[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",6457446,"mediaKeyId","5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684","parentId",5869628,"title","Kern COG adds recurring moment of silence after Pledge; board cites legal caution","audioSeconds",393,"startMs",1635000,"endMs",2028000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684&start=1635&end=2028","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684/thumbnail_1635000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457446/Kern-County/California/Kern-COG-adds-recurring-moment-of-silence-after-Pledge-board-cites-legal-caution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457446-60e53c3e827037dad5de855ff26cd79d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161533&Signature=Tn1-V-ZARvElpRlUMjcRa8g-LHZYDpAPm7fQ8YR8Zptk-SNos27ovIENzKfTNdTjpsVdCBaq0KtI0UiJwVRScZ57YyjL8EKcrBbJQBCqON0RS4xZhn8OsMtcPt-52ygmI99vcUUGsXf2-MhjTvYtcnsPbRwFrzmGrM3J53NJPvoBTBN0Ijd9VoieZe4vd4HLMjvLSfp1r60Tkm5X3-TjkccPQcB66mU4TlaWt4jYWK9hwGdTr8Sf-hsEA1giseaoavftflIxH20pNdlIGTxhPtsKn8Ot7HQ3egVGZo8MMtiUyHxDwdVUZyRLfSvh4kHA6xvoRfWulbVtxz9QmKaRzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Official Kern County","date","2025-09-29T17:26:10Z","article","The Kern Council of Governments on Sept. 18 voted to add a brief moment of silence immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance to future agendas.

Staff introduced the item after a request from a board member. The staff recommendation — to add a moment of silence rather than a formal verbal invocation — reflected advice relayed to the committee from county counsel (identified in staff materials as Van Wyck). According to staff, the counsel’s guidance was to avoid creating any implication that board members or attendees would be obligated to participate in a prayer or forced to permit an invocation that could raise legal concerns.

During discussion, Board member Parra said she supported a private moment of silence so members and attendees could reflect or pray in a way that was personal to them, and others on the board expressed general support for a brief, non-liturgical pause. One board member said they preferred a formal prayer but agreed to go with the staff recommendation after hearing counsel’s guidance. The chair moved the staff recommendation; a second was recorded and the roll-call vote was completed. Members recorded on the transcript as voting yes included Phil Smith, Bob Smith, Hawkins, Gorman, Espinosa, Calderon and Ione; the motion carried.

The adopted change places a brief moment of silence on the standard meeting agenda after the Pledge of Allegiance; staff noted the practice is intended as an optional, nonsectarian pause for reflection and that participation will be voluntary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) September 18, 2025, Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Kern Council of Governments voted to add a brief moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance to future agendas, following staff advice and discussion about optional invocations.","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},6457450,"Kern COG finds no unmet transit needs reasonable to meet for FY 2025–26, adopts resolution",159,249000,408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684&start=249&end=408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6457450/Kern-County/California/Kern-COG-finds-no-unmet-transit-needs-reasonable-to-meet-for-FY-202526-adopts-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457450-a3516ee4f2290c8669901e87b7026a97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161533&Signature=N35uSZ~tBP5Hq021meQ1V6rfBVPFPxvIBdPm9sAeOFD-oVQzq7tQRjCgqYXB9g1Jwzzj-he7oDapgxQTBtP2~Ffr2xVpsUX9LavKT7N7dOaCCsdoIk94qIbfjZ3fexk5PftW2P7WjyB3RWrCSI9KeK3oOS7eCt-g0qFgjaKUPMlonrOnB91rDSGuie7G043KkijEF17ak32X3uxcEXjgyjO0cpZBmVTxUdo~pvw~rCoHcLDsVJmXijl1FTJOK-34DbDgZ8S1XRHiMBPWQ6L9G79vVvrzvrHNHoCsLUGZN2XplD32Hzd24cVH7tNI56pDwlpuq6cYrR0hf3W~fN7IJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) Transportation Planning Policy Committee on Sept. 18 held a public hearing and approved a resolution finding there are no unmet transit needs in Kern County that are reasonable to meet for fiscal year 2025–26.

