For Goodness’ Sake: Christmas tree poachers are...

For Goodness’ Sake: Christmas tree poachers are keeping on Santa’s good list this year. Reports of tree heists are down at many local forests, including the Angeles, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests. “Maybe they’re being good. They want Santa Claus to come,” said Juanita Freel, spokeswoman for Los Padres National Forest.

* WET AGAIN: A quick winter thunderstorm snarled traffic and darkened the skies. For a map of rainfall totals in Valley neighborhoods, see B1.

* NEWHALL PLAN: Word spread in the Santa Clarita Valley that county officials approved a key part of the plan to build the giant Newhall Ranch development. Some residents promised to continue fighting the plan. B1

* COCAINE ON CAMPUS: A Burbank high school teacher who admitted to repeatedly using cocaine while at school was sentenced to probation. B1