OC Celebrates Earth Day Orange County locals gathered for a day of crafts, food, and educational activities at the annual Newport Bay Conservancy’s Earth Day, prompting reflections from attendees.

OC Celebrates Earth Day

Orange County locals gathered for a day of crafts, food, and educational activities at the annual Newport Bay Conservancy’s Earth Day, prompting reflections from attendees.

Santa Ana Police Called to Aid Federal Officers Before Firing on ICE Protesters Last Year Almost a year since the ICE protests, Santa Ana police officials publicly answered limited questions on their scrutinized response to last June’s protests amid looming legal threats.

Almost a year since the ICE protests, Santa Ana police officials publicly answered limited questions on their scrutinized response to last June’s protests amid looming legal threats.

Fullerton Hires Accounting Firm to Review $10 Million Budget Flap The city manager is contracting with Grant Thornton – the same firm that reviewed Orange’s finances – to examine Fullerton’s budget after officials over-accounted for $10 million in reserves.

The city manager is contracting with Grant Thornton – the same firm that reviewed Orange’s finances – to examine Fullerton’s budget after officials over-accounted for $10 million in reserves.

Despite Denials, County Supervisor Was Told Tons of Trash Routed to South OC Supervisor Katrina Foley claimed she had no idea about plans to double the amount of trash going to a landfill in her district - despite getting a briefing on it nearly three years ago.

Supervisor Katrina Foley claimed she had no idea about plans to double the amount of trash going to a landfill in her district - despite getting a briefing on it nearly three years ago.

OCTA Celebrates Earth Day with Free Bus Rides and New Transit Calculator to Figure Potential Savings In honor of Earth Day, OCTA invites residents and visitors to support the environment by taking advantage of free rides on public transit all day.

OCTA Celebrates Earth Day with Free Bus Rides and New Transit Calculator to Figure Potential Savings

In honor of Earth Day, OCTA invites residents and visitors to support the environment by taking advantage of free rides on public transit all day.

Stockstill: The Trojan Horse of Oak Creek The Oak Creek Golf Course continues to be an issue in Irvine. Plans to create a fifty acre nature park as a centerpiece of planned development there has engendered both praise and concern. Many residents continue to complain that any plan for development there must be sent to the voters for consideration per the city's 1988 Open Space Agreement.

Stockstill: The Trojan Horse of Oak Creek

The Oak Creek Golf Course continues to be an issue in Irvine. Plans to create a fifty acre nature park as a centerpiece of planned development there has engendered both praise and concern. Many residents continue to complain that any plan for development…

Egorov: Before Irvine Decides The Future Of Oak Creek, Residents Should Know, The Land Is Subject To A Public Open Space Easement Many Irvine residents may not realize that the Oak Creek Golf Course land is subject to legal protections created by voter-approved Resolution 88-1. Before any zoning changes move forward, the public should understand the commitments made to preserve open space in central Irvine.

Egorov: Before Irvine Decides The Future Of Oak Creek, Residents Should Know, The Land Is Subject To A Public Open Space Easement

Many Irvine residents may not realize that the Oak Creek Golf Course land is subject to legal protections created by voter-approved Resolution 88-1. Before any zoning…

Fountain Valley Increases Trash Rates Fountain Valley residents will soon pay more for trash service, and most will never cast a vote to stop it.

Fountain Valley residents will soon pay more for trash service, and most will never cast a vote to stop it.

OC Judge Overturns $2.9 Million Verdict in Santa Ana Police Retaliation Lawsuit A judge overturned a $2.9 million ruling in favor of a former Santa Ana police administrator who alleged she was being unlawfully retaliated against by her superior, arguing there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict.

A judge overturned a $2.9 million ruling in favor of a former Santa Ana police administrator who alleged she was being unlawfully retaliated against by her superior, arguing there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict.

Huntington Beach Leaders Split Over Rebranding Consultant Surf City leaders are looking to spend nearly three quarters of a million on beefing up the city’s image, but some residents and council members are questioning a firm pushed by the mayor.

Surf City leaders are looking to spend nearly three quarters of a million on beefing up the city’s image, but some residents and council members are questioning a firm pushed by the mayor.

Santa Ana’s Upcoming Report on Police Firing on ICE Protesters Lacks Details Santa Ana leaders seem to be shying away from an in-depth public debate on why police officers fired hundreds of rounds of rubber bullets and threw tear gas at anti-ICE protestors in Orange County’s only sanctuary city.

Santa Ana leaders seem to be shying away from an in-depth public debate on why police officers fired hundreds of rounds of rubber bullets and threw tear gas at anti-ICE protestors in Orange County’s only sanctuary city.

Irvine’s Oak Creek Golf Course Could Get Swapped With Nature Park Council members approved a change to the city’s zoning law that could allow a nature park on the Oak Creek golf course site, which might also get thousands of new homes.

Council members approved a change to the city’s zoning law that could allow a nature park on the Oak Creek golf course site, which might also get thousands of new homes.

Some OC City Officials Eye Cannabis to Bail Out Municipal Budgets As cities grapple with budget deficits, some leaders in two separate college towns are more open to exploring legalizing and taxing cannabis retail stores to bring in new revenue than others.

As cities grapple with budget deficits, some leaders in two separate college towns are more open to exploring legalizing and taxing cannabis retail stores to bring in new revenue than others.

OC’s Biggest Civic Headlines as Cities Grapple With Budget Deficits Irvine, Orange and Santa Ana grapple with projected budget deficits, state officials probe herbicide use near Doheny State Beach – these are just some of this week’s biggest headlines.

