A brush fire in the Newhall Pass between Los Angeles and Santa Clarita Valley has prompted officials to close all northbound lanes, according to an e-mail alert from KNX1070. Traffic is being re-routed from the northbound 5 freeway to 14. An alternative route that may help is Santa Clarita's cross-valley connector. more ›

The sunsets are sure pretty in Awesometown, but we're not sure how awesome Valencia really is. Considering that people actually are camping out waiting for the opening of a Chick-fil-A, these people seem awesomely bored. Or maybe they are the smartest people around -- depends on how you look at it. The first 100 people in line get 52 free sandwiches. No, no, not all at once. They get a free sandwich each week for a year. more ›

A brush fire that has broken out on the eastside of the 5 Freeway in the Newhall Pass has severely slowed traffic from Los Angeles to the Santa Clarita Valley. The five-acre fire eruprted this afternoon and is threatening a dozen homes in the Newhall area, according to CBS2. The California Highway Patrol hopes to open at least one lane on the northbound 5 Freeway soon, but recommends commuters take the 14 Freeway and avoid The Old Road. Update: The fire has grown to about 15 acres. Update #2: The fire is reportedly almost under control, but traffic is still hellish. more ›

Some ten years after breaking ground, Santa Clarita officials last week opened the last segment of an 8.5 mile road that they hoped would relieve traffic throughout the city and valley. So far, the Cross-Valley Connector, which diagonally connects the 14 freeway with the 126 highway, has worked, city officials are touting today. more ›

So you go the gas pump, insert your card and fill the tank. What you may not know is that a thief installed a card skimmer on the pump so they could steal your info and re-crete the card for their own purchase. Three prolific identify theft suspects were arrested of just that today by a large task force led by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department with the FBI, LAPD, Glendale Police, ICE, USPS and U.S. Attorneys Office. more ›

Life is really, really boring in the bubble that is the Santa Clarita Valley. Thankfully, running amock can fill the lack of things-to-do void. A large group of zombies attacked Valencia neighborhood businesses last night prompting an LAist reader who was shopping at Target to ask us what the heck was going on. "I did not appreciate looking at iPod headphones when some child running down the isle screamed 'THE ZOMBIES ARE HERE RUNN FOR YOUR LIFEEEEE.' Then there were forty 15-year-olds running at me," she wrote, explaining that the iPod gift card rack was knocked over and that apparently one zombie was hit by the car in the parking lot of Whole Foods (nutty video here of hundreds attacking Target and this one, too). Over 500 people confirmed attending Zombie Invasion SCV on Facebook and the valley's local radio station reported "several hundred" zombies seen around town. more ›

State parks may be threatened, but worse is the total elimination of domestic violence funding in the 2009/10 budget signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. It was a surprise to many when he added nearly a half billion in extra cuts including more to parks and to various health programs on Tuesday. The Domestic Violence Center in the Santa Clarita Valley is the only agency that provides domestic violence services in the 200-square mile valley. As a result of Schwarzenegger's cut, which is immediate, they've lost 45%, or $207,222.00, of their annual funding more ›

A new bus line between the Santa Clarita and the NoHo Metro Red/Orange Line stations will begin service next week. This is actually a pretty good idea for the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County as Metrolink trains run between the city and downtown, but only six days a week as opposed to the NoHo Express, which will run everyday. Additionally, this delivers commuters to a transit hub. Service will begin on August 1st with the first two weeks completely free of charge. Then if riders want to ride for the rest of the month for free, they can take an online survey to give feedback on the route. Wow, immediate feedback and evaluation so they can improve service right away? Imagine if all government agencies did that? more ›

With parts of the Valley at 83 degrees at noon, it was a welcome surprise after yesterday's blistering temps and with LA County public health officials extending a week long heat alert through today. Of course, the Antelope Valley has already hit triple digits with the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys to follow, but the National Weather Service is no longer predicting that nor are they reporting high temperatures at the height of the day. Temperatures for both valleys are in the 80s. However, an air quality adivosry has been sent out for the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys stating the air is unhealthy for sensitive--old, young, sick prone--individuals. more ›

