An annual rock concert sponsored by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to raise awareness and funds for victims of human trafficking is also raising questions about a music promotion business run by his Chief of Staff, Susan Kang Schroeder — who doesn’t disclose her financial interests like other top decision-making officials across Orange County.
Author Archives: Tracy Wood
Tracy Wood oversaw Voice of OC’s civics reporting, including county and city government, the Orange County Transportation Authority, CalOptima, Anaheim, Santa Ana and other community coverage.
Tracy was a government reporter, foreign correspondent in Asia, California investigative reporter and editor. She covered the California legislature and governor’s office for both United Press International and the Los Angeles Times. As a UPI reporter, she was one of the few women combat correspondents during the Vietnam War. She joined the Los Angeles Times in California where she was an investigative reporter for 17 years, covering political and government corruption. Later she became the Orange County Register’s Investigations Editor, leading the paper’s investigations team when it broke the story of former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona’s ties to Nationwide Auction Systems founder and former Assistant Sheriff Donald G. Haidl.
She won numerous awards for investigative reporting and in 2001 was named Los Angeles Print Journalist of the Year by Sigma Delta Chi, the professional journalism association.
Wood and eight other women reporters from Vietnam co-authored “War Torn, Stories of War from the Women Reporters who Covered Vietnam” (2002 Random House). She was also part of the Los Angeles Times staff team that won the 1993 Pulitzer for coverage of the Rodney King riots. The Pulitzer was for spot news coverage for balanced, comprehensive, penetrating coverage under deadline pressure of the second, most destructive day of the Los Angeles riots.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
DA’s Chief of Staff Loses Her First Felony Case
Judge Patrick Donahue turned down Susan Kang Schroeder, a possible future candidate for DA, in her first felony trial, saying no reasonable trier of fact could agree with her case against a Santa Ana man accused of being a drug dealer.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Top Stories
Federal Officials Lift Sanctions From CalOptima
Federal officials Thursday lifted year-long sanctions against CalOptima, the county’s health plan that covers roughly 700,000 low income and disabled children and adults.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
Should DA Chief of Staff Disclose Financial Interests?
Susan Kang Schroeder, chief of staff to District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, is the only one of the DA’s five highest-ranking executives who isn’t required each year to publicly disclose personal financial interests.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Top Stories
Grand Jury Faces Chronic Shortage of Applicants
The deadline to apply for a spot on the 2015-2016 grand jury has been extended to January 30, a recurring issue in recent years as too few candidates, generally from north Orange County, apply for a spot on the watchdog body.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories
Controversial OC Hospital Lobbyist Resigns
Julie Puentes was a key player in Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s restructure of the CalOptima board, giving greater control to hospitals and medical industry.
Posted inTop Stories
OC Veterans Day Celebration Salutes Medal of Honor Recipient
Korean War veteran Tibor Rubin survived Nazi contration camp, fought with extraordinary bravery in Korea and was held prisoner by Chinese. Public celebration honors all vets, including Rubin.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Wellness, Investigative, Top Stories
FPPC to Fine Former CalOptima Exec
Dr. Clayton Chau, former head of the health plan’s behavioral health department, will be fined $2,000 for failing to report drug company speaking fees.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Reporter’s Stories on Government Secrecy Led to Brown Act
Obit: Michael Harris turned a spotlight on local government secret meetings and actions
Posted inYorba Linda
Yorba Linda Voters Reject Recall of Mayor and Councilman
Unofficial returns show Mayor Craig Young and Councilman Tom Lindsey easily holding onto their seats.