Irvine, Orange and Santa Ana grapple with projected budget deficits, state officials probe herbicide use near Doheny State Beach – these are just some of this week’s biggest headlines.

County Officials Look to Settle Dog Mauling Lawsuit at OC Animal Care for $450,000 OC Supervisors are looking to settle the lawsuit with a former animal shelter volunteer and after she was attacked by a dog and bitten 18 times across her body as her screams for help went unanswered.

OC Supervisors are looking to settle the lawsuit with a former animal shelter volunteer and after she was attacked by a dog and bitten 18 times across her body as her screams for help went unanswered.

How Are Orange County Animal Nonprofits Curbing Cat Overpopulation? Local nonprofits focused on stray cats are taking measures into their own hands through trap and release programs amid a lack of aid from Orange County agencies.

Local nonprofits focused on stray cats are taking measures into their own hands through trap and release programs amid a lack of aid from Orange County agencies.

Grindle: Orange County, No Longer the “Dirty Tricks Capital of California” A 10-year summary of the success rate of the Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission, including the difficulty incurred in getting the County Board of Supervisors to support such a Commission.   Describes the Commission’s  100% success rate in attaining compliance with the county’s campaign rules, and discusses the inadequacy of the County’s “Hotline” system. 

Grindle: Orange County, No Longer the “Dirty Tricks Capital of California”

A 10-year summary of the success rate of the Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission, including the difficulty incurred in getting the County Board of Supervisors to support such a Commission.   Describes the Commission’s …

Laguna Beach Bans EZ-Ups on Coast Ahead of Summer The ban is part of a package ordinance that also bars things like certain sized tables and volleyball nets.

The ban is part of a package ordinance that also bars things like certain sized tables and volleyball nets.

Brea Carves Out Disability And Veteran Exemptions in Street Sweeping Law Residents with disabled placards or disabled veteran plates will be exempt from street sweeping enforcement in Brea.

Residents with disabled placards or disabled veteran plates will be exempt from street sweeping enforcement in Brea.

Free Things to Do: Family-Friendly Earth Day Events A celebration in the Newport Back Bay and an Earth Day movie screening are among many free events offered through public libraries and OC Parks this weekend.

A celebration in the Newport Back Bay and an Earth Day movie screening are among many free events offered through public libraries and OC Parks this weekend.

Irvine Officials Deadlock on How to Close Multimillion Dollar Budget Deficits While Irvine staff are warning they could burn through all their reserves by 2030 without changes, council members couldn’t agree to take any action on Tuesday night.

While city staff are warning they could burn through all their reserves by 2030 without changes, council members couldn’t agree to take any action on Tuesday night.

Orange Expected to Defer Millions in Infrastructure Repairs Amid Budget Crisis City of Orange officials are continuing to grapple with curbing a long time structural deficit and are expected to postpone making repairs to a couple of fire stations and city hall.

City of Orange officials are continuing to grapple with curbing a long time structural deficit and are expected to postpone making repairs to a couple of fire stations and city hall.

Santana: Herbicide Use Near Doheny Beach Triggers State Probe Recent investigations and permit reviews into the spraying of herbicides in the San Juan Creek highlights a patchwork of oversight when it comes to watchdogging local waterways.

Recent investigations and permit reviews into the spraying of herbicides in the San Juan Creek highlights a patchwork of oversight when it comes to watchdogging local waterways.

Charlu: When Spanish Entered a Santa Ana Classroom, Everything Changed In an Orange County classroom, a child’s smile sparks a journey into the history, struggle and resurgence of bilingual education. This piece weaves personal experience, civil rights history, and community activism to show how restoring Spanish in schools can restore dignity, and why bilingualism is essential to America’s future.

Charlu: When Spanish Entered a Santa Ana Classroom, Everything Changed

In an Orange County classroom, a child’s smile sparks a journey into the history, struggle and resurgence of bilingual education. This piece weaves personal experience, civil rights history, and community activism to show how…

Beefed Up Cannabis Crackdown Comes to Fullerton City officials overhauled existing ordinances so they can more quickly address illegal cannabis shops in the city – speeding up the fine process.

City officials overhauled existing ordinances so they can more quickly address illegal cannabis shops in the city – speeding up the fine process.

Orange Looks to Implement Santiago Creek Improvement Plans City leaders recently approved a new strategic plan to add upgrades along Santiago Creek.

City leaders recently approved a new strategic plan to add upgrades along Santiago Creek.

Lake Forest Looks to Develop Vacant Site As Affordable Housing A vacant site in the Whispering Hills neighborhood, previously dedicated for a park and left undeveloped for decades, could become affordable housing with a park.

A vacant site in the Whispering Hills neighborhood, previously dedicated for a park and left undeveloped for decades, could become affordable housing with a park.

Costa Mesa Gears Up for Park Renovations Costa Mesa residents showed support for a potential parks renovation project after a citywide parks assessment identified needs for improvements.

Costa Mesa Gears Up for Park Renovations

Costa Mesa residents showed support for a potential parks renovation project after a citywide parks assessment identified needs for improvements.

Santa Ana Faces $19 Million Budget Deficit if Cuts Aren’t Made Santa Ana officials will have to make a host of cuts to programs and services to quell an expected $19 million deficit years before their sales tax increase is set to start to expire.

Santa Ana officials will have to make a host of cuts to programs and services to quell an expected $19 million deficit years before their sales tax increase is set to start to expire.

Irvine Wrestles With Budget Shortfall Amid Questions on Future Stability For the first time in years, Irvine leaders are looking at a $6 million shortfall and questions on whether their future budgets will be fully balanced.

For the first time in years, Irvine leaders are looking at a $6 million shortfall and questions on whether their future budgets will be fully balanced.