026. The Cults & Classics: Season Pass 2026-2027 will be available on August 24, 2026. Rodney Carrington will take the stage on August 27, 2026, followed by CUMBIATRON: THE CUMBIA RAVE on August 28, 2026. Willie Barcena and Michael Return Of The King Tribute Featuring Michael Phoenix will both perform on August 29, 2026.