Category: Orange County

Anaheim Man Convicted of Murder in Drunk-Driving Crash That Killed 6-Year-Old

FULLERTON, Calif.—A 56-year-old Anaheim man was convicted of second-degree murder on June 22 in an alcohol-fueled collision that killed a 6-year-old girl in Fullerton. Maximino Delgado Lagunas was scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 9. Normally, prosecutors would file voluntary manslaughter charges against a defendant in a fatal drunk driving collision, but when the suspect has…


2 Orange County Men Allegedly Kidnapped Woman While Acting Illegally as Bounty Hunters

ORANGE, Calif.—Two Orange County men are accused of kidnapping a woman while working illegally as bounty hunters. Rodger Jeffrey Corbett, 49, of Corona, and Kevin Andrew Pedersen, 34, of Fullerton, are facing criminal charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment by violence, menace, fraud or deceit, and enhancement with firearm, according to a June 20 statement by…


Anaheim Moves Ahead Without Mayor, OKs Investigation

Anaheim will continue operating without a mayor after the city council elected not to appoint a new one at its regular meeting June 22. Two candidates—former Mayor Tom Tait and realtor Paul Kott—were nominated by city councilors but failed to get enough council votes to be appointed. Each only received one vote. As a result,…


Orange County Congresswomen Team Up for Tribute to Church Shooting Hero

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Reps. Michelle Steel (R-Huntington Beach) and Katie Porter (D-Irvine) announced Wednesday they have teamed up to sponsor legislation to honor Dr. John Cheng, who was killed stopping a shooting suspect in a Laguna Woods church, with a Congressional Gold Medal. “Dr. John Cheng was a hero who represents the very best of Orange…


Westminster Officials Consider Renewing Sales Tax Amid City’s Mounting Debt

WESTMINSTER, Calif.—With the City of Westminster on the verge of bankruptcy and midterm elections approaching, city officials are deciding whether to renew their one-percent city sales tax on the November ballot while searching for alternative revenue-generating options. Westminster is facing an impending budget deficit of over $17 million, and city councilors need to decide whether…


Irvine Honors Amateur Radio Operators

IRVINE, Calif.—The City of Irvine declared the week of June 20 to 26 as “Amateur Radio Week,” to honor the city’s reported 800 amateur radio operators—or hams—who maintain lines of communication during an emergency. “We are truly grateful for your service,” Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan said at the June 14 city council meeting. The city…


Southland Airports See Flight Cancellations, Delays

LOS ANGELES—A nationwide wave of flight cancellations was impacting Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Monday, with 15 scrapped flights and nearly 140 delayed inbound or outbound flights. The cancellations are blamed largely on staffing shortages experienced by the airlines. As of midday, the tracking site FlightAware.com listed seven canceled flights out of LAX, along with…


Dana Hills High School Bond Measure Dies After Capistrano Unified Board’s Split Vote

A proposed multi-million-dollar bond measure that would have funded updates at Dana Hills High School will not make it onto November’s election ballot after it failed in a split vote by the Capistrano Unified School District’s Board of Education this week. Last month trustees voted 4 to 1—with one abstention—to continue discussion on the bond,…


Things to Do in Orange County This Weekend, June 17–19

Father Daughter Fiesta The Father-Daughter Dance is back in Brea this year! This fiesta is for girls ages 3–18 years and their fathers or father figures to have fun family time with food and dance. Brea Community Center, 695 Madison Way, Brea. Friday 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per person. Dinner included….


How to Celebrate With Fireworks in Orange County

Fireworks are banned in many Orange County cities, but some allow “safe & sane” fireworks. Safe and sane are generally neither projectile nor explosive. Ground spinners, pinwheels, crackling items, sparklers, fountains, and most novelty products are examples. Some cities designate areas for firework stands to operate and sell legal fireworks that are State Fire Marshal…