The coroner’s office has determined that a local doctor's death was accidental after she suffocated in the chimney of her boyfriend's southwest Bakersfield home.  The body of Jacquelyn Kotarac was discovered by a woman who was house-sitting and smelled a foul odor.   Police say Kotarac had an on-again, off-again relationship with William Moodie.  He had refused to let her in his home last Wednesday night to avoid a confrontation.  After he left his house a short time later, she climbed onto the roof to try to gain entry through the chimney.  Kotarac's body was found three days later.

Two Delano men are among 15 people being charged in a federal drug sweep.  State Attorney General Jerry Brown says the suspects are part of the Nuestra Famila, a notorious prison gang that directs street crime from Pelican Bay State Prison.  Officials say 28-year-old Arturo Bautista and 29-year-old William Sanchez are being charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.  Federal agents say they also seized 12 guns, drugs and $15,000 in cash during the raid.

The search for a robbery suspect prompted lock-downs on several area school campuses yesterday.  Police say a man robbed the California Water Services Company on South "H" Street at gunpoint and then took off.  Officers called the schools in the area and ordered the lockdown while the search for the suspect was underway.  The schools involved were Planz, Plantation, Pauly and Frank West Elementary and South High School.  The all clear was given about an hour later.  The suspect is still on the loose.

A local Tax preparer has pleaded guilty in Federal Court to four counts of tax evasion.  The US Attorney's office says 66-year-old Arthur Lawson admitted that he prepared and signed fraudulent income tax returns for himself and his wife in the 2002 and 2003 tax years.  Lawson faces a maximum of five years in prison and a 100-thousand dollar fine for each violation.  Sentencing is scheduled for November 8th.

Arraignment was postponed yesterday for the man accused of causing a fatal boating accident on Lake Webb over the weekend.  The "Californian" reports 23-year-old Justin Ennis remains in custody because he was on parole for a previous conviction when the accident occurred.  The delay was called because Park Rangers needed more time to investigate.  Ennis is accused of being under the influence when he crashed into another boat, killing the driver, 29-year-old Salvador Rodriguez.  Ennis is facing charges of felony boating under the influence, manslaughter, and felony parole violation.  Ennis was recently released from prison after serving time for his part in the death of a woman in 2008. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved more than 2 milliion dollars in funding for air quality improvement projects in Kern County.  The money will be used to retrofit and replace hundreds of diesel vehicles and equipment, including school buses, long-haul trucks, locomotives and agricultural and construction equipment.  The head of the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region says the valley has some of the worst air quality in the country, and improving it is an urgent priority.  The grant will go a long way to help achieve that goal.

Contract negotiations between the County and the union representing Deputy District Attorneys and child support lawyers are going into mediation.  Supervisors declared an impasse yesterday.  District Attorney Ed Jagels had argued that Deputy DA’s make four percent less than their counterparts in the Public Defenders office.  Supervisors also reached an impasse in negotiations with the doctors union at Kern Medical Center. 

The Network for a Healthy California and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools are hosting a free and fun workshop this evening.  It will look at the health benefits of physical activity and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.  The hour-long session begins at 5pm at the Richardson Child Development Center on Feliz Drive.  It will include tips to help your family become physically fit as well as recipe ideas, cooking demonstrations and cook books to take home. 

Rabobank Arena is holding a job fair today for part time positions, such as ushers, ticket takers, cleanup crews, concession cashiers and parking attendants.  Sessions will be held in the arena lobby from 10am until 1pm and from 5-until-7pm.  The arena is hoping to fill nearly 100 positions for its upcoming season of events.

California is now 62 days into the fiscal year without a new budget. Both the Assembly and Senate failed to pass budget packages yesterday.  It was the first budget vote of the session and both plans fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.   Democrats introduced a budget that includes spending cuts and a tax swap.  The Republican's budget plan includes cuts to social services and no new taxes.  The state is facing a 19-billion-dollar deficit and may run out of money by the end of October.