'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'

The climactic scene in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" takes place in one of those underground caverns with a lake and an ominous gondola as the means of transportation, popularized by "The Phantom of the Opera." At first I thought - no gondola! But then one appeared, dripping and hulking. In another movie I might have grinned, but you know what? By that point, I actually cared.

Michael S. Little: Where nonprofit organizations need protection

One of the most important skills any successful nonprofit organization must develop is the ability to raise capital through fundraising events. Fundraising events are even more important in today's tough economy as many nonprofit organizations and charities struggle to survive amid the decline of charitable contributions by both private and corporate donors.

Castaic brush fire doused

Los Angeles County firefighters doused a small brush fire in Castaic on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Snow day in July at Creative Years Nursery School

Snow was imported to Creative Years Nursery School in Santa Clarita for the school's annual snow day event.

The Signal.com's Daybreak: July 17, 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:

Measure V spending receives thumbs-up

The Measure V Citizens' Oversight Committee issued a clean report Wednesday to the Hart district regarding Measure V spending for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

At market ... watermelon

Long, hot summer days, help me to conjure up images from my childhood. Most of our time was spent splashing in the backyard pool, our hair green and swimsuits threadbare come September. In the afternoons, we'd sit around the table outside with huge crescents of watermelon in hand, the juice running in streams down to our elbows and coloring our cheeks like rouge. Back then, the watermelons in the markets were huge and heavy and ...

Driver on title track

When the old NASCAR Southwest Series shut down a few years ago, M.K. Kanke had won more races than any other driver in the history of the division.

Students get inside look at NASA's return to the moon

BURBANK, Calif. -- As the nation marks the 40th anniversary of the first walk on the moon July 20, 1969, the Futures Channel has released the fifth in its series of micro-documentaries about the science, engineering, technology and people behind NASA's Ares rockets - the launch vehicles that will ultimately take humans back to the moon.

McKeon calls government health care takeover a mistake

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats have taken another discouraging step in the direction of a full government takeover of our nation's health care system with the recent introduction of their federally run health care plan.

SCV Committee on Aging presented with $375K check

Santa Clarita Mayor Frank Ferry, along with city officials, presented a $375,000 check to the Santa Clarita Committee on Aging on Wednesday, July 15 at 8:30 a.m. at the SCV Senior Center, located at 22900 Market Street in Newhall.

UPDATED: Brush fire doused in Castaic

Los Angeles County firefighters have doused a small brush fire in Castaic, authorities said. The first, which began about noon in the 32600 block of The Old Road, charred about half an acre and threatened some structures before firefighters put it out. The incident is under investigation.

Small fire erupts on Plum Canyon

Firefighters put out a small blaze on Plum Canyon Road near Bouquet Canyon Road Wednesday afternoon.

I-5 lane remains closed

The about 300-acre Osito fire was completely contained Wednesday, but authorities kept one lane on the northbound Interstate 5 freeway closed overnight as firefighters made sure the blaze stayed extinguished.

Alan J. Lyon: Items that will interest the IRS

The IRS uses "audit anxiety" to help taxpayers be honest on their tax returns. Some people don't even claim all of their deductions out of fear of audit. We have an obligation to pay our fair share of taxes but we don't need to tip the government by not claiming all appropriate deductions. With the government hurting for money, they are trying to collect every penny they can. Here are some things that interest the IRS.

Fire near Frazier Park has cost $6 million to fight

FRAZIER PARK (AP) - A fire that broke last week near Frazier Park has closed a state park and already has cost more than $6 million to fight.

Small Fla. town awaits word on who won Powerball

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - It could be an anxious wait of up to two months for people in a small Florida city to find out who won the highest Powerball jackpot in history: an estimated $590.5 million.

Midwest braces for more storms

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) - When Lindsay Carter heard on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, she gathered her belongings and fled. When she returned, there was little left.

Small Fla. city wonders who won Powerball jackpot

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million - the highest Powerball jackpot in history.

10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday:

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 benefit 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