Local Politics
The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways increased the two-year Mussel Fee Sticker from $16 to $42, a 162.5% hike effective Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. The increase responds to invasive golden mussels first discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024, which prompted emergency declarations in Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin and Kern counties. Boaters purchasing stickers in odd-numbered years pay $42; those buying in even-numbered years pay $21. Existing sticker holders do not owe the difference until their current sticker expires at vessel registration renewal on Dec. 31 of each odd year. State Parks said additional revenue will fund boat inspections, decontamination, monitoring and grants to waterway managers, though the announcement did not specify projected revenue or success metrics.
Local Politics · Kern County
McFarland Mayor Saul Ayon has announced his candidacy for California's 35th Assembly District, challenging Democrat Andrae Gonzales. Ayon, a former Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputy and McFarland High School teacher, cites affordability, housing, water access, and public safety as key priorities. He emphasizes his experience working across party lines to secure resources for Kern County. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
Crime · Oildale, CA
Ana Barbosa, 53, disappeared May 6, 2024, in Oildale, and her daughter Ana Maria Leal Ochoa has been searching for answers for 900 days. Sheriff's investigators say family members reported domestic violence involving Barbosa's husband, Fabian, who is considered a person of interest in the case. Ochoa has rallied community support, including funding a billboard off Rosedale Highway since July, and her Facebook page has grown into a support network for domestic violence survivors.
