Tag: Southern California OC News

Man Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 405 Freeway in Irvine

A man was killed Aug. 13 in a crash involving at least three vehicles on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Irvine, authorities said. The crash occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on the northbound freeway at Jeffrey Road, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported. Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the location at 5:35 a.m….


Orange County Panel Discusses Local Government Corruption Amid FBI Probe Into Anaheim

TUSTIN, Calif.—Former and current Orange County officials took part in a panel discussion Aug. 11 to talk about the history of alleged corruption in Anaheim and discuss solutions to government problems caused by major business interests in California. Concerned locals and officials filled up the event hosted by the California Policy Center—a Tustin-based public policy…


Orange County Panel Discusses Local Government Corruption Amid FBI Probe in Anaheim

TUSTIN, Calif.—Former and current Orange County officials took part in a panel discussion Aug. 11 to talk about the history of alleged corruption in Anaheim and potential solutions to government problems caused by major business interests in California. Concerned locals and officials filled up the event hosted by the California Policy Center—a Tustin-based public policy…


Residents Urge Anaheim Officials to Address Crime After Teen Shooting Death

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Dozens of Orange County residents spoke out against crime at the city council meeting on Aug. 9 following the murder of a 17-year-old boy in the city last month. The residents said more needs to be done to improve community safety after Juan Carlos Renayga, an Anaheim High School student, was shot and killed on…


Hyatt Bought Hotel Irvine for $135 Million From Irvine Company

IRVINE, Calif.—After two years of closing, Hotel Irvine expects a reopening after the Irvine Company sold it to Hyatt Aug. 3 for $135 million. The 541-room Hotel Irvine, alongside Fashion Island Hotel, was closed in the spring of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hotels and tourism businesses were throttled by when travel…


Irvine Police to Use Cannabis Tax Grant for DUI Intervention Training

The Irvine City Council announced Aug. 9 that it will spend about $190,000 from the state’s cannabis sales tax for police officers to be better trained to prevent impaired driving.   Irvine was one of 45 local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits that split more than $12 million from the Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant this year….


Anaheim Choses Firm to Investigate Corruption Allegations

The Anaheim City Council selected a Laguna Niguel-based firm Aug. 9 to conduct an independent investigation into the city’s elected officials’ campaign contributions following corruption allegations made by the FBI in May. Officials hope the audit—estimated by the city staff to cost between $1.5 million and $2.5 million (pdf)—will show whether any conflicts of interest…


Anaheim Chooses Firm to Investigate Corruption Allegations

The Anaheim City Council selected a Laguna Niguel-based firm Aug. 9 to conduct an independent investigation into the city’s elected officials’ campaign contributions following corruption allegations made by the FBI in May. Officials hope the audit—estimated by the city staff to cost between $1.5 million and $2.5 million (pdf)—will show whether any conflicts of interest…


Santa Ana Uses Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds to ‘Revive’ City

The City of Santa Ana plans to use the second half of its $128 million federal COVID-19 relief funds on community service programs and infrastructure projects, officials said last week. The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved Aug. 2 a plan to appropriate the second half of the total funds—received in June—to community services through…


Man Charged with Double Fatal Crash in Irvine

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 20-year-old Irvine man appeared in court Aug. 8 on two murder charges in connection with a drug-fueled fiery crash that killed a couple in Irvine. Jack Frederick Varga Nagl was charged Aug. 3 with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of possession of a deadly weapon—metal knuckles, all felonies, as…