Category: Orange County

Bodies Found on Popular Beach in Dana Point

DANA POINT, Calif.—The bodies of a man and woman were found Friday morning on Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, prompting a death investigation, but sheriff’s investigators say they do not suspect foul play. As people walked towards the sand of Dana Point’s popular Salt Creek beach, puzzled looks appeared underneath their hats and sunglasses…


Orange County Board of Supervisors Calling on City Officials to Fight Fentanyl Together

SANTA ANA, Calif.—While the state legislature is looking for a solution to the growing threat of fentanyl-related deaths plaguing Californians, Orange County officials and law enforcement have joined together to prevent the synthetic opioid from crossing county lines. The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution on Jan. 25 to join forces with law…


Southern California Gas Prices Rise to Record Highs

LOS ANGELES—The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles and Orange counties both rose to record highs Feb. 4 because of the switch to summer-blend gasoline and higher oil prices. The Los Angeles County average price rose to $4.72, breaking the previous record of $4.71 set Nov. 27. The Orange…


How Laura’s Law Helps Protect California’s Mentally Ill

Commentary The tragic case of four Minneapolis police officers overreacting to an individual, to the point of the detainee’s death, has been disturbing for most of us for the past year and a half. The main perpetrator, Derek Chauvin, has already pled guilty and is now serving time. The three other officers are currently on…


Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Selling Tom Brady Super Bowl Rings to Orange County Broker

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty to posing as a former New England Patriots player in order to purchase “family” versions of Tom Brady’s 2016 Super Bowl ring and to selling them to an Orange County sports ring broker, according to court papers obtained on Feb. 2. Scott V. Spina Jr., of Roseland, New…


CalOptima Launches Mobile Mammography Clinics as Breast Cancer Screenings Sharply Decline

BUENA PARK, Calif.—A healthcare organization launched a mobile mammography program in Orange County on Feb. 2 as breast cancer screenings have declined amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a study in June 2021, citing breast cancer screening declines by 87 percent in April…


California City Cracking Down on Catalytic Converter Thefts

LAKE FOREST, Calif.—As catalytic converter theft rises across the nation, the city of Lake Forest unanimously passed a new ordinance on Feb. 1 prohibiting the unlawful possession of the exhaust emission control device. Under the new order, the possession of a converter without proof of ownership will be a misdemeanor and result in a $1,000…


Unpacking Orange County Power Authority’s Imminent Failure

Commentary Upstart renewable energy agency Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is preparing to lock its member cities into hundreds of millions of dollars of liability. As a Community Choice Energy (CCE) agency, it functions by inserting itself into the electricity business by taking over Southern California Edison’s (SCE’s) electricity procurement. To date OCPA has been…


Officials Grant the Orange County Board of Education Voting Map Autonomy

SANTA ANA, Calif.—After weeks of contentious debate among county education officials regarding voting maps, the Board of Supervisors granted the county Board of Education trustees executive authority to adjust district boundaries on Feb. 1. The Board of Education was granted voting map autonomy over the 11 appointed members on the Orange County Committee on School…


Orange County Launches ‘SafeOC’ to Fight Cybercrimes

Orange County has rolled out a new campaign to fight against increasing cybercrimes and other criminal activities—a localized version of the national “If You See Something, Say Something” anti-terrorism initiative. The SafeOC initiative is based on the idea that an alert public can play a critical role in keeping Orange County safe, according to social…