Spend any time traveling through Orange County and you’ll have a hard time missing the huge disparity in parkland as you go from north to south. How did South Orange County become so park rich, while North Orange County was left so park poor?

Our Tracy Wood answers that question today in the first installment of a three-part series on how parkland plays such an important role in community health and why many county residents are park deprived.

We also have a dispatch from Norberto Santana Jr. on the backlash supervisors are facing over their objection last week to bilingualism in health care outreach. The OC Weekly’s managing editor, Gustavo Arellano, has been all over it as well.

And from the better late than never department, we finally published the latest from David Nazar and Nick Gerda on the alleged kickback scheme involving coaches throughought Southern California.

In other news…

Reactions to the first redistricting drafts from California’s independent commission had insiders buzzing late Friday to see who’s affected. The Daily Pilot has an overall story.

Martin Wisckol had a good take here, as well as some solid insights, regarding Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. He also spoke with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who says he’s staying put in his congressional district.

Ironically, Rohrabacher’s not exactly welcome when it comes to Iraq.

No action expected in the state Senate on the budget today, continuing a stalemate.

Costa Mesa continues its budget-balancing act by now taking on cuts at the police department.

— THE EDITORS

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