Category: Southern California OC News

Orange County Schools Recognized for Music Education Excellence

Seven Orange County school districts were recognized in April for their excellence in music education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, a nonprofit that advances the art of music through research, philanthropy, and public service programs. The recognized districts in Orange County were Anaheim Elementary, Anaheim Union, Capistrano Unified, Garden Grove Unified, Irvine…


Man Faces 200 Years in Prison for Thanksgiving Shooting in Costa Mesa

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 42-year-old man was convicted May 9 of opening fire on a pickup full of six men in a road-rage dispute in Costa Mesa on Thanksgiving Day that killed one and wounded four. Lee Queuon Walker was convicted of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. Jurors took about two hours to…


Costa Mesa Officials Concerned Planned State Emergency Center Incompatible With Its Housing Goals

Costa Mesa officials are expressing concern that plans for California to build an emergency operations center on a portion of the state-owned Fairview Development Center—a now-shuttered hospital for the developmentally disabled—may impede the city’s plans for building housing at the location. Officials responded with a letter in April to the state’s plans to use portions…


San Diego’s Steven Martinez Sets Course Record at OC Marathon

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—San Diego’s Steven Martinez won the 19th OC Marathon Sunday in a record time of 2:18:06, while Northern California’s Jenny Grimshaw won the women’s race in 2:53:06. Martinez, who attended Chico State University, earned a $2,500 bonus for breaking the old course record of 2:22:45 set in 2011 by Peter Omae Ayieni. He…


Habitat for Humanity Adds 2 New Homes for Working Families in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Nestled within the neighborhood of French Park, dozens of members of Habitat for Humanity’s Orange County branch gathered to help build homes for two working-class families during a light drizzle the morning of May 5. The local arm of the nonprofit has built 237 homes in Orange County over the last 35 years,…


Southern California Republicans’ Method to Win Latino Votes Looks to Expand Statewide

A grassroots nonprofit formed during the pandemic to encourage voter participation in minority communities—especially Hispanics—in Orange County, California, is now gaining some recognition from Republicans across the state. Established in 2021, leaders of the Santa Ana-based organization chose the name ¡BASTA!, which means “enough” in Spanish, because, they said, it has been used historically for…


Man Gets 105 Years to Life for Molesting 2 Girls in Anaheim

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 42-year-old man was sentenced May 5 to 105 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting two young relatives, including one when she was about 4 years old, in Anaheim. Cesar Alexander Machuca was convicted March 28, 2022, of a dozen felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor younger…


San Clemente Looks to Fill Vacant Seat on City Council

The San Clemente City Council announced this week it will begin accepting applications for a new councilor to fill the vacant seat of former councilman Gene James, who resigned last month. With his departure, officials voted to fill the seat through appointment rather than a special election, which would have cost the city $100,000 and…


Orange County Man Gets 20 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Killed 2

LOS ANGELES—An Orange County man was sentenced May 5 to 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of two victims—one in Aliso Viejo, the other in Utah—within six weeks of each other. Jason Soheili, 28, of Laguna Hills, pleaded guilty in December in Los Angeles to two counts…


On-Site Screenings Help Orange County Firefighters in Cancer Prevention

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Lines of fire trucks arrived at a training facility April 30, bringing dozens of Orange County firefighters to receive free skin cancer screenings. “Occupational cancer is so big in the fire service right now. It’s the number one line-of-duty death for us,” Scott Jennie, with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network told The Epoch…