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Some of today's top storiesWe have an update on a story we've been following for several weeks now.    It involved a woman's claim she saw a sheriff's employee use a cat for target practice.    While the woman didn't capture the actual shooting on video, she did record her confrontation with the three men involved.    Sheriff Youngblood tells 17 News his office is investigating the claim.This happened at the Hart Park shooting range two weeks ago.    You just heard the woman who recorded the video confront the three men dressed in tactical gear.    The woman posted the video on social media and said she filed a complaint with the Internal Affairs Office.    In an email, Sheriff Youngblood says his office is looking to see if a crime has been committed.    He has no estimate on when the investigation may be complete.Bakersfield Assemblyman Vince Fong will be able to stay on the November ballot, in his bid for the 20th Congressional District seat.     17's Jenny Huh with more on yesterday's ruling and what happ

Some of today's top storiesThree years after a deadly shooting at a sports complex in east Bakersfield... two suspects have been arrested. Police say a man was shot and killed at the Mesa Marin Sports Complex back in 20-21.    And this morning, two men are facing murder charges.    Ulices Alonso was arrested last Friday in Colorado with the help of local law enforcement.    The other suspect, Eric Faria, was already in custody facing other unrelated charges.    He is due in court later today... while Alonso is set to be extradited to Kern County.the trial for the man accused of going on a shooting rampage on a Greyhound bus.. and killing another rider... has been delayed.    Anthony Devonte Williams is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting.    Documents say he admitted to bringing a gun onto the bus headed from Los Angeles to San Francisco back in 20-20.    He told investigators he tried to shoot a man he'd been arguing with as the bus traveled north on I-5, near Fort Tejon Road.    A man was ki

Some of today's top storiesIt is eclipse day across the country...    Everyone in the continental United States will have the potential to see the moon at least partially blocking the sun..And there may be no better place to see the junction between the sun.. Moon.. And earth than junction, Texas -- and that's where Jay Gray is this morning with more on this historic dayLocal fire crews were busy this weekend putting out a couple big fires in town.    The latest one happening in East Bakersfield yesterday afternoon. This fire broke out at a building on South Washington Street just before 4:30.    You can see crews cutting open the building.    Firefighters made quick work putting out the remaining hot spots to keep it from spreading further.    No injuries have been reported.And another building was destroyed after a massive structure fire in Central Bakersfield. Fire crews fighting these flames Saturday night.    This was at a building on California Avenue...just down the street from Bakersfield High School.

Some of today's top storiesWe are getting our first look this morning at a man accused of abducting an 11-year-old Bakersfield girl and taking her to Utah. 29-year-old Joshua Stehle {stay-lee} of Colorado was extradicted to Kern County on Tuesday.    He faces several charges including kidnapping and child molestation.    The girl was reported missing last month, and when deputies searched a computer at her home, they say they discovered the two had an online relationship.     The two were later found in Utah.    Stehle's arraignment was postponed yesterday.    He is being held without bail.We are learning more this morning about Vince Fong's legal battle to run for congress.    Oral arguments got underway in Sacramento yesterday... and we could find out his fate... by next week. Shirley Weber... California's chief elections official... is appealing a ruling which allowed Fong to be on the primary ballot for two offices... his current state assembly seat and for congressional district 20.  Last fall... Fong in

Some of today's top storiesThe road is all clear now after a gas leak shut down a portion of Mohawk Street for several hours.You can see many fire engines and police cars were on scene.    The incident blocked off Mohawk Street from Truxtun to California avenues.    P-G-and-E crews worked overnight to fix the problem.    No word yet on what caused the gas leakBakersfield Assemblyman Vince Fong is getting ready for a big battle in Sacramento today.     Despite being the top vote getter -- in both the primary and special elections -- there is a chance he will be disqualified from running for congress. It all started back in December... after Fong entered his bid to takeover the seat in congress vacated by Bakersfield's Kevin McCarthy.    However, Fong had already submitted a re-election bid for the state assembly, and California law prohibits a candidate from running in two races at once.    This prompted Secretary of State Shirley Weber to withdraw Fong's name from the ballot.    But Fong says this law shouldn

