SAY CHEESE - Palmdale Councilman Tom Lackey, center, wore a rat costume to an Election Night party to poke fun at a campaign mailer terming him and Councilwoman Laura Bettencourt, right, "rats." Mayor Jim Ledford joined in the fun. CHARLES F. BOSTWICK/Valley Press

PALMDALE - Three Highland High School football players are due to appear in juvenile court Friday on charges they robbed two teenage girls Halloween night of trick-or-treat candy, cellphones, a digital camera and other belongings.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

MOJAVE - Masten Space Systems won a $1 million prize with its computer-controlled rocket craft called Xoie in a competition intended to encourage development of technologies that could be used for landing and taking off from the moon.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - Challengers took the lead in early returns Tuesday night in the Palmdale Water District election. Gordon Dexter, a water systems manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California who had served on the PWD from 2005 to 2007, was ahead of incumbent Dick Wells with 17 of 41 precincts reporting: Dexter had 913 votes, or 55.77%, and Wells received 724 votes, or 44.23%, for the Division 2 seat.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - While investigators say Raymond Lee Jennings was not considered a suspect in the shooting of an 18-year-old Quartz Hill woman in the weeks following her death, they became suspicious of him soon afterward when he told them things that conflicted with information provided by other witnesses.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Incumbents will return to their seats on the Antelope Valley College board along with a former trustee if the numbers hold through the morning.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Veteran educator Barbara Willibrand on Tuesday night appeared headed to a seat on the Antelope Valley Union High School District's board of trustees, while incumbent James Lott appeared likely to retain his seat and Al Beattie likely to lose his to retired teacher Kathy Carothers.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Newcomer Chris Grado leapt out to an early lead Tuesday night in the Lancaster School District board race while incumbents Keith Giles and Diane Grooms appeared likely to retain their seats.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Los Angeles County firefighters worked overnight making sure all the hot spots were extinguished after a fire severely damaged a two-story building unit at an eastside apartment complex, fire officials said.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Voting 4-0 in the absence of Mayor R. Rex Parris, City Council members granted second and final approval of an ordinance that requires employers to use an Internet-based federal database called E-Verify to check the immigration status of new employees.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Homicide detectives were called in to investigate the death of a half-naked woman who reportedly flung herself screaming into the driver's side window of county worker's SUV as he drove through a downtown alley.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - An ex-convict was arrested Tuesday morning after deputies investigating a spousal assault report found him carrying $5,000 worth of marijuana, $40,000 worth of Ecstacy pills, three guns and thousands of dollars in cash, sheriff's officials said.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

EDITORIAL - One way we gauge public opinion on a topic is how many calls and letters we get. Section 8 fraud, skyrocketing water bills, plans for a Wal-Mart in Quartz Hill - issues like these fill up our mail box and makes our phones chirp.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - For 10 years, Donna Sebunia's Belladonna Gift Boutique and Tea Room has made tea an experience. To its fans, the distinctive purple, yellow and teal house at 44054 10th St. West has become a cozy, relaxing place to gather with friends over tea and scones. In numerous reviews on the tea house directory teamap.com, fans salute the Belladonna as a warm and friendly oasis.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - Thannia Huerta didn't even need to wait for the question to be finished. "I was really determined," the Antelope Valley College goalkeeper said. "I was on it."   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

LANCASTER - It appears everything really does even out in the end. The Desert Christian High School girls volleyball team defeated Boron on Tuesday evening in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-11, as the Bobcats were without senior setter and team leader Jenna Mattox because of a scratched cornea.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

OJAI - This year, Quartz Hill is using the buddy system. The Rebels returned to power in numbers, qualifying two golfers for the CIF Southern Section Individual Finals.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

QUARTZ HILL - The end of daylight savings took its toll on the girls tennis match between Lancaster and Highland at Quartz Hill High School on Tuesday afternoon.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

ANAHEIM - The Pittsburgh Penguins have rarely been seen in Anaheim lately. Tuesday marked just their second visit in six years. Jonas Hiller saw the Penguins.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.

PALMDALE - A ballot measure to give Palmdale a city charter was far ahead Tuesday night in early returns. With 12 of 47 precincts reporting, 84.4% of voters favored adoption of a city charter, which would give city officials more discretion concerning municipal hiring contracts and purchasing, plus more control over municipal elections and other matters that now cost Palmdale more money than necessary because of state regulations.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press for only 25¢ a day.