Category: Orange County Community

Beware of Rushed News Headlines

The Epoch Times and the Los Angeles Times gave kind and appropriate articles on the sudden retirement of Jim Palmer, president and chief executive officer of the Orange County Rescue Mission in Southern California. The Orange County Register, not so much. The Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) could have issued a better press release to…


Thousands on Bicycles Kick Off Fourth of July Celebrations in Huntington Beach

Clad in red, white, and blue, thousands of patriotic cyclists gathered in Huntington Beach to celebrate the Fourth of July on the morning of July 1, many waving American flags and some even balancing their large pets from handlebar baskets while cruising through the city. “When I started this ride four years ago, 1,000 people…


2 Robbers Steal Teens’ Shoes in Irvine Spectrum Center Restroom

Two suspects took several pairs of shoes belonging to a group of juveniles after following them into a restroom at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Southern California, on June 26, the Irvine Police Department reported on June 28. Cameras outside of the restroom caught the two suspects running out of the bathroom after following the…


Disneyland Resort to Close 3 Popular Rides for Refurbishment This Summer

The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is temporarily shuttering three of its popular rides beginning in July—the peak of its summer season—for several weeks for refurbishment. California Adventure’s ‘Soarin’ Over The World,’ and ‘Toy Story Mania,’ will be temporarily dark along with Disneyland’s classic Monorail after years of on-and-off malfunctions. According to the Disney Parks…


Santa Ana Nonprofit Receives $500,000 to Address Youth Unemployment

Over 300 residents converged at Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in Orange, California on June 26 for an event awarding half a million dollars to a local nonprofit to help low-income youth gain access to job training services in Santa Ana. The funding, which was part of nearly $30 million in federal funds Rep….


Anaheim Gets $5 Million for Traffic Improvements

Anaheim has received $5 million as of June 26 in federal funding for five transportation improvement projects as part of infrastructure legislation approved last year. Local leaders anticipate the projects will have significant local and regional impacts by improving transportation safety, equity, and access for local residents, according to a press release by Rep. Lou…


UC Irvine Siblings Develop ‘Empathetic’ Artificial Intelligence Tech

Two siblings from the University of California–Irvine have teamed up in creating their own artificial intelligence (AI) “chatbot” for use in the medical field, which they say, will be able to potentially employ empathy in its computing and operations. The pair will present their work next month at the United Nations (UN) AI for Good…


OC Discovery Cube Features New Hands-On ‘Ocean Encounter’ With Sea Life

The Discovery Cube of Santa Ana celebrated the opening of two interactive ocean-themed exhibits last week that incorporate sea life interactions with tide pool science. “Did you just see that?” a young boy yelled to his mother as a sting ray surrounded by small Bamboo sharks breached the surface of the new, waist-high “Sea Lab”…


US, California Headed Into Recession: Chapman Forecast

Commentary The U.S. economy is wheezing, and with it California’s. The numbers tell the story, from Chapman University’s Economic Forecast Update, given at the school on June 22 by President Emeritus Jim Doti and his colleagues. The video can be found on YouTube. I’ve been attending Doti’s presentations for 36 years now, and he always…


Cities Should Be Ready for More Surprises From Orange County Power Authority

Orange County cities are on the cusp of learning that their general funds are exposed to liability claims due to the Orange County Power Authority’s (OCPA) activities. [1] Supporters of community choice aggregation (CCA) champion its “financial firewall” as a catch-all safety net against financial loss. However, CCAs—which automatically switch consumers into their programs amid…