Local Politics · Kern County
Kern County has agreed to pay Vicente Benavides $13.5 million after his 1993 conviction for the rape and death of a 21-month-old girl in Delano was overturned by the California Supreme Court. Benavides, a former farmworker sentenced to death, spent 25 years imprisoned—more than two decades on death row at San Quentin—before being released in October 2018. Key medical testimony unraveled when Dr. Jess Diamond recanted after reviewing the child's previously unavailable medical records. A county spokesperson said the settlement avoids the multi-million-dollar costs of a lengthy federal jury trial.
Local Politics · Kern County
Advocacy group Justice Without Favor is working toward a recall petition against Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, citing transparency concerns tied to the criminal case involving her nephew, former Supervisor Zack Scrivner. The group has 210 proponents but must still complete preliminary steps before collecting the approximately 66,000 signatures needed within 160 days. Scrivner was charged in February 2025 with three felony counts of willful cruelty to a child and two weapons counts from an April 2024 incident at his Tehachapi home; a judge granted him mental health diversion in December. Zimmer recused herself from the case, which was handled by the California Attorney General's Office. Organizers plan a peaceful protest outside the Truxtun Avenue courthouse on Oct. 22 at 7:30 a.m., coinciding with Scrivner's expected court hearing.
Public Safety · Lake Isabella, CA
The Cyrus Fire, which started Oct. 9 at Cyrus Canyon Road and Sierra Way near Lake Isabella in Kern County, California, reached 95% containment by Thursday evening, Oct. 15. The wildfire burned 543 acres under Unified Command of the Kern County Fire Department and USFS Sequoia National Forest. No information on the cause of the fire was available at the time of reporting. Containment means 95% of the fire perimeter is enclosed by control lines, though the fire is not fully extinguished.
