TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Recent Stories

1. LOIS HENRY: Scientist, gagged by UCLA, wins a round in court

   I was glad to learn a federal judge ruled recently that a former UCLA faculty member's civil rights lawsuit can go forward against the school. By all appearances UCLA did, in fact, violate Jim Enstrom's first amendment rights, not to...

2. LOIS HENRY: Good thing we're not counting animals on the ark here

   We really should stop using the term "budget" when referring to government intake and outgo of our tax dollars. I think "money unicorn" is a more accurate description of how most politicians view government funding. And none other than Kern...
3. 

   LOIS HENRY: The dump next door might be cleaned up, finally

   There's a refreshing intolerance building among members of the Board of Supervisors and I hope it continues. I normally abhor intolerance but not when we're talking about people who load up their houses, yards and garages with junk and...

4. LOIS HENRY: Reality TV has nothing on Kern supervisor meetings

   The Board of Supervisors is a never-ending source of entertainment for me. Where else can you watch a fully grown, elected official refuse to retire specifically so the public can't evaluate his office? Or see three supervisors blithely nod...

5. LOIS HENRY: If it looks like a rat, smells like a rat ... it's a RAT!

   Something happened last week that made me question the very laws of physics. I agreed with Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner. Scrivner was the only supervisor to clearly lay out the problems associated with Managed Care Systems'...

6. LOIS HENRY: Oildale water fight drying up

   When was the last time you heard of a government entity actually reducing its grip on power (not to mention money)? Well, keep your eyes on Oildale and you might see that very thing come to pass. The North of the River Municipal Water...

7. LOIS HENRY: Cozy emails undermine air czar's integrity

   When you set yourself up as an independent reviewer of facts, a judge essentially, it's best not to cozy up to one side of a debate coming before you. In fact, that might be considered unethical, even illegal, in some instances. Certainly,...

9. LOIS HENRY: Animal control boss goes on Facebook -- poorly

   When I saw Kern County Animal Control Director Jen Woodard ranting at several members of the public on the department's Facebook page last week, I almost greeted the social media meltdown with a shrug. Why? Because her short time here has...

10. Hint of new housing could lead to water peace

    The land may look vacant and dead out at the old McAllister Ranch site in far southwest Bakersfield, but don't be fooled. Things are stirring. Big things. Irvine-based developer SunCal Cos. is apparently interested in buying the eastern...

11. LOIS HENRY: There goes more Kern River water, over the hill

    Keeping track of Kern River water leads to all kinds of interesting little snarls. For example, our river water has created what could become a major dustup for the Castaic Lake Water Agency. The agency, just to Kern's south, is the...

12. LOIS HENRY: Westside hydrogen plant bubbling with issues

    There are plenty of good reasons to oppose the Hydrogen Energy California (HECA) power and chemical/fertilizer plant proposed to be built near Tupman. Air quality isn't one. Here's why. This plant was devised as a demonstration project on...

13. LOIS HENRY: An old murder case may be coming around again

    A new law that took effect this year may be bringing a confounding and painful old case back to light here in Kern County. Not for a retrial, but to determine if Glenda Crosley has served enough time for killing her husband 27 years ago,...

14. LOIS HENRY: Another water deal is not as simple as it looks

    There's nothing like a water deal to bring out big money, big ideas and even bigger pitfalls. And Rosedale Rio-Bravo Water Storage District has come up with one doozy of a deal. It has entered into escrow to buy 3,300 acres of the old Onyx...