Local student named to dean’s list at Missouri State  Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the fall semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.  Justin Curtis, from Santa Clarita, made the list. Curtis was among more than 5,100 students named to the fall 2023 dean’s list.  Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs.  Local stude ..read more

When I first started writing these articles, I said that America needed a new Ronald Regan. I had hoped one would be found during the primary process and would become the Republican nominee. Rightly or wrongly, the Republican voters in the primaries support President Donald Trump and he is the Republican nominee.  Irrespective of where you are politically, I think most people can accept that President Trump dominates the political agenda and the media. He stirs great passions whether you love him or hate him. There are few Americans without a strong opinion on him.  I happen to be on ..read more

Could someone please explain why in Canyon Country, near Discovery Park, that a pump station in the river is pumping thousands of gallons of water back into the river. It’s been going on for weeks. Is it ground/well water or domestic? Maybe the city, Santa  Clarita Valley Water Agency or The Signal could shed some light on the operation. Just wondering.  Bill Stires Canyon Country Editor’s note: We checked, and here’s what’s going on there: According to the city of Santa Clarita, the neighborhood surrounding Discovery Park is prone to high groundwater issues, which led the city to in ..read more

I almost upchucked my oatmeal breakfast when I read the recent (June 11) Signal deckhead, “Local Salvation Army chapter hosts inaugural Donut Day event.” Most of the rest of the article, including the main headline, spells the fried cake as “doughnut”—consistent with Associated Press style. Exceptions are the jump head (“Donuts”) and specific references to the Salvation Army event. I love The Signal. It’s been an important part of my life since my wife and I moved to Santa Clarita decades ago. But inconsistencies in spelling upset my stomach. When I see headlines that are not properly spelled ..read more

Rep. Mike Garcia’s April 20 column in The Signal proved that he panders to the most radical wing of his party. He seems to have forgotten how to be a patriot after leaving the U.S. Navy. For example, he attacks the FBI director as being too political. This is absurd. Garcia cannot cite one example where Chris Wray has been political in the execution of his office. He blames Wray for the mess on our southern border, which the FBI has ZERO responsibility for. This from a member of the party that denied a vote on a bipartisan Senate bill to augment our border security and correct inadequacies in ..read more

President Joe Biden has done more to promote transgender ideology than any president, ever. A scroll through the White House archives shows statement after statement, proclamation after proclamation, speech after speech, in which the president praises what he calls the “extraordinary courage and contributions” of transgender Americans.  Last year, the White House, as part of its observation of Transgender Day of Visibility — an event that included the White House Roundtable on Affirming Transgender Kids — the Biden administration released a list of 42 actions and policy initiatives it has ..read more

It is disturbing and unfortunate that children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rate.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the leading cause of death for children and the second leading cause of unintentional deaths. As a mother and grandmother living in Southern California, water safety has always been a top priority.   Whether it was a family party, children’s playdate or simply going to the pool to cool off, making sure my children were able to swim was always important.   As a family-forward community, the golden rule of water ..read more

News release   Soroptimist International of Valencia is scheduled Aug. 2 to host “Laughs for a Cause,” a special event celebrating the organization’s 50th anniversary benefiting its dream programs: Live Your Dream and Dream it Be it.   These programs further the club’s mission since 1974 of improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to economic empowerment, said a news release from the organization.   The comedy event is scheduled 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Canyon Theatre Guild, 24242 Main St., Old Town Newhall. Featured performers are scheduled t ..read more

As the city’s monthslong budgeting process comes to a close, the Santa Clarita City Council gave its first approval of the city’s spending plan and annual review of its capital improvement program Tuesday.  Santa Clarita’s largest budget yet totals $342.4 million, which includes funding for major projects, the Redevelopment Successor Agency, operations and maintenance, personnel and debt services.  The 2024-25 spending plan is about $20.6 million more than last year’s, which represents a roughly 6.4% increase.  As part of process, City Manager Ken Striplin once again reviewed so ..read more

More than a dozen residents came together Tuesday to express their concerns about what they called the city’s attempt to expand weekday or weekend service at the expense of its commuter line to downtown Los Angeles.  Some called the morning service on the 799 line to downtown Los Angeles a “lifeline,” expressing safety concerns about their alternatives and upset the city is looking to cut a service they rely on, as the city looks to increase local ridership.   Santa Clarita Transit officials said they began work with a consultant earlier this year to evaluate its transportation ..read more