Good morning, Santa Clarita.

Yesterday, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and Latino Business Alliance hosted their annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration to honor local leaders and businesses including Dr. Christopher Raygoza and C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling, marking nearly 20 years of partnership with the city—highlighting the growing influence of the Hispanic community.

The Castaic Animal Care Center is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Adoption Event Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 31044 Charlie Canyon Road where adoption fees for pets will be waived and families can get emergency resources; the LA County Fire Department will demonstrate a large animal rescue sling—families can also try a touch-a-truck experience and enjoy food truck offerings.

More than a thousand people gathered Wednesday evening in Valencia at Marketplace Park (near Real Life Church) to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed last week, with tributes by high school students and community leaders.

National reaction followed after controversial remarks led ABC to pull Jimmy Kimmel off air, and a memorial service is set for Sept. 21 (11 a.m.) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Santa Clarita Sister Cities & the city of Santa Clarita announced the winners of the 2025 Young Artists & Authors Showcase themed 'Friendship: The Heartbeat of Global Peace,' featuring student work in art, digital media, creative writing, music, & photography from local schools.

Two students, Sydney Kasahara from Saugus High School & Chloe Pichereau from Academy of the Canyons, won internationally with their entries 'The Language of Friendship' & 'Summerdays.'

College of the Canyons was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Golden Globe Foundation to support its Canyons Media Work Education Experience program that gives students hands-on film and television work—filming for its project 'The Valley' wrapped in May, post-production was completed by August, and the series is set to premiere on SCVTV later this year.

After a successful Tip-A-Cop event on Sept.

23, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will host the fundraiser at Lazy Dog Cafe on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 5—9 p.m. Funds raised will benefit Special Olympics.

Local leaders including Rep. Whitesides and other officials gathered at Santa Clarita Studios on Sept.

13 to honor veterans at the Veteran Services Collaborative’s event Marching on for a Better Tomorrow—raising funds for programs like job placement and mental health care. Speeches highlighted bipartisan support and plans to improve veteran benefits in the community.

The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a closed session Special Meeting at 4:30 p.m. followed by an open session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

23 at City Hall, where local issues will be discussed and the public can participate.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported four people hospitalized with West Nile virus from late July through late August in areas such as Antelope Valley and San Fernando Valley.

Officials urge residents to use insect repellent and remove standing water—steps that help protect against more mosquito bites amid recent rains.

Two doctors from Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital co-authored a paper published online Aug.

6 in the Annals of Surgical Oncology that explains how a genetic testing program at the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center has identified 123 women at increased cancer risk since 2020—helping them receive early treatment or preventive care. A patient learned of her high risk and chose a prophylactic mastectomy last December after testing revealed a BRCA2 mutation.

Victoria Jamison won the Western State Conference Preview event last week at Arroyo Verde Park as she led College of the Canyons’ women’s team to first place with all six runners finishing in the top 25—while the men’s team placed fifth; the team will compete next at the College of Southern Nevada Tri-State Meet on September 26 in Henderson.

The Castaic girls’ flag football team rebounded from four losses with a 26-13 win over Canyon—led by quarterback Larkin Smith’s four touchdown passes.

Coach William Jones said the win, which is their fifth Foothill League victory, boosts their momentum ahead of a home game against Eagle Rock on Sept. 27.

College of the Canyons women’s golf team won its third straight Western State Conference tournament on September 15 at Sterling Hills Golf Club in Camarillo—finishing with a team score of 338 and seeing Sahya Kitabatake earn medalist honors with a season-low round of 65.

The team now prepares for conference play on September 22 at Rancho Vista Golf Course at 11 a.m.

Master’s University men’s volleyball finished a perfect 27—0 season with GSAC wins and the program’s first NAIA National Championship, and head coach Jared Goldberg said the team will reload with seven new players to fill gaps left by graduating veterans.

The Mustangs will open title defense at home on Jan. 22 in a rematch against Saint Xavier and play UC Irvine on Oct. 4 as they seek more wins.

The Saugus girls flag football team won a triple overtime game by walking off Valencia 6—0 on the final play to even the season series after an earlier loss.

Coach Momoko Russell said her team plans to refine its tactics in upcoming matches against Cleveland and Chatsworth.