UPDATED: Hopeful retailers still banking on ‘Black Friday’

Amid dire predictions of poor holiday sales, several local retailers are armed with optimism and hoping the deals they offer today on "Black Friday" will give them an edge.

Man shot in broad daylight

A passenger sitting in a pickup truck waiting for the light to change at a busy Newhall intersection Friday suddenly found himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with an armed robber.

Cops award local senator

The California Parole, Probation and Correctional Association named state Sen. George Runner, R-Antelope Valley, the legislator of the year during an award luncheon at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley.

Mayor calls Benz Road meeting

Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar said he will recommend tearing down the new Benz Road traffic diverter after Saugus residents exploded in protest this week saying the diverter messes up the neighborhood traffic pattern.|

Local briefs

Newhall hosts Street Art Fair Old Town Newhall will host the fourth Street Art Festival on Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. This free outdoor event is open to the public. Many different art forms and cultural dance performances will be featured. Visitors can create their own "Crazy Hat," watch short films, or try some pastel art. Free parking is available at the Newhall ...

Keeping up with the kids

"Uh-oh, I think I'm in trouble," said Mayor Bob Kellar as he shook hands with his fifth- and sixth-grade opponents in a quiz competition designed to show off the advanced technology at the new Golden Oak Elementary School in Canyon Country.

Giving, and giving thanks

Here's how the whole Thanksgiving Day thing works: You give. It's that simple, says the man who runs a bicycle shop in Newhall and who, once a year, feeds as many people as he can. "Matthew 25:35 tells you what to do," Roger Hasper said between hugs given by men and women, old people and children, who stopped to thank him personally. "I'm not a smart man. I just know how to take directions," he ...

Turkey Day means Turkey Bowl

No TV station carried the great Santa Clarita Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving Day, and that suited a dozen sweaty traditionalists just fine.

Castaic cops get new patrol boat

Police patrolling the waters of Castaic Lake are doubling their presence with the addition of a second patrol boat.

Online donations aid fire victims

If you've felt moved to donate household items to recent fire victims who were left with nothing but ashes, the state of California can help you do so with a click of the mouse.

Ex-D.A. Garcetti exhibits shots

In Los Angeles, Gil Garcetti's name is often associated with politics and cracking down on crime.

McLean named vice chair for Orangeline

The Orangeline Maglev Development Authority Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Santa Clarita Councilwoman Marsha McLean as vice chair for the authority for 2009.

Local briefs

Placerita J.H. hosts robotics competition Placerita Junior High hosts its 6th annual FIRST Lego League Robotics competition on Nov. 15 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. "FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is an organization which designs accessible, innovative programs to motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program builds confidence, knowledge, and life skills" said the publicity coordinator for the event, Bonnie Shepard. ...

Assistance fund runs low

The funds that allow Lutheran Social Services to provide assistance for local low-income families are running extremely low, prompting the nonprofit organization to turn to the community for help.

Gunshot killed Lombardi

A coroner's autopsy shows murder victim Anthony Lombardi was shot. Lombardi was robbed at gunpoint and shot while seated in his car in the drive way of his Valencia home Sept. 16, said Lt. Dave Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, on Thursday.. The time of death was about 10 a.m., Coleman said. Three teenage boys found Lombardi's bloody body in his car about noon that day, he said. Detectives initially believed ...

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