Taft Midway Driller

Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. (BPT) - Key takeaways Mr. Bubble, America's favorite bath-time buddy, is turning 65. To celebrate this milestone, the company threw a "Smash & Splash" Birthday Bash on July 23. Guests enjoyed a nearly 2,000-pound cake made by none other than celebrity chef and television personality Duff Goldman, followed by cooling off in oversized bubble-filled sprinklers and hands-on activities.

(BPT) - Long-term health conditions are playing an increasingly significant role in the lives of Americans. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and hypertension, are impacting the health of millions of Americans and becoming increasingly common. In the U.S. alone, three in four adults have at least one chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Surveys in the past have indicated that the No. 1 reason high school students participate in sports is to have fun competing with their peers. Fast forward from those surveys of yesteryear to today, the question now is, are they really having fun?

Taft Union HS football practice began this week, but that is not the only game in town. Wildcatters Youth Football, in conjunction with GEYF (Golden Empire Youth Football) and affiliated with the West Side Recreation & Park District (WSRPD) has also hit the practice field, in preparation for the upcoming season that begins with a scrimmage -- Kickoff Classic, August 15at Stockdale HS, in Bakersfield -- and which kicks off for real with opening day games Saturday, August 22 at sites and times TBA.

The Taft College women's basketball team has earned a place on the 2025-26 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Two-Year College Academic Top 25 Honor Roll, which ranks the top 25 team grade point averages in the nation. Taft College earned a top 10 berth mention with their GPA of 3.406. Teams having a 3.0 combined GPA and qualifying for consideration for the top 25 in their respective divisions are listed.

Two Bakersfield residents died in the July 24 collision on Highway 166 south of Maricopa. The Kern County Coroner identified them as Osvaldo Ramon Ortega Jaimes Jr., 22, and Janneth Guerrero, 55. Jaimes was the driver of a 2005 Honda Civic that collided with a Honda Accord driven by a Cuyama man and Guerrero was a passenger in the Civic. Both were pronounced dead at the scene of the 4 p.m. crash just south of Elkhorn Grade Road.

Its been a comfortable start to the week, weather-wise, but its not going to last. Some of the hottest weather of the year is expected for later this week and there are indications it will last through the weekend and right into next week. And, if the predictions hold, its going to be hot enough to open cooling centers in Kern County, including the ones in Taft and Maricopa.

(Feature Impact) From celebratory parties to casual get-togethers, hosting is a wonderful way to bring people together, share laughs and make memories. Of course, planning and hosting can be quite a bit of work, so a little preparation can go a long way to ensure an enjoyable time for everyone, including the host. Follow these tips from the hosting experts at Bravo, makers of eco-friendly, high-performance paper towels, to plan your next gathering so it goes off without a hitch.

(Feature Impact) Invasive pests can hide in places you’d never expect, and once they spread, they can destroy the trees, plants and food people rely on every day. These pests pose a serious threat to agriculture, forests, ecosystems and the food supply. Many invasive species cannot travel far on their own; instead people unknowingly move them from place to place.

(BPT) - Por Janet Murguía, Presidenta y CEO de UnidosUS En todo el país escucho las mismas preocupaciones de las familias latinas con una consistencia sorprendente. Una pareja joven que trabaja a tiempo completo, pero aun así no puede pagar la renta. Una abuela que no puede costear el copago de sus medicamentos recetados. Un pequeño empresario que levantó su negocio desde cero y ahora ve cómo sus márgenes de ganancia desaparecen mientras los precios aumentan y los clientes reducen sus gastos.