Tag: irvine

California to Consider Not Working With Banks That Do Business With Gun Makers

A California state senator introduced a bill last week that would prohibit the state from working with banks that also do business with gun manufacturers. State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) introduced SB 637 to force banks to make a choice between what he called “blood money offered by the gun industry” and doing business with the…


Irvine Man Gets 4.5 Years in Prison for $5 Million COVID-Loan Fraud

LOS ANGELES—An Orange County man was sentenced Feb. 17 to 4 1/2 years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $5 million in COVID-relief loans for his sham businesses, then used the money on himself, including purchasing Ferrari, Bentley, and Lamborghini cars. Mustafa Qadiri, 42, of Irvine, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton,…


Amphitheater Plans at Irvine’s Great Park Delayed

The size of a new amphitheater in Irvine’s Great Park is in flux, as the city council moved Feb. 14 to postpone a vote on the issue until the end of February. The city last September approved a $130 million agreement with music and venue management company Live Nation for a 14,000-seat amphitheater, where the…


Shake Shack Expected to Debut at Irvine Spectrum Center This Summer

Shake Shack is coming to Orange County, with a new restaurant expected to open this summer at the Irvine Spectrum Center. The debut of the popular eatery is just a start, with more plans for expansion into Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, according to a company press release. The new location at the Spectrum Center…


Soccer League Helps Thousands of Kids in Orange County

In addition to sending local players to compete on the global stage, one Irvine-based soccer league has helped over 14,000 children throughout the county develop an appreciation for the sport, free of charge. The Orange County Soccer Club—the county’s only professional soccer team, in partnership with its foundation—has dedicated thousands of hours to serving the…


Soccer League Helps Hundreds of Kids in Orange County

In addition to sending local players to compete on the global stage, one Irvine-based soccer league has helped nearly 1,000 children throughout the county develop an appreciation for the sport, free of charge. The Orange County Soccer Club—the county’s only professional soccer team, in partnership with its foundation—has dedicated thousands of hours to serving the…


Irvine to Consider Including Citizens in Discussion on Districting

A subcommittee formed to discuss switching the City of Irvine to district representation at the city council elected its chair Feb. 7 and will consider at its next meeting the possibility of creating an advisory board, with some members drawn from the public, to advise them on the issues. The city council started the discussion on increasing…


Man Gets 90 Days for Attacking Dog in Irvine

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail for breaking the neck of a Chihuahua who bit his finger while he was dog sitting, according to court records obtained Jan. 30. Mohammadreza Shojaei was also placed on one year of formal probation on Friday, according to court records. He was convicted…


Irvine Won’t Investigate Consultant Melahat Rafiei’s Attempted Bribery of Councilors

The Irvine City Council Jan. 24 failed to pass a motion to launch an independent investigation after political consultant Melahat Rafiei last week—in a plea agreement relating to an FBI corruption probe—admitted engaging in a bribery scheme in Irvine in 2018. Rafiei, 45, also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempted wire…


Irvine Won’t Investigate Attempted Bribery of Councilors by Consultant Melahat Rafiei

The Irvine City Council Jan. 24 failed to pass a motion to launch an independent investigation after political consultant Melahat Rafiei last week admitted engaging in a bribery scheme in the city in 2018. In an FBI corruption probe, Rafiei, 45, also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempted wire fraud against one of…