Category: Orange County

Baked Dessert Bar’s Grand Opening in Orange County Calls for Free Cupcakes

TUSTIN, Calif.—The beloved Baked Dessert Bar’s new location in Tustin—its first in Orange County—is opening on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 13, and the first 50 customers can receive a free cupcake. The store The District at Tustin Legacy offers two new flavors—the Chicken & Waffles and Maple Bacon Ube cupcakes—that customers can’t find at…


Baked Dessert Bar’s Grand Opening in Orange County Offers Free Cupcakes

TUSTIN, Calif.—Baked Dessert Bar’s brand-new location—its first in Orange County—is opening on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 13, and the first 50 customers can receive a free cupcake. The store in The District at Tustin Legacy offers two new flavors—the Chicken & Waffles and Maple Bacon Ube cupcakes—that customers can’t find at the other locations…


Things to Do in Orange County This Weekend, Aug. 12–14

Brea Fest Brea Fest is a free music and art festival for families and individuals to enjoy this weekend on Friday, August 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center. There will be delicious food and beverage samples from local restaurants—tickets for food and drink are $4 a person….


Hyatt Bought Hotel Irvine for $135 Million From Irvine Company

IRVINE, Calif.—After two years of closing, Hotel Irvine expects a reopening after the Irvine Company sold it to Hyatt Aug. 3 for $135 million. The 541-room Hotel Irvine, alongside Fashion Island Hotel, was closed in the spring of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hotels and tourism businesses were throttled by when travel…


Irvine Police to Use Cannabis Tax Grant for DUI Intervention Training

The Irvine City Council announced Aug. 9 that it will spend about $190,000 from the state’s cannabis sales tax for police officers to be better trained to prevent impaired driving.   Irvine was one of 45 local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits that split more than $12 million from the Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant this year….


Anaheim Choses Firm to Investigate Corruption Allegations

The Anaheim City Council selected a Laguna Niguel-based firm Aug. 9 to conduct an independent investigation into the city’s elected officials’ campaign contributions following corruption allegations made by the FBI in May. Officials hope the audit—estimated by the city staff to cost between $1.5 million and $2.5 million (pdf)—will show whether any conflicts of interest…


Anaheim Chooses Firm to Investigate Corruption Allegations

The Anaheim City Council selected a Laguna Niguel-based firm Aug. 9 to conduct an independent investigation into the city’s elected officials’ campaign contributions following corruption allegations made by the FBI in May. Officials hope the audit—estimated by the city staff to cost between $1.5 million and $2.5 million (pdf)—will show whether any conflicts of interest…


Santa Ana Uses Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds to ‘Revive’ City

The City of Santa Ana plans to use the second half of its $128 million federal COVID-19 relief funds on community service programs and infrastructure projects, officials said last week. The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved Aug. 2 a plan to appropriate the second half of the total funds—received in June—to community services through…


Laguna Beach to Add Hiring Incentives to Remedy Police Shortages

The Laguna Beach City Council unanimously approved a proposal to remedy police workforce shortages by increasing overtime pay and offering hiring incentives last week. “Police agencies across Orange County and the nation are struggling to attract and retain officers due to the changing business and political environment,” Police Chief Jeff Calvert said during the Aug….


Vehicle Chase Turns up Stolen Catalytic Converters in Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Two men were arrested on suspicion of stealing catalytic converters and leading Huntingdon Beach police on a vehicle chase that resulted in a fiery crash, authorities said Aug. 7. A police officer spotted a speeding vehicle leaving a residential tract at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday in the area of Atlanta Avenue and Newland…