May 12, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Supervisors cancel digital Coronavirus vaccine records as hundreds protest
For weeks, county Supervisors meetings have been ground to a halt by residents concerned about claims the county is going to force people to get the shot and mandate vaccine passports before going to businesses and county buildings.
Voice of OC: Grand Jury issues scathing report on County’s pandemic response and plans
An Orange County Grand Jury report released Wednesday found OC officials — for years — failed to take seriously the threat of a pandemic and were caught flat footed on public outreach, vaccines and overall response.
OC Register: Orange County could move to yellow tier by May 19
Orange County notched a first week of eligibility for the less restrictive yellow tier, setting it up to advance in reopening more of the business and the public sectors as of May 19 if its progress curbing the coronavirus continues.
Voice of OC: Orange County cities continue discussion on how to address hate incidents
VThe debate on whether students should learn the history, the culture and the contributions of people of color in the United States and the world — through ethnic studies classes — continues in school districts throughout Orange County.
OC Register: Everything Disneyland changed in the Haunted Mansion and the backstory behind it all
Walt Disney Imagineering worked on the latest refurbishment of the Haunted Mansion that started in January 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the park.
Daily Pilot: After criticism, Rep. Steel says apology for working with California Democrat was a joke
Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel’s staff says she was joking when she apologized to Republican supporters recently for working with Democratic Rep. Katie Porter on a resolution condemning hate-filled attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Labor
Voice of OC: Anaheim Council majority opposes idea of mandating raises for grocery, drug store workers
Several other Orange County cities, including Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Buena Park have already passed “hero pay” laws, each effective for about four months. Each law gave certain workers a temporary $4 an hour raise and will expire by July.
National
LA Times: ‘I stand by every decision’: Former Trump officials grilled over Jan. 6 response
Wednesday’s hearing is the latest in Congress’ attempts to grapple with the Jan. 6 riots that sent then-Vice President Mike Pence and hundreds of lawmakers into safe rooms as a pro-President Trump mob smashed windows, destroyed art and furniture, beat police officers and ransacked the Senate chamber.
Publication Date: May 12, 2021
