The West Ranch Beacon – News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley

(From Science Daily) Australian researchers have come one step closer to understanding how the rhythm of the heartbeat is controlled and why many common drugs, including some antibiotics, antihistamines and anti-psychotics, can cause a potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythm. (more…)

The following is political activity for Monday, January 31, 2011, going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available. (more…)

Right in the heart of the City of Santa Clarita there could possibly be another toxic Love Canal. For those of you not familiar with the name “Love Canal” it harkens back to the late 1970′s to a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York. There was a contaminated track of land then owned by the Hooker Chemical Company which was sold to the Niagara Falls School Board to build the 99^th Street Elementary School with a new neighborhood of homes being built on an adjacent parcel of land. (more…)

The longest running wine bar and retail shop in town, Valencia Wine Company, has something new to stock your bar. Guy Lelarge chose Amazon to host his first International Wine Club. “I’m headed to Vin Expo in Bordeaux this summer to select next year’s wine for the International Club,” began Lelarge.  “The Amazon club has shown tremendous growth in just a few short months.  I will continue to select and purchase wines from all over the globe to be offered monthly to my clientele from all around the United States, as well as maintaining my original local wine club.” (more…)

As California wrestles with attempting to close an estimated $25.5 billion budget gap, voters seem hopelessly ignorant of the real culprit of the State’s disastrous economic condition. In January 2010, San Francisco-based think tank Public Policy Institute conducted a scientific poll representing California voters’ political affiliation of approximately, 44% of registered Democrat, 30% Republicans and the remainder declining to state or independent. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) As Gov. Jerry Brown lays out his first-term agenda Monday, he confronts a thorny array of environmental and energy issues, many with a potential to drive billions of dollars in state and private spending and have a major effect on public health. (more…)

Recent incidents including those involving children as they walk to and from school and their activities, remind us all to stay aware of good ways to maximize kids safety.  These child safety tips are provided to remind parents and caregivers that regular discussions with your children is a great parenting practice.  Although there are some days where you may doubt it, your children really do listen to you.  They rely on you more than anyone else to guide them and their safety. (more…)

(From the economist.com) First, the good news. According to preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, American economic growth continued to accelerate as expected in the fourth quarter of 2010. Real GDP expanded at a 3.2% annual pace, up from 2.6% in the third quarter and the fastest pace since the first three months of the year. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) Nobody around here doubts that the pie is getting smaller. With the state facing a $25 billion budget gap, cuts have to come from somewhere. So in the two weeks since the newly installed Gov. Jerry Brown released his budget proposal, the howls of complaints have come from nearly every corner. (more…)

(From the AP) A Central California company is recalling four brands of fresh cilantro because they may be contaminated with salmonella. Sabor Farms in Salinas announced the recall Friday. The recalled cilantro was sold between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 under the labels Nature’s Reward, Ocean Mist, Tanimura & Antle and Queen Victoria. (more…)

(From the wsj.com) It’s that time again: tax-filing season. Most employers have to send workers their W-2 wage reports by the end of January, and, with luck, banks and brokers won’t be far behind with 1099 forms detailing interest and investment income. (more…)

A 42-year old South Los Angeles man was arrested by Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau detectives Friday morning, after a series of recent phone calls threatening to kill retired U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson (D) 33rd Congressional district. Suspect Sheron Nelson, a 42-year old African-American man was arrested in South Los Angeles at the office of his state parole agent. (more…)

(From the wsj.com) California cities such as Los Angeles and Fremont are rushing to commit tax money to new buildings, street repairs and additional blight-removal projects, ahead of Gov. Jerry Brown’s drive to spend the funds on other state priorities. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) The Fair Political Practices Commission today adopted new rules to strengthen disclosure requirements for slate mailers. The mass-produced mail pieces, often labeled as “voter guides,” urge support or opposition for a series of candidates or issues on the ballot, many of whom pay to be included on the slate. (more…)

(From the ft.com) The grim report this week from congressional analysts that the US budget deficit would hit a record this year provoked virulent criticism of the Obama administration. Left largely unsaid, however, was that the short-term surge in the deficit was the product of the $858bn tax-cut deal made in December between the Republican leadership and the US president. (more…)

(From the AP/Yahoo news) One year after J.D. Salinger’s death, we know little more about him than we did in his lifetime. That has not kept outsiders from trying, or insiders from resisting. Rumors of completed, unpublished manuscripts remain rumors; no one is talking. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Sullivan/Rustic Canyon on Saturday, January 28, 2011. This is a moderately paced 8 mile hike with an 800 ft elevation gain; it’s a fascinating hike in Sullivan and Rustic Canyons. See the remnants of structures of a WWII Nazi camp and then later an Artist’s colony. Lush ferns, large oaks, sycamores and maples cover the canyon floor, creating a tropical prehistoric feel. (more…)

(From the wsj.com) Shoppers looking for the cheapest airfare can learn something from stand-up comedians: It’s all about timing. Ticket prices are highest on weekends, on average, according to online travel agencies, fare trackers and airline pricing executives. (more…)

(From Science Daily) A new study takes a close look at the brain of the migratory monarch butterfly to better understand how these remarkable insects use an internal compass and skylight cues to navigate from eastern North America to Mexico each fall. The research, published by Cell Press in the January 27 issue of the journal Neuron, provides key insights into how ambiguous sensory signals can be integrated in the brain to guide complex navigation. (more…)

The following is political activity for Friday, January 28, 2011, going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.(US Flag by Jasper Johns). (more…)