Category: Orange County

Co-Founder of Irvine Watchdog Is Running for Mayor

Branda Lin—co-founder of the nonprofit Irvine Watchdog, a local news source established in 2019, and a Community Services commissioner under Mayor Farrah Khan—is running to be elected Irvine’s mayor in the Nov. 8 election. “For the past four years I have dedicated myself to local municipal issues and led a group of dedicated volunteers through Irvine Watchdog…


Providence to Invest $712 Million in Expanding Hospital Facilities in South Orange County

A multistage plan is set to expand Providence’s medical facilities in south Orange County, California, officials announced last week. Providence—a nonprofit, Catholic health care system operating dozens of hospitals in seven states—will fund the $712 million of projects to “meet the ongoing development and ever-growing demand for high-quality health care in [the region],” according to…


Veteran School Board Trustee Runs for Capistrano Unified

Michael Parham, who served over 12 years on the Irvine Unified school board, is now running for a recently vacated seat in the Capistrano Unified School District in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. “I’m running because I care about quality public schools,” Parham told The Epoch Times. “I know how to run a successful school…


California Man Gets 4 Years in Prison for Stealing Over $5 Million in COVID Loans

An Orange County man was sentenced Sept. 26 to four years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $5 million in COVID-19 relief loans to buy properties in Eagle Rock, Malibu, and Irvine. Reddy Budamala, 36, of Irvine, was also ordered to pay $5.15 million in restitution to the Small Business Administration, according to the…


Orange County Chef Bruno Serato Serves 8 Million Meals to Hungry Local Kids

Anaheim chef and humanitarian Bruno Serato is approaching a big milestone—serving eight million meals to low-income children around Orange County. And he’s helped find housing for hundreds of families and provided work training for thousands thanks to his charity, Caterina’s Club. Having grown up poor himself in his native Italy, Serato learned early on to…


2 Suspects Arrested in Anaheim Hills Big Lots Robbery

ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif.—Anaheim police arrested a man and a woman Sept. 24 who allegedly took a shopping cart full of merchandise from an Anaheim Hills Big Lots store and flashed a handgun at an employee. The robbery occurred around 10 a.m. Saturday at 6336 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim…


One Killed, Two Injured in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Freeway Crash in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—One person was killed and two others injured Sept. 24 during a multi-vehicle crash on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Irvine that included a well-involved semi-truck fire, authorities said. The crash occurred a little after 4 a.m on the southbound freeway at Jamboree Road, the California Highway Patrol reported. Firefighters and paramedics dispatched…


One Killed, 2 Injured in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Freeway Crash in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—A man was killed and two others injured Sept. 24 during a multi-vehicle crash on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Irvine that included a well-involved big rig fire, authorities said. The man who died was 59-year-old Daniel Franco of Lake Forest, according to Orange County sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Hylton. The crash occurred a…


‘It’s Not Just a Job—it’s a Lifestyle’: Orange County News Veteran Looks Back on 45 Years in the Industry

With a constantly changing media market in Southern California, Tom Johnson continues to play a key role in journalism shaping Orange County coverage. Johnson has more than 45 years of experience in the industry spanning multiple outlets, including the Daily Pilot, now published by the Los Angeles Times. However, when he first moved to Orange…


College Student Runs for Irvine City Council

High internet prices and slow speeds became the number one factor for one Irvine Valley College student to launch his campaign for a seat on the Irvine City Council, which will be decided in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. Navid Sadigh, 19, said there is only one internet provider available at his home creating a…