Landmark gun bills signed in Colorado

DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper signed bills Wednesday that place new restrictions on firearms and signaled a change for Democrats who traditionally shied away from gun control debate in Colorado - a state with a moderate streak and pioneer tradition of gun ownership and self-reliance.

Rand Paul: Immigration reform needs conservatives

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tea party favorite Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that the nation's illegal immigrants should be able to become citizens eventually, but amid a furor from conservative activists on the explosive issue he quickly sought to make clear that, while they would not be sent home, they couldn't get in line in front of anyone else.

Costs of US wars linger for more than 100 years

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - If history is any judge, the U.S. government will be paying for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for the next century as service members and their families grapple with the sacrifices of combat.

Pope Francis: Protect the poor and the Earth

VATICAN CITY (AP) - After a week marked by acts of simplicity and openness, Pope Francis finally let his words do the talking as he officially began his stewardship of the Catholic Church on Tuesday.

Javier Hernandez: The Czar of Cigar -- 888 Claro

Two weeks ago we reviewed Miami 8&11 from Padilla Cigars. Today it's Luck of the Irish, as the 888 Claro is green.

Health officials: 1 in 50 school kids have autism

NEW YORK (AP) - A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder.

Canyon track and field's Devin Baldwin: Endless tenacity

Cupcakes for any occasion

Family Features

Gary Horton: More residents should find the Master Chorale

Think "inspiration." Think "spiritually beautiful." Think "melodically breathtaking."

Jim Mullen: Village Idiot

I know there are couples who enjoy cooking together and make it look like a well-rehearsed ballet. They savor the aroma of their secret recipe for wild salmon over lemon couscous, stir each other's soups and sample each other's sauces.

Some more equal than others

I used to live in Santa Clarita. I moved to the Bay Area about nine years ago but still check in on The Signal occasionally.

Today in the SCV: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

'Teen Scene Plugged-In' event

Joe Klocko: The conundrum: supply and demand, wages and the skills gap

Most people understand the basic economic principle of supply and demand and incorporate it into their daily decisions. They may not do it consciously, but economic decisions are made every day by each and every one of us.

Foothill League girls track and field preview: Turnover effects

Three new coaches, three CIF state qualifiers graduated and a couple of athlete transfers. It's fair to say the 2013 version of the Foothill League in girls track and field is far different than the previous year. But that doesn't mean the league will lack talent or excitement. Defending Foothill champion Canyon is proving it's not just a flash in the pan, but the second and third place finishers from last year, Golden Valley ...

Foothill league boys tennis teams play openers

The Valencia Vikings picked up right where they left off last season, defeating the Saugus Centurions 15-3 in Tuesday's Foothill League opener at Valencia High School.

The Master's baseball finds hole plugger

Even after scoring 12 runs, the fate of The Master's College lay in the hands of a freshman pitcher.

Striking the right chord

An event called the "Instrument Petting Zoo" was held at Wiley Canyon Elementary School in Newhall on Tuesday. Students were introduced to a variety of instruments in an effort to recruit them to the school's orchestra.

In Ohio case, social media is a double-edged sword

NEW YORK (AP) - In sentencing two high school football players to juvenile jail terms for raping a drunken girl, Judge Thomas Lipps issued a cautionary note to children and parents, urging them to reconsider "how you record things on the social media so prevalent today."

Foothill League boys track and field preview: Separation time

Splitting a Foothill League crown isn't a way to make everyone happy. None of the three teams who split it last year, Canyon, Golden Valley and Hart, were thrilled about it. If one of those teams want to win it outright this year though, it will take some serious retooling. Just about every team in the league lost a major contributor, including three CIF state qualifiers who are all now graduated. Teams ...

No assault weapons ban: Not in Dems' Senate bill

WASHINGTON (AP) - An assault weapons ban won't be in the gun-control legislation that Democrats bring to the Senate floor next month, a decision that means the ban's chances of survival now are all but hopeless.

TEDxCollegeoftheCanyons Convenes Local Thought Leaders

Having developed a reputation across the state as an institution where innovation can thrive, this spring College of the Canyons will take those efforts one step further with TEDxCollegeoftheCanyons taking place on April 18. Ideas worth spreading – that is the mission behind TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) and the independently organized, TEDx events that have been inspiring audiences. Held in Long Beach, Calif., the annual TED conference is traditionally focused around a central theme ...

Motion could streamline services for county's mentally ill

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – A motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich directing the Chief Executive Officer to develop recommendations for streamlining and improving the provision of County services for the mentally ill homeless was unanimously approved.

Felony vandalism charges filed against young man arrested on drug charges

A young man arrested on drug charges but described as a prolific graffiti vandal has been charged with a dozen felony counts of vandalism, authorities said Tuesday.

UPDATE: Attempted homicide suspect detained on I-5

A Castaic man wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted homicide was in custody Tuesday after local sheriff's deputies arrested him following a brief pursuit.

Police make arrest in Simi Valley school vandalism

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - Authorities in Ventura County have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with threatening graffiti, including swastikas, which led officials to shut down an elementary school.

Canyon Country: Witnesses describe moments of terror during bank robbery

SAN FERNANDO - Witnesses took the stand in San Fernando Superior Court on Tuesday to describe long moments of sheer terror as suspected gang members allegedly threatened and shouted at them during a Canyon Country bank robbery last fall.

Supervisors ask for further review of near $1 billion jail project

County supervisors put a temporary hold Tuesday on a proposal to build a new downtown Los Angeles jail - with a price tag of almost $1 billion.

Rescue officials: Ducklings make foul Easter gifts

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A fluffy duckling might seem appealing next to a basket of Easter eggs, but shelter officials and animal welfare experts want gift-happy parents to picture something else: Poop.