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Latest Kern County, California and US & world news from 23ABC in Bakersfield, Calif.

For people facing mental illness, finding safe and affordable housing can be a huge barrier. Now, one pilot program is hoping to be a model for communities around the country – an intersection of therapy services and a village of tiny homes, all specifically designed for residents with mental illness.

Parents and students involved in a fatal bus crash that happened in Southeast Bakersfield are calling KHSD bus driver Sherrie Ortiz a guardian angel for her ability to command the situation and keep the frightened students calm despite her own injuries. 23ABC's Corey O'Leary spoke with those involved to learn more about their experience.

Police departments around the country are dealing with staffing shortages. National sworn staffing numbers are down 5% compared to 2020 while resignations jumped nearly 50% between 2019 and 2022. As a result, some departments are trying to streamline how they do their jobs and lighten the load on officers.

Lahaina is a sacred place to the Hawaiian people. King Kamehameha designated it the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom in the 1800s becoming the home and burial place of the Hawaiian royal families. The oceanfront town is also a highly desired property in one of the most expensive states in the U.S. It's why there's so much angst about the future of Lahaina and affluent investors moving in.

The Bako Market will be returning to Downtown Bakersfield on Saturday, September 2 at the Mechanics Bank Arena following the event's summer hiatus. On Friday afternoon, preparations were well underway. One of the vendors who will be present at the Bako Market is JuJu's Bakehouse owner Jocyl Tero. 23ABC's Sam Hoyle visited Taro to see how she's getting ready for the market.

A 93-year-old woman was mauled to death by her neighbor's dogs in Stanislaus County.

Local mental health professionals are encouraging parents to check in with their kids before the big day to ensure their mental health needs are being met.

Special Council Jack Smith's office informed former President Donald Trump that he is the target of an investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. All while a federal judge in Florida sets a trial date on charges he mishandled classified documents.

President Joe Biden ended the workweek with a first - the first time he's made an address to the nation from the Oval Office. The high-profile setting underscores the high-stakes legislation the president's ready to sign which averts what would have been the first-ever us debt default.

Scripps News was the first media organization to obtain body camera footage of police response to the Club Q shooter's home after months of pushing the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to release it. We wanted the public to see for themselves what exactly happened on this day.

One local teacher has gone viral posting videos on TikTok. 23ABC's Dominique LaVigne sat down with her to talk about how's adapting her lessons to the modern age.

Latest Kern County, California and US & world news from 23ABC in Bakersfield, Calif.

Lightning McClean is the name of one of the first airplanes to ever experience hydrogen-powered flight. The plane is owned by L.A. startup Universal Hydrogen, and the company is testing the groundbreaking technology at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Kern County. According to Loris Griner, director of powertrain engineering and flight tests for Universal Hydrogen, hydrogen-powered flight has the potential to change the aerospace industry and benefit the environment at the same time. 23ABC's Corey O'Leary spoke with Griner to learn more.

On the streets, Xylazine is known as "tranq," and the growing prevalence of this drug is impacting residents across the country and here in Kern County. 23ABC's Corey O'Leary visited Delano to speak with one man who saw firsthand what the drug is doing to people in his city.

Now that Trump has been arrested for what we believe to be the final criminal indictment let's look big picture at the four cases, how they're different, and what's next.

On Thursday, August 24, just after 6:30 pm, a minivan collided head-on with a Kern High School District bus carrying players from the Golden Valley High School Bulldogs football team to their scheduled game against the East Bakersfield High School Blades.

Excess water from recent past rainfall continues to be an issue across the state and in Kern County. In January 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed committing $202 million for flood response efforts. As the flooding risks continue with more rain and snowmelt, the governor is increasing that allocation by an additional $290 million. 23ABC's Ruby Rivera found out more.

Latest Kern County, California and US & world news from 23ABC in Bakersfield, Calif.

Per the last census, the population of Black members of Kern County sat at just over 6%, and according to the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, about 8% of business owners in Bakersfield are Black. For years, the Bakersfield Black Dollar Initiative has been working to magnify the voices and presence of Black business owners in Bakersfield and beyond. 23ABC's Sam Hoyle spoke with one local business owner to learn more about how important the BBDI is to the city.

Officials in the City of Bakersfield are looking at a Climate Action Plan, and local organizations and residents are making their voices heard. The proposed Climate Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the city for the effects of climate change. 23ABC's Corey O'Leary took a closer look at the plan and has the details.

If you haven't heard of the medical term "sepsis" it's the body's extreme reaction to an infection and it can cause organ damage or even result in death. In fact, CDC data shows that 350,000 people in our country die in the hospital from sepsis or are moved into hospice care because of it. But this week, the CDC announced a new program that would guide hospitals in how they handle sepsis.

Monday marks a huge milestone in American history. Sixty years since the "March on Washington" and the pursuit of civil rights. Doctor Martin Luther King Junior delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963.

Thousands are still trapped at the Burning Man festival in Nevada after torrential downpours turned the northern desert site into a thick mud pit.

Metered Ramps: Caltrans tries a new solution to Bakersfield's highway congestion