ALL ABOARD - Passengers board a Metrolink train at the Palmdale station. Metrolink officials are considering a plan that would eliminate some weekend and off-peak weekday trains along the Antelope Valley line and raise fares by as much as 6%. Valley Press files

Girl Scout troops are out in force around the Antelope Valley selling their famous cookies, but Girl Scouts do much more than just selling the sweet treats.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - A Chatsworth defense firm that was helping Mojave pilot Dick Rutan develop a law-enforcement surveillance plane on behalf of the city has pulled out of the project, City Attorney David McEwen said.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - The grass has been soaked and the wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Now it's up to a few more days of sunshine and warmer weather for hillsides to be blanketed with the popular orange flower everyone has been waiting all winter to see.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - Want a good read? How about a good listen? There will be thousands of books, books on tape, CD, and videotapes on sale this week at the Friends of the Lancaster Library semi-annual book sale slated for Tuesday through Saturday.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PALMDALE - When it came time for 16-year-old Marika Nemeth to choose a community service project to earn her Girl Scouts Gold Star Award she decided to hold a golf clinic so she could share her passion for golf with other youngsters.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

PALMDALE - When Carolyn Hansen retires in June from the Palmdale School District, she will leave behind a school district that more than tripled in size since she started as a teacher nearly 39 years ago.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

EDITORIAL - California's Constitution requires the Legislature to have a two-thirds majority vote to increase existing taxes or to create new taxes. There's a reason for this. Raising taxes isn't to be taken lightly; it's not supposed to be done on a whim, it's supposed to be a last resort, not a first resort.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

Antelope Valley Hospital's Sexual Assault Response Team Center is offering a 40-hour course for forensic examiners from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 26, 27 and 28, in conference room 102 at the hospital, 1600 West Ave. J, Lancaster.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

The wind may have been howling on Saturday morning, but that didn't stop more than 160 runners, joggers and walkers from competing in the Nutty Runners 5K.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - With the Eastside pool jam-packed with high school swimmers at the Dan Tran Memorial Invitational Saturday afternoon, not many stood out more than the small group that makes up the Littlerock boys swimming team.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LANCASTER - All day, Lesley Peralta was giving the Sacred Heart middle school girls basketball team fits. When the final seconds ticked down on the Antelope Valley Christian Athletic League title game Thursday, Peralta worked her magic one more time.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

Donald Williams provided the Marauders with a scoring spark all season and has been rewarded for doing so. Williams, an Antelope Valley College freshman guard, was named to the all-state team when it was announced this weekend in conjunction with the state tournament.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

For an entire season, the Kansas Jayhawks proved themselves as the best team in college basketball. The Jayhawks have the nation's best record at 32-2 and are No. 1 in RPI.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

ANAHEIM - The Ducks were mad as h-e-double-hockey-sticks, and they weren't going to take it anymore. After five straight losses since the Olympic recess, and five straight losses to the San Jose Sharks this season, something finally did give.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.

LOS ANGELES - The Nashville Predators just have the Kings' number. Apparently, including the number in the rule book for goaltender interference. On virtually identical third period plays, the Kings were denied a goal and the Predators scored one to tie the game en route to a 3-2 Nashville victory that had a Staples Center matinee sellout of 18,118 shaking its heads on Anze Kopitar Bobblehead Day.   For complete story, subscribe to the Antelope Valley Press.