OC Board of Education Looking to Sue Gov. Newsom Over Classroom Mask Mandate
It’s not the first time the board members took a stance against masks — last year they made national headlines when they recommended schools reopen without any pandemic safety measures.
Local Political Leaders Condemn Racist Remarks Hurled at OC Supervisors’ Chairman
Both major parties are rebuking the comments from last week’s county supervisors’ meeting, where in-person public speakers have become increasingly hostile towards chairman Andrew Do and others.
Residents Challenge Who Gets Priority Access to Orange County’s Coast
A set of debates up and down Orange County’s scenic coast has residents questioning whether ideas about public coastal access only have the wealthy in mind.
Newport Beach Questions Banning Ranch Park Preservation, Wants Housing There
Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery said the city needs to use some of the land to build homes if the city is to meet the state’s housing goals, while conservationists want no development on the land.
Garden Grove Residents Protest Spiked Trash Bills
After two property owners complain, city council members directed staff to work with the trash company to create a billing dispute process.
Orange County Supervisors Accused of Strangling Public Comment
OC supervisors continue fighting efforts to allow for remote public comments as COVID-19 cases surge around the county. It’s drawn criticism from the ACLU and the First Amendment Coalition.
After Tito Ortiz, HB Officials Ask Themselves How City Should Handle Council Vacancies
Cities across the county have grappled with how to fill an empty seat on the dais in recent years — sparking debates over a special election or an appointment to fill the vacancy.
Who’s Watching the Billions in New State Homeless Spending?
The state is leaving it to cities and counties to decide whether or not resident oversight commissions will be reviewing the massive new spending.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
Voice of OC Public Town Hall: Get Your COVID-19 Questions Answered by Public Health Experts
Voice of OC continues to make it possible for Orange County residents to ask questions and get answers in live public town halls.
TRENDING
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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CIVIC NEWS
Collective Fight Could Expand Orange County’s Open Space Landscape
After decades of fighting, public land advocates are making steps to preserve or expand more open space in Orange County.
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CORONAVIRUS
As of the weekly update on Tuesday, July 27, the OC Health Care Agency reports 453 daily new cases, 1 new daily death over (5,140 cumulative) and 212 current hospitalizations (48 of those in ICU). As of the most recent vaccine data through July 22, 1.8 million people are fully vaccinated (56.5% of OC’s population) and 1.9 million people have had at least one dose (63.7% of OC’s population).
ARTS & CULTURE
Art is a Welcome Alternative at the OC Fair
The Visual Art Gallery at the OC Fair serves as an air-conditioned respite from the crowds, rides and fried junk on a stick.
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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.
