Victoria Rodgers
Victoria Rodgers is an editor and reporter for Kern Sol News. Born in Bakersfield, CA, she received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Rockford University in Illinois. She can be reached at victoria@southkernsol.org. Posts by Victoria Rodgers:
Artists Blend Culture, Community And Color Across Kern County
Black History Month is often marked by reflection on legacy, struggle, brilliance, and resistance — and in Kern County, that reflection is also happening on walls, in classrooms, and inside community spaces through the work of two local visual artists.
Community Pushes Back Against Memorial Burn Center Closure
Nurses and advocates gathered Thursday morning outside of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, urging administrations to reverse a decision they say puts patients at risk — the closing of the only dedicated burn center in Kern County.
Black Student Achievement Takes Center Stage in Governor’s Race
With Black students in California continuing to face wide gaps in reading, math proficiency, discipline rates, and access to advanced coursework, seven gubernatorial candidates made their case directly to Black families during a statewide education forum hosted by The Sacramento Observer in partnership with California Black Media and the Black in School Coalition.
What Residents Want in Bakersfield’s Next Police Chief
On Tuesday evening, Bakersfield City Manager Christian Clegg hosted a community listening session to gather public input as the city moves forward in its search for a new police chief.
Advocates, Residents Sue California Over Cancer-Linked Pesticide
Farmworker advocates and residents have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), accusing the agency of creating contradictory protections for a cancer-causing pesticide nearly a decade after a court ordered the state to strengthen its oversight.
Report Finds Major Gaps in California Pesticide Oversight
A new UCLA report is urging California leaders to overhaul the state’s pesticide regulatory system, warning that current oversight fails to account for the real-world dangers of exposure to multiple chemicals at once — a gap researchers say puts agricultural communities at heightened risk.
Immigration Advocates Call for Accountability as ICE Operations Intensify
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro warned that immigration enforcement under the current administration has reached a scale not seen in generations during a Latino Community Foundation webinar held Monday, January 26, focused on holding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accountable and examining how philanthropy can support communities under threat.
‘This Is Not the America We Love’: Bakersfield Vigil Condemns ICE Enforcement
On Monday evening, Kern County Democrats and their affiliated clubs held a demonstration and candlelit vigil honoring the lives of those who have lost their lives due to actions taken by the U.S.
Public Outrage Grows Over Mental Health Diversion Granted in Zack Scrivner Case
Public criticism continues to mount after a Kern County judge granted mental health diversion to former county supervisor Zack Scrivner, a decision that pauses his criminal prosecution and could ultimately result in the dismissal of charges if he successfully completes court-ordered treatment.
Board of Education hears PragerU presentation amid public opposition
The Kern County Board of Education heard a presentation Tuesday evening from representatives of PragerU, a conservative nonprofit media organization, outlining its supplemental educational materials for K–12 students.