Palin draws 15,000 in Carson

CARSON - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday accused Democrat Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of an association with a former 1960s radical, stepping up an effort to portray Obama as unacceptable to American voters.

Junior high’s fitness scores improve

The percentage of Sierra Vista Junior High students in the Healthy Fitness Zone has risen, according to William S. Hart Union High School District officials.

Benz Road residents disconcerted

Benz Road winds lazily through one of the many picturesque canyons in the Santa Clarita Valley. The Saugus street is bordered by solidly middle-class homes featuring mature trees that cast shade on green lawns; the smell of wet grass wafts on light breezes.

First rain of season arrives

It was only a trace amount, but the Santa Clarita Valley got its first rain of the season when a weak storm passed through Southern California on Saturday.

SCV ponders ‘one vision’ for growth

Editor's note: As development becomes an increasingly charged topic in the Santa Clarita Valley, The Signal begins "The Big Picture," a series on plans for growth in the SCV. Click here for the rest of the stories.

Local boy in dire need of bone marrow transplant

The chances of Canyon High School senior Nate Sparks living are drastically reduced if a bone marrow donor is not found soon.

Reading is fun ... really!

A good idea became a great community outreach as nearly 200 parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and administrators attended elementary school with their kids for an evening class on how to comprehend reading.

Two Harts, different arts

Another William S. Hart from Santa Clarita could end up famous, but this time for the wrong reasons.

There's a new mayor in town, sort of

Mayor Pro-Tem Frank Ferry will be sworn in as Santa Clarita's new mayor on Tuesday, and he already has his eye on the troubled economy's impact on Santa Clarita, running efficient City Council meetings and connecting with local youth.

A Masterful performance

Students are proclaiming their holiday spirit in a series of eight "Come Christmas Sing" concerts at The Master's College.

Local cheer teams compete Sunday

Spirit Club International will host a cheer competition Sunday at Canyon High School, 9300 Nadal St. in Canyon Country.

Crawford to speak at chamber luncheon

City of Santa Clarita Marketing and Economic Development Manager Jason Crawford will speak on the city's participation with film and tourism at the next Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce quarterly membership luncheon, set for 11:45 a.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Valencia.

Holiday Toy Express thrills Santa fans in Newhall

Metrolink's annual Holiday Toy Express rolled into the Santa Clarita Valley Friday night, presenting a visit from Santa and Company to the delight of local residents who met the train at the Jan Heidt Metrolink station in Newhall.

City Council agenda preview

The Santa Clarita City Council will consider the following items at its meeting Tuesday evening:

Lions pull Santa through city streets

For the 19th year, Santa Float of the Castaic Lions Club will be providing an opportunity for children to see and talk to Santa riding atop his sleigh. Starting Sat, Dec. 6 and continuing for 11 nights , Santa will be visiting the neighborhoods of Castaic and Val Verde.

Saugus board raises concerns at Einstein charter hearing

The Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts and Sciences began its fourth attempt to charter an elementary school in the Saugus Union School District with a public hearing Tuesday night.

Baca introduces new Assistant Sheriff Terri McDonald, new Chief Ted Sexton

New Assistant Sheriff Terri McDonald and Chief Ted Sexton Introduced On Monday, March 18, 2013 at Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau, Sheriff Lee Baca introduced Terri McDonald as the new Assistant Sheriff of Custody Division. She will have the responsibility of overseeing the largest jail system in the nation with nine custody and correctional facilities and over 18,000 inmates. In addition, Assistant Sheriff McDonald will supervise the Education Based Incarceration Bureau, which is an important component within ...

Today in the SCV: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

'Teen Scene Plugged-In' event

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.

TEDxCollegeoftheCanyons Convenes Local Thought Leaders

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.

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.

Knight supports realignment reform

SACRAMENTO­– Senator Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley) attended a press conference this morning which introduced a series of bills to reform Prison Realignment in California. Assembly Bill 109 was passed by the California Legislature and signed by Governor Brown, taking effect in October, 2011.

SCV: Home sales continue march to recovery

Santa Clarita Valley home sales and prices continued their housing-slump recovery in February, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

Suicide Is Second Leading Cause Of Death For College Students, Yet Too Few Seek Help

War deaths in Afghanistan number almost 2,100 young Americans lost since the U.S. entered that conflict in 2003. But most people are unaware that an even greater loss of young lives occurs every year on this nation's college campuses.

Open call for community photos

Community members are invited to submit their favorite local snapshots for the City of Santa Clarita's quarterly photography contest. The spring contest is currently underway and new submissions must be received by March 31, 2013 to qualify for a variety of cash prizes.

Today in the SCV: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Rock Club meeting