Former Simi Valley Royal pitcher Cody Buckel, a second-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers, has reached agreement on a $590,000 deal and will report later this week to the Rangers' complex in Surprise, Ariz. Buckel led the Highlanders to the Marmonte League championship. He had signed with Pepperdine. His advisor was West Coast Sports Man

Simi Valley and Ventura are exploring legal actions to block steep pension payments for Randy Adams, a former employee of both cities whose lucrative stint as police chief of Bell continues to have far-reaching consequences.

Adams worked for the police departments in Ventura, Simi Valley and Glendale before being hired in Bell. He was forced to resign last week amid growing outcry over his $457,000 salary in the relatively poor city of about 40,000 people.

What do Cesar Chavez, Harvey Milk and Ronald Reagan have in common? They each get a day named in their honor under California law. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two bills Monday honoring the conservative icon, one declaring Feb. 6 as Ronald Reagan Day, the other establishing a state commission to plan celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Reagan’s birth in 1911.