The deadline for OC cities to finalize their housing plans with state officials is quickly approaching, with a database showing less than one-third of cities having adopted final plans.
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 inEducation
School Absences Declining as OC’s Fourth COVID Wave May Be Cresting
After a rocky start for Orange County schools earlier this month, absence rates are declining alongside the testing positivity rate.
Posted inEconomy
Disneyland Moves to Implement Vaccine Mandate For Workers
The push comes as talks between the union and the company break down after months of debating what a mandate could look like.
Posted inEducation
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.
Posted inEducation
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.
Posted inEducation
Santa Ana Unified Suspends Reporting New COVID-19 Cases in Classrooms
While some OC school districts saw their COVID-19 cases drop this week, at least three are reporting more than 1,000 confirmed cases.
Posted inEducation
Placentia Yorba Linda School District Can’t Hold Meetings Because Residents Refuse to Mask
The abrupt meeting cancellations come as Orange County continues wrestling with the fourth COVID-19 surge.
Posted inEducation
Capistrano School District Struggles to Get Substitute Teachers During Omicron Wave
The school board also tabled a resolution calling for more local control over pandemic safety measures.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Orange County’s COVID-19 Positivity Rate Shrinks for First Time in a Month
Increased COVID testing is key, says one leading epidemiologist to keeping schools open.
Posted inEducation
Parents Across Orange County Keep Tense Watch as School COVID Dashboards Soar
As virus cases and anxiety flares across OC public school districts, questions focus on accuracy of district case reports.
