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

(From the FT.com) Toyota’s 1,200 US dealers are putting a brave face on the recall of vehicles with potentially defective accelerator pedals and a freeze on sales of some of Toyota’s most popular models. “We have a lot of confidence in Toyota that they’ll expedite this recall and get on to bigger and better things,” said John Ball, sales manager at Tansky Sawmill Toyota, a dealership situated on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio. (more…)

(From the WSJ.com) Ordinarily, when a great writer dies, it is easy to know what to feel. We are grateful for everything he has given us, and we grieve that he will not be giving us anything more; in time, we start asking the questions, about the nature and quality of his books, that constitute a writer’s real afterlife and the best tribute we can pay him. That is more or less what happened when John Updike died last year, and when Saul Bellow died in 2005. (more…)

From Science Today) Haile Gebrselassie, the world’s fastest marathoner, once said of his early career, “When I wore shoes, it was difficult.” A new study reveals why: Humans run differently in bare feet. Researchers have discovered that sneakers and other sports shoes alter our natural gait, which normally protects us from the impact of running. The finding offers new insight on how early humans ran and raises concerns that sports shoes may promote more injuries than they prevent. (more…)

(From the L.A. Times) Last week brought a blizzard of polling on how Californians feel about their government and the economy. In two words: dislike and despair. The fine print suggested we should save a little distaste for ourselves.

A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that, overwhelmingly, Californians want themselves — not the governor or the Legislature — to be in charge of big budget matters. (more…)

(From the N.Y. Times) Republican leaders burst into applause here the other day as their luncheon speaker, Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii, shared the latest analysis by a Washington Congressional handicapper: The way things are heading, she read, “you can count on the Democratic majority in the House being toast this fall.” (more…)

(From The Huffington Post) Republican gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman is severing ties with an elected official who described himself as a “proud racist.” (more…)

(From the WSJ.com) Nestled in the list of small-business initiatives that President Barack Obama announced in the State of the Union address was a measure providing incentives to small firms that hire employees and raise wages. The details of the initiative, which Mr. Obama is expected to highlight when he visits Baltimore today, include a $5,000 tax credit for every net new employee in 2010. This credit would be retroactive to the beginning of the calendar year and could be received on a quarterly basis, if the business so chooses. (more…)

(From Science Daily) In response to the disaster in Haiti on Jan. 12, NASA has added a series of science overflights of earthquake faults in Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola to a previously scheduled three-week airborne radar campaign to Central America. NASA’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar, or UAVSAR, left NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., on Jan. 25 aboard a modified NASA Gulfstream III aircraft. (more…)

(From the Sacramento Bee) A board that oversees vocational training and work programs in California prisons has voted to stop allowing undocumented immigrant inmates set for deportation to participate.

California Prisons Industry Authority spokesman Tom Collins said the aim of the Prison Industry Board action Thursday is to “ensure that the effective vocational training that CalPIA provides is first applied to inmates who will return to California’s communities following their parole, rather than training individuals who will not.” (more…)

(From the L.A. Times) Think your commute is safer now that California requires drivers to use hands-free cellphones? Maybe not. A new study from the Highway Loss Data Institute released Friday found that the rate of crashes before and after the landmark law took effect in 2008 has not significantly changed. (more…)

(From the N.Y. Times) The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in more than six years at the end of 2009, even as businesses resisted hiring and continued to do more with less. The broadest measure of economic activity, gross domestic product, expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, after a 2.2 percent increase the previous quarter. (more…)

(From the FT.com) President Barack Obama was on Tuesday facing a growing backlash from his liberal base in advance of Wednesday night’s State of the Union address in which he will make fiscal deficit reduction a top priority for his administration. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing East Canyon to the Weldon Lookout this Saturday, January 30. This is approximately an 8 miles hike with the first 3 miles uphill. Gain is about 1300 ft. Once at the top of the ridge, you will be able to see the San Fernando Valley. There will be some great views, and possibly the first few wildflowers peeking through, so bring your camera. (more…)

(From SmartMoney) Shoppers hunting for a good deal on a new flat-screen before the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts meet to battle for Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida on Feb. 7 won’t need to resort to a Hail Mary Pass. (That’s lingo for a desperate and usually unsuccessful maneuver, for you non-football fans.) (more…)

(From Science Daily) A new study led by Mount Sinai researchers in collaboration with scientists from Cornell University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has found higher prenatal exposure to phthalates — manmade chemicals that interfere with hormonal messaging — to be connected with disruptive and problem behaviors in children between the ages of 4 and 9 years. (more…)

The following is a roundup of political activity 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…)

On Tuesday January 26^th New Moon Valencia held its first 5-courses 5-wines pairing dinner featuring Michael-David Family of Wines. This was something so new for Santa Clarita – a Chinese Food and wine pairing – that I had to attend. New Moon is usually described as a Chinese restaurant; this night I was to find that their “Asian –Fusion” styled food is not your typical Chinese.  (more…)

On January 21, in between rain storms that threatened all of Santa Clarita, over 250 residents stepped out and into a cause: “Pour Into Haiti”.   The brain-child of Roman Weiser (Santa Clarita Valley Vintners and Growers Association), Eve Bushman (writer and marketing) and David Schutz (owner, All Corked Up) a fundraiser was planned and executed in one week.  Over $4000 was given that night to Shannon Hoffman and Brendie Bandara of Three Angels Children’s Relief in Haiti.  (more…)