Officials started lifting mandatory evacuation orders this evening for Modjeska Canyon, but other residents are being asked to stay out for another night.
Author Archives: Noah Biesiada
Noah Biesiada serves as Voice of OC’s county reporter, covering the county board of supervisors and the $9 billion government they oversee.
Biesiada started as an intern in July 2019, helping launch Voice of OC’s disaster news coverage and report on the cities of south Orange County such as Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, and other coastal cities like Huntington Beach and San Clemente.
Currently, Biesiada’s reporting is focused on county agencies such as the sheriff’s department, the courts, and other departments along with the cities of Irvine and Huntington Beach.
His reporting has led to a host of reforms across Orange County governments including the Orange County Power Authority, the OC Fire Authority and Irvine’s Great Park.
He’s won several awards from state and local press organizations for his reporting on the county’s disaster preparedness, breaking news and other investigations and won 2023 Online Journalist of the Year from the LA Press Club.
Languages spoken: English
Contact: nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Mudslides Trigger Canyons Evacuations, Road Closures Following Brutal Wildfire Season
Silverado, Modjeska and Williams Canyons are under mandatory evacuation orders as officials expect more rain to roll in throughout the day.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Veterans Cemetery Remains In Limbo While Some Push City Council To Move Forward Now
The city is waiting on a study to confirm the cemetery’s price tag, but state legislators are trying to secure funding now and need the city council’s support.
Posted inCountywide
Disneyland Can Reopen as Soon as April 1 if Orange County’s Coronavirus Metrics Improve
Theme parks have been closed for nearly a year, now they can reopen next month after state officials announced abrupt changes.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Air Quality District and Residents Agree To Study Asphalt Plant Emissions in Irvine Together
The unified effort is set to be the only sampling moving forward, as other groups drop out of the project from a lack of funding.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Orange County Cities Update Rules On ‘Granny Flats’ In Response To State Housing Mandates
Brea and Garden Grove are some of the first cities in the county to look at the new state limits and figure out how to comply with it.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Residents Get Public Airing of Concerns About The Air in Their Neighborhoods
After months of resident requests, the city of Irvine, South Coast Air Quality Management District, UCI scientists and homeowners are set to sit down together and talk about a nearby asphalt factory’s emissions.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Becomes First City In Orange County to Approve Hero Pay for Grocery Workers
In a 3-2 vote, City Council members approved an hourly raise for frontline workers but risk a lawsuit from big box stores moving forward.
Posted inIrvine
Could Grocery Workers in Irvine Get Hero Pay?
Irvine will be the third city to discuss a mandated pay increase for grocery store employees and could be the first in Orange County to pass legislation on the issue.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Irvine Residents Raise Alarm Over Dangerous Emissions In Million Dollar Neighborhood
The city of Irvine, widely advertised as the safest city in America, has a problem with chemical emissions in its own backyard according to a new study conducted by UC Irvine scientists.
