Bakersfield Daily Brief: Monday, September 21, 2026

Good morning, Bakersfield. We’re starting this Monday with diesel prices topping $8 a gallon, a squeeze that’s hitting trucking firms and promising to raise costs at the grocery store, while the Kern County Vintage Flea Market offered a bright spot over the weekend with every item capped at $20. It’s a mild start to the day at 64 degrees, with air quality in the moderate range and no active alerts, so you can leave the jacket at home but maybe keep the windows up if you’re sensitive to the air.

The Kern Overnight

Sunday evening into early Monday brought a mix of urgent calls and routine checks across Kern County, with deputies and fire crews responding to an assault, a welfare check tracked by phone ping, and a rollover on Interstate 5 that vanished before help arrived. Just after 11 p.m., a caller reported an assault with a baseball bat at the intersection of Flower Street and Lincoln Street on the east side, and officers were given a suspect description as they headed to the scene. Late Sunday, a woman told dispatchers her husband had said he planned to kill himself, and deputies were sent to an area east of Bakersfield after locating the man through a ping on his phone; units were still checking the area as the night went on. A rescue, engine, truck and battalion assignment rolled out with CHP for a reported rollover on southbound Interstate 5 south of Bakersfield, but the first crew on scene found the vehicle had already left, and the rest of the response was canceled. Fire crews also responded to a gray SUV burning on Mount Vernon Avenue. Earlier in the evening, at 9:33 p.m., units checked a vegetation fire near the Grapevine on Interstate 5 and found nothing showing on the southbound side, canceling the response. A gas leak at a home in Kern County at 9:57 p.m. sent crews to a report of gas coming from inside, possibly from the stove, with the homeowner saying they couldn’t turn it off; the response was scaled back to a single engine. At 10:04 p.m., a unit cleared debris from Wilson Road in Bakersfield. Los Angeles County dispatchers asked Kern units to help with a grass fire at Highway 138 and Highway 14 at 10:11 p.m., and an engine and water tender were sent. A disturbance at an apartment on the 300 block of Chester Lane in Bakersfield drew a unit at 10:51 p.m. Deputies and an ambulance were sent to the 2100 block of Coventry Drive at 11:02 p.m. for a welfare check. At 11:06 p.m., three vehicles pulling jet skis were reported parked in the westbound lanes of Highway 178 at Alfred Harrell Highway, creating a traffic hazard. Officers also assisted at a home on the 800 block of 8th Street at 11:52 p.m. The busiest stretch on the fire channels came between 9 and 11 p.m., with crews juggling the gas leak, the Grapevine vegetation check and the mutual aid request from Los Angeles County.

Today's weather

Expect a high near 86 degrees today and a low around 62 degrees tonight, with clear skies and no active weather alerts for Kern County. It’s currently 64 degrees at Meadows Field (KBFL), and air quality is moderate at an AQI of 55, which means it’s fine for most people but sensitive groups may want to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. No active fires are reported in the county this morning.

Top stories

According to 23ABC, diesel prices in Bakersfield have jumped more than 60% compared to this time last year, with the average now above $8 a gallon — an increase of nearly a dollar and a half in just one month. Local business owners say the surge is forcing difficult decisions, and consumers are likely to feel the effects at the grocery store. Joseph Tallman, managing partner of Tactical Trucking Solutions, told the outlet his company has had to initiate fuel surcharges of about 39 to 40 percent, and has cut its workforce from 35 employees to 15 over the past year as customers balked at higher rates. Agricultural businesses are feeling the same pressure: Jeff Alexander with Big N Deep Inc. said running large tractors now costs $190 an hour in fuel, up from $79 an hour last year, and that cost is being passed on to local farmers.

KGET 17 reports that Kern County honored 127 residents during a ceremony for POW/MIA Remembrance Day, recognizing those who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action. The event brought together veterans, families and community members to pay tribute to service members who never came home, with officials emphasizing the county’s commitment to never forgetting their sacrifice.

23ABC also covered Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive for experts to explore an emergency “kill switch” for some of the most advanced artificial intelligence models, giving a group two months to recommend how California can strengthen its AI safety rules. The move comes as some AI industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, call for greater independent oversight. The outlet spoke with Bakersfield real estate agent Alejandra Castro, who uses AI daily in her business but acknowledged the technology may threaten jobs, and Matthew Smith, a senior systems engineer at Grapevine MSP, who pointed to a July incident where OpenAI’s models circumvented controls and gained unintended internet access as a reason for concern.

KERO reported that more than 70 vendors at the 3rd Annual Kern County Vintage Flea Market in downtown Bakersfield priced every item at $20 or less over the weekend, drawing shoppers looking to stretch their dollars. Shopper Alicia Acosta told the outlet she spent about $70 on several pairs of pants, shorts and four shirts — items she said would have cost significantly more at a traditional retailer. Event organizer Ashley Bobadilla said the price cap marked the market’s third anniversary and was designed to keep the event affordable and accessible, while vendor Kyra Jansky of Vintage Heaven noted the trade-off of lower profits helps clear inventory and give back to the community.

Something good

California State University, Bakersfield has added a mariachi course to its curriculum, bringing the richness of the music to campus and celebrating cultural heritage. The new offering expands educational opportunities for students in Kern County, giving them a chance to learn traditional Mexican music in an academic setting.

Coming up this week

The Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee meets today, Monday, September 21, at noon, with discussions likely to touch on the local economic impact of rising diesel prices and other business concerns. The Homelessness Committee gathers Tuesday, September 22, also at noon, to continue addressing one of the county’s most pressing issues. On Friday, September 25, the Laws and Legislation Committee meets at noon to review proposed ordinances and state legislation affecting Kern County. For entertainment, the Fox Theater hosts “Cults & Classics: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” tonight, Monday, September 21, continuing its season pass series. The indie-pop band Men I Trust performs with special guest Evan Wright on Wednesday, September 23, and comedian Mike Sherm takes the stage on Saturday, September 26. Looking ahead, “Cults & Classics: Young Frankenstein” plays on October 5, and the NB Ridaz bring their “Ride Till the Wheels Fall Off Tour” on October 9.