"We have an unimaginable amount of resources that we need to expand upon and so we’re going to try to do that by creating an institute that’s partnering with UCLA and the Air Force and some other partners, so that’s exciting," says Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Assembly District 36.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey is talking about an effort to put graduate students to work to benefit the Antelope Valley, called the California Institute for Aerospace.

“Primary mission is to do research and bring in the aerospace industry partnerships as they recognize technologies and these are the graduate workers that actually bring in that kind of expertise.”

Assemblyman Lackey got an up close look at more expertise on display, when joined Vice President Mike Pence at the Mojave Air & Space Port.

“We had our Vice President here acknowledging the advancement that’s going on in the Kern County there, and the craft they’ve actually developed.  It’s the biggest plane on earth and it’s actually going to carry the orbiters that like the space shuttle or any kind, so they won’t have to shoot up from the ground.  This big mammoth thing carries it up into space and launches it from the air.”

The Stratolaunch is designed to provide routine access to low Earth orbit to launch satellites.  It was built by Mojave-based Scaled Composites, now owned by Northrup Grumman.

For all the aerospace work moving the area forward, the Assemblyman also acknowledges challenges, like housing, transportation -- and the coming 12 cents per gallon gas hike that kicks in Nov. 1.

“Being a commuter community, it hits us pretty hard.  Unfortunately, none of the monies used from those taxes are to build wider freeways and help the commute situation.”

And when it comes to your commute, the City of Lancaster, for its part, wants to remind everyone they’ve joined the notification service, Nixle.

“We can share what’s up and coming in the City, emergencies, disaster alerts, traffic alerts.  Anything that they would need to know and should know, they will receive via Nixle alerts," says Melissa Varela, Management Analyst, City of Lancaster.

To get alerts, go to NIXLE.com to sign up. For more on the gas tax, Assemblyman Lackey says stay tuned. There’s a public effort underway to revoke it you’ll be hearing about.