Bakersfield Daily Local Brief: Rail Plan Comments, CSUB Thriller, Valley Fever Walk

Local headlines for Monday

Bakersfield starts the week with a mix of big-picture transportation news, a nail-biter at CSUB, and a major local health awareness push gearing up for the weekend.

High-speed rail: Draft 2026 business plan is out for public comment

State high-speed rail officials released a Draft 2026 Business Plan and opened a public comment window, with the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment highlighted as a key piece of the system’s near-term buildout. The comment period runs through late April, and the agency is directing the public to submit feedback online, by email or mail, or during a public board meeting later this week.

For Bakersfield residents, the headline is simple: the state is continuing to frame the Central Valley spine as the project’s first major operating segment, and the business plan lays out how that phase is supposed to connect north and south over time.

CSUB men’s basketball: One-point loss at home

Cal State Bakersfield dropped a one-point game at home, falling 88-87 to Long Beach State on Saturday night. CSUB’s Ron Jessamy led the way with a big scoring night, and the game stayed tight deep into the final possessions.

It was the kind of finish that leaves a crowd stunned for a minute, then talking about the ‘what if’ plays on the walk to the car.

On the calendar: Valley Fever Walk set for March 7 at River Walk

Organizers are promoting the 10th annual Valley Fever Walk, scheduled for Saturday morning at The Park at River Walk. The event is built around awareness and early testing reminders for a disease that hits hard in the region, and it typically draws survivors, families, health workers and community teams for an easy, all-ages route.

If you’ve got friends or family who’ve dealt with lingering ‘cold-like’ symptoms during dusty stretches, this is one of those local events that doubles as a practical health nudge.

Sources

https://hsr.ca.gov/2026/02/28/news-release-high-speed-rail-authority-issues-draft-2026-business-plan-for-public-review-and-comment/
https://wtop.com/ncaa-basketball/2026/03/sykes-39-lead-long-beach-state-past-cal-state-bakersfield-88-87/
https://www.turnto23.com/news/in-your-neighborhood/bakersfield/10th-annual-valley-fever-walk-comes-to-bakersfields-park-at-river-walk-on-saturday-march-7
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-valley-fever-walk-caminata-por-la-fiebre-del-valle-tickets-1980483416211