[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6390402,"mediaKeyId","2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3","parentId",2112440,"title","Residents, election‑watch groups press board for records and answers on voter rolls, HAVA spending","audioSeconds",442,"startMs",1111000,"endMs",1553000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3&start=1111&end=1553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3/thumbnail_1111000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390402/Kern-County/California/Residents-electionwatch-groups-press-board-for-records-and-answers-on-voter-rolls-HAVA-spending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390402-46cc6d2d8455df693de07330a48e5408/orig.mp4?Expires=1776167346&Signature=owZ7arSXvPnERxLBORHhGpWjT2Sr7n141SZ9KTQUtO4ZixkhbDB9-4C9dXAB~cqC2wMafrmBRvHQijqqn0S~slkXhI0sUyr5XoDQMMR47Kmjnr5fULqLcFQFurpW7ZurfG43~fhFIjmibP15eU-gWBuLwfwTaO2zh9LsRu5ORWn9IDk1nPhud3pz8WG6i--b2NraAew13fqnlutQNv8fzo6ZnLBhl6tCXvAEulJEylmKy~NGiK6YAz5JElY3Uv8IoKGAuSn53MMFNrdgeW5Btyx0NRrkcMc87vYIwU9Nmp-I8chHIARLHIEXEObr6bmnar3zu9LCwLe3Z1QNRZTrzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kern County CA","date","2025-01-15T08:27:40.617Z","article","Multiple speakers at the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 14 urged more transparency and responsiveness from the County elections office, raising questions about voter‑roll data, grant spending, and access to records and meetings with elections leadership.

Ralph Robles, who identified himself as a veteran, said he had requested records under the California Public Records Act related to security cameras and vendor requests for proposals and had not received the materials. Robles asked the board to compel production of RFIs and RFOs tied to camera purchases and to provide technical and end‑to‑end data on camera systems for ballot drop boxes.

Retired Marine Charles Shinn said a CD of voter records he received from the elections office contained only about 94,000 records and was missing large swaths of the roll alphabetically. He cited California Elections Code section 19003 as the basis for public record review and said the incomplete data undermined efforts to audit the rolls.

Russell Person, representing Concerned Citizens, said that Registrar of Voters Amy Espinosa had told the public that the county’s HAVA grant funding of $3,700,000 had not been fully used and that a sorter purchase of $503,078.16 was the only expenditure to date. Person asked whether security cameras intended for live streaming by elections officials and public observers could be paid from HAVA funds and requested that Espinosa report vendor comparisons and secure software keys to safeguard ballot materials.

Dennis McLean and other speakers said they had repeatedly asked to meet with Espinosa and the elections department and that those requests had not been scheduled. McLean asked the board to support committee‑level engagement between elections staff and concerned citizens to improve trust and clarify processes.

Board members and county staff did not vote on any elections measures during the meeting. Supervisors encouraged staff and the registrar to respond to public records requests and to work with the public and the board on outstanding questions about maps, voter‑roll accuracy and post‑election reconciliations.

No county action was announced at the meeting to compel release of additional records; speakers said they would continue to seek records and meetings with elections officials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern County Board of Supervisors 9:00 a.m. meeting for Tuesday, January 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents and civic groups urged Kern County supervisors on Jan. 14 to press the Registrar of Voters for missing records, clearer reporting on HAVA grant spending and access to vendor documentation and camera system details.","taxTitle","Kern County, California","taxId",2913,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6390409,"Kern County deploys 170 firefighters, dozens of engines to Southern California fires; county says local protection intact",305,2711000,3016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3&start=2711&end=3016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3/thumbnail_2711000.jpg","/articles/6390409/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-deploys-170-firefighters-dozens-of-engines-to-Southern-California-fires-county-says-local-protection-intact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390409-bdcb26bcc59c160204e07cfbf26dc582/orig.mp4?Expires=1776167346&Signature=NY2jv7MlHNUS~Ykb52yfQFvcamyMAT~0VkyFnlyjDb3pHvubCvJjyQV3qkNYqF8brCVgP1XmkQjVNlCg0cGB5iOwiEXDsoCwDAwVXvvXh5DoxW5jrbKqmjLlgC-qQiAd-3DSEmK04c4smg9Qi9pDWb6u73yPnCQLetQcfbUj-nuSSAuG2z8lnMPpuDM6J7xOz7ociT3HxNLSG4C08Cwoik4ophhfUQSPBY~9OWu~R-deZpejOdS8761ufvB5wa-G6dsMKjHwVEbRINC83iM0euBtcsYckm2UaL06ob00jqCOIbSDDeRG~8Q8EN2s2BDa8R~7jJwWlmDD7wMkB3zhOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kern County on Jan. 14 reported a major mutual‑aid deployment to recent Southern California wildfires, with 170 county firefighters, 23 frontline engines, four hand crews, four dozers and one urban search and rescue (USAR) task force sent to assist operations, the county fire chief told the Board of Supervisors.

