[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":358},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":26,"footer-cities":54,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fkern-county-fair-adds-walk-through-ai-screening-magnetometers-at-all-gates":235},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":20,"navigation":21,"path":22,"seo":23,"stem":24,"__hash__":25},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","ceT4J-WxxOBdbhRC-UD3fo0Npu7vWt2o2B9b_LURPmE",{"id":27,"title":28,"body":29,"copyright":33,"description":10,"developedBy":34,"extension":13,"links":41,"meta":49,"navigation":21,"path":50,"seo":51,"stem":52,"__hash__":53},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":30,"toc":31},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":32},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":35,"link":36},"Developed by",{"label":37,"to":38,"target":39,"logo":40},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.kaweah.tech\u002Flogo-black-on-transparent-tight.svg",[42,43,46],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":44,"to":45},"About","\u002Fabout\u002F",{"label":47,"to":48},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","Ras2AGS8Wuda4aBPrbAbOivaxIsAoDbo9SNCA0w554g",[55,85,123,154,181,208],{"id":56,"title":57,"body":58,"county":77,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":78,"meta":79,"navigation":21,"path":80,"seo":81,"stem":82,"tag":83,"__hash__":84},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":59,"toc":74},[60,65],[61,62,64],"h2",{"id":63},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[66,67,68,69,73],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[70,71,72],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":75},[76],{"id":63,"depth":11,"text":64},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":57,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":86,"title":87,"body":88,"county":115,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":116,"meta":117,"navigation":21,"path":118,"seo":119,"stem":120,"tag":121,"__hash__":122},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":89,"toc":112},[90,94,109],[61,91,93],{"id":92},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[66,95,96,97,100,101,104,105,108],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[70,98,99],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[70,102,103],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[70,106,107],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[66,110,111],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":113},[114],{"id":92,"depth":11,"text":93},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":87,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":124,"title":125,"body":126,"county":146,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":147,"meta":148,"navigation":21,"path":149,"seo":150,"stem":151,"tag":152,"__hash__":153},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":127,"toc":143},[128,132],[61,129,131],{"id":130},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[66,133,134,135,138,139,142],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[70,136,137],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[70,140,141],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":144},[145],{"id":130,"depth":11,"text":131},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":125,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":155,"title":156,"body":157,"county":173,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":174,"meta":175,"navigation":21,"path":176,"seo":177,"stem":178,"tag":179,"__hash__":180},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":158,"toc":170},[159,163],[61,160,162],{"id":161},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[66,164,165,166,169],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[70,167,168],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":171},[172],{"id":161,"depth":11,"text":162},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":156,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":182,"title":183,"body":184,"county":200,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":201,"meta":202,"navigation":21,"path":203,"seo":204,"stem":205,"tag":206,"__hash__":207},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":185,"toc":197},[186,190],[61,187,189],{"id":188},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[66,191,192,193,196],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[70,194,195],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":198},[199],{"id":188,"depth":11,"text":189},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":183,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":209,"title":210,"body":211,"county":227,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":228,"meta":229,"navigation":21,"path":230,"seo":231,"stem":232,"tag":233,"__hash__":234},