ON THE LOOSE - A male California black bear runs after being shot with a tranquilizer dart near Avenue L-14 and 10th Street West in Lancaster. GENE BRECKNER/Valley Press

LEBEC - It took two years of sometimes strained negotiations, but a leading land developer and five major environmental groups at last reached an agreement to preserve nearly 90% of Tejon Ranch in its natural state.   Complete story with photo.

PALMDALE - A 15-year-old Palmdale boy has been arrested on suspicion of robbing and sexually assaulting an 88-year-old woman after breaking into her home, sheriff's officials said.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - If a man is known by the company he keeps, former Mayor Henry Hearns' influence could be measured among the guests and participants scheduled to appear Saturday at his retirement gala.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - A person was flown to a hospital by helicopter after a collision Thursday on Sierra Highway at Angeles Forest Highway, officials said.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - It's about life and living healthy. Life Festival 2008, sponsored by High Desert Medical Group, is scheduled for Saturday at the Antelope Valley Mall, 1233 West Rancho Vista Blvd. (Ave. P).   Complete story with photo.

LAKE LOS ANGELES - Monday's meeting to discuss the proposed Lake Los Angeles Community Standards District was a far cry from the boisterous one more than a month ago that drew an unruly crowd of between 200 and 300 people.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - A $26,000 reward is being offered for details leading to the arrest and conviction of a masked man and woman suspected of robbing an eastside bank and its employees last month, sheriff's officials said Thursday.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - They are working to develop their replacements. That's one way to look at the more than $20,000 in grants to local high school organizations made by the Antelope Valley and China Lake chapters of the International Test and Evaluation Association this week during their annual workshop.   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - City officials on Thursday provided all but one of the remaining 13 names of applicants to a reorganized seven-member Planning Commission, up from the current five members.   Complete story.

MOJAVE - The East Kern Airport District directors on Tuesday approved a fee schedule for services offered to potential tenants planning building projects at the Mojave Air and Space Port.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - The free Families in Action program "Fun, Facts and Friends" will celebrate moms from 9 to 10:30 a.m. today at the Neighborhood House, 503 East Ave. Q-3.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley College's Theatre Arts Department will present "The Tumbleweed Revue" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Black Box Theater at the college, 3041 West Ave. K.   Complete story.

In 1981, Harrison Ford leaped onto the big screen as a globe-trotting, whip-cracking, fedora-wearing archaeologist and revolutionized the action-adventure movie.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - Jeremy Amarant, director of the SAGE Planetarium, will lead guests on a free one-mile walk along the trails of the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve at 8 p.m. Saturday.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - The Palmdale Playhouse Visual Arts Group's Saturday field trip to the Getty Villa Malibu is sold out. For details on joining the Visual Arts Group, which meets at the playhouse, 38334 10th St. East, or on upcoming field trips, arts workshops, gallery exhibits or art receptions, call Jo Anne Smith at (661) 267-5684   Complete story.

MAY 8, 2008 EDITORIAL - It was an act of unspeakable cruelty. Some person, and we use the term loosely, set fire to a young dog in Lancaster Monday night, leaving the poor, defenseless animal to race into the night, howling in agony.   Complete story.

MAY 8, 2008 EDITORIAL - Call this one a man-bites-dog story. We've often written in criticism of one elected body or another, lamenting how board members have helped themselves to a nice, big, fat raise in pay. Or we'll lament how they're helping themselves to additional perks of some kind.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - Higher education can translate into bigger paychecks, better employment opportunities and job security. But with gasoline nearing $4 a gallon and the Antelope Valley Freeway looking more like the California Speedway, who can afford to drive out of town for a master's degree?   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - "Words can't express the reassurance I received through phone calls and visits," one family member wrote in a letter addressed to workers at ProCare Hospice in Lancaster.   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - Former Quartz Hill community queens Kelly Kurian and Cathy Wade loved shopping so much, they decided to open a boutique. "We enjoyed shopping, but it was difficult to find name-brand clothing for children in the Antelope Valley," Wade said.   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - One night after notching their first home series win, the JetHawks recorded their first series sweep, finding offense from unexpected places, reliable sources, slumping hitters and everything in between. "It's good to see them break out and have a night like this," manager Chad Epperson said.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - While the Rattlers were enthusiastic about their play against the Bakersfield Brigade May 3, the 2-2 tie did little to quench their hunger for an early-season victory.   Complete story.

LONG BEACH - If Daniel Colvin's anything - except a double swimming champion - he's a perfectionist. Moments after climbing out of the water at the Southern Section Division IV swimming championships Thursday at Belmont Plaza Pool, Colvin looked up at the clock and complained that he could have done better.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - It was a decision she had to make. But it has done little to derail her softball career. Antelope Valley College right fielder Traci Wolf hasn't let nearly a year off from the game detract from her play. The homesick freshman left AVC after fall ball in 2006 only to return this season and become the Foothill Conference Player of the Year.   Complete story.

The Southern California Golf Association continues to release the individuals qualifying for the 97th California Amatuer Championship. The list includes youngsters from all over Southern California and will continue to grow as the prep season's competition wraps up over the next few weeks.   Complete story.

QUARTZ HILL - For just the third time since 2001, the Golden League softball title does not belong to Quartz Hill High School. It was fitting that the only two other schools to win the league during that span each got to celebrate knocking off the two-time defending champion Rebels on Thursday.   Complete story.

LOS ANGELES - His locker, appropriately, is only a few steps from the Dodger clubhouse door. It is diagonally removed from the former batting champion and all-star, Nomar Garciaparra, who's been similarly distanced from baseball fate's blessings this spring.   Complete story.

Local sports roundup
QUARTZ HILL - Dan Brown and Gary Smith didn't know it at the time, but Thursday's Southern Section Division III tennis first-round playoff match against Long Beach Poly came down to their final set.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - Jon Still, the California League's home run leader (nine), left Wednesday's game in the first inning after Chris Minaker's back-swing nicked Still's right index finger.   Complete story.