Battle to Become Orange County’s Next District Attorney Heats Up
A District Attorney reelection bid announcement by incumbent Todd Spitzer this week led to dramatic verbal clashing between supporters and opponents. At stake is the county prosecutor office’s approach to public safety.
PUBLIC TOWN HALL
This week in partnership with Grist we brought you a virtual public town hall on the topic of lead in Santa Ana. We have the video on Facebook and also have the video on our website for you to watch. Feel free to send in questions or responses on the town hall at admin@voiceofoc.org.
Two Orange County Schools Grapple With Racism And Battles Over Sexual Orientation
The controversies come as the OC Human Relations Commission found an increase in hate crimes and hate incidents throughout the county last year.
Placentia-Yorba Linda School Board May Switch to Online Meetings Following Mask Revolt
District trustees have been unable to hold a meeting for more than five minutes this month because of mask compliance, now they may hold their meetings online.
Panoringan: Finding New Foods by Living the Buy Nothing Lifestyle
Our columnist demystifies what it means to be part of a Buy Nothing community and how food factors in.
Orange County Hits ‘Grim Milestone’ Surpassing 6,000 Residents Killed by COVID
It looks like OC’s fourth wave has peaked, public health experts say. But, they warn, the pandemic isn’t over yet and more deaths are expected to roll in.
OC Hospitals Wrestle With High Number of COVID Patients as Fourth Surge Might Be Peaking
While doctors treat COVID patients, there’s an ongoing battle to close health gaps – like vaccine disparities – at the street level.
Orange County Officials Send Nurses To Help Schools With COVID-19 Contact Tracing
The county’s support comes after the state changed guidance on contact tracing at school amid the Omicron surge, which switches from individual case investigations to grouped notifications.
Irvine Officials to Study Botanical Garden, Veterans Memorial at Great Park
While the decision to move forward was widely celebrated, the exact details on what will go in the park are still up for debate.
Santana: School Renaming for Local Education Pioneer Fumbled by Santa Ana District Officials
Sam Romero, the 87-year old father of Lydia Romero Cruz, is fighting to see his daughter’s first name put back on Romero-Cruz Academy, named in her honor after her untimely death in 1996.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
Voice of OC Publisher Named One of Orange County’s Top 2021 Influencers
Award-winning journalist Norberto Santana, Jr. was named one of Orange County’s top influencers of 2021 by the Orange County Register.
CORONAVIRUS
DAILY: As of Wednesday, Jan. 26: 2,592 new daily cases (-272 vs. the day prior), a 24.6% 7-day positivity rate (-0.7% vs. the day prior), 28 new deaths (6,006 cumulative) and 1,086 hospitalizations (-28 vs. the day prior) with 179 in ICU (-12 vs. the day prior), per OC Health Care Agency data.
RATES: As of Wednesday, Jan. 26, OC has 7-day averages of: 195.6 cases per 100,000 people (-31.2 vs. Monday) and 0.07 deaths per 100,000 people (-0.01 vs. Monday), per state health department data.
VACCINES: As of the most recent vaccine data through Jan. 20, 2,372,444 people are fully vaccinated (+14,683 since Jan. 13) and 2,607,570 million people have at least one dose (+21,121 since Jan. 13), according to the OC Health Care Agency. The agency shows 1,043,267 residents have a booster dose (+67,330 since Jan. 13).
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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.
