August 3, 2020

Orange County

Voice of OC: Orange County workers confront coronavirus uncertainty amidst outbreaks

“County workers are very concerned – for the safety of themselves, their families and their co-workers, and about the inconsistent and often inadequate way the County has communicated notice of cases to the workforce,” said OCEA General Manager Charles Barfield.

 

OC Register: Major Orange County freeway closures planned: Aug. 1-7

Here are major construction project closures happening on Orange County’s freeways and toll roads between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority, Caltrans and the Transportation Corridor Agencies.

 

OC Register: Decade of rent hikes end in L.A., Orange counties

In Orange County, the average fell $27 from winter to $2,066 a month, the index showed. The average increase from one quarter to the next was $16 a month during the past decade. Rent increased from a year earlier, but by a mere $6.

 

Voice of OC: Protest push water board decision on Huntington Beach Desal Project’s Permit to Aug. 7

If the permit is approved, Poseidon Water, the company proposing the desal plant, would clear a major hurdle after two-decades of pushing it near the final stretch to getting it completely authorized for construction.

 

Daily Pilot: Hair industry in Orange County adapts to get back to work during pandemic

When barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen in late May, Vu, 47, of Anaheim had deferred rent to pay. Then a spike in coronavirus cases resulted in him having to close his doors again. He said he broke down and almost cried.

 

Labor

OC Register: In the wake of George Floyd, a question looms: Who should be an officer?

Police leaders in California say hiring standards are tougher than ever, despite a drop in applications. Critics say good recruits might be getting hired, but they are ruined by old-school supervisors who oversee their training and early work on the streets.

 

OC Register: Wages, benefits grow at slowest pace in 3 years

Wages and benefits for U.S. workers rose at the slowest pace in three years in the April-June quarter, a sign that businesses are holding back on pay as well as cutting jobs in the coronavirus recession.

 

California

OC Register: Coronavirus state tracker: Hospitalizations up first time in six days, 4,669 new cases and 41 new deaths

Hospitalizations are still 12% below the high of 8,820 reported in the state tracker July 23. Sunday’s tracker, posted online Saturday, incorrectly reported the number of hospitalizations at 6,459. The correct number was 7,754, but still registered a decline in hospitalizations for that day.

 

Publication Date: August 3, 2020