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June 24
1980 - Saugus Train Station relocated to Hart Park, Newhall [story]
Saugus Train Station


With COVID-19 vaccine distribution going slower than expected in Los Angeles County, officials spoke Tuesday about whether the county could call on retired nurses and other former healthcare workers to help administer doses.

The Golden State has become the nation’s coronavirus epicenter in recent weeks, with an influx of people infected with Covid-19 overrunning hospitals and record-breaking numbers of cases reported daily.

In L.A. County, health officials estimate as many as 1 in 5 people have SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and have warned residents that any outdoor activity that was relatively safe two months ago is now high-risk.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 830,000 L.A. County residents have tested positive for the deadly virus and nearly 11,000 have died after contracting it.

At a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, L.A. County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said the county is in a “desperate situation” and that an anticipated surge in infections stemming from winter holiday gatherings will be reflected in reported data this week.

“People intermingled more than we asked them to,” Ferrer said of the recent holidays and related travel. “We need to reduce the number of people infected. We’re already in a desperate situation.”

For officials and residents alike, the ongoing distribution of the two available COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, respectively, has been a hopeful sign.

As of Monday, nearly 460,000 vaccine doses have been administered statewide and more than 1.8 million doses have been shipped to health departments, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Distribution of the vaccines has been slower than planned with more than 500,000 doses yet to be administered in California and millions more scheduled to be delivered.

Ferrer told supervisors vaccine rollout has been slow due to shortages in allocations from federal supplies and a limited number of personnel who cleared to administer doses.

The county has received about 363,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but has only administered about 190,000 doses.

About 96,300 doses went to frontline health care workers at acute care hospitals and 22,200 were given to staff and residents at skilled nursing facilities as well as paramedics, according to county data released Monday.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn asked Ferrer whether the county could call on retired nurses to help distribute the vaccine.

“It would be a good call to action for all retired health care workers,” Hahn said.

Ferrer agreed and also discussed her department’s plan to enlist celebrities and “influencers” in a media campaign promoting the vaccine and urging people to abide by health orders.

The next batch of nearly 93,000 Pfizer doses will be used this week as the second doses for the healthcare workers first vaccinated in mid-December.

Ferrer told the board the county expects to receive at least 50,700 Moderna doses this week that will be administered to home health workers and staff at urgent care and primary care clinics.

“A little bit of a wrinkle would be if we don’t get the allocations we need,” Ferrer said of the expected vaccine deliveries.

In response to the statewide lag, California Governor Gavin Newsom said his upcoming budget proposal will include a request for $300 million to support vaccine distribution. Dental offices, drug stores, and the National Guard will be used to speed up the vaccination process, he said.

Last week, Hahn wrote to Newsom backing health workers’ request for the state to dispatch additional medical staff to support the region’s hospitals. The letter also called on the Trump administration to send the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy back to L.A. County, where military medical staff can support hospitals that are overrun with COVID-19 patients.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger also wrote to Newsom Tuesday, saying that in response to the recent surge in cases, the state should send registered nurses and respiratory care practitioners from the National Guard to support hospitals in the county.

“All counties in this state are experiencing this same surge, which is why an injection of additional staff to the entire system from the National Guard is necessary,” Barger wrote in the letter.

Federal officials told the state the Mercy is undergoing mandatory maintenance and not available for deployment, according to Newsom’s Office of Emergency Services. To offset, the agency said in a statement Tuesday it has requested deployment of an additional 500 federal medical staff and disaster support personnel to provide aid to California hospitals and skilled nursing homes.

“Bringing additional medical staff into the state will allow us to save lives and ensure our hospitals’ systems are not overstretched,” Newsom said in the statement. “Now is the time to use every resource at our disposal to fight the spread of this virus and protect Californians.”

About 1,420 medical personnel have already been deployed to health care facilities statewide, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff who are helping L.A. County hospitals repair oxygen delivery systems.

Ferrer told the board the more easily transmissible variants of COVID-19 found in the United Kingdom and South Africa have not yet been detected in the county, but she said the mutations are likely already present in the population.

“It doesn’t mean it’s not here,” Ferrer said of the variants. “We could easily have a virus that infects more people.”

L.A. County reported 13,512 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday and 224 newly reported deaths, pushing the county’s total deaths from the virus above 11,000.

