San Fernando Valleywide

Chilly and windy overnight temperatures throughout the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys caused three area emergency homeless shelters to open over the weekend. "Actually it hasn't been cold enough in most areas. They've opened mostly because of wind," said Paul Rossi, program coordinator for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which administers funding for 20 county shelters.

San Fernando Valley home prices jumped 5.6% in February as tight inventories helped reverse a general decline in prices since last August. The median cost of a single-family resale home (the price at which half of the homes sold for more and half for less) was $247,000 in February, up $13,000 over the previous month, according to the Southland Regional Assn. of Realtors. The median price hit a record $255,000 last August before sinking to $234,000 in January.

San Fernando Valley home prices jumped 5.6% in February as tight inventories helped reverse a general decline in prices since last August. The median cost of a single-family resale home (the price at which half of the homes sold for more and half for less) was $247,000 in February, up $13,000 over the previous month, according to the Southland Regional Assn. of Realtors. The median price hit a record $255,000 last August before sinking to $234,000 in January.

Mayoral candidates Steve Soboroff, Joel Wachs and James Hahn have all decided to put their campaign headquarters in the San Fernando Valley, signaling the significant role they expect Valley voters to play in electing the City of Los Angeles' next chief executive. Valley voters made up 48% of all those who went to the polls citywide in the Nov. 7 election, even though the Valley is home to only 38% of the city's registered voters.

Under his proposal, no District C student would be able to graduate from high school this year without a professional work portfolio, Supt. Robert Collins told area business leaders Wednesday. And starting with the 2001-02 school year, no District C student would be able to graduate from high school without a commitment and documented acceptance to a four-year college, a community college or a vocational or technical school.

Some of the students had never cared about politics before. Others said they had been too busy to register. But faced with their last chance Tuesday, first-timers eager to register to vote crowded around Agnes Goodman's table at Pierce College on Tuesday afternoon. Goodman, vice president of the Valley West Democratic Club in Woodland Hills, happily helped about 35 students fill out their forms. "I didn't think one vote really mattered," said Branden Marks, 20, of West Hills.

Mayoral candidates Steve Soboroff, Joel Wachs and James Hahn have all decided to put their campaign headquarters in the San Fernando Valley, signaling the significant role they expect Valley voters to play in electing the City of Los Angeles' next chief executive. Valley voters made up 48% of all those who went to the polls citywide in the Nov. 7 election, even though the Valley is home to only 38% of the city's registered voters.

A $55-million plan to convert sewage to drinking water came under fire Monday as critics accused the Department of Water and Power of failing to adequately disclose and explain its impact on Los Angeles' water supply. But most speakers at the council committee hearing said the project itself is safe and necessary.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area would receive $3.3 million to buy land and make improvements under legislation that advanced Friday. A total of $2 million would be spent to widen the 65-mile Backbone Trail and another $1.345 million would be used to improve roads, parking and restrooms and build a small amphitheater for educational programs in Solstice Canyon. The bill passed by the U.S.

With less than three weeks before the election, candidates in four key state legislative races clashed Friday over the best way to fix schools and to halt the flight of film production. The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. forums, attended by about 50 San Fernando Valley business leaders at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, featured sharp exchanges involving all eight major party candidates in the 21st Senate District and the 41st, 43rd and 44th Assembly districts.

With less than three weeks before the election, candidates in four key state legislative races clashed Friday over the best way to fix schools and to halt the flight of film production. The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. forums, attended by about 50 San Fernando Valley business leaders at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, featured sharp exchanges involving all eight major party candidates in the 21st Senate District and the 41st, 43rd and 44th Assembly districts.

Some of the students had never cared about politics before. Others said they had been too busy to register. But faced with their last chance Tuesday, first-timers eager to register to vote crowded around Agnes Goodman's table at Pierce College on Tuesday afternoon. Goodman, vice president of the Valley West Democratic Club in Woodland Hills, happily helped about 35 students fill out their forms. "I didn't think one vote really mattered," said Branden Marks, 20, of West Hills.

Dain Blanton, a former Pepperdine All-American, and Eric Fonoimoana turned emotion and intensity into gold at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The Americans displayed an unmatched intensity and unrivaled emotion in winning five consecutive matches and the gold medal in men's beach volleyball.

Under his proposal, no District C student would be able to graduate from high school this year without a professional work portfolio, Supt. Robert Collins told area business leaders Wednesday. And starting with the 2001-02 school year, no District C student would be able to graduate from high school without a commitment and documented acceptance to a four-year college, a community college or a vocational or technical school.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area would receive $3.3 million to buy land and make improvements under legislation that advanced Friday. A total of $2 million would be spent to widen the 65-mile Backbone Trail and another $1.345 million would be used to improve roads, parking and restrooms and build a small amphitheater for educational programs in Solstice Canyon. The bill passed by the U.S.

The Los Angeles Community College District has been awarded $10 million from a new federal program designed to help so-called "Hispanic-serving institutions." Valley, Trade-Technical, Harbor, City and Southwest colleges will receive portions of the five-year grant, said John Rude, resource development director for the Los Angeles district. Other local colleges that received grants include Antelope Valley College and El Camino College.

A San Fernando Valley group learned Monday that it has collected enough valid signatures to move forward with its goal of breaking up the 710,000-student Los Angeles Unified School District. The group, Finally Restoring Excellence in Education--known as FREE--collected 20,962 signatures of residents advocating the creation of two new school districts in the Valley, according to the county office of education, which validated the signatures.

A divided Los Angeles Planning Commission Thursday recommended the creation of six regional planning panels, including two in the San Fernando Valley, to provide residents with more localized decision-making. Commissioner Rodger Landau said the new system of Area Planning Commissions, scheduled to begin operation July 1 after final approval by the City Council, will bring planning decisions closer to the neighborhoods they affect. "It will keep local planning decisions local," Landau said.

A $55-million plan to convert sewage to drinking water came under fire Monday as critics accused the Department of Water and Power of failing to adequately disclose and explain its impact on Los Angeles' water supply. But most speakers at the council committee hearing said the project itself is safe and necessary.

Two infestations of the imported red fire ant--more than 1 million strong combined--have been found in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County agricultural officials said Thursday. The ants, which can swarm their victims and inflict painful bites and stings, were located last month at a Mission Hills cemetery and a Chatsworth business. The discovery comes a little more than a year after a single ant was found in a mound near a Van Nuys home.