Chief Aaron Duncan said the deployments represent almost one‑third of his department’s personnel and about half of the county’s frontline engines. \"We didn't wait for orders. We said, what do you need? We'll send it. We'll figure out the paperwork later, and that's what we did,\" Duncan said, describing rapid calls with Southern California units to provide resources.

County leaders sought to reassure residents that Kern County remains protected. Duncan said a robust reserve and volunteer pool has filled local stations and that the department was \"fully staffed\" for local response. He added firefighters who had deployed were reporting high morale despite witnessing extensive destruction in the southland.

Supervisor David Couch asked whether the deployment would strain the county budget; the chief replied that overtime and other direct costs for the deployment are reimbursable through the state Office of Emergency Services or other emergency reimbursement mechanisms. \"We are reimbursed for every dollar we spend, every hour of overtime that we expend,\" Duncan said.

The chief said the county’s contributions included management positions supporting logistics and that county departments beyond the fire department — including public health, the sheriff's office and animal services — were also assisting in Southern California.

The board and county leadership praised the firefighters’ work. Jesse Wodowski, newly elected president of Local 1301 of the Kern County firefighters union, attended the meeting and thanked supervisors for their support of the department. \"Our guys are working hard, putting themselves out there, but also their families,\" Wodowski said.

Duncan urged the public to remain vigilant as forecasters predicted more high winds. He described the fires as producing \"unprecedented\" behavior and noted that the county's year‑round wildland program and recent investments in aircraft and equipment had strengthened local readiness.

","Kern County fire officials reported 170 county firefighters, 23 engines and several hand crews and dozers were deployed to assist with large fires in Los Angeles County, while supervisors were told local stations remain staffed and reimbursed for overtime through state emergency funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6390413,"Board approves $10.5 million-backed pilot for inpatient fentanyl detox at Good Samaritan",1404,3380000,4784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3&start=3380&end=4784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3/thumbnail_3380000.jpg","/articles/6390413/Kern-County/California/Board-approves-105-million-backed-pilot-for-inpatient-fentanyl-detox-at-Good-Samaritan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390413-ede773569b51bf33d636e93c301a6835/orig.mp4?Expires=1776167346&Signature=XcrLliX3BAceSZKoThiJ9ed0dhiNLbiAItZth4aaX92tcG36DnaNpWlR07QAKuySSmjoXL2d9fgo2YCYeg05XMMZNLtbfeiWrU1I2us0nH7NoNeQAKMPEG8Ud1G1kI179FwbrXarasXnLzZuxfjQylFG661uRgE85gpWfIetP~XIKfJr-fKXuLKyvOPhxhNOWKo5bexOEeJZCEqzJYs1flKuDY8zxfftO0fbnX2Vc9uGDPiSKXUiiw9o3a36JkxuBszKTkb3rLJbx~zGWXTYRkJ7x-wbFIiGOXI9e~wFI0WpKHl~ocWWf3NApgDKTaqzoqNwpkOHYeIr4FeLrQtwWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 approved two agreements to establish a five‑bed inpatient medical detox pilot at Good Samaritan Hospital and a related memorandum of understanding to create a local continuum of care for people needing medically supervised withdrawal. The program is funded by $10,500,000 in state budget money secured by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and will pair inpatient detox with case management and post‑hospital transition supports.

County staff, led by budget and policy analysts Amanda Ruiz and Joseph Arriola, told the board the pilot will provide 24‑hour clinical monitoring, psychiatric and nursing oversight, substance‑use counseling and case management for clients who meet American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria at levels 3, 3.7 or 4. \"This pilot program would not be possible without the partnership of Good Samaritan Hospital, Kern Health Systems, and Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services,\" Ruiz said.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will receive referrals and provide discharge planning and linkage to residential treatment, short‑term post‑hospital housing or sober living as appropriate. Kern Health Systems has committed post‑discharge capacity — up to 10 beds in recuperative care and short‑term post‑hospital programs — to house patients for up to six months while they continue recovery services, a KHS representative said.

Good Samaritan Hospital Chief Executive Officer Minty Dillon described the pilot as a coordinated effort among hospital, county behavioral health and KHS. \"We are very excited to take upon this challenge of providing detox services in this pilot project,\" Dillon said, adding the hospital and partners have worked for months to finalize protocols and referrals.

