Supreme Court's decision means justice for victims

This week's Supreme Court decision upholding lethal injection as a legitimate method for execution is a watershed moment. The justices voted 7-2 on a Kentucky death row inmate's claim that three-ingredient lethal injection amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The High Court rejected that argument with authority; the decision wasn't even close. This clears the way to lift the unofficial moratorium on executions.

The politics of race

When I encounter writer's block, I often go over to my Uncle Earl's. Earl is an eccentric combination of Texas Two-Stepper, Bible Belt Bully, Illinois Intellectual, and California Conservative. He's loud-mouthed, opinionated and crude, but often right. He tends to say the things I want to say but cannot. So I enjoy my visits with Uncle Earl since he fills my steno pad with column ideas. On my latest visit, I asked Earl about Barack ...

Thinking green for Earth Day

My 4-year-old son is very excited about Earth Day on Tuesday. Yup, Earth Day, the annual celebration of our planet during which Americans promote awareness and appreciation for the environment. My wife and I told our boy about Earth Day, and he seems more excited about cleaning up beaches and recycling than he's been about opening presents on Christmas morning or trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

The ethics of water ownership

In 2003 a Superior Court judge ruled for Newhall Land, now Lennar Corporation, thus allowing the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan. He made this ruling based on the assertion that the developer had purchased water from elsewhere in the state to supply these housing units and that together with the ground water used for farming, there would be a sufficient supply to serve this 21,000-unit proposal.

In Iraq, it's all about oil

Many believe we have had a successful surge in Iraq. But few if any troops are coming home to stay. Instead, rotation from home to Iraq has been bounced from 12 months to 15 months, depending on whether you like Gen. Petraeus or the president. Could it be that we don't plan, for covert reasons, to have our armed forces permanently leave Iraq in numbers any time soon? And it may have nothing to do ...

Kudos in Canyon Country

Once a year, I write an op-ed piece about the area of Canyon Country. Specifically, I provide a "to-do" list, and I applaud the city for making improvements and taking action.

Springtime for politicos

Is this a great year, or what? It is only April and I have already voted in two elections, the presidential primary in February and local City Council race last week. And because this is the best election year ever, we get to vote two more times before it is over.

Who pays for litigation?

Rarely will you ever hear an attorney complain about the increasing number of frivolous lawsuits being filed by plaintiffs across this state. After all, as a defense attorney, these lawsuits help to pay my mortgage, my car payments and eventually will finance college for my three girls and hopefully a comfortable retirement.

Disaster doesn't wait — in Santa Clarita, prepare for 2008

Finding yourself in the center of either a natural disaster or an emergency of some sort can be a trying experience. These disasters and emergencies never call us to schedule a visit, or send an e-invite to let us know ahead of time what is planned, but instead they happen without warning. This can lead to much more chaos than necessary if we are unprepared for the unexpected emergency.

Crunch affects more than schools

hen my family moved from Tennessee to California, more than loved ones were left behind. My uncle, a Vanderbilt alum, parted with his corporate expense account and corner-office salary. My aunt, a master's-degree graduate from the National Institutes of Health, left behind the leverage of a upwardly mobile medical career.

Why does city have so much on its plate?

Some weeks ago, while I was moderating a forum for the finest field of City Council candidates who have ever offered themselves for election, I asked the question that the sponsors had told the candidates I was bound to ask: "How do you feel about major county reform, which might mean splitting up the county?"

SCV scene

Picture-perfect day hosts Vine to Wine The annual Vine to Wine fundraiser for the Betty Ferguson Foundation was a delightful affair with wonderful food and wine. The Bridgeport Clubhouse is a spectacular location and it was a perfect day for the event. This year's weather more than made up for last year's blustery conditions. Seen at the event were: Michael and Denise Hause, Pam Ingram, Tora Brown, Dora Zavala, Bob Kellar and Kathy Keysor Smith, ...

Could we all just swear off profanity?

Earlier this week I was in front of a Signal news rack, picking up an extra copy of the newspaper. There was a young man standing nearby with a toddler whom I believe was his son.

Yes, Ms. Simon, these are the good old days

(Editor's note: This memorable column originally ran in 1999.) Once upon a time, chanteuse Carly Simon told me, and millions of other impassioned young listeners, "These are the good old days" - that line being a catchy trailer on her hit song, "Anticipation." Throughout my earlier years I briefly contemplated the meaning of that simple message on numerous occasions. It wasn't until my 30s, however, that her words affected me in a most profound way. ...

To hit or not to hit

My wife and I are parents of a 4-year-old boy, and we're faced with the duty to discipline him.

Danny Tyree: Candy capitulation: say it ain’t so!

According to ABC News, you should probably get ready for a take-no-prisoners "This is your brain on nougat" campaign.

Byron York: Has Obama overplayed his hand in sequester?

Nine months ago, Barack Obama likened his Republican opposition to an illness. If he could just defeat Mitt Romney, Obama said, then the illness might subside. "I believe that if we're successful in this election - when we're successful in this election - that the fever may break," Obama told a fundraiser in Minneapolis last June.

Tammy Messina: Defending the Second Amendment

Most of us have never had to fight for our freedom. We don't even know what that looks like. In our lifetime, we've always had the right to say what we want and do what we want, as long as we operate inside the law. Many of those who've emigrated from other countries do know what it's like to live without those freedoms and how precious they are once obtained.

Joe Gandelman: Political gridlock

An old vaudeville joke went like this: "Do I look like an idiot? Do I look like a jerk who doesn't know what's going on? Do you think I'm dumb? Don't answer that!"

Kevin Bayona: Is the red menace back?

We don't hear much from Russia these days, but rest assured the Russian Federation is on the move across Eurasia and the world as its pugnacious leader, Vladimir Putin, vies to return Russia to the glory days of the Soviet Union.

Gary Horton: Incompetent staff make it a bad cruise

Cruise ships have become popular vacation scenes over the past decade. A chance to leisurely enjoy freedom of the open seas as ship's staff cater to whims and needs!

Tom Purcell: My parents school the Senate

"All right," said my mother, standing before the members of the U.S. Senate, "it's time for you to get your act together."

Jonathan Kraut: Heroes or vicitms?

I am having a problem with associating the term "hero" with every law-enforcement officer and government employee who has been harmed or died on duty.

Steve Lunetta: Obama's folly

The irony is astounding. The sequestration plan that appears to be a machination by President Obama's White House is now coming back to haunt him big time.

Donna Brazile: Right to vote isn't a racial entitlement

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Shelby County v. Holder - a challenge to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, specifically Section 5, which requires states and localities with a history of voting discrimination against racial and language minorities to get "pre-approved" by the federal government before changing how elections are conducted or voters are registered.

David Hegg: Choosing Chastity

I may be asked to turn in my man card for this, but here goes. On a getaway for my wife's birthday, I joined her to watch an episode of The Bachelor.

Tim Myers: Does election date change help incumbents?

Kathryn Pisaro: Protect music programs in Newhall School District

On Tuesday, the school board for the Newhall School District is going to be asked to cut a music teacher from our already-reduced music program.

Frank Ferry: Live from City Hall

"Government, at its core, is about doing together what we can't do alone. It's why we believe that citizen engagement is vital. ..."

Danny Tyree: Is the free ride over?

es, I dutifully affix my copyright notice to my column each week, and I've been known to notify the syndicate of suspected unauthorized use; but I haven't gotten anywhere near as persnickety (or creepy) as the entertainment industry.