One of District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s former top prosecutors is taking him and OC Superior Court Judge Shawn Nelson to court, arguing she was discriminated against after she helped other women report alleged sexual harassment.
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 inState
OC Judge Greenlights Huntington Beach Voter ID Rules for Local Elections
The judge found no issue with letting the city implement voter ID for local elections after months of debate in court.
Posted inCountywide
Can OC Workers Really Depend on the County Fraud Hotline?
While county officials hold up their hotline as a strong accountability mechanism, there isn’t much publicity about what they find.
Posted inTop Stories
CA Auditors: Anaheim Doesn’t Know if Angel Stadium is Trashed
While state auditors couldn’t find evidence of the Angels violating their lease agreement, they say the city needs to step up its oversight of the stadium – particularly on the ballclub’s maintenance responsibilities.
Posted inCountywide
Just How Fast Are OC Fire Authority’s First Responders?
Authority leaders are about to discuss a study years in the making that found their emergency response times often fall below the goals they’ve set for themselves and haven’t improved much over five years.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
How Many People Are Turned Over to Immigration by OC Sheriff Deputies?
While the number of people transferred to ICE dropped in President Biden’s administration – with the OC Sheriff transferring 221 people to ICE last year – there are questions on if that will continue under President Trump.
Posted inOutdoors
California Regulators: Huntington Beach’s Proposed Light Show Threatens Wildlife
State wildlife regulators say the city hasn’t reviewed enough to say the show won’t harm the environment, saying there are multiple animals at risk.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Irvine City Council Race Sees a 10-to-1 Lead in Campaign Spending
Nearly $100,000 in outside support has already been spent on one candidate facing questions about his ballot designation. While the second place fundraising candidate has raised around $10,000, they haven’t seen any outside spending so far.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Huntington Beach Appoints Andrew Gruel to City Council
Without any public discussion, city council members selected celebrity chef Andrew Gruel to join them on the dais after clearing dozens of residents from the meeting chambers for interrupting the proceedings.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Is an Irvine City Council Candidate a Businessman or Government Employee?
A Voice of OC review found that despite Anthony Kuo’s ballot title as a businessman, he works a 40-hour week for the county government.