Dr. Vaga, medical director and psychiatrist at Good Samaritan, said the program allows clinicians to treat people earlier in the course of withdrawal and avoid turning away patients who previously didn’t meet criteria for inpatient care. \"There's no more suffering than having to tell a patient ... 'You're not sick enough yet,'\" Dr. Vaga said. He said the program will emphasize evidence‑based care and warm handoffs to continuing services.

County staff also described data collection and enforcement and prevention work by the Kern County Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force. The task force reported initial law enforcement seizures equal to tens of millions of milligrams of fentanyl — figures county staff translated as the equivalent of millions of potentially lethal doses — and said it will hold quarterly reviews to assess operations and data.

The board voted separately to approve the two items: the MOU establishing the continuum of care and the agreement funding the inpatient detox beds. Both motions passed unanimously. Supervisors cast their votes following staff presentations and public comment from community and health‑care partners, and leadership from Good Samaritan and Kern Health Systems were present in the audience.

The pilot is scheduled to begin intake once contracts and operational details are finalized. County staff said the pilot will inform planning ahead of state implementation of Assembly Bill 43, which the county expects will increase demand for detox capacity statewide beginning in 2026.

Officials said the pilot is intended as a short‑term, learn‑and‑scale effort: staff emphasized that the five beds are a starting point and that additional capacity will be needed if demand outpaces supply. The task force and county data collection effort will provide quarterly reporting and a mid‑course evaluation to the board.

","The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding and a funding agreement to launch a five-bed inpatient medical detox pilot at Good Samaritan Hospital, funded by a state allocation secured by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains to support fentanyl prevention, treatment and data collection.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6390400,"Speakers call for sanctuary policy; county counsel explains why California’s SB 54 remains in force",487,1725000,2212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3&start=1725&end=2212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112440-8e7d1eb1b1d912eb3c06c729c7c98ca3/thumbnail_1725000.jpg","/articles/6390400/Kern-County/California/Speakers-call-for-sanctuary-policy-county-counsel-explains-why-Californias-SB-54-remains-in-force","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390400-9e70eb4e71425c801128f78eed2e0da8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776167346&Signature=g2soitoF~YVawNEkFAGt9hPbpX4Ckyh1Stg5Ad~j8v9zELf7Rd3V0hWURASiqReMYgee6SniUz9F2aboE8V-Q7r5HP4-AaSYEi6x2~wJAQulYhDyHepuOVoD~TzgvCw0yzzQagq~kaYUvFGsaRK5hzxI4ydy8TiO14JF~pYoi0RlTWYr8D7Hei0HDJeUw3extHDbOAH21qTFwLA7WHj0vfvCs6iRZ9OkDONQafd9kC6zKVUFXvBiVLZp1-ALw46AaeENN-RIUX70YuZBa6TdyDjY-V3bFhSntXtexNHZ2CHAuxY76jIegwD1ZY9LZVLPAwLFbKoeKoWexHv7UolRoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public on Jan. 14 urged the Kern County Board of Supervisors to examine local policies on cooperation with federal immigration authorities and to consider sanctuary protections after recent local incidents involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Anna Medel asked the board to \"make this county a sanctuary county,\" saying she had seen what she described as racial or ethnic targeting by federal agents and advocating reallocating funds from the Kern County Sheriff's Office to other community services. Other public speakers discussed recent local immigration enforcement actions and expressed fear in their neighborhoods.

The board asked county counsel to explain how federal immigration law and state law interact. County counsel summarized the legal history: California enacted Senate Bill 54 in 2017 to limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and the United States challenged the law in court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California's law on anti‑commandeering grounds, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined review in 2020, leaving the 9th Circuit decision in place.

\"Senate Bill 54 prohibits the Kern County Sheriff's Office from asking an individual about their immigration status, enforcing immigration law, or deporting individuals, or participating in immigration sweeps,\" county counsel said in a summary for the board. Counsel described the dispute as centered on preemption and the anti‑commandeering doctrine rather than a general supremacy‑clause override of state legislation.

Supervisors said they expected the topic to return to the board as community concerns continue and asked the sheriff’s office and county counsel to be available to clarify operational limits on local officers. No board action was taken to adopt sanctuary policies at the hearing.","Public speakers asked Kern County to adopt sanctuary protections and to review local interactions with federal immigration authorities. County counsel briefed the board on the legal history of California’s Senate Bill 54 and the 9th Circuit ruling that left the law intact after the U.S. Supreme Court declined review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents, election‑watch groups press board for records and answers on voter rolls, HAVA spending

Kern County deploys 170 firefighters, dozens of engines to Southern California fires; county says local protection intact

Board approves $10.5 million-backed pilot for inpatient fentanyl detox at Good Samaritan

Speakers call for sanctuary policy; county counsel explains why California’s SB 54 remains in force