The board also voted unanimously to extend the county’s eviction moratorium to Feb. 28 and strengthen protections for tenants who fall behind on rent payments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Supervisors also voted to draft an ordinance requiring grocery and retail stores in unincorporated portions of L.A. County to pay their workers an additional $5 per hour in “hero pay” during the pandemic. Barger abstained and said in a statement the financial impact of approving “hero pay” was still unclear.

“Lacking any true dialogue on this issue with grocery store representatives, the business community and other key stakeholders, we do not know if this significant wage increase could have unintended consequences to the very people we intend to help, leading to a rise in food prices and costs for our residents and reduced hours and benefits for the employees,” Barger wrote in the statement.

Tuesday’s supervisorial meeting was the first in county history to feature five women sitting on the board.

— By Martin Macias Jr., CNS

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SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025
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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence recently held its “Celebration of Everything” event in appreciation of the many volunteers who make such a difference in the lives of Santa Clarita Valley foster youth and recognizing a record number of 32 youth for education milestones.
FYI Hosts Annual ‘Celebration of Everything’ Honoring Youth, Volunteers
The city of Santa Clarita will host a location for the 2025 World’s Largest Swim Lesson on Thursday, June 26, 10:30-11 a.m. at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, presented by Kaiser Permanente.
June 26: Join the 2025 World’s Largest Swim Lesson at Aquatic Center
Airman Matthew Mancillas, a native of Santa Clarita, is one of more than 60 sailors celebrating America’s 249 years of independence while serving aboard USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned warship.
Santa Clarita Native Serves Aboard Navy’s Oldest Commissioned Warship
The Gibbons Conservation Center is nearly halfway to its June fundraising goal, which will generously be matched. That leaves one week to double your donation.
Gibbons Conservation Center Matching Fundraising
The Valley Industry Association is calling on all CEOs, presidents, business owners, chief marketing officers, chief operating officers, HR directors, vice presidents, executive directors, regional managers, project managers and more to fill in answers on a five-minute survey today that will help develop solutions for tomorrow.
VIA CEO Forum Survey
John Paul Mitchell Systems, a manufacturer of hair care products and styling tools, has announced it will relocate from California to Texas.
John Paul Mitchell Systems to Relocate to Texas
Luke Brueckner, a former player and assistant coach with The Master's University golf team, has been hired as the new head coach for both the men's and women's programs.
Brueckner Hired as New TMU Golf Coach
1980 - Saugus Train Station relocated to Hart Park, Newhall [story]
Saugus Train Station
William S. Hart Park has been a cherished part of the Santa Clarita community for nearly 70 years.
Ken Striplin | Preserving a Community Treasure, William S. Hart Park
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the launch of Kaizen, a new online recreation registration system designed to make it easier for residents to register for classes, programs and events.
City Launches New Online Recreation Registration System
Ava DiNapoli, a senior at Valencia High School, placed second in Impromptu Speaking at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Association's National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
Valencia High Student Placed Second at NSDA National Tournament
The Regular Meeting of the Saugus-Castaic School Facilities Financing Authority will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at the Saugus Union School District, 24930 Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room.
June 24: Saugus-Castaic School Facilities Financing Authority to Meet
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in open session on Tuesday, June 24 at City Hall, with the first reading of an ordinance of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map of the city of Santa Clarita issued by CalFire.
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Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo submitted a formal budget request letter calling for comprehensive funding, beyond the $110 million currently allocated, to fully implement Proposition 36.
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California Credit Union Foundation has awarded a scholarship to Saugus High School Senior Nathan Lieber as part of its College Scholarship Program, recognizing exceptional students for their school and community activities.
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The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of seven productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, June 23 to Saturday, June 28.
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A special meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
June 25: Hart District Governing Board Special Meeting
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear input on a number of topics during a public hearing on Tuesday, June 24, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 381B, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
June 24: L.A. County Supervisors’ Public Hearing
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies
1972 - Vasquez Rocks added to National Register of Historic Places [list]
Vasquez Rocks
The Agua Dulce Women's Club Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390.
June 25: Agua Dulce Women’s Club Community Blood Drive
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, June 24 beginning at 6:40 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
June 24: Saugus Union School District Board Regular Meeting
1941 - Ernie Hickson buys out Trem Carr's interest in their Monogram movie ranch, renames it "Placeritos" (later called Melody) [story]
Ernie Hickson
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