County of Kern, California

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., a powerful statement from his I Have A Dream speech: "When the architects of our great republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." In honor of MLK Day, County offices are closed (except for our men and women in public safety).

Are you curious about the vaccine status and roll-out in Kern County? Visit Kern County’s vaccine webpage to learn more at https://kernpublichealth.com/coronavirus-vaccine/

It’s National Ratification Day! Did you know Ratification Day recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris? Every January 14, a flag in the design that was displayed at the time of the signing of the Treaty of Paris flies over the State House; twelve stars forming a circle with one star in the center. To learn more visit: http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/treaty-of-paris/

Have questions about recycling/waste, building/development permits, or anything public works related? Kern County Public Works has you covered! To access any of their online resources visit https://kernpublicworks.com today.

Looking for a way to give back? It’s National Blood Donor Month and our friends at Houchin Community Blood Bank have a low supply and are calling on the community for support. To learn more visit: https://hcbb.com

Don’t be alarmed, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will issue region-wide emergency alerts today at noon. The alert will be sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system to cell phone users across Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley asking residents to stay home except for essential activities. The Regional Stay-at-Home Order took effect in those two regions at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2020 and will remain in effect for at least thr...ee weeks. This message is informational only, and individuals who receive wireless alerts SHOULD NOT contact law enforcement or call 9-1-1. Get more details on how to protect yourself from COVID-19: www.covid19.ca.gov Learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts: www.calalerts.ca.gov

Kern County’s very own Jim Ranger Music needs our help tonight! He has made it through auditions, knockouts, the battle rounds, and has made it to the live shows tonight on NBC’s The Voice. Tune in tonight at 8pm PST. Good Luck Jim, all of Kern County is rooting for you! @NBCTheVoice

It’s National World Kindness Week! Have you or someone you know done a random act of kindness that we could highlight in an upcoming video segment? Nominate them in the comments below and share this post.

Today we honor the memory and courage of the more than 2,000 service members & civilians who lost their lives 79 years ago at Pearl Harbor. May we honor their sacrifices and never forget their service.

Recently, the State reported that the San Joaquin Valley Region’s ICU capacity fell below 15%. The Governor announced a Regional Stay at Home Order for regions with less than 15% ICU capacity. This Order took effect yesterday, Saturday, December 5th at 12:59 p.m. and will apply to Kern County today, Sunday, December 6th at 11:59 p.m. For more information visit https://bit.ly/33I3krl

Tomorrow is Kern County Public Works' annual Fall Bulky Waste Collection Event! Dispose of your old, unused appliances, mattresses, furniture, or bulky electronic waste from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at one of three sites throughout Kern County: Meadows Field International Terminal, 1401 Skyway Drive, off Airport Drive and Skyway Drive Kern Medical, 1700 Mt. Vernon Ave., in the Flower Street parking lot... Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. at the northwest corner of the parking See more

Yesterday, December 3, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom, announced the criteria for Regional Stay At Home Orders. With all the changes it’s hard to keep track of where we are. Have questions about restrictions? Visit Covid-19.Ca.gov

Non Profits Kern County just extended its application deadline for the Kern Recovers Grant Program to November 18th, 2020. Grants available are in the amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000 to help fund local nonprofits. These funds will go quickly so be sure to get your application in soon! Full program details are available at the Kern Recovers program site: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/kern-recovers Remember to share this post or tag a nonprofit that you suppor...t, so they can apply. https://www.kget.com//kern-recovers-nonprofit-grant-progr/

It’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment and thank all the staff at Kern County Animal Services. They continually care for all our furry friends throughout the county and strive to place animals in furever homes. THANK YOU!

Your vote and your ballot are secret and we want to keep it that way! We want you to know that: NO ONE has the right to film or photograph you entering or existing a polling place. NO ONE has the right to film or photograph you while you cast your ballot. ... NO ONE has the right to try and influence your decision before you vote within 100 feet of your polling place. And anyone conducting exit polling has to be 25 feet from your polling place. If you see someone breaking these rules please notify a poll worker immediately.

"But first.... let me take a selfie!" If you plan on taking a ballot selfie, here are a couple things to keep in mind today! Be mindful of what you capture (photos should only include yourself and your ballot) Don't interfere with the duties of the election workers... Don't intimidate other voters Don’t compromise the privacy of other voters County of Kern Elections Division

It’s Election Day!!! If you didn’t have a chance to drop off a mail-in ballot yet, today’s the final day! For any election’s questions visit kernvote.com.

It’s National Family Literacy Day and we want to encourage you to grab a book or e-book tonight and enjoy a little storytime. The Kern County Library has a variety of services available if you are looking to pick up a new book. Find more information at: https://www.kerncountylibrary.org/

Happy Halloween Kern County!

Consider celebrating Halloween with lower risk activities this year Our friends at Kern County Public Health want to share ways to celebrate safely. To learn more visit: https://bit.ly/35EaXPu

Looking for something fun to do? Head out to the desert and take part in OHV season. Grab your ATV or dirt bike and connect with our Friends out at Jawbone Canyon for trail options and safety protocols. Friends of Jawbone

We're still in the red tier, don't forget to wash your hands, wear a mask, and watch your distance. No press conference today.

Law Enforcement. Fire. Rescue. Dispatch. In honor of National First Responders Appreciation Day we say Thank You.Thank you for answering the call, rushing to rescue, protect, and defend our County. We're grateful for your dedication to our residents and for the professionalism you bring to the job each and every day. Be sure to thank any of our first responders you see today! Kern County Sheriff's Office Kern County Fire Department