Primary results and more in today’s Daily Brief.
News
- Primary Results: With 100% of California precincts reporting, we can see how the candidates did on somewhat of a local level. In California’s 25th District, where Buck McKeon set up a Mitt Romney phone operation, John McCain beat the former Massachusetts governor by about 1,300 votes, while Hillary Clinton bested Barack Obama by almost 8,000 votes. Turnout by Democrats and Republicans seemed to be equal in CA-25. Some 7,000 GOP voters marked their ballots for Huckabee, which probably doomed Romney locally. More data, including county details, available here and Parimal Rohit has more on locals who voted and watched as the results came in.
- Some problems at the polls: Signal writer Jim Holt reports today that some precincts in the SCV ran out of Republican ballots, and said some voters contacted the Signal to complain that poll workers weren’t checking the ID of voters. Technically, I think it’s illegal to challenge voters for ID since it amounts to a poll test, and Holt has more on that in his article today. Meanwhile, the LA Times reports that independent voters faced a confusing ballot and contradictory instructions from poll workers.
- Saugus Booster club disbanded? Girls softball team parents say Principal Bill Bolde and the softball coach at Saugus High have disbanded the softball team booster club in retaliation for a Title IX complaint filed in December, according to the Signal. Parents plan to meet tonight. “I’m shocked,” one told the Signal.
- Canyon Country teens arrested for making pipe bomb: The three teens, aged 15, 17, and 18, were observed “constructing a pipe bomb in the 19000 block of Friendly Valley Parkway.” The 18 year old is facing charges with possession of bomb making material, exploding a bomb, and possession of a pipe bomb. He’s being held on $150,000 bail. A resident reported the youths to the Sheriff’s office and apparently detained them until the fuzz arrived. SCVSheriff.com
- More real estate reports: The Signal today reported what we saw here yesterday: home sales in the SCV in 2007 were the lowest since 1998. The article has more details on the SCV market, so it’s worth a read. And over at Linda Slocum’s blog are Los Angeles County foreclosure statistics. Santa Clarita doesn’t place in the top 20 for trustee sales according to the data.
- New kiddie park at Magic Mountain: The park known for XTREME!1!one! roller coasters is making yet another attempt at being family friendly by building a Thomas the Tank Engine ride in what looks to be a new kid-themed park next to Bugs Bunny World. Your hyper, excited kid can enjoy the new rides this summer. I guess we’re not worried about Magic Mountain closing anymore.
LA Times Travel blog
Opinion & Miscellaneous:
- Ron Paul voters are vocal: I’ve only seen two campaign signs in the days ahead of yesterday’s primary vote. The vast majority were standard Mitt Romney signs placed in lawns in front of houses in certain areas of Newhall and ALL OVER Stevenson Ranch. Ron Paul supporters, however, didn’t have official signs. I spotted hand-made Ron Paul banners on paseo bridges in Valencia, over Interstate 5, and around Town Center Drive. Ron Paul doesn’t sit well with everyone though; one man says the four tires on his truck were slashed in Santa Clarita by a Ron Paul hater, and he posted a video on YouTube about it (warning, obscenity). Link
- Daily News editorial on Las Lomas: The Los Angeles City Council needs to “fully vet” the massive, controversial, 5,500 home project in our mountains, the Daily News says in a rather wimpy editorial.
- New Newhall Library survey: The City, County, and Library system are asking for your input on the proposed new library in Downtown Newhall. Linda Slocum has commentary on the poll.