Turning The Page on Low Literacy Rates in Orange County
OC Read volunteer tutors help residents work on their reading skills for free.
“I like the news stories covered in the Voice of OC. It is fresh and honest.”
– Ellen R.
Orange County Tallied 722 Total Homeless Kids Last Year, Real Number May Be 30,000
It’s an issue that Orange County Grand Jurors say fuels a multi-generational cycle of homelessness across the region’s 28 school districts.
Nearly 200,000 Orange County Residents Could Lose Public Health Coverage
The return of eligibility checks for people on public health plans might also spell issues for OC’s community health clinic network.
Orange County’s Hotel Workers Consider Striking Over Pay Raises
As entertainment venue and hotel worker contracts set to expire across Southern California, a local union is considering a strike as workers struggle with rising housing costs and demand a $5 hourly increase.
Head of OC Animal Care Steps Down as Activists Fight for Open Shelter Policies
Before Memorial Day Weekend, OC officials announced Andi Bernard is leaving her role as OC Animal Care director. It comes as activists are fighting to reopen kennels to the general public.
Drowning Out the Noise: Orange’s Crackdown on Leaf Blowers Fizzles Out For Now
Orange officials are split on changes to their leaf blower ordinance, with one city councilman questioning if the goal of the revision is to go after low-income gardeners.
380 Apartments, New Retail and Dining Coming to Brea Mall
The Brea City Council approved a new mixed-use development at the mall, making it the latest of many Orange County retail centers being revitalized.
Surf City’s Settlement With Air Show Operator Raises Transparency, Ethics Concerns
Code Four, the company that runs the airshow, helped put on at least one campaign event for the city attorney. It’s raising transparency and ethics questions by some city council members.
Buena Park Officials Crack Down on Smoking
If adopted, smoking will be prohibited in certain places, including outdoor dining zones, multi-unit residential developments and additional public areas.
Santana: Searching For a Veterans Cemetery in Orange County on Memorial Day
While there’s no formal resting place for veterans in OC, numerous cities are sponsoring events for today’s federal holiday. One state legislator hopes next Memorial Day includes a ground breaking on a new veterans cemetery.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
Voice of OC Awarded 1st Place For Coverage of the Environment From California Publishers Association
Newsroom staff honored for coverage of the environment, land-use, and health.
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Columnists
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 the county’s civic news leader, uncovered the truths across Southern California governments for more than two decades and reported on Congress and Latin America.
ANNE MARIE PANORINGAN
Voice of OC’s food columnist — reporting on industry news, current events and trends. Panoringan has been writing about food for 8 years — interviewing more than 330 chefs and industry professionals. She has been recognized by the OC Press Club and is a recurring guest on AM 830’s SoCal Restaurant Show.
JULIE LEOPO
An award-winning photojournalist and visuals director. Leopo has captured a wide array of photographs visually documenting the news and soul of Orange County local government and community. Her work has also appeared in Vice, KCET, Ed Source, The California Endowment and OC Weekly.
PAUL HODGINS
An award-winning arts journalist, co-founder of Voice of OC’s Arts & Culture section and a USC professor. He was previously, an arts writer and critic at the OC Register and San Diego Union-Tribune. He holds degrees from USC, the University of Michigan and the Royal Conservatory of Music.
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