COMING BACK - After a 2009 hiatus, the Showdown Rodeo returns to the Antelope Valley on July 4, 9 and 10 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. RICH BREAULT/Valley Press files

BORON - With the lockout of some 550 borax workers entering its seventh week, an attorney representing the International Longshore & Warehouse Union says the union won't return to the bargaining table until the workers are allowed back to work and given back pay for the time they were out.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

MOJAVE - Three men were arrested last week after Kern County Sheriff's deputies from the Mojave Substation and Glendale Police Department allegedly found them stealing more than $35,000 of gasoline using fraudulent credit cards.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PALMDALE - The Parent Teacher Association volunteer treasurer for Cactus School and Los Amigos School has been arrested on suspicion on embezzling at least $3,000, officials said.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - Development of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter across the street from Quartz Hill High School faces a civil court confrontation with people opposed to the project.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - The father of an 18-year-old South Carolina woman who had come to Lancaster to visit her mother said he searched frantically for weeks but could not find the two women until authorities finally answered his pleas and obtained a search warrant for the mother's eastside home. The two women were found shot to death in a second floor bedroom of the mother's residence.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PALMDALE - Californians face water challenges, but they are not alone, according to an Environmental Protection Agency scientist. At least 36 states anticipate local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013, said Charlotte Ely, an EPA life scientist and featured speaker at the kickoff for Palmdale "Fix A Leak Week," intended to focus on the need for conservation.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - Assemblyman Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, is pursuing legislation that would exempt Los Angeles County from going through the state's mandatory environmental process to relocate medical facilities in Lancaster.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

Educators and students at Boron Junior-Senior High and Rosamond High schools breathed sighs of relief last week after they were excluded from the list when the State Board of Education released a final total of schools identified as "persistently lowest-achieving schools."   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - An Antelope Valley jury will continue deliberating today in the case of a Palmdale man who is accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a movie theater more than three years ago.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - A man shot in the head Monday afternoon on Lancaster Boulevard is expected to survive, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

EDITORIAL - After years of severe drought, this winter has brought the Antelope Valley and other parts of the state a welcome abundance of rain and snow. But it is a widely acknowledged fact that our high desert region faces severe water shortages in future years.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PALMDALE - Americans will be willing to let go of a bit more of their green for this St. Patrick's Day, a sign of improving times. On average Americans will spend $33.05 on decorations, party favors and other trappings of the holiday this year, up slightly from the average of $32.80 last year, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the National Retail Federation. In all, Americans are expected to spend $3.44 billion this year to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

On October 25, an assessment delegation including area Rotarians visited rural schools in India as part of a joint project between Lancaster West Rotary of District 5260, Rotary District 3190 of India, and Rotary International.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

Rotary International is a world-wide nonprofit organization composed of professional business leaders committed to "Service Above Self," the Rotary motto.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

The fifth annual Sheriff's Substation appreciation dinner presented by the Rosamond Rotary Club is slated for Tuesday, March 23. To honor their commitment, Rotarians, community members and visitors are invited to attend the recognition event for the officers and employees of the Rosamond Sheriff's Substation.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

When you think of the Valley's high school tennis scene, one school always pops out at you. After all, Quartz Hill has won the Golden League title for 20 straight undefeated years in girls tennis and is on the verge of winning its 20th straight in boys tennis.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

QUARTZ HILL - A ping, a sting and an out ushered in Steven Tremlin's six innings of dominance Monday. The Quartz Hill starting pitcher was greeted by a line drive off his pitching arm to open the game. But instead of letting the welt consume him, he took blow as an awakening and settled in for a challenge.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley College didn't stray far from its bench to fill this vacancy. The college announced on Monday that it will pass its men's coaching duties on to current women's coach John Taylor, who will be in charge of both programs concurrently.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PASADENA - The Antelope Valley College softball team's offense came through again on Wednesday, as every starter had a hit in an 11-4 victory against Pasadena.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

Quartz Hill With only four returners from last season's varsity squad, many of the other Golden League coaches feel like the Rebels' 19-year hold on the top league spot is vulnerable this season.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.