Many residents who had to evacuate over Memorial Day weekend raise concerns about limited updates, information.
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 inTop Stories
Are California’s Toxic Regulators Strong Enough to Protect Local Neighborhoods?
A chemical tank emergency in Orange County is triggering questions about the effectiveness of state and regional regulatory agencies.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Evacuations End in Garden Grove Chemical Tank Emergency
Firefighters lifted the final evacuation orders on Tuesday evening after days of questions from residents on when they could return – sending roughly 16,000 Garden Grove and Stanton residents back home.
Posted inGovernment
Huntington Beach Shelves Plans for Film Commission and Expanded PR
The city council unanimously agreed to put any more discussions on pause after backlash from the public over questions of cronyism.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Who’s Really Running Orange County?
County supervisors walked out of their meeting on Tuesday afternoon after a heated debate over who has the power to make things happen.
Posted inHuntington Beach
State Regulators Fine Huntington Beach Elected Officials Over Airshow Tickets
The free tickets came just months before some of Huntington Beach’s current and former elected leaders gave the airshow’s operators a controversial deal to stay in town amid questions about a quid pro quo.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
How Did Orange County’s Homeless Population Shrink?
A headcount found a drop in Orange County’s homeless population, with roughly 1,000 less people sleeping on the streets than two years ago – yet county officials can’t say exactly how that happened.
Posted inCountywide
OC’s Most Competitive Races For The June Primary Election
Voters are set to pick a new majority on the county board of supervisors, county treasurer and several key state assembly and congressional members in next month’s election.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Huntington Beach to Pay $50,000 a Month Until They Get an Approved Housing Plan
The penalties come after a yearslong court battle between state and city leaders over whether charter cities have to follow state housing laws that mandate cities plan for a certain number of new housing units.
Posted inOutdoors
Orange County Pauses Herbicide Spraying in Creek Beds After Backlash
The stoppage comes after activists repeatedly questioned the county’s use of weedkiller chemicals and if they were impacting the health of the environment – yet it’s unclear how long the pause will last.