Some of today's top storiesWe begin with breaking news out of Taiwan.    At least 9 are dead after the most powerful earthquakes in decades struck the island this morning.    This is a look at the violent shaking.    The quake came in at a 7-point-4 magnitude.. the strongest to shake Taiwain in 25 years.    Seismologists say the island is among the most active areas in the world for earthquakes. Back here at home... the National Tsunami Warning Center says there is no tsunami threat to California and the rest of the west coast following that powerful earthquake overseas.Turning to education news.     During last night's monthly meeting... the Kern High School Board made five new appointments, including a new position in KHSD's equity and inclusion department.     17's Jenny Huh was at the meeting and files this report. The man -- accused of abducting a Bakersfield pre-teen and taking her to Utah -- will appear in a Kern County courtroom for the first time tomorrow.    Records show 29-year-old Joshua Stehle wa

Some of today's top storiesThe Kern County Sheriff's Office has launched an internal investigation after a woman claims she saw KCSO employees use a cat for target practice.    While the woman didn't capture the actual shooting on video, she did record her confrontation with the three men involved.    In the video you can hear a man reply "it was damaging property." The woman confronted the 3 men dressed in tactical gear at the sheriff's department's Hart Park shooting range in Bakersfield last Wednesday. The woman said the man to the left can be seen picking up the cat and walking away with it.  The men never identify themselves.The woman posted the video on social media and said she filed a complaint with the Internal Affairs Office.We reached out to the Kern County Sheriff for comment, but a KCSO spokesperson tells 17 News, they don't comment on active personnel investigations.A local animal rescue that fell victim to scammers, has gotten back a big part of what was stolen. As we reported in January, Zach

Some of today's top storiesWhile Kern County picked up a healthy amount of rain, it was too much in other areas of our state.In Montecito, nearly two inches of rain fell in the span of one hour.The heavy rain led to flooding and mobilized rocks, mus and sediment onto many local roadways.Several homes experienced flood damage.Downed power lines, fallen trees and gas leaks were reported throughout the area.Multiple fire crews scrambled to the call of a structure fire yesterday afternoon in Bakersfield. The fire happened at an apartment building on Douglas Street.    You can see damage to exterior windows and even the attic of the apartment unit.    No injuries have been reported.    No word yet on how many people or pets have been displaced.    The cause of the fire is under investigation.Bakersfield police are asking for your help finding a missing teenage girl. 14-year-old Toni Barraza was last seen Saturday in southeast Bakersfield on Hayslett Avenue near Texas Street.    Barraza is 5 foot 5 inches tall, 105

Some of today's top storiesthe moment a glass door shattered at Bakersfield City Hall... during a tug-of-war-like battle between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.This resulted in a number of protesters being taken to jail.    They're all free this morning.    And while the confrontation unfolded outside city hall... it all started with a dispute inside the chambers.    17's Jenny Huh has more on what comes next. A man has been sentenced to life in prison for a murder in East Bakersfield. About a year ago, police say Shot Spotter sensors heard up to 19 rounds fired in the parking lot of a gas station on Baker Street.When officers arrived, they found a man dead.Rafael Lopez was convicted last month of the shooting with a fully automatic AR-15-style rifle.He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on the murder conviction.. plus 25 years to life on a gun enhancement charge.We are just two days away from the birthday of the late farm labor leader Cesar Chavez....    Which is why the community gathered to

Some of today's top storiesMultiple pro-Palestinian protesters are under arrest this morning... following a confrontation at last night's Bakersfield City Council meeting.    It all start after the protesters were kicked out of the chamber again. This is the fourth meeting in a row Mayor Karen Goh has called for the chamber to be cleared.    The protesters want city leaders to join dozens of other cities across the U-S... and approve a ceasefire resolution.     Video circulating online shows protesters and police clashing in a tug-of-war-like battle with the front doors of city hall.    This causes glass to break on one the doors.... and officers then take a number protesters into custody.    The meeting finally resumed about an hour after... but ceasefire chants could still be heard through the walls... coming from protesters outsideAn arrest at a motel off Olive and Knudsen Drives in north Bakersfield is sounding the alarm for parents and young children.     The suspect? A former Delano police chief.     17

