March 24, 2021

Orange County

OC Register: County oks Blue Shield contract for vaccines, will continue use of Othena app

Blue Shield will take over from the state as Orange County’s vaccine supplier, after county supervisors agreed to sign a contract with the state’s chosen third party administrator.

 

Voice of OC: Santa Ana schools to remain closed through June due to virus concerns

The Santa Ana Unified School District will not be sending students back to classrooms this year, marking a full year of online learning for one of the largest school districts in California.

 

Voice of OC: Orange County’s Asian community stands up to hate and honors those lost

Vigils and rallies are increasingly becoming a routine over the past month in an effort to bring awareness to a stark rise in hate crimes against the Asian community during the pandemic. Nailing it For America, a volunteer advocacy group for nail salons and other community interests, held their third vigil because of the increasing violence and racism against the Asian American community.

 

OC Register: Asian widow in Seal Beach gets hate letter days after burying husband

Seal Beach and U.S. Postal Service to investigate anonymous letter sent to Leisure World Resident as a hate crime.

 

Voice of OC: County’s most-prosecuted crime is possession of drug paraphernalia such as meth pipes

The top law enforcement officials in Orange County – DA Todd Spitzer and Sheriff Don Barnes – have called for reforms to how drug addiction is handled by law enforcement, with Spitzer saying treatment should be offered instead of prosecution.

 

California

KTLA: Bell Garden assemblywoman pushes bill to end spousal rape distinction in sentencing

California would end what lawmakers called an archaic distinction between spousal rape and other forms of sexual assault under identical bills backed by proponents on Monday. While there is no difference in the maximum penalties, those convicted of spousal rape currently can be eligible for probation instead of prison or jail.

 

KTLA: California's vaccine eligibility is lagging behind other states

California has administered more than 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. That’s a lot. But in the nation’s most populous state, that’s still a fraction of the demand. And that means many who want to be vaccinated are still being turned away.

 

Publication Date: March 24, 2021