Category: Regional & State News

Los Angeles Vigil Mourns Those Killed in China’s Persecution of Falun Gong

Over 200 followers of the spiritual practice Falun Gong gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles on July 18 for a candlelight vigil to mourn fellow practitioners who had endured brutal persecution in China that has been ongoing for 24 years. Wearing yellow shirts printed with “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance”—the core principles of…


Orange County Uses Drone to Battle Mosquitos

After the heavy rains this winter, officials in Orange County, California have added a new tool to their arsenal to fight off summer mosquitos. Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control are now using drones to attack mosquito development in marshes, large ponds, and parks. Because the insects promulgate by laying their eggs in water, the…


El Cholo Restaurant Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Cancer Cure Fundraiser

The owners of El Cholo are celebrating the Mexican restaurant’s 100th anniversary by selling naming rights to its booths for charity. The restaurant, which now has six locations across Southern California, is offering guests an opportunity to permanently put their names on 100 booths as part of an effort to raise $1 million for children’s…


Biden Admin Threatens to Sue Texas Over Floating Barrier Blocking Illegal Immigration

The Biden administration is threatening to sue the state of Texas unless officials remove floating border barriers recently set up in the middle of the Rio Grande river to keep out illegal immigrants. The Department of Justice (DOJ) told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a July 20 letter obtained by The Epoch Times that the…


Army Vet Convicted of Sex Assault Murder of Elderly Neighbor in Garden Grove

A 36-year-old U.S. Army veteran was convicted on July 20 of fatally beating a 68-year-old neighbor during an attempted rape in Garden Grove nearly six years ago. Michael Aon Varela was convicted of murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted rape. It was Mr. Varela’s second trial. A previous jury deadlocked…


Lake Forest City Councilman Faces Domestic Violence Charges

A Lake Forest City Councilman was charged with allegations of domestic violence, according to court records obtained on July 21. Benjamin Yu, 40, was charged on July 7 with corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and false imprisonment, both misdemeanors, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 23 in the…


Emergency Road Repairs Stalled for Months as National Park Service Reviews Project

Brian McCartney lives and works in Pennsylvania, but his drive between the two takes him through New Jersey. The trip from Mr. McCartney’s home to his automotive repair shop used to be a simple jaunt up Route 611, from one town to another, along the Pennsylvania side of the scenic Delaware River in the Pocono…


Texas A&M President Resigns Amid Fallout Over Botched Hiring of Black Journalism Professor

Texas University A&M President M. Katherine Banks resigned from the school following a resolution passed by the Faculty Senate to investigate the mishandling of the hiring of former New York Times journalist Kathleen McElroy. Ms. Banks submitted her resignation late Thursday, according to a university news release Friday morning. She became the school’s 26th president…


New York City Sent Over 1,500 Illegal Immigrants to Upstate Hotels

New York City has sent 1,511 illegal immigrants to upstate hotels since it began the practice in early May, according to an affidavit filed by the Deputy Chief Staff of the Mayor’s Office, Molly Shaeffer.  Ms. Shaeffer submitted the filing to Orange County Supreme Court on July 20 in response to a county lawsuit seeking to put…


LA Developer Gets 6 Years in Prison for Involvement in José Huizar Bribery

LOS ANGELES—A real estate developer was sentenced on July 21 to six years in federal prison and fined $750,000 for paying a $500,000 bribe to then-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar in order to “grease the wheels” for the approval of a downtown condominium project. Dae Yong “David” Lee, 58, of Bel Air, was the…