Some of today's top storiesA Wasco man accused of biting a severed human leg, appeared in a Shafter courtroom to face a judge for the first time following the shocking incident. 27-year-old Resendo Tellez faces four charges in connection to the crime.The judge entered a not guilty plea on Tellez's behalf.The incident happened Friday after a person was hit and killed by a train in Wasco. Video shows Tellez on the sidewalk carrying what witnesses say was a severered leg from the train victim... bring it close to his face, and swinging it while he shows it to Sheriff's Deputies.Tellez is due back in court a week from today.We now know why there was a standoff last night in south Bakersfield.    It all started around 7 o'clock on Edith Lane... when police say a man forced his way inside another family's home.    You can see there was a heavy police presence.. with a helicopter was also seen circling the area.    There were rumors that a murder took place, but police say that no true.    However, they say the man

Some of today's top storiesa disturbing eyewitness account of a man seen on video walking around with a severed body part from a train crash. It happened last Friday in Wasco. Witnesses tell us, 27-year-old Resendo Tellez is the man seen in this video carrying around a severed leg... and accuse him of biting into it. That body part... belonging to a victim hit and killed by a train at the Wasco Amtrak Station.  Before the incident, Tellez was seen in security footage shared with 17 News... visiting a liquor store. He's the one in the orange shirt. Those who know Tellez say he is homeless, and describe him as ordinary and polite. A construction worker spoke to... tells us he was in the area when he saw Tellez carrying around the body part.Court records Tellez has at least a half dozen prior misdemeanor convictions... mostly for drug or alcohol-related offenses.  Tellez is scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday in Shafter.David Abbasi -- a candidate in this month's election for Kern County Supervisor -- was a

Some of today's top storiesMany in Wasco are in disbelief this morning... after watching a bizarre video of a man walking around with a severed body part from a train crash. Here's what we know.    This happened Friday morning in Wasco.    When first responders arrived... the pedestrian was found dead.    What led up to the crash is still under investigation.    By our count... this was the 15-th pedestrian death in Kern County so far this year. The witness who sent this to us, says a man was walking around while holding a severed leg.    It apparently detached from the pedestrian's body during the crash.    KCSO says that man was arrested on charges of willfully removing human remains and drug possession. The search is on for two women accused a stealing a wallet at Frugatti's Italian retaurant. Bakersfield police say it happened March 1-st... when these two women... stole another woman's wallet from her purse while she was dining at Frugatti's.    Shortly after, police say the victim's credit cards were use

Some of today's top storiesA former Kern County prosecutor says supervisors at the District Attorney's Office ordered her not to wear skirts to work, even during Bakersfield's scorching summers, unless she also wore pantyhose.That's according to a federal lawsuit set for a scheduling conference next month.     Nishi Dayal says she has fibromyalgia, a painful disorder that limits her mobility and prevents her from wearing stockings or certain footwear.     After multiple reprimands for not wearing pantyhose, Dayal was demoted, according to the suit.    She went from hearing felony cases in Bakersfield to being assigned misdemeanor cases in Delano.    Four months later, she resigned, saying she was "exhausted by the ongoing discrimination."    The D-A's dress code policy, which has been in place for at least three decades, requires women to wear pantyhose with dresses, skirt suits, and dress suits. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Kinzel released a statement, saying quote "We look forward to presenting a comp

Some of today's top storiesStanley cups and bottles have been flying off the shelves across the country.    But soon... they'll be banned from some schools in Kern County. The Rosedale Union School District notified parents about the ban yesterday.    It states that drink containers that have any metal or glass in them -- will be prohibited from campuses after students return from spring break on April 2-nd.    The district did not elaborate on why the ban will be put in effect.... but says any metal or glass drink container found on campus will be confiscated... and parents will have to pick it up after school.Turning to an update on an officer-involved shooting.    After conducting a use-of-force investigation... the California City Police Department says an officer was *justified* in shooting a dog.    We must warn you... the video you're about to see may be disturbing to some viewers. It all happened during a welfare check last week at a home on Alder Drive.    Police say the dog was chained to a tree, bu