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":212,"toc":224},[213,217],[61,214,216],{"id":215},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[66,218,219,220,223],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[70,221,222],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":225},[226],{"id":215,"depth":11,"text":216},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":210,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":236,"title":237,"archived":238,"author":239,"body":240,"date":346,"dateModified":346,"description":347,"extension":13,"meta":348,"navigation":21,"path":349,"rawbody":350,"seo":351,"sitemap":352,"stem":353,"tags":354,"__hash__":357},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fkern-county-fair-adds-walk-through-ai-screening-magnetometers-at-all-gates.md","Kern County Fair adds walk-through AI screening, magnetometers at all gates",false,"CVAI Newsdesk",{"type":7,"value":241,"toc":339},[242,246,250,266,269,272,276,279,282,285,289,292,295,298,302,305,308,311,326,329,333],[243,244,237],"h1",{"id":245},"kern-county-fair-adds-walk-through-ai-screening-magnetometers-at-all-gates",[61,247,249],{"id":248},"key-takeaways","Key Takeaways",[251,252,253,257,260,263],"ol",{},[254,255,256],"li",{},"Magnetometers are set up at all three Kern County Fair gates, with bag checks at entry.",[254,258,259],{},"Fair staff say walk-through AI detection, introduced last year, will speed screening.",[254,261,262],{},"Bakersfield police plan a large on-grounds presence, with help from other agencies.",[254,264,265],{},"A wristband program will help reunite lost children with families.",[66,267,268],{},"The midway lights were still warming up when Chelsey Roberts ran through the checklist. \"Magnetometers at all three gates, bag checks, and our partnership with Bakersfield Police,\" the Kern County Fair marketing specialist said. The fair opens for a 12-day run, and security is getting the same size-up as the crowds.",[66,270,271],{},"Here is what changed this year, and why people headed to the gates should care by the time they reach the turnstile.",[61,273,275],{"id":274},"what-changes-at-the-gate","What changes at the gate",[66,277,278],{},"Roberts said the fair tightened the front door. Magnetometers are in place at each entrance and bags will be checked before guests get to the rides. She added that walk-through AI screening, which the fair started using last year, helps move the line because people keep walking while the system flags potential problems. \"They can just walk in and the detection is incredible,\" she said.",[66,280,281],{},"Standard fair stuff, until you get to the gates.",[66,283,284],{},"Officials did not name the vendor behind the screening tools or share any detection statistics on Wednesday. That leaves questions about false alarms and how long data from the screens might be stored.",[61,286,288],{"id":287},"police-strategy-and-presence","Police strategy and presence",[66,290,291],{},"Inside the grounds, Bakersfield police Sgt. Otterness said his team used last year’s playbook to plan for this year’s crowds and the issues they saw then, including weapons violations, prohibited gang activity and public intoxication. He said fairgoers will see officers everywhere. \"You’re going to be able to go probably 10 to 15 feet. You’re going to be able to see some sort of law enforcement officer somewhere,\" Otterness said. Other law enforcement agencies will assist.",[66,293,294],{},"The department and the fair’s hired security staff will work side by side. That coordination, Otterness said, is meant to make it easy for a visitor to flag help quickly if something seems off or someone needs a hand.",[66,296,297],{},"It was 94 degrees in the afternoon.",[61,299,301],{"id":300},"help-for-families-and-concerts","Help for families and concerts",[66,303,304],{},"To cut the panic of a lost-child call, officers and fair staff are offering wristbands with a parent’s phone number at entry. \"In the event of their separation between the kids and the family, we have a way to be able to communicate,\" Otterness said.",[66,306,307],{},"Roberts said the Budweiser Pavilion, where the free concerts draw shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, will get extra attention. Bakersfield police will set up a camera tower with a wide view of the area, and staff watching the feeds can zoom in. \"They can get as detailed as seeing you texting on your phone,\" she said.",[66,309,310],{},"The goal is a fair that feels safe without choking the fun, Roberts said. \"I feel extremely safe coming out here every single night, and so I hope that it kind of translates to our community that. This is a safe place to be.