April 4, 2018

Orange County

Voice of OC: Federal judge calls on OC city leaders to step up on homelessness

Judge David O. Carter has repeatedly warned cities he believes they are vulnerable to future litigation and noted if the City of Santa Ana follows through on a threat to file a cross-complaint, other cities could be added to the case and potentially subject to having their anti-camping laws suspended.

 

OC Register: ACLU sues OCDA Rackauckas, Sheriff Hutchens; says jailhouse snitch scandal isn’t over

The American Civil Liberties Union says Orange County prosecutors and the sheriff’s department are still using jailhouse informants illegally, a claim that could touch local convictions going back to the 1980s.

 

OC Register: 43 Orange County schools named 2018 California Distinguished Schools

It is the state’s top honor for public schools; overall achievement or significant improvement in scores are used in determining the designation.

 

OC Register: Santa Ana citizens seek to put rent control on city’s ballot

The Santa Ana effort comes as city housing officials are creating a panel of landlord and tenant advocates to work together on tenant protections.

 

OC Register: Costa Mesa is first Orange County city to allow manufacturing, distribution, testing businesses for recreational marijuana

Costa Mesa already allows such operations for medical marijuana, after voters in 2016 approved a ballot measure opening a northwest portion of the city – north of the 405 freeway and just west of Harbor Boulevard – to businesses.

 

California

LA Times: After Stephon Clark shooting, California lawmakers push to make it easier to prosecute police officers

The proposed bill says officers could use deadly force only if it's necessary to prevent imminent and serious bodily injury or death. Prosecutors are encouraged to consider whether officers could have deescalated the situation with verbal warnings or used nonlethal force beforehand.

 

Nation

LA Times: Recalling the labor slogan 'I am a man,' thousands mark 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death

For Cleophus Smith, a 75-year-old who has worked as a sanitation worker for 50 years and hopes to retire at the end of the year, it was important to pay tribute to King by marching a mile and a half in his honor.

Publication Date: April 4, 2018