Some of today's top storieswe begin with new numbers this morning in the special election to replace former Bakersfield congressman Kevin McCarthy in the House.     In the count so far... one candidate is taking a commanding lead... but it may not be enough to avoid a runoff election.    17's Jenny Huh joins us now to break it all down. Parents are holding their children a bit tighter this morning after hearing about a shocking case of child abduction right in our own backyard.    17's Aleeya Fitzgerald joins us in studio with more.

Some of today's top storiesrumors are swirling on Capitol Hill this morning.     Former Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy is being considered as a top candidate for Donald Trump's chief of staff... should Trump win the presidential election. That's according to a Bloomberg article published yesterday.    It says McCarthy was offered the job in Trump's last term, but turned it down because he wanted to serve as house speaker.     According to Bloomberg, Trump is considering McCarthy as chief of staff because of McCarthy's understanding of Capitol Hill, federal agencies and budgets.     McCarthy has largely remained out of the public eye since his resignation from Congress in December. We are less than two hours away from polling sites opening up in Kern County for a special election.    Voters are being asked to choose who will complete the remainder of Kevin McCarthy's term in the House... which would've ended next January... had he not resigned Remember... the special election is *separate* from the ful

Some of today's top storiesa frightening moment for an 11-year-old girl who was reported missing in Bakersfield...but later was found with a man in Utah KCSO said Ryder Rene Garcia was reported missing early yesterday morning.    Later that morning, deputies learned the young girl may be with a man, and traveling through Utah.    Local deputies reached out to Utah authorities to help find Garcia.    Officials say she was found with a man and unharmed.Officers over the weekend responded to a pickup truck hitting a horse and rider. BPD says they located a man and horse in the road suffering major injuries at South Sterling Street and Alto Place just before midnight Saturday. The rider eventually died from the crash. Officials say the horse had major injuries and officers decided the most humane course of action was to euthanize the horse at the scene. Police say alcohol, drugs, or speed are not factors in the crash. No arrests were made. The identity of the rider of the horse, or driver of the pickup have not b

Some of today's top storiesIt's an ongoing concern in Kern County... pedestrian safety.    And now two pedestrians are dead this morning... following seperate crashes in the same day.One of them happened last night in southeast Bakersfield at the intersection of Cottonwood and East Pacheco Roads.    You can see several emergency vehicles responding to the crash.     Police say a woman was hit by a pickup truck.    She died at the scene. Earlier yesterday, another person hit and killed in Delano.    CHP says a 55-year-old man was killed after walking into the path of an oncoming car.    By our count, these were the 11-th and 12-th pedestrian deaths in Kern County so far this year. You can let your voice be heard about how pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers share Bakersfield roadways this Monday. Blue Zones Project is hosting the "Complete Streets Leadership Seminar."     It all starts at 9 A-M at Lino's Venue in downtown Bakersfield.    Otganizers say Monday's seminar will explore the "Complete Streets" polic

Some of today's top storiesOnce again... pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a Bakersfield City Council meeting last night.    And Mayor Karen Goh... kicked them out.the meeting was halted and the protesters were escorted out of the building.    They want city council members to join more than 70 cities across the U-S and approve a ceasefire resolution.    Other cities on that list include Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco.    No word yet from Bakersfield City Council if there are plans to discuss or vote on a resolution.A Bakersfield police officer and two others were sent to a hospital after a crash near Highway 58. It happened late yesterday afternoon on East Brundage Lane.    You can see the front of the police cruiser is completely smashed... as it's being towed away.    Police say the collision occured in the middle of this intersection.    No word yet on who may be at fault.    An investigation is ongoing.    Police say the officer -- and two people riding inside the other car -- were treated for min