I was touched and saddened to hear the other day that the Deity of Dumbness, the high god of Democrats, Joe Biden, had an uncle eaten by cannibals. I hate that when that happens. Joe offered another public confession recently. The president of the United States this time didn’t claim to have de-droughted the West, Pecos Bill-style, by riding a bucking tornado. Joe didn’t confidently claim to have cleared Minnesota of trees and still owns the giant blue ox, “Babe.” Ol’ Jose didn’t even give a speech, highlighting how he killed a grizzer bear, Davy Crockett fashion, just by grinning at it ..read more

I have often mused on and written about the downside of our current society. But I am well aware of the good in the hearts not only of my friends but also in the upside of the world we live in. I am blessed to have friends who are funny, kind, introspective, generous and truly altruistic. Granted, they are all younger than me, much, much younger, but no less my friends.  And they are not alone. What is most heartening is to read of young people who are performing deeds of kindness. An Asian cleric said recently, “There are young people in the world demonstrating a global consciousness.” A ..read more

My latest streaming binge is “3 Body Problem” on Netflix. This is a smart and creative science fiction series with a good dose of mystery, and a dash of detective story. Happily, there are no flying saucers or laser guns, at least so far. I’ve received a basic lesson in quantum physics that I understood, assuming anything in quantum physics can be understood. The cast is excellent, and the production values are high. If Apple can make the headset that is featured in “3 Body Problem,” I’ll pay today’s interest rates on a loan to buy one. You will want one as well.  The series, which is bas ..read more

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies escorted Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital on Thursday evening following reports of a baby found not breathing, according to Deputy Robert Jensen, spokesman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station.  Deputies were dispatched to the 24000 block of Lyons Avenue at approximately 7:27 p.m. on Thursday, Jensen said. They then helped escort the baby to the hospital, and the baby was doing well at that time, Jensen said.  Supervisor Michael Pittman with the Fire Department confirmed that one transport was made to ..read more

A single goal separated Hart Indians boys’ lacrosse from its first-ever Foothill League championship.  Midway through the fourth quarter, all tied up, Hart found its answer as senior Tate Fuller drove in hard and found junior Blake Osoria, who hit the quick-turnaround, league-clinching goal.  Hart’s Blake Osoria (13) runs with the ball during Wednesday’s game at West Ranch High School on April 24. Habeba Mostafa/ The Signal Hart held on to its one-goal lead until the close and secured the 8-7 win at West Ranch and a co-Foothill League championship on Wednesday.  The Indians’ def ..read more

Teachers within the Saugus Union School District demonstrated their desire for a salary increase at Tuesday’s governing board meeting ahead of the union’s contract expiring in June.  According to Saugus Teachers Association President Carleen Shute, the union has asked for salary increases of 7.5% in November before dropping that demand down to 3% in its latest proposal. The increases would be retroactive to the beginning of the school year.  “Our Saugus teachers deserve a cost-of-living adjustment so we can show up rested and focused on being the best teachers we can be,” Shute wrote ..read more

School cleanliness was the biggest issue that Sulphur Springs Union School District students cited in a survey sent out by the district to help create the 2024-25 local control and accountability plan.  The survey, conducted in March, saw 58 transitional kindergarten and first-grade classes submit responses as well as 3,590 individual responses from students in grades two through six.   Of those responses, 50% of the former group disagreed with the statement, “I feel my school is clean,” while 48.5% of the latter group disagreed with that statement.  Parents were presented ..read more

Recently unsealed court records offered a glimpse into the events surrounding a June 1 shooting and how investigators can try to piece together what happened with cell phone records when those involved aren’t cooperating.  The victim was a passenger in a black Chevrolet truck near an entrance to Mulberry Mobile Home Park in the 25000 block of Hawkbryn Avenue when two suspects “wearing ski masks, armed with semiautomatic pistols,” approached their car parked south of Wabuska Street.  The suspects fired into the truck, striking the victim twice in the torso, and then fled the area in a ..read more

After 51 years as a local school board member, Joan MacGregor announced at Wednesday’s Santa Clarita Community College District board of trustees meeting that she is planning to step down.  She said in a phone interview on Thursday that she will not carry out the final two and a half years of her term and will likely submit her resignation in July.  “It’s just time for me, personally,” MacGregor said, adding that she is very proud of her service. Previously a member of the Sulphur Springs Union School District governing board for 20 years before spending the past 31 years as a truste ..read more

News release  Two classic one-act comedies written by the late James McLure are coming to The Main in Old Town Newhall for a two-weekend run starting May 10.  The plays tell the story of a small 1970s Texas town from two very different perspectives.   In the first play, “Laundry and Bourbon,” Elizabeth, Hattie and Amy Lee share a daily tradition of sipping bourbon, folding laundry and swapping local gossip about the men in act two.  In the second play, “Lone Star,” the audience meets the men of the same town: Roy, his younger brother Ray, and Cletis. They are set up ou ..read more