Community Corner
🌱 What KCSO wants every Bakersfield parent to do before Wednesday.
And check out Meet-and Greet Elementary on the Bakersfield Patch calendar
Good morning Bakersfield! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What KCSO wants every Bakersfield parent to do before Wednesday.
- How BCSD is backing Black students before school even starts
- Why Bakersfield's shelters are full while hundreds swelter by the river
Today's riddle: Have you heard the rumor about butter? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny and very hot, with a high of 107 and low of 77 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Wednesday: Hot with periods of sun, temps: high: 101, low: 72.
- Thursday: Partly sunny and seasonable, with a high of 97 and low of 66 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Be careful posting back-to-school photos, among tips from KCSO (bakersfieldnow.com) — With the first day of school in Bakersfield coming Wednesday, the Kern County Sheriff's Office is urging parents to sharpen both street and online safety habits. Officials recommend teaching kids to use crosswalks correctly, limit phone distractions while walking, and set an emergency keyword, while also warning families to avoid oversharing school details and personal information in back‑to‑school photos and social media posts. 
2. Little Black Scholars, Big Dreams event aims to support African American students and families in BCSD (turnto23.com) — Bakersfield City School District recently hosted its Little Black Scholars Big Dreams event to welcome newly enrolled African American students and their families before classes start this week. Families connected with staff, explored tailored academic and social-emotional resources, and heard commitments to ongoing follow-up and support. Parents described feeling seen, included, and better prepared to help their children succeed.
3. Homeless shelter beds full as hundreds sleep in heat at Kern River (kget.com) — Homeless shelters in Bakersfield are routinely full, leaving hundreds of people camping along the Kern River and other encampments during a brutal August heatwave. Outreach workers say they now find only one or two open beds a day, sometimes none. Residents living on the riverbank describe serious health issues and fear as they wait for help and more shelter capacity.
4. Semi-truck catches fire on NB Interstate 5 near Smokey Bear Road, snarling traffic (bakersfieldnow.com) — If you're driving between Southern California and Bakersfield today, expect major delays on northbound I‑5 near Smokey Bear Road after a semi‑truck fire shut down three of four lanes. CHP reports the driver is out of the vehicle, but heavy traffic and lane closures are ongoing as crews respond, so Bakersfield-bound travelers should plan extra time or consider alternate routes.
5. Kern County residents debate Prop. 39 voter ID requirements (turnto23.com) — Kern County residents in Bakersfield are weighing in on Proposition 39, which would add ID requirements for both in-person and mail-in voting across California. Local Republican and Democratic representatives laid out sharply different views on whether the measure protects election integrity or suppresses voters, while agreeing Kern County must improve transparency about how ballots are processed and counted.
📸 Around Bakersfield
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Bakersfield
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Meet-and Greet Elementary
Fairfax Elementary District Bakersfield, CA 93307
8:00 pm - @Little Harvey-PE Classes Day 1 only
Little Harvey Auditorium 1241 G St, Bakersfield, CA 93304 - @Little Harvey (1st-7th) Theatre/Choir
Little Harvey Auditorium 1241 G St, Bakersfield, CA 93304 - First Day of School
Greenfield Union Bakersfield, CA 93307 - @Harvey-First Day Assemblies
Harvey Auditorium 1241 G St, Bakersfield, CA 93304
7:00 am - Theater Class
East Bakersfield High School Auditorium
8:30 am - @Harvey-Grade Level Assemblies
Harvey Auditorium 1241 G St, Bakersfield, CA 93304
9:00 am - Girls FS Volleyball vs Chavez
East Bakersfield High School , 2200 Quincy St, Bakersfield, CA 9
4:00 pm
Tuesday August 11
Wednesday August 12
Thursday August 13
📣 Bakersfield Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- 2026 California's Best Hip Hop Music Festival - Saturday →
Mechanics Bank Arena,, 1001 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield
7:00 pm - Back to School Night
North High School Bakersfield, CA 93308
5:30 pm - WES Back to School Night
Standard Elementary School District Bakersfield, CA 93308
5:00 pm - HES Back to School Night
Highland Elementary Bakersfield, CA 93308
5:30 pm
Saturday August 15
Monday August 17
Wednesday August 19
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Bakersfield PatchAM possible:
- Maximum Fico Score — (661) 505-8085
Credit repair services to improve and build your score - Living Trust Express — (661) 588-4660
Local, Experienced, Affordable Living Trust. Family-Owned - PINK Legal — (661) 748-1112
$50 Off Estate Planning for New Clients Now BBB Accredited
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Today I picked up this cute bundle of fun.
This is the reason I rescue because of their little personality after a good meal this little bundle laid on its back like aaaahhh a bottle of milk… (Nextdoor Fairview Rd) - Hello, I need help.
I'm at the park and I found the dog and he's breathing really hard and he's bleeding animal control is not answering. Is there another number I could… (Nextdoor Truth Tabernacle)
- Bowlero Corporation posted a job opening for Porter in Bakersfield. Apply here.
- Chuck E. Cheese - CEC Entertainment, Inc. posted a job opening for Game Room Attendant - Cast Member 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: I cant spread it (Thank you Julie R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.