LINK TO FUTURE: The good news is...

LINK TO FUTURE: The good news is that Metrolink service from Antelope Valley to Los Angeles began Monday, offering a refuge from the overcrowded freeways. . . . The bad news is that the trip took almost 2 1/2 hours. The service may become permanent a decade earlier than anyone expected (B1).

CARDIAC DEATHS: Of the 57 earthquake-related fatalities, one-third are believed to have resulted from heart attacks, which doesn’t surprise medical experts. . . . During a traumatic event like a quake, “the heart beats faster and pumps harder,” said Dr. Linda Demer, chief of cardiology at UCLA Medical Center. “That increases the workload on the heart.” (E1).

MAGIC AIRLIFT: Magic Mountain, normally reserved as an escape for those seeking daring thrills and chills, has been pressed into real-life duty as a landing zone for hundreds of deputies and firefighters who can’t afford to waste time on the overcrowded routes between Los Angeles and Santa Clarita. . . . Helicopters, such as the one above, arrive each day for a shift change of emergency personnel. (B2).

DOUBLE WHAMMY: The quake will cost the insurance industry at least $1.5 billion in property claims, though it could have been much worse. Most homeowners played the odds and passed up expensive quake coverage. Many insurers, however, such as 20th Century Insurance in Woodland Hills, suffered extensive damage to their structures . . . Meanwhile, financial institutions are offering programs to assist consumers who had major losses. See Valley Business, Pages 3, 5.

NO GAMES: Another casualty of the quake has been high school sports, and there is no relief in sight. The City Section has postponed all athletic events for the second week in a row, and might be forced to cancel the rest of the winter season. Altogether, 24 of the City’s 49 schools were affected by the temblor (C7).