Postal Service program assists 75 families in the SCV

A 100-year-old tradition is still going strong in the Santa Clarita Valley, as 75 local letters to Santa were answered by area residents this year at the U.S. Postal Service's Processing and Distribution Center in Santa Clarita.

Year in Review: Speed a common factor in fatal crashes

If local traffic collisions this past year could be summed up in two words, they would have to be: speed kills.

Walmart grocery at Town Center back on the table

Westfield notified the city of Santa Clarita's planning commission a week ago that it wants to move forward with a discussion about planning changes it requested to locate a Walmart Neighborhood Market at the Valencia Town Center, said a spokesman for the city on Friday.

Silver Alert system to launch Jan. 1

A decade after California launched its Amber Alert system it now joins some 30 other states by launching a Silver Alert program Jan. 1, 2013.

Unemployment drops across the board

Local unemployment numbers for November came out Friday, along with national, state and county numbers. All four indicators dropped in November.

This just in from Caltrans

San Fernando Valley – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the following lanes and ramps of the Golden State Freeway (I-5) as part of a $121 million improvement project to construct High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) lanes in each direction along I-5 between SR-170 to Buena Vista Street. Closures are subject to change. Detours will be signed.

California jobless rate dips below 10 percent

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California's jobless rate dipped below 10 percent last month for the first time since the recession began, the state announced Friday, signaling that the state's economy may have finally turned the corner.

This just in from Rep. Buck McKeon's office

Washington, D.C.- Thursday, Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon praised the passage of S. 925, legislation naming a peak in the Eastern Sierra in honor of Andrea Mead Lawrence, a local hero in the Mammoth Mountain area. S.925 is a companion bill to Congressman McKeon's House version, H.R. 1818 and passed last night by a vote of 408-7. This bill is now headed to President Obama's desk for signature into law.

DUI Checkpoint in SCV tonight

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station/Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on December 21 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

This just in from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station

Zone 5-Valencia reported twenty seven Part-1 Crimes during the past week. The criminal incidents included grand theft auto, vehicle burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery and shoplifting from local businesses.

Today in the SCV: Friday Dec. 21, 2012

Today in the SCV Senior Center concert The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center's music program will perform at Westfield Valencia Town Center 7-9 p.m. Conducted by Maestro John Swinford, the Silvertone Singers, Silver Belles, Silver Beaux and Memory Makers will perform holiday songs in the courtyard area outside JCPenney. Info: 661-259-9444. Go board game club Go is one of the most challenging games ever discovered, and is enjoyed by millions of people all over the ...

Feinstein pushes assault weapons ban

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., announced that she intends to introduce legislation implementing a nationwide ban on the purchase, transfer, manufacturing or importation of guns defined as assault weapons.

Year in Review: Republican candidates win the SCV in 2012

The election of two local Democrats to represent the area on Nov. 6 led some to speculate the Santa Clarita Valley was perhaps becoming more of a two-party, "purple" area.

Church donates to animal shelter

From left, Animal Control Officer Lisa Eldrige, Christ Lutheran Church Mission and Outreach Coordinator Debbie Price and Animal Care & Control aide John Payne load a cart with donations of pet blankets from Christ Lutheran Church presented to the Castaic animal shelter on Thursday. The donation consisted of 20 bags of blankets and $425 of pet supply gift cards.

Castaic Lake Water Agency expected to close purchase of Valencia Water Co.

The Castaic Lake Water Agency is expected to close a deal Friday to buy the Valencia Water Co. from Newhall Land Development Inc.

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