Kern COG staff told the committee that public outreach included newspaper ads, a series of 12 public hearings in cities and rural communities, and meetings held by rural transit operators and Golden Empire Transit. Staff said the Social Services Technical Advisory Committee reviewed the countywide analysis on Aug. 16 and also recommended a finding of no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet. The action is taken under the Transportation Development Act and California Public Utilities Code §99401.5, which govern how TDA funds may be allocated.

No members of the public offered testimony at the hearing. After staff closed the public comment period, a motion was made and seconded to adopt the staff recommendation and to authorize the chair to sign the related resolution (identified in the meeting as Resolution 25-20). The committee conducted a roll-call vote; members recorded on the transcript as voting yes included Warney, Phil Smith, Bob Smith, Parra, Hawkins, Gorman, Gunn, Espinosa, Calderon and Ione. The motion carried.

The committee’s formal finding means, per the procedures described in the public hearing notice, Kern COG will move forward with allocating Transportation Development Act funds without setting aside those funds to address additional transit service requests deemed not reasonable to meet. Staff and committee members noted the determination follows the agencies’ outreach and the rural operators’ reviews earlier in 2025.

Kern COG staff said they will place the adopted resolution in the administrative record and proceed with the fiscal-year funding allocations consistent with the adopted finding.","After a public hearing and countywide review, the Kern Council of Governments approved a resolution finding there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet and authorized the chair to sign the resolution.",{"_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},6457437,"Kern COG executive director reports Valley Voice trip to Washington, high‑speed rail funding moves and strong project delivery",959,2034000,2993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684&start=2034&end=2993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684/thumbnail_2034000.jpg","/articles/6457437/Kern-County/California/Kern-COG-executive-director-reports-Valley-Voice-trip-to-Washington-highspeed-rail-funding-moves-and-strong-project-delivery","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457437-548223eea17136211cf6dc9f30b00eda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161533&Signature=C-VFGhjUOvZ6sydP8q6v17y5X6vrAMjaOTxpJendUbbsPt4~9zP0HWeatJb7AIYhRT3LGoa73F5dG7sl3VQm4u7A-gRWCx5XGGXpuOmYPuyYYEeHXgn2qB9K11Fmhjsdpqg-c1C1D~vK7KXcinyaXWNIx3W7SZNWuAhiswwxH3zv4a~QI2cGeTjn-Q8wROXogYuKKTrCOAOlmi1h9zlIam08bcBHajLCzcQx1rpt2TE0yACbykr-iJnEUGfJ3SM3u8YpqZKNUt3v~lh8nU~YI4EdClMqua2IhDtxS1Cv2oPY2mPEShA1LK5Iryyw277pz7OFVZOTUG7ysdYf1BjQ4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sept. 18 meeting, Kern Council of Governments’ executive director summarized recent advocacy, state and federal developments and the agency’s outreach and delivery performance.

The director and Mayor Ione reported on a recent Valley Voice trip to Washington, D.C., where Kern representatives met with U.S. Department of Transportation staff and members of Congress to advocate for regional transportation priorities, including the California City Boulevard safety project. The board said they left with prospective commitments and that the department discussed streamlining project delivery and permitting to reduce delays.

On high‑speed rail, the executive director said federal actions earlier in the year withdrew approximately $4 billion and an additional $150 million from a set of associated projects; he said those withdrawals did not affect projects in Kern County. The director also said two state bills mentioned in the meeting materials (AB 1207 and SB 840) were on the governor’s desk and, if signed, would provide recurring state funding for high‑speed rail; the director emphasized fiscal and programmatic details were evolving and the project’s overall long‑term funding needs remain substantial.

The executive director reported regional delivery performance for FY 2025: Kern’s program delivery as presented in the board folder was approximately 160% of its programming target (as of the fiscal-year end), ranking the region near the top in percentage delivery in California. He credited local agency staff for advancing projects and noted ongoing outreach for the 2025 regional transportation plan (RTP), including pop-up events at the Tehachapi Mountain Festival and the county fair. Board members were invited to participate in an October 3 meeting with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG); three board members volunteered to attend.

