We're gettin' more money -- lots of it (updated)

With all of this federal stimulus money starting to fly around, you’d think more would settle on the ground here in Bakersfield than the $31 million that’s already been set aside to improve roads across Kern County.

And you might be right. People in the know are buzzing about the possibility that Bakersfield could get another $31 million — that’s right, a second pile of stimulus money of identical heft — very soon.

And for what worthy purpose, you might ask? None other than the long-delayed federal courthouse.

Insiders say Bakersfield will be receiving an additional $31 million very soon. If it’s a go — and it’s not a sure thing until it’s a sure thing — the courthouse could be up and running in two years.

The courthouse will go up at the east end of Central Park. Its boundaries are 21st Street to the north, the property line of Central Park to the east, 19th Street to the south and the Mill Creek project to the west.

Expect an update on the courthouse as soon as April 1. And, no, it won't be one of those April 1 press conferences.

(Update: Congressman Kevin McCarthy just issued a press release confirming the funding. "Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Congressman Jim Costa announced that funding would be made available by the U.S. General Services Administration for the Federal courthouse project in the Central Park location of Bakersfield."

The release made no mention of the amount, but McCarthy confirmed it by phone -- $31 million. He and Costa probably put the news out there a day earlier than planned to prevent anybody else from taking credit for it -- like Sen. Dianne Feinstein. You know how politicians are.)