Tag: Southern California

Dutch Bros. Will Open First Locations in Orange County

Dutch Bros. drive-through coffee shops are coming to Orange County with locations in La Habra and Fountain Valley, according to officials from both cities. The La Habra Planning Commission approved a preliminary plan for the construction of a Dutch Bros. location at 777 South Beach Blvd. in April. The proposal is still under review and…


Veteran Fox 11 Reporter Tony Valdez Dies at 78

LOS ANGELES—Longtime news reporter Tony Valdez, an Emmy-winning trailblazer who worked for KTTV’s Fox 11 for 35 years, has died at the age of 78, the station announced May 5. Valdez’s son told the station his father had been battling end-stage kidney failure and passed away at his home. Valdez started working at KTTV in…


San Clemente Looks to Fill Vacant Seat on City Council

The San Clemente City Council announced this week it will begin accepting applications for a new councilor to fill the vacant seat of former councilman Gene James, who resigned last month. With his departure, officials voted to fill the seat through appointment rather than a special election, which would have cost the city $100,000 and…


Orange County Man Gets 20 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Killed 2

LOS ANGELES—An Orange County man was sentenced May 5 to 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose deaths of two victims—one in Aliso Viejo, the other in Utah—within six weeks of each other. Jason Soheili, 28, of Laguna Hills, pleaded guilty in December in Los Angeles to two counts…


‘Not a Safe Place Anymore:’ Actor Scott Baio Leaving California

Actor Scott Baio is leaving California, after feeling unsafe due to the state’s insurmountable homeless crisis, the star announced on Wednesday. The 62-year-old has lived in Los Angeles for 45 years, but says it’s now time to “exit stage right’ from California” adding it’s “not a safe place anymore.” “After 45 years, I’m making my way to…


California Population Drops Below 39 Million as Residents Continue to Flee Paradise

Commentary The pace slowed, but people overall still are exiting California, according to the latest population report by the California Department of Finance. The decline of 138,400 people from 2021 to 2022 dropped the state’s population to 38,940,231, or -0.35 percent. Which put it below 39 million for the first time since 2015. The report…


Orange County Welcomes Its Newest Trail System

ORANGE, Calif.—With 3.3 miles of traversable terrain and five interweaving trails, the Orange County Parks department welcomed the opening of the Saddleback Wilderness hiking trail system last month located within the protected wildlands of the Irvine Ranch Open Space. The newly-developed trails—some with 360-degree views from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean—welcome hikers, bikers, and…


On-Site Screenings Help Orange County Firefighters in Cancer Prevention

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Lines of fire trucks arrived at a training facility April 30, bringing dozens of Orange County firefighters to receive free skin cancer screenings. “Occupational cancer is so big in the fire service right now. It’s the number one line-of-duty death for us,” Scott Jennie, with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network told The Epoch…


Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center Unveils New Name

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center was officially renamed Los Angeles General Medical Center during a ceremony held May 3 in the shadow of the iconic Boyle Heights structure. It’s a new beginning for the county’s most distinctive and busiest healthcare facility, which has been in operation for 55 years. The newly named hospital will…


Threat Directed at JetBlue Airliner Prompts Search of Plane at LAX

LOS ANGELES—A JetBlue airliner that landed at Los Angeles International Airport after a flight from Las Vegas was evacuated and searched by a bomb squad May 4 due to a threat allegedly made by a passenger who missed the flight. The JetBlue plane was taken to the far western end of the LAX tarmac after…