Laguna Niguel
GOVERNMENT
City Council Introduces New Ordinance Regulating E-Bikes
The San Clemente City Council unanimously approved an action at its Tuesday, Aug. 20 meeting that seeks to improve quality of life regarding electric bicycles in town and allows San Clemente to better align with state law. Mayor Pro Tem Mark Enmeier, a major proponent of increased e-bike regulation, said...
Orange County COVID fraudster bought yacht, Mercedes after $3.2M grift
An Orange County man was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for a COVID-related fraud scheme in which he took $3.2 million from companies in exchange for millions of boxes of nitrile gloves he did not actually have. Christopher John Badsey, 63, was sentenced Friday to 87 months in prison and ordered […]
50 mistreated cats found in Irvine home rescued, to be placed for adoption
More than 50 kittens and cats were discovered in an Irvine home where a woman was allegedly breeding and selling them for up to $1,000, the Irvine Police Department said Wednesday.Some of the Ragdoll and British Shorthair cats were in poor health, police added, and an investigation is underway by Animal Services officers and the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Authorities went to the residence on Garnet Street on Tuesday afternoon "after receiving an anonymous tip," the Irvine Police Department reported."Some of the cats appeared malnourished, and others showed signs of poor health," police said. "Animal Services officers worked with the...
San Clemente Moves to Crack Down on Homeless Encampments
San Clemente officials are cracking down on homeless encampments in the city after a landmark Supreme Court ruling gave cities more power to enforce anti-camping laws. The city council unanimously approved an update to the city’s anti-camping law that prevents people from sleeping on public streets and parks. It’s...
Letter: Time for a change
I agree with John Thomasʻs astute analysis and recommendations in the Indy back on Aug. 9, but I don’t think he addressed municipal waste and incompetence. Why donʻt we have enough parking enforcement, beach patrol, and trash pickup?. A few important facts missed in the Aug. 13...
San Juan Capistrano Celebrates Reopening of Renovated Sports Park
After months of upgrading work on the local San Juan Capistrano Sports Park, the celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Thursday, August 15. The City Council and local kids’ soccer teams were there to welcome the new fields to the community. “This is an exciting and proud moment for...
Santana: Orange County’s Bankruptcy of Oversight
Orange County is facing another searing accountability crisis just ahead of the 30-year anniversary declaring the nation’s first county bankruptcy. County officials are grappling with an oversight bankruptcy of sorts as millions of COVID bailout dollars are unaccounted for – with county lawyers alleging some of that was used by contractors to buy million-dollar homes, including one for a county supervisor’s daughter.
Orange County’s Randall Preserve to benefit from a $600,000 planning grant
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a $600,000 grant to planning efforts at the Frank and Joan Randall Preserve/Genga [Tribal name TBD]. The preserve is a 387-acre property located near Newport Beach. It is considered the last piece of undeveloped Orange County coastline and was acquired for preservation as a coastal preserve in 2022.
Letter: City hall – A theater of peculiar events and concerning discrepancies
The drama began when the current assistant city manager/interim financial officer unilaterally decided to terminate the contract with the city’s outside auditors. This decision, taken without consulting either the audit committee or the city council, immediately raised red flags. Why? Because he had neither the authority nor the justification to terminate a contract meant to scrutinize his own department’s work. He dismissed the independent firm hired to audit his performance and report directly back to the city council.
San Diego Braces for Cooler Weekend, Inland Empire and Orange County to Experience Dip in Temperatures
San Diego and the surrounding Southwestern California region are setting up for a cooler, more temperate weekend than earlier this week. As reported by the National Weather Service in San Diego, CA, today's temperatures for San Diego County will play in the lower to mid-70s near the coast, reaching the mid-80s to lower 90s for the inland valleys. A similar chill will pass through Orange County, with coastal areas resting in the lower to mid-70s while inland spaces anticipate mid to upper 80s.
Free Things to Do This Weekend Across OC
Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by taking the kids to a Nahua cultural storytime and dance performance in Anaheim, or take a hike through Weir Canyon. On Sunday, consider attending a talk on vegetable gardening at the La Habra Library, or take the kids to origami hour at the Irvine Katie Wheeler Library.
One ton of garlic: OC Fair 2024 just shared its big, big numbers
The 2024 OC Fair sparkled from July 19 through Aug. 18. The fair staff always shares some of its impressive numbers, including how many treats were sold, after the event concludes. An "orchard of lemons" went into the fair's lemonade while making the cotton candy required six tons of sugar.
Letter: Do it for the kids
“We don’t do enough for the kids.” Those were the words of Mayor Sue Kempf at the Aug. 13 city council meeting where the topic was Riddle Field. The Mayor’s comments followed Mayor Pro Tem Alex Rounaghi, who said: “I think that as leaders of a city, our first obligation is to the children.”
Senior-citizen members of aquatic program at YMCA in Newport Beach build community ties beyond pool
We plan for our golden years, but far too often our senior population can feel alone as friends or loved ones move away or move on. But one grass roots community in Orange County works out to build community, while building muscles.Aqua aerobics, deep water workouts or aqua fit can all be found at a community pool, but at the Newport-Mesa Family YMCA, the community is in the pool and they call themselves "The Mermaids.""If you would like to be a mermaid, you're welcome," said Mermaid Marianne Krasinski.The Mermaids began many years ago as a group of people who simply...
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