Category: Orange County

Court Orders Dana Point Headlands to Reopen to Pre-COVID Hours

DANA POINT, Calif.—As a gentle wind blew across the Dana Point Headlands, hikers out for a quick stroll along the coastal trail enjoyed sunny skies as access reopened to normal operating hours following a restricted pandemic schedule. “This visibility is okay, but I’m sure it will get better as the winds move the smog out…


California Races That Would Have Flipped If Orange County Was a State

If Orange County was a state, the entire governor’s cabinet and senate would look quite different. That’s because the county’s voters preferred different candidates—mostly Republicans—while most of the state voted for their Democratic opponents in the Nov. 8 election. Out of nearly 22 million registered California voters, about 9 million—41 percent—voted, according to unofficial results from…


Orange County Voters Choose Different Representation Than State

Orange County voters preferred Republican candidates in the governor’s cabinet and U.S. Senate in the Nov. 8 election, while most of the state voted for their Democratic opponents. Out of nearly 22 million registered California voters, about 9 million—41 percent—voted, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office. The state has about 2.3 million…


Orange County Water Polo Coach Convicted of Sex Assaults on 9 Girls

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A well-known water polo coach has been convicted of sexual assaults on nine girls he coached and a misdemeanor assault on a 10th, according to verdicts announced Nov. 16. Bahram Hojreh, 46, was convicted Tuesday of 22 felony counts including lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 14, lewd acts on a…


Orange County Honors Community Heroes at Kindness Awards in Fullerton

FULLERTON, Calif.—After helping thousands around the community and even globally, seven awardees were honored Nov. 13 at the fourth annual Fourth District Kindness Awards, hosted by Orange County Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee at Fullerton College. Held on World Kindness Day, the event recognized outstanding individuals in the Fourth District, which is comprised of Brea, Buena…


Orange County Honors Community Heroes at Kindness Awards

FULLERTON, Calif.—After helping thousands around the community and even globally, seven awardees were honored Nov. 13 at the fourth annual Fourth District Kindness Awards, hosted by Orange County Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee at Fullerton College. Held on World Kindness Day, the event recognized outstanding individuals in the Fourth District, which is comprised of Brea, Buena…


Election Results for Key Races in California’s Orange County

In the Nov. 8 General Election, out of about 22 million registered California voters, nearly 7.7 million—or 35 percent—cast ballots, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office. Orange County voter turnout was 45.2 percent in the 2022 General Election per the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Here is the updated report, as…


Orange Honors Veterans’ Sacrifices Including Famed Medal of Honor Vet

ORANGE, Calif.—Hundreds of residents, vets, and current service members turned out at Irvine Regional Park on Nov. 11 to celebrate Veterans Day, including famed Medal of Honor Recipient David Bellavia, known for saving his entire squad while “single-handedly” taking out a house of insurgents in Iraq in November of 2004. During the event, Bellavia expressed…


Court Orders Immediate Removal of 3 Mission Viejo City Councilors

Three Mission Viejo City Councilors must step down immediately, a California appeals court ruled Nov. 10. The state appeals court dissolved a temporary stay issued by a lower appeals court after a county Superior Court judge found councilors Ed Sachs, Greg Raths, and Mayor Wendy Bucknam had overstayed their terms. The councilors were elected to…


San Juan Capistrano to Rebuild City Hall, Add Affordable Housing Next to It

In about a week, the city staff and officials of San Juan Capistrano, California, will move out of the current city hall—which has been functioning for decades as a temporary location—because the current 2.2-acre site will soon be demolished to pave way for a new city hall and an affordable-housing complex. The city is selling 1.2…