\"",[66,312,313],{},[314,315,316,317,319,320,325],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[70,318,239],{}," team and developed by ",[321,322,37],"a",{"href":38,"rel":323},[324],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[327,328],"hr",{},[61,330,332],{"id":331},"source","Source",[66,334,335],{},[321,336,337],{"href":337,"rel":338},"https:\u002F\u002Fbakersfieldnow.com\u002Fnews\u002Flocal\u002Fkern-county-fair-boosts-security-with-magnetometers-ai-and-police-partnership",[324],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":340},[341,342,343,344,345],{"id":248,"depth":11,"text":249},{"id":274,"depth":11,"text":275},{"id":287,"depth":11,"text":288},{"id":300,"depth":11,"text":301},{"id":331,"depth":11,"text":332},"2026-09-24","Fair officials and Bakersfield police outlined tighter entry screening, a visible officer presence, and family wristbands as the Kern County Fair opens for its 12-day run.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fkern-county-fair-adds-walk-through-ai-screening-magnetometers-at-all-gates","---\nauthor: CVAI Newsdesk\ndate: '2026-09-24'\ndateModified: '2026-09-24'\ndescription: Fair officials and Bakersfield police outlined tighter entry screening,\n  a visible officer presence, and family wristbands as the Kern County Fair opens\n  for its 12-day run.\ntags:\n- bakersfield\n- security\n- events\ntitle: Kern County Fair adds walk-through AI screening, magnetometers at all gates\n---\n\n# Kern County Fair adds walk-through AI screening, magnetometers at all gates\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n1. Magnetometers are set up at all three Kern County Fair gates, with bag checks at entry.\n2. Fair staff say walk-through AI detection, introduced last year, will speed screening.\n3. Bakersfield police plan a large on-grounds presence, with help from other agencies.\n4. A wristband program will help reunite lost children with families.\n\nThe midway lights were still warming up when Chelsey Roberts ran through the checklist. \"Magnetometers at all three gates, bag checks, and our partnership with Bakersfield Police,\" the Kern County Fair marketing specialist said. The fair opens for a 12-day run, and security is getting the same size-up as the crowds.\n\nHere is what changed this year, and why people headed to the gates should care by the time they reach the turnstile.\n\n## What changes at the gate\n\nRoberts said the fair tightened the front door. Magnetometers are in place at each entrance and bags will be checked before guests get to the rides. She added that walk-through AI screening, which the fair started using last year, helps move the line because people keep walking while the system flags potential problems. \"They can just walk in and the detection is incredible,\" she said.\n\nStandard fair stuff, until you get to the gates.\n\nOfficials did not name the vendor behind the screening tools or share any detection statistics on Wednesday. That leaves questions about false alarms and how long data from the screens might be stored.\n\n## Police strategy and presence\n\nInside the grounds, Bakersfield police Sgt. Otterness said his team used last year’s playbook to plan for this year’s crowds and the issues they saw then, including weapons violations, prohibited gang activity and public intoxication. He said fairgoers will see officers everywhere. \"You’re going to be able to go probably 10 to 15 feet. You’re going to be able to see some sort of law enforcement officer somewhere,\" Otterness said. Other law enforcement agencies will assist.\n\nThe department and the fair’s hired security staff will work side by side. That coordination, Otterness said, is meant to make it easy for a visitor to flag help quickly if something seems off or someone needs a hand.\n\nIt was 94 degrees in the afternoon.\n\n## Help for families and concerts\n\nTo cut the panic of a lost-child call, officers and fair staff are offering wristbands with a parent’s phone number at entry. \"In the event of their separation between the kids and the family, we have a way to be able to communicate,\" Otterness said.\n\nRoberts said the Budweiser Pavilion, where the free concerts draw shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, will get extra attention. Bakersfield police will set up a camera tower with a wide view of the area, and staff watching the feeds can zoom in. \"They can get as detailed as seeing you texting on your phone,\" she said.\n\nThe goal is a fair that feels safe without choking the fun, Roberts said. \"I feel extremely safe coming out here every single night, and so I hope that it kind of translates to our community that. This is a safe place to be.\"\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Newsdesk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fbakersfieldnow.com\u002Fnews\u002Flocal\u002Fkern-county-fair-boosts-security-with-magnetometers-ai-and-police-partnership\n",{"title":237,"description":347},{"loc":349},"news\u002Fkern-county-fair-adds-walk-through-ai-screening-magnetometers-at-all-gates",[83,355,356],"security","events","e3Fk3BYaaLvXeZy3hGPxprWhY978IUHMJ5cAX6HR2xw",1790209880292]