Category: Orange County

Mission Viejo: Orange County’s Final Frontier

Known for its tree-lined streets and Spanish mission-style architecture, the city of Mission Viejo—located in the Saddleback Valley east of Laguna Beach—is the largest master-planned neighborhood in California. Though Mission Viejo can trace its origins back to the 19th century, it is relatively young, becoming incorporated just 34 years ago. The delay of cityhood, historians…


Conservative Huntington Beach Candidates Vow to ‘Return City to People’

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—As the setting sun lit the skies Oct. 27, hundreds of locals and visitors gathered in front of a stage with the backdrop of the pier adorned with American flags moving with the wind. The evening was set for eight conservative candidates—all of whom are longtime residents of Huntington Beach—running for various seats…


Laguna Beach Considers Making Its Water District an Independent Agency

Laguna Beach city officials started discussing during its Oct. 18 meeting a proposal to make the city’s water district an independent agency and move its water quality department under the agency’s authority in the name of efficiency. The city council currently acts as the Board of Directors for the Laguna Beach Water District—which supplies water,…


Baugh, Porter Clash on Issues, Ideology in New California Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) is facing her “toughest race yet” in California’s newly drawn 47th Congressional District during this year’s midterm elections, according to ActBlue, a fundraising platform for Democratic Party candidates. Although the district includes her hometown of Irvine in Orange County, about 70 percent of the voters are new to Porter due…


Cal State Fullerton Economic Forecast Reports High Likelihood of Recession

Inflation is expected to remain high for the next few years as the United States heads towards a recession, according to the latest economic forecast by California State University–Fullerton. Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting director Anil Puri and co-director Mira Farka presented the school’s annual forecast Oct. 27 at a presentation co-hosted by…


Capistrano Unified Allows Foreign Students to Enroll in District Schools for One Year

The Capistrano Unified School Board approved a new program last week to allow foreign students to enroll in the district’s schools for up to a year. The program—which is separate from the district’s existing student exchange program—is intended to “provide another form of access for international students … as well as augment enrollment,” according to…


Irvine Man Charged With Killing Dog for Defecating in His Car

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 40-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday on charges of beating a service dog to death in a parking lot in Santa Ana for defecating in his car. Randy Francois of Irvine was charged in September with two felony counts of cruelty to animals, but he failed to appear in court after bonding…


OC Extends Program for Inmates to Rehabilitate Through Training Dog

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 18 unanimously agreed to extend for three years a dog-training program that focuses on inmate rehabilitation. The program—operated by Cell Dogs, Inc.—has been conducted for about a year at the Theo Lacy Facility, a county jail in Orange. It was first started at the James A. Musick…


Judge Asks Santa Ana, County to Allow ‘Walk-Up’ Stays in Existing Shelters After Blocking New Winter Shelter

After blocking Orange County’s plans to open a cold weather shelter in Downtown Santa Ana earlier this month, the federal court judge presiding over the dispute pushed local officials to find an alternative shelter solution that will allow walk-ups instead of just referrals. “It’s just inhumane to have people sit in the rain,” U.S. District…


Judge Allows Orange County to Open Winter Shelter in Santa Ana After Blocking Previous Site

After blocking Orange County’s plans to open a cold-weather shelter in Downtown Santa Ana earlier this month, the federal court judge presiding over the dispute allowed the county to open the shelter in a different location in the city at an Oct. 21 hearing. “It’s just inhumane to have people sit in the rain,” U.S….