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

At approximately 3:00 PM on Thursday, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station received a 9-1-1 call from a male stating he was in the waters off the Malibu coastline and was having chest pains. Sheriff’s deputies, along with Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard personnel, responded to the area and searched for the male. Approximately 30 minutes later, a Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard boat discovered an overturned kayak and a life vest approximately two miles off shore. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) A shallow magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported Thursday evening eight miles from Mammoth Lakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:18 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 5.6 miles. According to the USGS, the epicenter was 13 miles from Toms Place, 20 miles from Round Valley and 156 miles from Sacramento. In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes magnitude 3.0 and greater centered nearby.

On January 1, 2012, residents will have the opportunity to help celebrate a plastic bag free LA County as more than 700 stores throughout unincorporated Los Angeles County will no longer provide single-use carryout plastic bags. Customers are encouraged to bring their reusable bags when they shop to avoid paying 10 cents for a paper bag. (more…)

The City of Santa Clarita is offering free curbside Christmas tree recycling through January 13, 2012 for all single family and multi-family residents located in the city limits. Single family and multi-family complex residents should place un-flocked, undecorated, unwrapped Christmas trees at the curb on their regular collection. (more…)

In the wake of today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court upholding the elimination of redevelopment agencies, the City of Santa Clarita is partnering with the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) and League of California Cities (League) to work with lawmakers to develop legislation to revive redevelopment in order to protect local jobs and neighborhoods. (more…)

(From the latimes.com) The California Supreme Court threw hundreds of redevelopment agencies out of business in a ruling that will benefit state budget coffers but hobble local economic development and housing programs. The court ruled unanimously in favor of a state law passed last summer that abolished redevelopment agencies and voted 6 to 1 to strike down a companion measure that would have allowed the agencies to continue if they shared their revenues. (more…)

(From smartmoney.com) Home prices continue to fall, but a new group of cities is now leading the declines and posing new problems for home sellers. Data released this morning by the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices shows that nationally home prices posted an annual decline of 3.9% in the third quarter compared to a year ago. But home prices fared far worse in cities that up until recently haven’t been associated with the housing crisis. (more…)

(From Science Daily) A groundbreaking study led by University of Miami (UM) scientist Shimon Wdowinski shows that earthquakes, including the recent 2010 temblors in Haiti and Taiwan, may be triggered by tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons), according to a presentation of the findings at the 2011 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco. (more…)

Well, saddlepals. Last Time Ranger trailride of 2011. I’m betting 2012 will be just a whole lot more successful, foof and boy howdy. There are many interesting vistas ahead today, dear amigos and amigo-ettes. We’ll play one of my favorite games from childhood in Newhall: Hobo Golf. We’ve got cowboys, the world’s strongest boy, Astroturf and spankings. (more…)

California law enforcement officials say New Year’s Eve gunfire could put partiers in prison. As New Year’s Eve approaches, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, Mayor’s Office and District Attorney’s Office have joined forces to launch its Gunfire Reduction Campaign. This campaign is designed to help reduce incidents of indiscriminate gunfire that have become a deadly New Year’s tradition in the city and county. (more…)

(From cnbc.com) New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, a government report showed on Thursday, but the underlying trend continued to point to improving labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 381,000, the Labor Department said. The prior week’s claims data was revised up to 366,000 from the previously reported 364,000. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) The California Supreme Court will rule Thursday on a case with huge implications for the state budget and the future of some 400 local redevelopment agencies. The agencies sued this summer after the budget adopted by lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown allowed agencies to reopen only if they contributed $1.7 billion to schools and $400 million a year thereafter. After oral arguments in October, the high court put the case on the fast track.

(From the AP) Pesticide use in California rose in 2010 after declining for four consecutive years, according to state data released Wednesday. The data released by the Department of Pesticide Regulation shows an increase of nearly 10 percent in pounds of pesticide used from 2009 to 2010. More than 173 million pounds were applied statewide, an increase of nearly 15 million pounds from the previous year. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) The United States economy managed to cope this year despite triple-digit prices for barrels of oil. The lessons may come in handy, economists say, because those prices will probably be sticking around. With Iran threatening to cut off about a fifth of the world’s oil supply by closing the Strait of Hormuz and unrest in Iraq endangering the ability to increase production there, financial analysts say prices for two important oil benchmarks will average from $100 a barrel to $120 a barrel in 2012. (more…)

The 7^th Annual Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival announced today the screening blocks for the festival, which will take place January 5-8, 2012 at the Repertory East Playhouse in Old Town Newhall (24266 Main Street). Several blocks include works submitted by CalArts students and alumni, offering festival attendees a chance to enjoy independent films by some of the world’s best artists. (more…)