Typical for the Los Angeles area, beaches are experiencing upper 60s to mid 70s while more inland, highs will reach the mid 80s, according to the National Weather Service. In the Hollywood Hills and Valley, expect the 90s. However, the LA County Public Health Office today released a warning for the Santa Clarita Valley: "High temperatures are forecasted for today and tomorrow in the Santa Clarita Valley, with the heat index forecast to reach 104 degrees today and 101 degrees tomorrow.... 'While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded how to take care of themselves, children, the elderly, and their pets when the weather gets hotter,' said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer.'" more ›

Working at a fast-food Chinese eatery in Valenica is probably not tops for thrills, unless you've got a little secret stashed away on the job. Such was the case for Diego Ortiz of Santa Clarita, who "was arrested Friday and charged with making pictures of female co-workers undressing in a restroom" at the Hungry Ninja in Valencia, explains the Signal. Ortiz was busted "after a female co-worker discovered a cell phone video camera hidden in the employee's restroom and made a report at the Sheriff's station." Ortiz had stashed the camera "in a box behind a pinhole," according to the authorities. He has been released and is awaiting his court appearance. more ›

An "urgent weather message" from the National Weather Service at 2:45 a.m. warns of a dense fog advisory throughout portions of the Los Angeles region including downtown, coastal areas in LA County, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura and Santa Barbara. It could reduce freeway and roadway visibility to "one quarter mile or less through mid morning," the service says. The advisory officially will end at 9 a.m., so enjoy it while it lasts. more ›

As the Sayre Fire moves northward further into the Santa Clarita Valley and in Placerita Canyon, there is some good news for residents of the San Fernando Valley affected by the blaze. more ›

That is, if you take public transit between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles on Santa Clarita Transit's commuter express routes. Officials in Santa Clarita acted fast to solve a problem they could forsee happening again. A protest a couple months ago in Westwood caused major traffic delays and bus stop changes. With little communication to riders except for e-mail (because not everyone has a Blackberry they check obsessively), that afternoon became a bit hectic for commuters who didn't know what to do. more ›

Smoke from the Sesnon and Marek fires continue to affect the San Fernando, Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys, including the immediate areas around fire scorched San Gabriel Mountains. However, the South Coast Air Quality Management District adds a new warning today with the changing winds: "As the winds diminish and shift, additional areas may experience smoke and ash, causing air quality to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher." Basically, continue to keep those windows shut and avoid vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion, they say. LA County's Dept. of Public Health recommends that "all individuals wanting to pursue any outdoor activities in areas where smoke, soot, or ash can be seen or there is an odor of smoke" should be avoided. more ›

Due to the Marek and Sesnon fires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District is sending out daily advisories. Today, they warn people in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains near the fires. "Concentrations of fine particulate may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category or higher in areas impacted by the fires," the advisory says. "As the winds diminish and shift, additional areas may experience smoke and ash, causing air quality to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher." As usual, they say that outdoor activity and even indoor activity should be avoided. Bad example: Fox 11 showed a man going for a run, jogging suit and all, in Porter Ranch this morning. more ›

Or, if there are, they opted not to drive where the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies had set up a DUI checkpoint on Friday night. The checkpoint, which was "set up at the westbound side of Lyons Avenue just west of Avenida Dorena from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m." had 704 cars pass through, but only three drivers were taken off the line for additional sobriety tests. At the end of the night, though, there had been no arrests made. But while there might not be any drunks driving around Newhall, there were four people among the 704 who were driving sans valid licenses. Lest the whole set-up be a wash, the deputies got to impound all four of the drivers' vehicles and issue citations. more ›

Remember when there was that big freak out in the Santa Clarita Valley? Six Flags Magic Mountain was going to close and quite possibly become torn down for more housing. Not good. The "extreme" roller coaster theme park is the single largest employer in the area, it fills up the hotels with tourists, adding green to the local economy and hey, it's an institution of the little Valley that could (do a lot better than Simi). more ›

Last week's devastating Agua Dulce/Santa Clarita Valley wildfire was started accidentally by a "male juvenile" playing with matches, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday. The Buckweed Fire blackened over 38,000 acres, destroyed more than 60 structures, and led to an estimated $7.4 million in damages. On October 22, one day after the blaze began, a detective questioned a "boy" who "admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire," according to the Sheriff's... more ›