Category: Orange County

Orange County Board Revises Redistricting Decision

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Orange County supervisors voted July 26 to allow supervisors to continue representing their original districts, as well as new districts assigned during a redistricting process last year. Supervisor Katrina Foley presented the idea to the county’s Board of Supervisors after receiving an opinion the week before from California Attorney General Rob Bonta mirroring…


Orange County Police Receives Cannabis Tax Grant for DUI Intervention Training

Five Orange County cities—including Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Irvine, and Orange—received funding this month from the state’s cannabis sales tax revenue for their police officers to be better trained in preventing tragedies caused by people driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. This year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Cannabis Tax Fund Grant distributed…


Butterflies Find a New Home in Santa Ana

“Dad, look at this one!” a child exclaimed, pointing at a large blue butterfly, roughly the size of an adult hand, as it flew over their heads toward the wall of the enclosure. “Look, now he’s resting, Dad!” Santa Ana Zoo’s Flight exhibit opened July 25, exposing visitors to a live butterfly experience where zoogoers…


Santa Ana Founder William Spurgeon’s Fascinating History

The story of William H. Spurgeon—the founder of the city of Santa Ana and one of Orange County’s first supervisors—is a microcosm of the county’s dramatic early history. Spurgeon, known as Uncle Billy, was born on Oct. 10, 1829, in Henry County, Kentucky, In 1830, his parents moved with him to Indiana, and then to…


Disney Adds 2 Orange County Schools to Its Free-Tuition Program

The Walt Disney Company July 20 added two more Orange County schools to its program that allows its employees to attend college for free. The company recently partnered with Cal State University–Fullerton and Fullerton College through Disney Aspire, which covers 100 percent tuition for employees and cast members who have been working with Disney for…


San Clemente Allows Homeless Charity to Stay at City Property for Another Year

San Clemente City Council July 19 narrowly approved extending a homeless nonprofit’s lease on a city-owned property after the group said eviction would be catastrophic. After meeting for nearly six hours, the council voted 3–2 to allow Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) to remain at 1030 Calle Negocio through spring 2024. The faith-based charity provides aid…


AG Bonta: OC Supervisors Can Represent Old Districts Until Next Election

Orange County supervisors can continue to represent constituents in the districts where they were first elected before the county’s adoption of redrawn district maps, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Supervisor Katrina Foley raised the question after she was required to start representing new cities following the county’s redistricting process. The Board of Supervisors…


Santa Ana Officials Discuss Classifying Attacks on Street Vendors as Hate Crimes

As attacks on street vendors have reportedly increased, Santa Ana officials discussed July 20 passing a resolution that would classify them as hate crimes in the city. A hate crime is a criminal act committed because of perceived characteristics of the victim, including disability, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, according to state law. When…


UC–Irvine Receives $1 Million for ‘Curiosity, Integrity, Humility, Tenacity’ Curriculum

The University of California–Irvine (UCI) has received a $1 million grant from a Philadelphia-based charity to expand its Anteater Virtues project to help students develop into more “inquisitive, open-minded and authentic individuals,” officials announced July 19. The grant comes from John Templeton Foundation, which supports scientific research and philosophical discussions on the “deepest and most…


7-Eleven Crime Spree Suspect Faces Capital Murder Charges

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 20-year-old man accused of carrying out a deadly crime spree at 7-Eleven stores across the Southland is expected to be arraigned next month on three counts of murder, along with attempted murder and other felonies. The two suspects, Malik Patt and Jason Payne, made their first court appearance July 19, but their arraignment was…