🌱 What a Bakersfield judge decided in the Gosford Road Walmart shooting case.
Greetings Bakersfield! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- What a Bakersfield judge decided in the Gosford Road Walmart shooting case.
- What neighbors say after another shooting rattles East Bakersfield
- How one Bakersfield mayor reshaped emergency care across Kern County
Also on today's calendar: 2026 Earth Day 661 Festival and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 80 and low of 50 degrees.
- Saturday: Very warm with clouds and sun, temps: high: 88, low: 56. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 89 and low of 54 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Mental health diversion granted for woman shot outside Walmart after allegedly attacking officers with knife (kget.com) — A Kern County judge in Bakersfield has granted mental health diversion to a woman shot after allegedly charging Bakersfield police with a knife outside the Gosford Road Walmart. If she completes a year-long in-patient program and avoids new trouble, her charges can be dismissed, with a status hearing set for July 16. 
2. Knotts Street shooting shakes East Bakersfield as neighbors demand action (turnto23.com) — Residents in east Bakersfield are on edge after a recent shooting on Knotts Street, one of several in the area over the past month. Neighbors and community leaders are demanding more resources, youth opportunities, and attention for the east side, while authorities ask anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
3. Amazing America: Hall Ambulance servicing Kern County for nearly 55 years (bakersfieldnow.com) — Hall Ambulance’s nearly 55 years of service grew from former Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall’s vision for compassionate emergency care rooted in Bakersfield. The story looks back at his hands-on start, the company’s expansion across Kern County, and how his widow, Lavonne Hall, is keeping his community-focused legacy alive today.
4. Bakersfield police and Chase Bank host free fraud prevention workshop (turnto23.com) — Bakersfield residents just got free, practical tips on spotting scams at a fraud prevention workshop hosted by Chase Bank and the Bakersfield Police Department on 17th Street. Attendees learned how to recognize fake texts, spoofed calls, phishing emails, and high-pressure payment demands, all as part of National Financial Literacy Month efforts in the city.
5. Kern County homelessness advocate meets with Trump administration to work on solutions (kget.com) — A Kern County homelessness advocate from Bakersfield has been invited to Washington, D.C. to help shape a national “best practice toolkit” on addiction, homelessness, and public safety. He highlighted local efforts like The Mission at Kern County and its partnership with Bakersfield College, and federal health officials plan to visit Kern County this summer to study local strategies.
📸 Around Bakersfield
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Bakersfield
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Conjunto Primavera Tierra Cali Los Rieleros del Norte
Dignity Health Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield
8:00 pm
Friday April 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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2026 Earth Day 661 Festival
Beach Park , 3400 21st St , Bakersfield
10:00 am -
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Bakersfield, CA
Hodel's Country Dining , 5917 Knudsen Dr , Bakersfield
6:00 pm -
Journey USA
The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater , 2001 H St , Bakersfield
8:00 pm -
Laugh and Leave
Slice of Italy , 2543 F St , Bakersfield
7:00 pm -
@Little Harvey 2025-2026 Lavender Awards
Little Harvey Auditorium , 1241 G St , Bakersfield
6:00 pm -
@Harvey AKA Sorority Scholarship/Grad Program
Harvey Auditorium , 1241 G St , Bakersfield
4:00 pm -
@Harvey Band PRISM
Harvey Auditorium , 1241 G St , Bakersfield
Saturday April 18
Sunday April 19
Monday April 20
Tuesday April 21
Friday April 24
📣 Bakersfield Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Alicante Coffee with the Principal
Alicante Elementary School (AES)-AES Cafeteria
8:30 am -
Steve Byrne
The Well Comedy Club , 1517 18th St , Bakersfield
6:00 pm -
Art(mix) After Dark
Bakersfield Museum of Art , 1930 R St , Bakersfield
7:00 pm -
Chasing Manet
Bakersfield Community Theatre , 2400 S Chester Ave , Bakersfield
7:30 pm
Friday April 17
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Bootleggers!
I finally went last Saturday. OMG! I got the tri tip BLTA sandwich. It was soooo good! Service (thanks, Joshua) was great, decor is cute. I can't… (Nextdoor Hillcrest) - Well, my skunk is back not a nuisance just kind of a shock.
Kind of cute never bothers. What shall I name it? (Nextdoor Greenacres)
- KS Industries, LLC posted a job opening for Shop Pipe Welder in Bakersfield. Apply here.
- Superior Grocers posted a job opening for Grocery Night Crew Clerk in Bakersfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bakersfield here.
Ok Bakersfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
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