“Stop the seed before it weeds,” and “Buellton is our town” could be heard loudly chanted by protestors outside the July 12 Buellton City Council meeting at Oak Valley Elementary School, where the council voted down the planning commission’s proposal to move forward with the Sphere of Influence Study.

By India Allen, Staff Writer
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State-Funded Problem Gambling Treatment

Behind the Curve of California's Growing Dilemma

With California’s problem gambling help line calls on the rise, two assembly bills to establish state-funded treatment for problem gamblers have been drafted to address the growing problem....

By Jared Blankenship, Staff Writer
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Support at its Best

Zaca Fire Fighters and Support Teams Band Together

When we see or hear about a wildfire, we sometimes envision men or women in their fire suits carrying hoses and spraying water on the flames along with helicopters flying over the burn area dropping tons of water. In reality however, there is a lot more to it than...

By Michelle Minder-Massey, Editor in Chief
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News in Brief

Healthy Pets Act Dropped in Light of Concern and Opposition

Assemblymember Lloyd E. Levine dropped the California Healthy Pets Act Wednesday before it reached a Senate vote, citing concerns over the one-size-fits-all approach of the bill....

By Valley Journal Staff
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Associated Press, National News

Al-Qaida Stepping Up Efforts Against the US

WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned....

By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
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Associated Press, National News

House OKs Plan to Withdraw US Troops

WASHINGTON - Iraq has achieved only spotty military and political progress toward a democratic society, the Bush administration conceded Thursday, an unenthusiastic assessment followed quickly by a House vote to withdraw U.S. troops by spring....

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
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