The director also noted an emergency bridge‑barrier repair project is scheduled for late October or early November with temporary one‑lane controls and that staff are tracking grant applications such as a roughly $4 million grant request for the Cal City Boulevard safety project. Finally, the board presented a certificate of appreciation to Raquel Pacheco for 25 years of service to the agency.","Kern COG’s executive director briefed the board on a Valley Voice trip to Washington, DC, legislative developments affecting high‑speed rail, outreach for the regional transportation plan, and delivery metrics that placed Kern near the top of California in percent of funds delivered.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":80,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6457442,"Caltrans districts report project schedules, lane controls and planned closures across Kern County",195,603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684&start=408&end=603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5869628-7e459cecfe9f627e3d5c653013aea684/thumbnail_408000.jpg","/articles/6457442/Kern-County/California/Caltrans-districts-report-project-schedules-lane-controls-and-planned-closures-across-Kern-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457442-48b9b5f481daa34ef058c1b257c9060a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161533&Signature=j5yWVMtOijYEN9VIAj9AwvWO7lZqCC0tQaiQwJDpGrovX5aVEig0Z83yyh12qJFpm~Ya6kEGgWlNXj4KkLITLzZuU9y095lPnJe5ZYGnwbA4hMptAkzbfwtG3N-AbqrFcVf7Dl4o5PF-9zj2C6JSXdpRD65xndrmYE8VBbawBhA0qbOKKpt-w-3NtsqQepsTlaGJjq6k5CdXPtoxw9ZO71zV6oJApILxeHhiAkUD2lWd249NEZ7VhpTlXEgSk275QP4RnSz5OG6Sfm~3J~3r0vmwwMu3C1AUrIHuoOYXK0TIXTtyaT7VcH0W3VVXEi2PLjcXPDVYYwXIGFEbIFuLfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caltrans representatives at the Kern COG meeting on Sept. 18 provided updates on multiple projects that will affect travel and construction activity across Kern County.

District 9 announced that the draft environmental document for the Cash Creek pavement project will be released for a 30‑day public review beginning Oct. 11. The speaker said the Keene pavement project is on schedule with 95% design anticipated this calendar year and that right-of-way teams have begun issuing first written offers.

Other items reported by Caltrans included contract acceptance on Sept. 10 for SR 58 slab replacements and acceptance of a related minor contract for Cal City traffic management systems. A maintenance project to replace and restore wrong‑way driver markings on State Route 58 — from just west of State Route 202 to the San Bernardino County line — is expected to begin in early October and conclude before the end of the year. Caltrans also described ongoing utility work on SR 178 west (Castle Creek Road to Scotty Park Road) with one‑way traffic control, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and potential delays of about 10 minutes.

District 6 reported that the TAF/TAC (transportation analysis framework and transportation analysis under CEQA) second edition has been released and that public comment is open until Oct. 10 on the revised Caltrans System Investment Strategy (CSIS), a component of the state’s climate and infrastructure alignment process. District 6 also summarized several local projects: the Wasco SR‑46 pedestrian beacon (permit issued July 21; construction anticipated in October), SR‑46/SR‑43 intersection work with utility relocation now under way and Delano 155 rehabilitation (design complete Aug. 22; construction anticipated in 2026).

Caltrans noted the Santa Fe roundabout project in Shafter requires permits from the Bureau of Reclamation, which is expected to delay construction until March 2027. The California Aqueduct Bruce rehabilitation on SR‑166 will close the route starting Monday the 22nd with a detour expected for about 75 days; Caltrans anticipates completing the majority of rehabilitation activities by calendar year 2026.

Board members asked clarifying questions about wrong‑way markings and right‑of‑way offers on the Keene project; Caltrans staff responded that markings and signs will be restored on SR 58 and that right‑of‑way acquisitions are underway. Caltrans closed the update by listing ongoing traffic impacts and advising members to expect notices for significant detours.","Caltrans District 9 and District 6 staff updated Kern COG on project milestones including environmental review start dates, contract acceptances, localized lane controls and a planned detour for a California Aqueduct rehabilitation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kern COG adds recurring moment of silence after Pledge; board cites legal caution

Kern COG finds no unmet transit needs reasonable to meet for FY 2025–26, adopts resolution

Kern COG executive director reports Valley Voice trip to Washington, high‑speed rail funding moves and strong project delivery

Caltrans districts report project schedules, lane controls and planned closures across Kern County