Some of today's top stories
- breaking overnight a pursuit that began with an alleged stolen vehicle in Los Angeles County came to an end last night in Kern County. The chase started around 7:30 yesterday evening in Stevenson Ranch and headed northbound on Interstate 5 over the Grapevine.
Officers with the California Highway Patrol chased the suspected car thief until the vehicle came to a stop on northbound I-5 just before the Taft Highway exit.
About an hour later, witnesses say a K-9 was deployed and the suspect was pulled out of the vehicle and placed under arrest.
He was given medical aid at the scene.
Both southbound and northbound lanes were shut down during the standoff, but have since reopened. - Controversy continues to surround the Kern Golden Empire Transit District's leadership...as discussions take place about the organization's future.
The Board named a new interim CEO yesterday ...following the sudden dismissal of its much-respected CEO... Michael Tree... just four months into his new role. Many GET employees have asked for Tree's reinstatement.
In a *special* meeting last month, the Board met to evaluate the performance of Michael Tree... GET's first new CEO in nearly 20 years.
But that meeting ended with Tree's dismissal instead.
Then at its *monthly* meeting ... the Board re-affirmed Tree's dismissal.
But the question of why Tree was let go remains confidential.
GET says it's a personnel matter.
Longtime Director of Maintenance Chris James… who has been with the district for 40 years… is the interim CEO. James will receive 10% above his current salary.
The next Board meeting is set for August 20. - Five Bakersfield Police officers were justified when they shot and killed a man after a harrowing gun battle in 2021.
That's the ruling from the California Department of Justice.
But while the shooting was justified, the justice department was critical of the B-P-D's body-worn camera policy
17's Connor Dore reports. - We are saddened to report this morning that a legend of Downtown Bakersfield and longtime owner of Guthrie's Alley Cat, Kenny Reed, has passed away. 17's Robert Price has this tribute.
