Stories by Issue
Monthly Archives: April 2020
McFarland City Council approves GEO’s request for permits to operate two immigration detention facilities
After nearly three and a half hours of debate between residents, immigrant rights advocates, GEO employees, and elected officials, the McFarland City Council voted at Thursday’s city council meeting to approve permits that will allow The GEO Group, Inc.
Kids Count in the 2020 census
During the 2010 census, an estimated 1 million children under the age of 5 went uncounted.In
Commentary: Essential farmworkers makeup the majority of McFarland’s population GEO Group aims to profit from
By Rosa Lopez
I’m a 20-year-old college student who returned from the UC Berkeley campus this semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Newsom announces free COVID-19 testing site to open in East Bakersfield
Kern County Board of Supervisors Chair, Supervisor Leticia Perez in coordination with Governor Gavin Newsom, announced a new Verily COVID-19 community-based testing site will open in East Bakersfield.
COMMENTARY: Kern County leaders need to consider the re-entry needs of residents being released during the COVID-19 pandemic
BY UCEDRAH OSBY
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting everyone in Kern County, and our leaders need to do everything they can to mitigate the spread of this virus, including protecting the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated population in our region.
COMMENTARY: My parents aren’t just essential for my family, they are essential to the entire community; that scares me
It’s common for children to be territorial of their parent’s time and affection. Children often fight for their parents’ attention, but children with parents who are essential workers — nurses, grocery store workers, farmworkers, first responders — can’t do that right now.
City of McFarland to hold GEO appeal hearing Thursday despite limitations during pandemic
The City of McFarland is holding an appeal public hearing next Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m.,
LGBTQ community lands victory for inclusion and accuracy in 2020 census
Changes made to the official census questionnaire don’t happen over the course of a few months or even years.
COMMENTARY: My safe place will be taken away from me if McFarland city officials grant GEO’s appeal
BY AIMEE
McFarland city officials have decided to give GEO Group another chance this week to bring in immigration detention facilities to my hometown.
McFarland residents protest city council’s decision to hold GEO appeal hearing during pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop McFarland residents and neighboring communities from getting in their cars Sunday to protest the McFarland city council’s decision to hold the crucial GEO appeal hearing during a time the community can not physically gather safely.