Category: Southern California

Irvine to Prioritize Hiring Local Construction Workers Who Are Union Members

Irvine construction workers may have a better chance of getting work locally, if they’re part of a union, after Irvine city councilors voted unanimously on June 13 to adopt an agreement with an organization that represents 48 local unions in 14 trades. The agreement will prioritize the hiring of local Irvine residents for construction projects in…


Laguna Beach Officials Discuss Student Safety in Joint Meeting

In an annual joint meeting on June 6 between the Laguna Beach Unified School District and city council, members of the Police Department reviewed recent advancements in electric bike—also known as “e-bikes”—safety for students traveling to school. Over 120 students at Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach, California, have received education in the safe operation…


Bear Cub Fatally Struck on Freeway in Santa Clarita

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—A bear was killed June 19 on the Antelope Valley (14) freeway after being struck by a car, according to reports by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The crash was reported around 5:10 a.m. on Monday on the 14 freeway at Soledad Canyon Road in the Santa Clarita area. ABC7 reported two cars…


Bear Struck, Killed on Freeway in Santa Clarita

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—A bear was killed June 19 on the Antelope Valley (14) freeway after being struck by a car, according to reports by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The crash was reported around 5:10 a.m. on Monday on the 14 freeway at Soledad Canyon Road in the Santa Clarita area. ABC7 reported two cars…


Huntington Beach to Consider Screening Children’s Library Books for ‘Obscene’ Content

Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark claims there are “obscene” and “pornographic” books available to children in city libraries and is asking the council to consider screening such books in an upcoming city council meeting. “It has been a longstanding problem in public education that children are being exposed to obscene, and…


Fired Orange County Power Authority CEO Receives Large Severance, in Part, for Silence

The Orange County Power Authority has moved on from their former Chief Executive Officer Brian Probolksy—and paid extra to do so—after facing scrutiny for months under Probolsky’s leadership, which led to his firing in April. In documents obtained by the online news outlet Voice of OC, a copy of the former CEO’s severance agreement showed…


The California Budget and Newsom’s Presidential Ambitions

Commentary As I have been writing in The Epoch Times, everything Gov. Gavin Newsom does now advances his ambition to move into the White House—probably as early as Jan. 20, 2025. So watch how he handles negotiations with the California Legislature over the budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which begins on July 1. Unlike last…


California to Spend $95 Million to Help Illegal Immigrants Affected by Storms

Winter storms that deluged California this year flooded crops and homes along small agricultural and beach communities, leaving thousands of illegal immigrants working as field and service workers without shelter or jobs as summer approaches. Most of them can’t qualify for federal unemployment assistance, even though they pay payroll taxes. And while charitable organizations were…


Moments of Movie Wisdom: Redemption at the Mission San Juan Capistrano

Commentary Sometimes, a single scene will stand out from the rest of a movie and remain strongly imprinted in your memory, even after your recollection of the rest of the film has faded. Some scenes from classic movies stick with us because they are very poignant, perhaps more so today than when these films were…


California Governor Proposes Rolling Back Access to Police Misconduct Records

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has proposed an end to public disclosure of investigations of abusive and corrupt police officers, handing the responsibility instead to local agencies in an effort to help cover an estimated $31.5 billion budget deficit. The proposal, part of the governor’s budget package that he is still negotiating with the…