WEIGHTY TOME - Lew Stults, Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon's field representative, shows off a copy of the proposed health care bill. RON SIDDLE/Valley Press

PALMDALE - Steve Williams, the man responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city, said Wednesday he was pleased with the approval of a measure that will allow Palmdale to cut some of its strings to Sacramento.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - Challengers for the Palmdale Water District board declared a landslide victory Wednesday when the unofficial final tally from Tuesday's election showed Gordon Dexter won the Division 2 seat with 60.33% of the vote and Steve Cordova won the Division 5 seat with 65.88%.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Veteran teacher and administrator Barbara Willibrand, retired teacher Kathy Carothers and incumbent James Lott won seats on the Antelope Valley Union High School District's governing board Tuesday.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - After jumping out to early leads, three incumbents seeking re-election to the City Council stayed in front to outdistance a pack of five challengers seeking their offices.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

EDWARDS AFB - A fragile-looking collection of solar cells, sensors, small wheels and gears dangles on several thousand feet of cable beneath a helicopter hovering over the stark expanse of Rogers Dry Lake.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - With the unofficial final votes counted in Los Angeles and Kern counties, Antelope Valley College trustees Betty Wienke and Steve Buffalo will return to the dais for another four years, and former trustee Michael Adams will be joining them.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Challengers won seats on four of five elementary school district races Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - Mayor Jim Ledford said Wednesday a new hospital and a power plant will help drive the city's economy and called rumors of Macy's coming to the mall as "probably the worst-kept secret in the Antelope Valley," but refused to confirm the move.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

EDITORIAL - Turnout was low, about 10% Valleywide, but those who made it to the polls to vote in the Antelope Valley elections spoke decisively. It was "throw the bums out" in the Palmdale Water District, but it was pretty much stick with the status quo in other races.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

More than 200 people, including 165 students at Cole Middle School in Lancaster, participated in a walking event as part of the nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign, the anti-drug abuse effort that is celebrated by thousands of students annually from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

Connor Rodrigo, 15, son of Linda Rodrigo of Quartz Hill and Bob Rodrigo of Palmdale, was honored Sept. 13 for achieving Boy Scouting's highest award, Eagle Scout.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

Hundreds of school children from Westside Union School District and Southern Kern County School Districts have registered to attend a science competition at Joe Walker Middle School Saturday, Nov. 7.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

Eight high school students from the Antelope Valley who were selected to sit on the City of Lancaster's 2009-2010 Youth Commission were sworn in by City Clerk Geri Bryan during the city council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

AVC vs. COC could soon become a rivalry every year. In every sport. That's one byproduct of the recommended Southern California reconferencing, which is set to be voted on in December.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - Eastside High coach Gil Gomez had a message for his team before it ran on Wednesday. "They're all seniors. We mentioned to them, 'This is the last race (you) might ever run,'" Gomez said of the Golden League cross country championships. "'This is four years of work and it comes down to today, and this could be the last race you possibly run.'"   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - A year ago, Rikki Miller wasn't cracking the Knight High School girls cross country team's top ten. On Wednesday, she was getting handed her 2009 All-Golden League badge.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

Fourteen times, the John Force household has spent the first week of November preparing to celebrate an NHRA Funny Car championship. That's not the case at the Force homestead.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

Just four days after winning its fourth straight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, Toyota stunned the auto racing world Wednesday by announcing its immediate withdrawal from Formula One.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.