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Valley Public Radio Staff

Kristina Herrick
Kristina Herrick
Classical Music Host
Juanita Stevenson
Juanita Stevenson
Valley Edition host
George Mason
George Mason
On-air host, Clearly Classical
Rebecca Plevin
Rebecca Plevin
Reporter
Jason Scott
Jason Scott
Host, Clearly Classical and All Things Considered
Vince DiCiccio
Vince DiCiccio
Host, The Oasis; The Intersection
Ezra Romero
Ezra Romero
Reporter and Producer
Marv Allen
Marv Allen
Host, Morning Edition

Government & Politics

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Government & Politics
10:30 am
Thu March 28, 2013

Judge Criticizes State's Potential "Ethical Violations" in Prison Case

Credit Casey Christie / The Californian
file photo
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By Julie Small - KPCC

A federal judge says California may have committed ethical violations in a lawsuit over prison mental healthcare.  KPCC’s Julie Small reports the judge’s stern rebuke could de-rail Governor Jerry Brown’s push to free the state from over a decade of federal oversight.

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Government & Politics
6:18 pm
Wed March 27, 2013

Fran Florez Drops Out of Senate District 16 Race

Credit http://twitter.com/Florez4Valley
Fran Florez
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Shafter's Fran Florez announced on Twitter today that she is dropping out of the race to replace former State Senator Michael Rubio in the 16th district.

The Kern County Democrat said in a statement that she made her decision to protect party unity and to ensure a Democratic victory in the upcoming special election.

Kern County Supervisor and former Rubio staffer Letecia Perez announced yesterday that she and her family would move to a new home to maintain her eligibility in the race. 

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Transportation
10:04 am
Tue March 26, 2013

Centennial Corridor Freeway Project Divides Bakersfield, Neighborhood

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Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
Amy Richardson, co-chair of the Westpark Home Owners Association, points to a homemade map of the area that will be taken by the freeway project.
Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
Stephen Milton, Caltrans project manager for the Centennial Corridor Project examines a map of the planned freeway route.
Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
This quiet neighborhood known as Westpark may soon be home to a new freeway.
Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
Margaret Smith has lived in Westpark for more than 40 years. She has witnessed the community grow from the ground up.
Credit Caltrans
A map shows the three options for the Centennial Corridor freeway project.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
The freeway portion of State Route 58 currently dead-ends into a shopping center at Real Road just west of Highway 99
Credit Ezra Romero / Vally Public Radio
Victor and Mary Jones moved into the Westpark community four years ago. They love the neighborhood and are sad they will be forced to move.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
West of Highway 99, travellers on State Route 58 today must travel the busy surface street that is Rosedale Highway.
Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
Isabelle Boyd, a high school teacher in Bakersfield, will lose half her front yard to the freeway. Leaving her with a view of an on-ramp.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
The freeway portion of State Route 58 currently dead-ends into a shopping center at Real Road just west of Highway 99.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Highway 58, comes to a hault at an existing shopping complex.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Construction equipment is seen working on a new freeway bridge north of the Kern River, as part of the Thomas Roads Improvement Program (April 2012)
Credit Ezra Romero / Valley Public Radio
The freeway connector project will take out more thatn 300 homes in central Bakersfield.
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The future of a well-established neighborhood in Bakersfield is on the rocks. The reason: a three decade old freeway project with intentions to connect Bakersfield with the rest of the state. Valley Public Radio's Ezra Romero visits the community, speaks with community leaders and reports on the future of what some call a better connected Bakersfield and California.

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Government & Politics
5:53 pm
Mon March 25, 2013

California Cities Watch Closely as Stockton Bankruptcy Trial Begins

Credit Marianne Russ / Capital Public Radio
Stockton, CA (file photo)
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By Ben Adler

The city of Stockton has begun a four-day trial in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.  At stake: whether the city should be eligible for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection.

The case has other local governments watching closely – particularly those that still face large budget deficits.  Chris McKenzie with the League of California Cities says he believes cities will “move heaven and earth” to avoid future bankruptcies.

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