Welcome to the OC Morning Report. We’ve got controversies in Santa Ana over the Yost Theater and the impounding of cars, a hiring local initiative, a financial crisis in San Juan Capistrano and fireworks at Costa Mesa City Council that this time aren’t just metaphorical.
Voice of OC’s Adam Elmahrek visits the debate raging on Santa Ana’s Fourth Street over whether the new operators of the historic Yost Theater should be able to serve alcohol when they reopen this summer as a concert venue.
And Norberto Santana, Jr., checks in with the Orange County Fair Board and their new program for hiring local kids for summer work at the Fair. The idea comes from Costa Mesa Councilman Stephen Mensinger.
The Orange County Register’s Andrew Galvin reports on immigrant rights activists who came to Santa Ana City Council to speak out about the city’s practice of impounding cars of unlicensed drivers who are caught in DUI checkpoints.
The Register’s Brittany Levine keeps up with the deteriorating financial situation in San Juan Capistrano. City Council voted Tuesday to cut $7.5 million from its budget as a ratings agency downgrades its bonds to “A” from “AA.”
Also in the Register is a Fred Swegles piece on a beautification project in San Clemente that might have become a safety hazard.
OC Watchdog Teri Sforza reports that a recent San Diego legal decision has put retiree health care benefits up for debate.
The OC Watchdog also looks into the politics on consolidation when it comes to water.
Joseph Serna at the Daily Pilot reports on fireworks at Costa Mesa City Council over whether Fourth of July fireworks should be sold in the city a day earlier than normal.
Finally, the Los Angeles Times is reporting that California officials have backed off a drive to resume executions this year, asking a federal judge to delay until at least January his review of revised lethal injection procedures.
The delay means the state will have gone at least six years without executing any condemned prisoners, who now number 713.