Arts Groups Adapt Opening Plans After Delta Variant Changes the COVID Landscape
The longterm effects of COVID on Orange County performing arts institutions not only include the audience experience, but also require rethinking programming and fundraising.
Protest Alleges OC Politicians Derailed Fair Competition on $200 Million Toll Lanes Contract for 405 Freeway
The plan for toll lanes on America’s busiest freeway is attracting corruption allegations – with a multinational corporation saying Orange County politicians changed the rules of a competitive bidding process to steer a nearly $200 million contract to a lower-ranked firm that hired lobbyists who donated to their campaigns.
Irvine Great Park Development Going Back to Drawing Board After Seven Years
After over a year of almost no progress, the city council is preparing to tackle the Great Park construction problem once again.
OC Fair Backs Off Plan to Circumvent Potential State Bill Banning Gun Shows at Fairgrounds
Local fairgrounds officials say they won’t be rushing to exempt their gun show promoter company from state Sen. Dave Min’s possible ban on such events on the Costa Mesa state property.
San Clemente City Councilwoman Sues City Over Access to Public Records
The suit comes after repeated requests by Councilwoman Laura Ferguson to have the city waive its confidentiality rights, which the council majority has refused to do.
Will Changes to HB’s Affordable Housing Ordinance Create More Lower Income Homes?
City staff says there is a lack of low income housing as city officials have to zone for thousands of affordable homes in the years to come.
Panoringan: COVID-19 Sends OC Restaurant Workers Packing for Other Industries
The service industry suffers as workers opt-out for careers that enrich their well-being instead of becoming a detriment to them. Three hospitality veterans elaborate on their reasons for leaving and where change has taken them.
Santa Ana Council Narrowly Moves Forward With Citywide Rent Control, Eviction Protection Policies
The council’s initial vote to cap rent increases at 3% annually goes further than existing state rent control law, but will have to be finalized likely next month.
Santana: Why Are Orange County Latinos The Least Vaccinated in SoCal?
OC lags behind all surrounding counties in the percentage of Latinos vaccinated. County public health officials don’t have many answers, demonstrating a need for public questioning and debate on strategies to get vaccines to the hardest hit community.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
CNN Features Voice of OC Publisher, Editor Norberto Santana, Jr. to Discuss Newsom Recall Effort
Voice of OC Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Norberto Santana, Jr. is often a featured speaker across politics, government transparency and nonprofit news. His latest? A CNN segment on the Newsom recall effort.
TRENDING
PUBLIC TOWN HALL
We hosted another COVID-19 public information town hall on Sept. 9. Click the button below to watch the recording. To suggest topics for potential future town halls, send us an email.
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CORONAVIRUS
DAILY: As of the Thursday COVID update, the OC Health Care Agency reports 304 new daily reported cases reported, 8 new daily reported deaths (5,371 cumulative) and 313 current hospitalizations (-13 from yesterday) and 87 of those hospitalizations are in the ICU (+2 from yesterday).
VACCINES: As of the most recent vaccine data through 23, a total of 2,096,177 people are fully vaccinated (+27,049 since Sept. 16) and 2,298,690 people have had at least one dose (+9,424 since Sept. 16).
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ARTS & CULTURE
COLUMNISTS
NORBERTO SANTANA, JR.
A pioneering leader in the nation’s rising nonprofit news movement and an award-winning journalist. Santana has established Voice of OC as the county’s civic news leader, uncovered the truths across Southern California governments for more than two decades and reported on Congress and Latin America.
ANNE MARIE PANORINGAN
Voice of OC’s food columnist — reporting on industry news, current events and trends. Panoringan has been writing about food for 8 years — interviewing more than 330 chefs and industry professionals. She has been recognized by the OC Press Club and is a recurring guest on AM 830’s SoCal Restaurant Show.
JULIE LEOPO
An award-winning photojournalist and visuals director. Leopo has captured a wide array of photographs visually documenting the news and soul of Orange County local government and community. Her work has also appeared in Vice, KCET, Ed Source, The California Endowment and OC Weekly.
PAUL HODGINS
An award-winning arts journalist, co-founder of Voice of OC’s Arts & Culture section and a USC professor. He was previously, an arts writer and critic at the OC Register and San Diego Union-Tribune. He holds degrees from USC, the University of Michigan and the Royal Conservatory of Music.
