Securing capital is one of the biggest hurdles to growing a small business in the Santa Clarita Valley. But what happens when alternative commercial financing comes with hidden traps that threaten the survival of your enterprise?

This week on Santa Clarita Weekly, we listen to a conversation that Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (40th District) had with small business leaders to discuss AB 2116: The Protect Small Business from Predatory Lending Act. Traditional bank loans are strictly regulated, but alternative products like merchant cash advances often leave entrepreneurs vulnerable to deceptive agreements and aggressive collection tactics—including signing away legal rights before a default even occurs.

Assemblywoman Schiavo walks us through the mechanics of the bill, why it’s gaining momentum in Sacramento, and how it aims to level the playing field by requiring lenders to register with the state and banning preemptive "confessions of judgment."

Whether you currently run a local storefront or are in the market to acquire a business, this conversation is essential listening for navigating the modern commercial financial landscape.

In this episode, we cover:

The hidden dangers of unregulated commercial financing and merchant cash advances.

How AB 2116 closes regulatory loopholes to protect small business owners.

Why the bill bans aggressive collection tactics like "confessions of judgment."

What a fairer financial marketplace means for the backbone of the SCV economy.

This week on Santa Clarita Weekly, we’re bringing you a packed episode covering the critical political waves making an impact from the national stage all the way down to our local neighborhoods. From federal investigations and state-wide campaigns to the fight against gun violence and the race for Santa Clarita City Council, we break down the voices shaping our future.

In This Episode:

Newsom Under Fire: We listen in on Governor Gavin Newsom as he addresses recent developments regarding the Trump administration’s investigations targeting him and his wife.

Wear Orange Day: Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo joins the conversation to address the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in America, sharing her insights and calls to action on this vital day of awareness.

Local Leadership: We shift focus to our own backyard, discussing Kelvin Driscoll’s campaign run and vision for the Santa Clarita City Council.

Looking to the Future: The episode wraps up with a look at the upcoming state elections, featuring powerful speeches from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and California Insurance Commissioner candidate Jane Kim.

Tune in to stay informed, engaged, and connected to the issues that matter most to Santa Clarita and beyond.

On this special morning-after election edition of Santa Clarita Weekly, we delayed hitting the record button to bring you the freshest data, the biggest local breakdowns, and some massive breaking news shaking up both the sports world and international travel.

From local races right here in the Santa Clarita Valley to historic blockbuster trades in Inglewood, we are covering a massive lineup of stories you won't want to miss.

Honoring a Legacy: We open the show with a tribute to the life and civil rights legacy of activist Andrew Joseph, Jr., featuring a powerful floor speech delivered by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

2026 Primary Election Results: Breaking down the 10:00 AM morning-after numbers. We look at the deadlocked California Governor and Lieutenant Governor races, the surprising surge in the LA Mayor's contest, and what the early ballots mean for our backyard in the 40th Assembly District and the LA County Sheriff's Department.

Sanctuary City Travel Chaos: Renee takes the mic to examine a controversial proposal floated by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to scale back customs processing in sanctuary cities—and why the travel industry warns it could cripple LAX just weeks before the World Cup.

Rams Pull Off a Blockbuster: Sage flies solo to break down one of the biggest defensive trades in NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams are living by their "all-in" mantra once again, sending a massive haul of future picks to Cleveland to bring two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to SoFi Stadium.

Governor Gavin Newsom took the stage at the Association of California Water Agencies Conference on May 7, 2026, and he had some things to say about valves, wildfires, and a couple of DOGE staffers who flew to California to fix the water crisis themselves. We break down the real story behind Trump's "magic valve" claims during the LA wildfires, what actually happened with the Army Corps of Engineers' reservoir releases, and why California's water system is nothing like a kitchen faucet. Plus: meet Bryton Shang and Tyler Hassen, the recent college grads Elon Musk sent to manually restart federal water infrastructure — while DOGE was simultaneously firing the engineers who actually knew how it worked. We also explain what the shrinking Salton Sea tells us about California's water future. It's politics, infrastructure, and pure absurdity — all flowing downhill.

