By Leon Worden, SCVNews.com

 California is making progress in its ongoing battle with auto thieves.  According to recently released statistics from the California Highway Patrol, last year 156,796 vehicles were stolen in California, a 1.3 percent reduction from 2010.   The rate of vehicle theft in California has dropped since 2006, a positive trend attributed to enforcement, education, and advancing theft deterrent technologies employed by the automotive industry.

A year ago, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 109 diverting convicted felons from state prison and into jail, a place intended minor criminals. This law has resulted in an increased in crimes especially in poor urban areas as convicted felons are released early.

By Leon Worden, SCVNews.com

American Legion Post 507, SCVTV and Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) will host an election preview, “Meet Your Ballot 2012,” at Post 507′s headquarters in Newhall on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Free and open to the public, the event is designed to offer Santa Clarita Valley voters an opportunity to better understand the candidates and propositions on the November ballot.

The event will include a formal presentation from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a voter resource booth will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By Carol Rock

It might be a simple patch of land right now, nestled against a hillside near schools, offices and health care facilities, but the small crowd gathered Monday afternoon have high hopes for it.