Category: Southern California OC News

Authorities Destroy 60 Pounds of Explosives in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—Authorities destroyed 60 pounds of confiscated homemade explosives June 8 at the Frank R. Bowerman landfill, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Scott Steinle told The Epoch Times that the explosive material was seized over the last year. Prior to destroying the explosives, Steinle said, they were used for training…


Former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Agrees to Plead Guilty

SANTA ANA, Calif.—The former president and CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and pay back taxes for three years for unreported income, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Todd Ament signed the plea agreement June 1. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 21, but no date has…


‘Green Gaiter Bandit’ Sentenced to 4 Years for OC Bank Robberies

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A South Bay man dubbed “Green Gaiter Bandit” was sentenced on June 8, to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison after admitting to robbing three banks in Orange County. Christopher Paul Daniels, 55, of Torrance, was arrested in March for suspected bank robberies throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, which date…


2022 Primary Election: Orange County Registrar of Voters Begins Audits

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Two days after the 2022 statewide Primary Election, the Orange County Registrar of Voters began conducting a series of post-election tests and audits to ensure “fair and accurate” results, officials said. “We go beyond what is required in statute and conduct additional audits and testing to ensure every piece of our voting system…


Anaheim Delays Appointing New Mayor

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Left without a mayor following corruption allegations last month, the Anaheim City Council struggled June 7 to fill the vacant position. The city’s mayor, Harry Sidhu, resigned May 24 following the release of an FBI investigation report detailing his possible involvement in corruption during negotiations for the sale of Angel Stadium. Sidhu has not…


2022 Primary: Orange County Election Results

Orange County resident turnout was 19.2 percent in the June 7 primary, according to unofficial results from the Orange County Registrar. Out of 1,809,773 registered voters, 348,130 cast ballots—either by mail, submitting their ballot at a certified drop box, or by voting in person at a vote center. Here are updated results, as of 5…


2022 Primary: Newport Voters Allow City Council to Keep Appointing Mayors

A primary ballot measure in Newport Beach that proposed electing future mayors rather than appointing them has failed. A 58.9 percent majority of voters shot down the proposal in the June 7 California primary, according to unofficial election results. About 9,000 voters opposed Measure B, compared to approximately 6,300 who supported it. Under the current…


2022 Primary: Orange County DA Todd Spitzer Likely Secures 2nd Term

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer likely secured a second term June 8 with a significant lead against his opponents, avoiding a November runoff, according to unofficial election results. “The landslide victory last night is a reflection of DA Spitzer’s 30-year career in Orange County and his complete and total dedication to victims’ rights and…


Cyclist Dies in San Clemente Hit-and-Run

As late morning traffic whizzed by northbound near the intersection of Avenida Pico and Avenida La Plata in San Clemente, Calif., the sunshine and light sea breeze failed to mask the fatality that occurred just a few hours prior. At approximately 1:25 a.m. on June 7, Joshua Gene Cervantes, 40, of San Juan Capistrano, was…


2022 Primary: Huntington Beach Poised to Approve Cannabis Sales Tax

Although the sale of marijuana is still illegal in Huntington Beach, the city is poised to adopt a ballot measure that would set cannabis tax rates on sales in the city, as early primary election results show. Ballot Measure A—which needed a two-thirds majority vote to pass—would not legalize cannabis sales but would place a…