![[L to R] Fred Thompson and Roxana Martinez.](http://theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AVTA-new-members-Fred-Thompson-Roxana-Martinez-150x150.jpg)
LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) will be welcoming a new member to its board of directors at the upcoming meeting Feb. 24. Palmdale City Councilmember Fred Thompson was appointed to the AVTA Board by a unanimous vote of the Palmdale City Council at its Feb. 4 meeting. Thompson, who has been serving…
LANCASTER – City Council members Tuesday night voted 4-0, with Mayor R. Rex Parris absent, to introduce a program they say would counter the criminal impact on local communities due to recent state laws. To discourage people from committing crimes such as shoplifting, theft, buying or receiving stolen property, unlawful dumping, vandalism, and other nonviolent…
PALMDALE – The Palmdale City Council appointed Roxana Martinez at its January 14 meeting to fill the seat vacated by newly elected State Assemblyman Tom Lackey. Martinez had been serving as the Vice-Chair of the Palmdale Planning Commission, and has served on the Commission since 2012. A long-time resident of the Antelope Valley, she earned…
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley) was officially sworn in Tuesday as a member of the 114th Congress. “I am thrilled to start in my new role as a member of the House of Representatives and to begin serving the people of the 25th Congressional District,” stated Knight. This marks Knight’s inaugural term…
HIGH DESERT – Former Assembly Member and state Senator Sharon Runner is considering a run for the state Senate District 21 seat soon to be vacated by Steve Knight. In a news release issued Monday, Runner said she was “responding to the massive outpouring of support and encouragement from community leaders and district residents asking…
SACRAMENTO – Assembly member Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, has been appointed to the State Assembly Public Safety Committee, which shapes California’s criminal justice laws and policies. Lackey also will serve on Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5, which handles all appropriations for public safety programs. Drawing from 28 years as a California Highway Patrol officer, Lackey’s expertise will…
STUDIO CITY – The Democratic Club of the High Desert (DCHD) awarded Palmdale resident Gary Cohen as its 2014 Volunteer of the Year. Cohen was also honored Saturday during the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley’s annual Truman Awards luncheon. Truman honorees embody President Harry S. Truman’s legacy with their principled activism, courage under fire,…
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, took the oath of office Monday as the new representative for California’s 36th Assembly District. “It is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime to represent my community and the Antelope Valley in the state capitol,” Lackey stated in a press release. “I’m determined to work in partnership…
PALMDALE – Mayor Jim Ledford announced to local media Monday morning that he’s forming an exploratory committee to evaluate his candidacy for the 21st state Senate District seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Steve Knight, R-Antelope Valley. Mayor Ledford said the committee will examine his viability as a candidate by communicating with individuals in…
ANTELOPE VALLEY – Local voters took to the polls Tuesday for the 2014 General Election, and here are the final numbers for races and issues of interest to Antelope Valley constituents: Semi-official election results for the 23rd Congressional District race, which covers most of Kern County and part of the Antelope Valley, placed Rep. Kevin…
PALMDALE –- The Court of Appeal of the State of California Second Appellate District Division Five on Monday granted an immediate stay to the recent court order requested by plaintiff’s attorneys R. Rex Parris and Kevin Shenkman to require a hearing on Nov. 21 to show cause regarding contempt by the Palmdale City Council in…
PALMDALE –The City of Palmdale will file an appeal Monday morning (Nov. 3) after the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles today granted a request by plaintiff’s attorneys R. Rex Parris and Kevin Shenkman to require a hearing on Nov. 21 to show cause regarding contempt by the Palmdale City Council in the…
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill (AB) 1607, a bill revising the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Act to make the process of conditional release of these offenders more transparent, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. “This law allows communities to retain local control in the management of sexually violent predators when they are released from…
PALMDALE – The campaign to re-elect California Assemblyman Steve Fox has responded to a lawsuit filed this week against Fox, calling it a meritless claim by a disgruntled former employee. In a written statement, Campaign Consultant Lisa Gasperoni said: “I think the timing of this flawed legal claim says it all. Some have pointed out…
SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that grants the grandparents of children with incarcerated parents the right to petition to visit with the children. The Grandparents Visitation Rights Bill, AB 1628, received unanimous bipartisan support in the legislature and will take effect January 1, according to Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale).…
PALMDALE – The public is invited to a debate next week featuring California Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale) and Republican challenger Tom Lackey. The event is being presented by the Junior State of America (JSA) club at Guidance Charter High School (GCS). “This is a student-run forum that will be moderated by the students,” said GCS Executive…
LOS ANGELES COUNTY—The Department of Public Social Services issued nearly $639 million in welfare and food stamp benefits to illegal immigrant parents for their native-born children in 2013 – and $304 million so far in the first six months of 2014, according to an announcement by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The more…
PALMDALE – Palmdale received another legal setback when the California Supreme Court refused to review its appeal over the California Voting Rights Act court decision against the city from Nov. 27. City officials responded with a statement Wednesday announcing that their attorneys are preparing final appeal briefs on the original trial decision for the currently…
SACRAMENTO – Two bills addressing the needs of California’s aging population have been sent to the governor for consideration, according to an announcement by Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale). “These laws provide a way to keep families together and keep older members of our families healthier,” Fox stated. Assembly Bill (AB) 1628 would allow the grandparents…