Category: Orange County

COVID Lockdowns Dealt a Huge Blow to OC School Districts’ Financial Health

Commentary The fiscal year of July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, dealt a blow to Orange County’s 28 school districts thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The coronavirus was unique in that very few school-aged children were impacted by the pandemic, but schools were closed all the same. The pain…


Orange County Family Seeks Donations for Earthquake Victims in Turkey

After one of their homes was nearly destroyed during the massive earthquake in Turkey earlier this month, a family is using restaurants it owns in Orange County, California, to gather supplies and donations for victims of the disaster. “[The earthquake] was terrible. It killed so many people. We knew we had to do whatever we…


Orange County Residents Report ‘Unusual Odor’ and ‘Residue’ on Cars, Officials Say

Orange County health officials are investigating after residents in the region about 70 miles north of New York City reported an unusual odor in the air and residue on their cars, according to local officials. Officials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Orange County Fire Services Haz-Mat team visited the…


How California’s Law Requiring Annual Diversity Reports Is Affecting Hospitals

Commentary On Sept. 6, 2019, I voted against Assembly Bill (AB) 962 on the floor of the California State Senate. AB 962, authored by Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood), is legislation requiring hospitals to file reports with the state on the diversity of their suppliers. It’s now a few years later, so let’s reflect on…


Decade-Long $229 Million OC Fairgrounds Renovation Plan Underway

The Costa Mesa-based OC Fair and Event Center will be experiencing radical change over the next decade, after its governing body approved the first phase of an eight-pronged plan to renovate the property. “We are on solid financial ground and … projects will bring the property new opportunities to serve the community, generate family fun…


Orange County Selected to Represent National Health in CDC Survey

COSTA MESA, Calif.—Randomly selected Orange County residents participated in a nationwide health survey Feb. 3 at the OC Fair and Event Center. The county is one of 15 in the United States chosen to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) voluntary National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which combines interviews and…


Underrated, Well-Priced Eats in Orange County

With inflation skyrocketing and families cutting down on their household spending, many across the country have limited eating out in recent months. As Orange County residents face the same challenges, The Epoch Times has compiled a list of local eateries under $25 for those looking to eat out on a deal, recommended by subscribers and…


Innovative Thinking Hopes to Reduce Recidivism for Orange County’s Incarcerated Youth

Changes aimed at teaching skills and fostering leadership are underway at the Orange County Juvenile Hall to help youth with longer sentences, after a new California bill passed in 2021 increasing their time in such facilities to the age of 25. Previously, youth could only remain at such facilities until the age of 18 or…


SoCal Restaurants Make a Respectable Standing in Yelp’s Annual US Top 100 List

Yelp released Jan. 25 its 10th annual Top 100 Places to Eat in the United States, 19 of which are in Southern California. This list, according to Yelp, is based on reviews submitted by Yelp users, whose suggestions were ranked by the total number of submissions, ratings, and reviews. Of those named in Los Angeles, Orange, and…


Orange County Authorities Seize Over 44,000 ‘Rainbow’ Fentanyl Pills in 2 Recent Incidents

Orange County Sheriff’s officials announced Jan. 26 that “rainbow” fentanyl was found for the first time in the department’s jurisdiction. Deputies confiscated 14,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills along with 2 kilograms of it in powder form and 10 pounds of methamphetamine from two locations in north Orange County, authorities said. The bust marks the first time,…