Orange County’s Biggest Civic News as Public Budgets Face Bleak Futures
Municipal budgets struggle with structural deficits, police departments across OC increasingly use drones and surveillance cameras – these are some of this week’s biggest civic headlines.
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Hundreds of Homeless Pets Available For Adoption at OC Animal Care
As of July 9, there are 78 dogs and 197 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.
Fatal Rattlesnake Bite in Orange County Sparks Safety Concerns When Hiking
A rare and tragic incident on a Quail Hill trail earlier this year highlights seasonal rattlesnake activity and the importance of outdoor safety precautions.
How Much is a Sports Complex Worth to Huntington Beach?
City leaders are considering a 20-year operations deal for the Sports Complex despite open questions over how much money they stand to make from the deal they’re spending over $14 million on.
Orange Continues Moratorium on New Massage Parlors For Nearly Two Years
New massage parlors won’t be able to open up shop in Orange for about two years under an extended moratorium as city leaders look to overhaul regulations to crackdown on illicit sexual activity.
Orange County’s Police Surveillance Increases Amid Budget Woes
Local police departments and the county sheriffs are increasingly using drones, security cameras and license plate readers as part of their daily operations.
Lake Forest Approves Controversial Warehouse Project After Resident Pushback
City council members approved a warehouse proposal right next to hundreds of homes after city officials found the proposal meets local noise and zoning standards.
Santa Ana Voters to Decide on Keeping Sales Tax Increase Indefinitely
City voters will decide in November if they will maintain a sales tax increase indefinitely after elected leaders warn that without it they will make drastic cuts to city services.
Huntington Beach Doubles Down on Advertising to Patch Budget Deficit
A new push for ads along the beach and trademarking merchandise is the city’s newest bet to drum up revenue aimed at patching budget gaps.
Lake Forest Leaders to Review Controversial Warehouse Proposal
City council members are set to discuss an appeal of the proposed warehouse project at their Tuesday night meeting.
Will Santa Ana’s Temporary Sales Tax Increase Become Permanent?
Elected officials are debating asking voters to maintain a 1.5% sales tax increase indefinitely after making multi-million dollar cuts to balance their budget.
How Rocky Are Orange County’s Municipal Budgets?
Several of the county’s large cities are confronting growing budget deficits with no real answers for how they’ll dig themselves out of the hole.
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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