Cross-valley gridlock

Well, folks, ready or not, here comes your beloved cross-valley connector. The last cent has been sucked out of developers. Buck has cashed in the final federal earmark for the project. Even the city kicked in a few bucks. Let the "road to gridlock" begin.

Nov. 4 election

On Nov. 4, the voters of Santa Clarita will have a golden opportunity to change the way our state government works.

Uncertain future

In response to Bruce Hector's Letter to the Editor, "Stimulus means brighter future" (March 18), Bruce must have been at Disneyland and stayed in Fantasyland for a week to believe that Obama is going to do the country any good.

Dads and daughters dine and dance

My daughters and I look forward to this event every year - we call it the D4, Daddy-Daughter-Dinner-Dance.

Child actors honored

Two child actors from Valencia were honored for their positive contributions to the entertainment industry during a March 15 C.A.R.E. (Child Actor Recognition Event) award ceremony at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Science: What would you invent?

First place If I were a scientist, I would invent a machine that would cease world hunger. Why? Well, more than 30 percent of the world's population is either starving or anemic. Not the kind of starving that you would say when you didn't eat breakfast. The kind where your belly swells up, and you will eat anything. Some people might say, "Well, why do I care? I'm not starving." How would you feel if ...

The-Signal.com's Daybreak: March 31, 2009

Hello, Santa Clarita Valley! Welcome to The-Signal.com's Daybreak, your point of entry for the day, and a quick journey through the past, present and future. Let the adventure begin:

High Desert Dance Classic

Placerita Junior High School students took home the first-place trophy during the High Desert Dance Classic March 14. The couples spent eight weeks rehearsing merengue, tango, cha cha, waltz and the West Coast swing. Placerita Junior High was the only school from the William S. Hart Union High School District to participate in the competition.

Cheery news

Hart High School cheerleaders brought home top honors from the USA Nationals High School Spirit Competition held over the weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center. The junior varsity cheer squad took third place place in the Large Junior Varsity Show Cheer Intermediate Division and the varsity squad won for the Large Varsity Show Cheer Advanced Division.

Obama signs wilderness bill

It's official. With the stroke of a pen, President Barack Obama signed into law Monday a sweeping bill protecting more than 2 million acres of American wilderness.

Local HS hockey begins

A late goal from Bakersfield's Joshua Shin with 4:38 remaining in the third period was the difference in the Roughnecks' 3-1 victory over Valencia High on the opening night of Ice Station Valencia's High School Hockey season on Monday night. In its ninth consecutive year, the club league features eight teams, including Valencia High, Canyon High, Hart High, Saugus High, Antelope Valley High, Bakersfield High, Burbank and West Valley (San Fernando and Simi Valleys).

What's good in education, March 27, 2009

Saugus Girls Soccer Wins CIF Championship The girls soccer team from Saugus High School has let other teams in the CIF Southern Section know that the Santa Clarita Valley is a force to be reckoned with in the field of women's soccer. The local girls completed the year with a win-loss record of 20-3-3 and won the Southern Section Championship by 2-1 against Harvard Westlake. Not only is this Saugus' first girls soccer CIF championship, ...

SCV student chefs place in Le Cordon Bleu culinary competition

PASADENA, Calif. - California School of Culinary Arts announced today the local winners of the 3rd Annual Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America Market Basket Competition. Ten future students participated in the semi-annual event that took place on March 21; and three Californians received scholarships to attend the Pasadena culinary school.

U.S. Census Bureau to survey nation's spending habits

VAN NUYS, Calif. - In April 2009, U.S. Census Bureau field representatives will collect information about how much Americans spend for groceries, clothing, transportation, housing, health care and other items from a sample of households across the country.

Volunteer opportunities still open for 2009 Cowboy Festival

A variety of volunteer opportunities for adults and teens are still available for the 2009 Cowboy Festival at Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio from Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26 and other kick-off events prior to the festival weekend.

Obama exhorts good deeds by Morehouse graduates

ATLANTA (AP) - President Barack Obama, in a soaring commencement address on work, sacrifice and opportunity, on Sunday told graduates of historically black Morehouse College to seize the power of their example as black men graduating from college and use it to improve people's lives.

Tornadoes level homes in Okla., 21 injured

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) - One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.

Rebates benefits buyers and the local economy

Rebates are available to Santa Clarita Valley residents this spring on high-efficiency washing machines and electric-powered lawnmowers under deals offered through government agencies.

Santa Clarita City Council weighs in on state legislation

Santa Clarita City Council members have heartily endorsed the Boxer-Feinstein bill to block the proposed open-pit sand and gravel mine in Canyon Country but turned thumbs-down to a bill that would open up public spaces to use by the homeless at any time.

At least seven injured in two crashes on Highway 14

Two multi-car crashes involving five vehicles injured at least seven people and caused a backup on the northbound Highway 14.

Greening's goal in 2nd OT lifts Sens over Pens

OTTAWA (AP) - Colin Greening scored 7:39 into double overtime, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Sunday night.

AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional

WASHINGTON (AP) - The president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press on Sunday called the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records "unconstitutional" and said the news cooperative had not ruled out legal action against the Justice Department.

Angels' Vargas goes 7 scoreless against Chisox

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Jason Vargas kept throwing strikes and catcher Chris Iannetta kept taking his walks - a winning formula for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Braves rally with 4-run 8th to sweep Dodgers

ATLANTA (AP) - Ramiro Pena got a fierce wakeup call with the bases loaded and the scored tied in the eighth inning.

College of the Canyons football adapting to slew of changes

COC Insider: Cougars close season with two state titles

Tornadoes hit Kansas and Oklahoma; no injuries reported

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) - A powerful storm system rumbled through the Plains and upper Midwest on Sunday, spawning tornadoes that damaged homes and buildings near Oklahoma City and put the Tulsa area on high-alert.

Tejay van Garderen wins Tour of California

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - Always close to the front but never first at the end, Tejay van Garderen would often wear himself out wondering if he could swap the white jersey that goes to the best young rider for the yellow one that goes to the winner.

Officer shot in Marathon showdown wants to work

BOSTON (AP) - With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said Sunday he's determined to return to duty.

UPDATE: Shooting victim identified

Officials with the County Coroner's office have identified the Canyon Country man shot and killed Thursday as 53-year-old Juan Mejia.