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Voice of OC - Orange County's Nonprofit Newsroom

Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/american-civil-liberties-union/)

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American Civil Liberties Union

OC Sheriff Faces Tough Questions in Court Today About Jail Outbreak

Safety, Security & Justice
By Nick Gerda | January 8, 2021

The hearing comes as over 1,000 inmates are currently infected with coronavirus. Four are hospitalized, and one has died from the outbreak as of Wednesday.

Appeals Court Revives Lawsuit Alleging OC Sheriff, Prosecutors Illegally Use Informants

Jailhouse Snitch Scandal
By Nick Gerda | August 13, 2020

The court’s focus will be whether the informant program is ongoing and whether it is illegal, the appeals justices wrote.

OC Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Orange County Public Comment Policies to Move Forward

Government
By Nick Gerda | August 6, 2020

A lawsuit alleging Orange County supervisors have unconstitutionally restricted public comments got the green light to move forward Wednesday.

More People Could Get Out of Jail Under New Court Orders

Orange County Coronavirus
By Brandon Pho | March 25, 2020

The new measures will result in less people in the jails, reads an administrative order from OC Superior Presiding Judge Kirk Nakamura, “thus alleviating some of the pressures for arraignments within 48 hours and preliminary hearings within 10 days.”

OC Approves New Policy to Immediately Destroy Public Records

Orange County Board of Supervisors
By Nick Gerda | September 16, 2019

The policy change comes after a judge found the county failed to cite a valid legal justification to destroy records before two years. ACLU lawyers say the new policy goes against the court ruling, while county officials say it’s entirely legal.

OC Proposes New Policy to Destroy Public Records Before 2 Years

public records
By Nick Gerda | September 10, 2019

A new policy, up for approval Tuesday, comes on the heels of a court ruling and order this summer tossing out the county’s previous reason for destroying records before two years.

County Asks Court to Let It Keep Deleting Texts About Government Business

Countywide
By Nick Gerda | August 13, 2019

County officials are trying “to circumvent California Supreme Court precedent regarding the preservation of text messages,” the ACLU told the court in response. County officials declined to respond to questions about their proposed order.

Despite Ruling, County Won’t Say If It Will Stop Immediately Destroying Public Records

California Public Records Act
By Nick Gerda | July 17, 2019

OC officials may have found a way to continue to immediately destroy many public records of their government communications, despite a court ruling that it’s probably illegal to do so.

Judge Rules Against OC’s Immediate Destruction of Public Records

Orange County Board of Supervisors
By Nick Gerda | July 3, 2019

Orange County officials likely are breaking the law with a policy allowing immediate destruction of public records and another rule banning public commenters from asking questions of county supervisors or addressing supervisors by name unless they have permission, a Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday.

Judge Hears Arguments on Immediate Destruction of County Public Records

County Government
By Nick Gerda | June 13, 2019

ACLU lawyers say the county has a host of illegal and unconstitutional policies and practices that stifle public information and debate. A judge now will decide if officials are breaking the law and whether to block their policies.

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As of Thursday evening, Jan. 14, the OC Health Care Agency reports 3,221 new cases, 16 new deaths (2,195 cumulative) and 2,169 current hospitalizations (544 of those in ICU).

The county's latest vaccine data (thru Friday, Jan. 8) shows a total of 56,099 people have been vaccinated (view latest info here: http://bit.ly/occovidvaccine).

COMMUNITY OPINION »

  • Mundekis: When an STR is Opened, a Home is Lost and a Neighborhood is Harmed

    Short Term Rentals (STRs) are portrayed as harmless ways for property owners to make money. The harm starts when the STRs open and bring problems into neighborhoods. More harm is caused when residents are pushed out of homes to convert homes to STRs. Banning STRs eliminates these harms.

  • Tillou: Supporting Small Business in Orange, a More Balanced Approach to STRs

    Short Term Rentals (STRs) operate across an astonishing 220+ countries worldwide but are, by design, small and local home-based businesses. They provide affordable lodgings for visitors and generate revenue for homeowners and cities through tourism and tax dollars - all increasingly important as we look toward a post pandemic economic recovery.

  • Briceño: Lessons Learned from the 2020 Elections, Blue Shifts, Flipped Seats, and Authentic Conversations

    Despite some misperceptions, Orange County results showed strong gains for Democrats up and down the ballot, and national elections offer insight into how we can mobilize under-represented communities.

NORBERTO SANTANA, JR.

A pioneering leader in the nation’s rising nonprofit news movement and an award-winning journalist. Santana has established Voice of OC as Orange County’s civic news leader, uncovered the truths across Southern California governments for more than two decades and reported on Congress and Latin America. Learn more »

  • Santana: Orange County Congressman Lou Correa Reflects on D.C. Capitol Attack, His Airport Confrontation and How to Move Forward

Press Releases »

  • State of California Announces Extension of Southern California Region’s Stay-at-Home Order
  • OC Health Care Agency Deploys Mobile Field Hospitals to Help Alleviate COVID-19 Burden on the Local Health Care System
  • County Service Center Closed to General Public Due to COVID-19 Stay at Home Order
  • California Health Officials Announce a Regional Stay at Home Order Triggered by ICU Capacity 

YOUTH MEDIA »

  • Orange City Council Extends Glassell Street Closure in Orange Plaza Paseo

INSIDE THE NEWSROOM »

  • Voice of OC Coronavirus Podcast: OC Medical Professionals Share Insights, Answer Questions
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