Category: Orange County

Local Hero Flies Old Glory for Service Members Before Memorial Day

ORANGE, Calif.—An Orange County man has become a local hero for “painting” his community red, white, and blue in preparation for Memorial Day. Jorge Cortez, a resident of Orange, California, and Loyal Knight Officer of the Orange Elks Lodge—a fraternal order with nearly a million members since its establishment in 1868—has been supporting veteran service…


Orange County Man Charged With Harassing Online Gamer for Multiple Years

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An Orange County man appeared in federal court May 24 after a federal criminal complaint accused him of stalking a professional online gamer during a multi-year harassment campaign. Evan Baltierra, 29, of Trabuco Canyon, was arrested by FBI agents on Monday afternoon, making his initial appearance the following day in a U.S. District…


Capistrano Unified Adopts Curriculum to Comply With California’s ‘Inclusive’ Education Law

The Capistrano Unified School District—the largest in Orange County, California, serving 14 cities and unincorporated areas—is adopting a history and social studies curriculum for kindergarten and elementary school students that includes “inclusive” material in order to comply with state education laws. The state’s Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act, passed in 2012, requires…


How to Spend Memorial Day Weekend in Orange County

Heartbeat of Mexico Enjoy the Heartbeat of Mexico May 27–29, put on by the Musco Center for the Arts and Chapman University. The event will feature a wide variety of Mexican-style music from bands including La Santa Cecilia, Jarabe Mexicano, Kinky, and other performances, including Aztec dancers and a fun family festival on May 29….


2 Men Arrested in Attempted Burglary in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—Two men suspected of trying to burglarize a home in the gated neighborhood of Shady Canyon in Irvine were in custody on May 24. An Irvine Police Department officer located a suspicious vehicle parked in the neighborhood of Quail Hill at 11 p.m. on Saturday and noticed a two-way radio and a loaded ghost…


On This Day in Orange County History

Commentary “On this day in history” has been a fun way to bring past events into contemporary conversations. During my eight years as an Orange County Supervisor, every fifth Board meeting or so, I would be asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. I would always start off with something of national import that occurred…


OC Store Robberies Spike ‘Way Off The Charts’: Jewelers’ Security Alliance

The May 22 smash-and-grab at Princess Bride jewelry store in Huntington Beach’s Bella Terra mall is the latest among a slew of store robberies plaguing Orange County businesses over the past year, with rates “way off the charts” according to an industry expert. The adage “as California goes, so goes the rest of the country,”…


3 Children Hurt in Collision Near Santa Ana School

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Three children were injured on Monday, May 23, near Taft Elementary School when a man who had been asked to leave the Santa Ana campus struck them while driving away, authorities said. The 911 call came in at 8:23 a.m., said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran. The children were taken to…


2022 Taste of Brea: ‘Perfect Way to Kick off Summer’

BREA, Calif.—The Brea Chamber of Commerce is holding their 2022 “Taste of Brea” food festival—which has been supporting local businesses and building community for 10 years—on May 26 in Downtown Brea. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, guests can expect a fun night out to bond with friends and family over dancing to…


Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Reassures Parents Its ‘Social-Emotional Learning’ Is Free of CRT

Some parents in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District have been concerned about the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum in schools, which prompted the district’s Board of Education to reassure them that the district is using SEL in its “purest form,” free from the influence of Critical Race Theory (CRT). Social-Emotional Learning has become more controversial…