District offers Accountability Report Cards

School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are now posted online at www.hartdistrict.org under the "School Accountability Reports" link. The most current reports are for the 2006-07 school year, since results of testing in spring 2008 won't be available until later this fall.

Council wrap: City upbeat about Cemex bill's passage

Santa Clarita city officials flew to the nation's capital again last week to get members of a key committee on their side before the lawmakers consider a bill that would keep a large mining company from setting up shop in Soledad Canyon.

Study flunks cop shop

Despite a "well run" courthouse, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station ranks "unsatisfactory," according to a 350-page report released this week which found the 1970s-era building dirty and in disrepair.

Auditoriums once again placed on back burner

Just when the Hart district was making progress toward completing the auditoriums at Golden Valley and West Ranch high schools, another setback has delayed the projects that began when the schools were built in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

D.A. not pursuing charges against 1 in car thefts

Three days after a Simi Valley woman was arrested for her alleged involvement in an elaborate car theft ring, the county District Attorney's office decided to reject the filing of charges against her Tuesday morning, according to officials.

Ban on home carwashing?

If you're thinking of washing your car at home you better do it soon, and when you do, you better have the garden hose fitted with a shutoff nozzle.

Council closer to restricting peddlers

Tougher restrictions on peddling and soliciting in Santa Clarita got preliminary approval from the Santa Clarita City Council on Tuesday, with final clearance planned for an upcoming meeting. City officials are overhauling the existing code that the staff has said is vague and lacks the teeth necessary for enforcement. The new restrictions would apply to peddlers, a name given to vendors who sell products from trucks, mobile carts and on foot. The new rules ...

Food pantries see surge in demand

Two local food pantries are seeing a big spike in demand as more Santa Clarita Valley families are feeling the pinch of a tight economy. For the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry in downtown Newhall, demand is at an all-time high, while donations are unusually low. "Our lobby is full and shelves aren't keeping up with the demand," said Belinda Crawford, executive director of the Food Pantry. Crawford said she frequently sees a small ...

News briefs

Juni Fisher to perform at Rattlesnake Slim's Award-winning country music singer Juni Fisher will perform a special concert to support a local high school's music program at 8 p.m. Thursday at Rattlesnake Slim's in Newhall. Tickets are $50 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit performing arts programs at Hart High School. Fisher's duet with Sons of the San Joaquin's Joe Hannah from her "Cowgirlography" album received a WMA Song of the Year award. ...

Fireworks show volunteers needed

Want the best seat in the house for this year's fireworks show at Westfield Town Center?

School district to raise $6.5M

• Castaic Mello-Roos properties to provide income, but that doesn't guarantee new high school will be built

Meadows students dominate in philosophy slam

The youngsters at Meadows Elementary School in Valencia are on top of their game when it comes to understanding global warming. Ten-year-old Hunter Shapiro-Throckmorton was given the title of "The Most Philosophical Fourth Grader in America" and 10-year-old Camryn Patterson was named "The Most Artistic Student in America" after submitting their award-winning entries to the 2008 Kids Philosophy Slam.

Local water officials discuss drought crisis tonight

Local water officials are expected to hear tonight about the state's "impending water crisis" and about implications of the governor's recent declaration of a drought, from the lobbyists they pay to stay close to politicians in Sacramento. Lobbyists Ralph F. Simoni and Dennis K. Albiani of California Advocates, Inc., are expected to debrief members of the Castaic Lake Water Agency's Government Relations and Outreach Committee tonight via conference call on the implications of the governor ...

News briefs

Name released of motorcyclist killed Sunday The motorcyclist who died on Soledad Canyon Road in Agua Dulce was identified as Palmdale resident Dan Bullard, 55, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Two Palmdale men killed in car crash

Two Palmdale men were killed after their vehicle spun out of control near Acton on Sunday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol. A third Palmdale man was seriously injured.

Local educator found slain on Valentine's Day

A former Valencia High School educator was shot and killed in Woodland Hills on Valentine's Day and her daughter arrested in Oregon eight hours after the body was discovered, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Suppliers during 2000 energy crisis face billion-dollar refund

SAN FRANCISCO, February 19, 2013 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today said that an Administrative Law Judge at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last Friday issued a sweeping "initial decision" finding more than a dozen electricity wholesalers guilty of market manipulation in the summer of 2000, when California suffered the highest electricity prices in history. If the Administrative Law Judge's decision is adopted by FERC, the sellers will face a collective refund ...

Bi-partisan bill by State Senators to require prevailing wage jobs in California charter cities

(Sacramento) – Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) will co-author a measure on prevailing wage to increase middle-class jobs, sustain a skilled workforce, and ensure cost efficient and high quality public works projects. Senate Bill 7 would make charter cities eligible to receive or use state funds for a public works project only if the city has a policy of requiring contractors on all its municipal projects to comply ...

LAPD chief: Review of Dorner firing under way

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck says the review of ex-officer Christopher Dorner's firing is under way, but it's too early to comment on the re-examination.

UPDATE: Storm due to hit SCV overnight

Santa Clarita Valley residents will be asleep for most of the latest winter storm expected to hit our area, a spokesman for the National Weather Service said today.

"Every 15 Minutes" program planned for Hart High School

On Thursday, February 21st 2013, the City of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and Hart High School officials will join in partnership to conduct the Every 15 Minutes program at Hart High School.

Today in the SCV: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2013. There are 315 days left in the year.

Helmet saves a life

HOA still recovering months after paint crime

Vandals who hopped a North Valencia HOA pool fence last summer and dumped seven gallons of paint into the pool and hot tub, causing more than $300,000 damage, are still at large.