READY TO SEARCH - Sheriff's deputies get ready Wednesday morning to search the Lancaster home of a 17-year-old graffiti suspect. DAISY RATZLAFF/Valley Press

LANCASTER - The Kiwanis Junior Livestock Auction has been a highlight of the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival for more than a half-century. The 2008 auction will take place today in the spacious R. Rex Parris Show Arena, a showcase for the many youngsters who raise market animals to bring to auction.   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - Despite pleas from adults and tears from students, members of the City Council on Tuesday declined to provide the funding needed to keep a youth-oriented anti-violence program in place at Eastside High School.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - A team of Valley Christian leaders plans a campaign of calling homes, knocking on doors and registering voters - in addition to heartfelt preaching and praying - to support Proposition 8.   Complete story with photo.

LOS ANGELES - Employees of the county Department of Children and Family Services do a lot of driving. And crashing. And the county, in turn, does a lot of paying - probably too much, in fact.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - More than 30 yellow and silver helium balloons were released to fly into a clear blue sky Wednesday afternoon and a yellow rosebush was planted in front of Highland High School in honor of 18-year-old Robert Lee Lett, who was killed by an unknown assailant the night of Aug. 19 while walking along a street in Long Beach.   Complete story.

AUGUST 27, 2008 EDITORIAL - While billions of people around the world - seated on comfortable couches - watched in awe as athletes performed miraculous, record-setting Olympic feats in Beijing, Marv Powers has been hard at work on the Pacific Crest Trail.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - In the late 1980s, the Antelope Valley chapter of the Assistance League needed to expand its day-care operations to meet growing demand. That's when former board member Linda Shaffer and her husband, Dennis Shaffer, stepped up with an idea to help raise funds: a charity golf tournament.   Complete story with photo.

LANCASTER - Nick Hill isn't angry with the Army. He wasn't even that surprised when he learned they reinterpreted the rule that allowed him to pursue a career in professional baseball after graduating West Point Military Academy.   Complete story with photo.

The industrial parks along Avenue L in Lancaster enjoy a radiant view of the dawn. Those rays of sunshine have a tough time beating the employees into the dream factory that is Paul Copenhaver Motorsports.   Complete story with photo.