Program leaders and some OC Supervisors question why county public health officials decided to not renew a state grant aimed at boosting Black maternal health, but health officials say the administrative cost behind the program was too high.
Author Archives: Hosam Elattar
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC/ Report For America reporter covering Anaheim & North Orange County, food insecurity, housing & homelessness, the Arab & Muslim American community and education.
Elattar started at Voice of OC as an intern in January, 2020 and has covered local food banks’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, School board debates on how to teach history, the decades long push by Arab American business owners to recognize Little Arabia and a corruption scandal at Anaheim City Hall.
He has won several awards from the OC Press Club including Best News Story, Best Political Story and Best Religion Story.
Elattar is Egyptian American and has lived in Botswana, Nepal, Uganda, The Dominican Republic and India.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Officials to Purge City Commissions to Curb $13 Million Budget Gap
Santa Ana City Council members are poised to dissolve five city commissions Tuesday along with a host of other program cuts to help balance a $13 million budget deficit.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Orange County Gears up For Illegal Fireworks Ahead of America’s 250th Birthday
Cities across the county are kicking up enforcement and implementing ordinances to curb illegal fireworks ahead of a monumental Fourth of July weekend.
Posted inOrange
Is Municipal Bankruptcy on the Horizon if Orange’s Sales Tax Measure Fails?
A majority of Orange City Council members promised to cut more spending if a sales tax increase measure fails in November to avoid bankruptcy, while two say fiscal insolvency is not on the horizon.
Posted inGovernment
OC Grand Jury Questions Why County Supervisors Need Millions of Discretionary Dollars
As supervisors continue to expand their staff and increase their salaries, Orange County Grand Jurors are questioning how that benefits residents.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Backs Off Regulating Self-Checkout For Now
Anaheim officials are holding off on an ordinance regulating self-checkout kiosks at local stores and retail pharmacies that workers say will curb theft while grocers say it will raise prices.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Two Santa Ana Councilmembers Could Face Off in November Assembly Race
As ballots continue to be counted, two Santa Ana City Council members are poised to face off in November for a seat on the State Assembly in a tight race.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
OC Cities Look to Beef Up Surveillance Amid Privacy Concerns
Elected officials across OC are looking to increase and continue police and traffic cameras to deter crime despite residents’ privacy concerns and fear of a growing surveillance state.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim to Consider Mandating Staffing at Self-Checkout Stands
Officials in another Orange County city may require supermarkets and drug stores to have one employee staff their self-checkout aisle.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
$3 Million Fund Created to Help Residents Impacted by OC Chemical Tank Emergency
The company behind the malfunctioning chemical tank that almost exploded gave $3 million to a fund set up to aid people forced to evacuate during the emergency.