This week on Santa Clarita Weekly, we bring you a lineup of local leaders, candidates, and elected officials speaking directly to the community. Hear remarks from Congressman George Whitesides, followed by speeches from Valerie Bradford, Lynne Plambeck, David Ross, and Paul Thompson. From city politics to water policy and judicial races, the episode captures a wide-ranging snapshot of the issues shaping Santa Clarita’s future.

We close the show with Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo speaking at a press conference promoting the passage of AB 2488, legislation aimed at building California’s climate workforce and preparing the next generation for clean energy and infrastructure jobs. It’s an episode packed with policy, local voices, and the political currents moving through the Santa Clarita Valley like a convoy rolling through dry canyon wind.

Election season is officially here. We discuss the June primary ballots that just hit mailboxes—which feature the highly anticipated 2026 California Governor's race at the bottom of the ticket. We also head to Sacramento to share audio from Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo’s recent press conference, where she joined advocates to urge Governor Newsom to protect critical victims' services funding in the state budget.

Then, we pivot to the sports desk to cover a wild week for LA teams. We break down Santa Clarita native Tyler Glasnow's early exit from the Dodgers game due to lower back pain, while celebrating his massive milestone of hitting 1,000 career strikeouts. Finally, we look at the ice as the LA Kings make a major mid-season change, firing head coach Jim Hiller and tapping D.J. Smith to turn the season around.

In this episode, we listen to a debate between candidates for Governor of California.

This week on Santa Clarita Weekly, we are breaking down the latest political shockwaves hitting California. We dive into the upcoming Governor's race and what President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of Republican Steve Hilton means for the ballot. Then, we shift gears to examine the new allegations surrounding Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell, followed by a look into his recent town hall event to hear what he had to say to constituents this week. Tune in for all the details!

This week on Santa Clarita Weekly, we cover a packed news cycle from the SCV to Washington. We recap the No Kings Rally, where roughly 1,000 locals joined more than 8 million Americans nationwide in protest — with speeches from Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo on Trump's funding cuts to California and the Democrats' shot at flipping the Santa Clarita City Council, and Julee Brooks, who is challenging Bob Jensen for the Hart School Board in Trustee Area 2. Special thanks to Rise Up SCV for the rally audio.

We then turn to the War in Iran, now over a month in with 15 American service members killed and no exit strategy in sight — Senator Adam Schiff breaks down the human and financial cost hitting families right here at home.

Finally, we cover the double assault on your right to vote: Trump's executive order signed today directing the Postal Service to restrict mail-in ballots to a federally approved list — already headed to court — and the SAVE America Act moving through the Senate, which California's own Senator Alex Padilla has been fighting tooth and nail on the floor all week.

This week, hosts Sage and Renee take you inside the Santa Clarita Valley's political scene and beyond.

First, we crash the Liberty Gala — the 40th Assembly District GOP's annual fundraiser — where Congressman Kevin Kiley showed up to raise money for the Republican Party while running away from the Republican label in his new district. Also in attendance: former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, freshly re-registered as a Republican after years of hiding his MAGA politics behind a Democratic ballot line; perennial political chameleon Jonathan Hatami; the viral "MAGA dentist" Harleen Grewal; Santa Clarita City Councilmember Jason Gibbs, who is mounting a longshot congressional run against George Whitesides; and 40th Assembly District candidate Elizabeth Ahlers. Oh — and the venue looked like a dungeon. We're not kidding.

Then, Senator Suzette Valladares wants to blame California Democrats for rising gas prices — but we explain why the real culprit is the U.S.-Iran war and Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that carries one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

We also play highlights from last week's press conference with Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who announced they are fighting the Trump administration's rollback of the EPA's Endangerment Finding in court.

And we wrap up with big news for Rams fans — LA is headed to Melbourne, Australia to open the 2026 NFL season against the San Francisco 49ers.

Santa Clarita Weekly — local voices, state politics, and the stories that matter to the Santa Clarita Valley.