OC’s Biggest Headlines as Anaheim Mayor Faces Accusations of Racism
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken’s chief of staff is alleging she hurled racial and sexual slurs at her, the sheriff’s department overspent its budget by nearly $30 million – these are just some of OC’s civic headlines this week.
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Meet These Cats and Dogs at OC Animal Care That Are Up For Adoption
As of Sept. 24, there are 82 dogs and 156 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.
Anaheim Mayor Denies Calling Chief of Staff a Racist Slur
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is for the first time explicitly denying calling her top aide a racial slur amid calls for her resignation after allegations she said a racist remark and questioned her chief of staff about her sexuality.
Irvine Scrambles to Curb Budget Shortfall
City leaders are grappling with how to decrease spending and increase revenue to dodge an estimated structural deficit of $47 million by 2030.
Irvine Moves Forward on Regulating Toxic Chemicals
After a mass hazmat evacuation happened in Garden Grove earlier this year, Irvine city leaders are asking facilities handling dangerous chemicals to notify their neighbors.
Anaheim Launches Program to Report Illegal Rent Hikes & Evictions
Anaheim officials are rolling out a new webpage where tenants can report illegal rent raises and no-fault evictions under state law after years of local calls for rent control.
OC Fire Authority to Get Federal Money for Search and Rescue Ahead of El Niño
The OC Fire Authority is gearing up to fund a dedicated search and rescue task force with over $1.8 million from the federal government.
Buena Park Reconsiders E-bike Sidewalk Ban
After creating an initial ban of e-bikes on sidewalks earlier this year, Buena Park officials could allow e-bikes on sidewalks, but only going certain speeds.
Anaheim Councilwoman Calls For Probe into Mayor’s Alleged Racist Remarks
In the wake of Anaheim’s latest scandal, one councilwoman is calling for an expedited investigation less than two months before an election into allegations the Mayor made racist remarks to her chief of staff.
Education, Buybacks, Infrastructure: Can OC Curb E-bike Deaths and Injuries?
After the OC District Attorney hosted a buyback program, an ongoing debate remains over how to best curb the worsening trend of e-bike injuries and crashes.
Will Anaheim Release Letter Detailing Accusations Against Mayor Alleging She Made Racist Remarks?
Ahead of the November election, allegations are surfacing that Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken made racist remarks to her aide and questioned her sexuality. Will the city release a letter sent to the city detailing the accusations?
Costa Mesa Approves Housing at Fairview Development Center
After years of sitting dormant, the state-owned Fairview Development Center will be redeveloped into 2,300 housing units, open space and some commercial projects.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
Voice of OC Wins Six First-Place Awards from State Publishers and Four Second-Place Awards from LA Press Club
News staff was recognized more than 50 times in 29 categories including Photojournalism, Public Service, Breaking News, and Local Government.
Voice of OC: A Pioneer in Nonprofit News
Voice of OC Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Norberto Santana Jr. selected as winner of the 2026 INN Service to Nonprofit News award.
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