August 16, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
OC Register: OC schools in the time of COVID: This year really is new
While many seem to be OK with those measures, there’s some push back, including lawsuits and at least one student who refused to wear a mask on his first day of school in Tustin – a move that was followed by two days of anti-mask rallies outside the school.
Voice of OC: South OC cities look at how to spend millions in COVID relief money
The money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, one of several measures passed by Congress giving money back to municipal governments to assist local recovery from the pandemic. San Clemente and Lake Forest will discuss during their next meetings where that pot of money is going, with over $20 million to be used between the two cities.
Voice of OC: COVID outbreaks hit OC Social Services; workers want return to outdoor operations
Known infections among county employees exposed at work sites have jumped to 71 this month through Wednesday, up from two employees over the first 11 days of June and 8 over the same timeframe in July, according to county data reviewed by Voice of OC. The Social Service Agency has apparently been hit the hardest.
Voice of OC: Santa Ana considers shifting $1 million toward community policing efforts
Mayor Vicente Sarmiento calls it one piece of a “comprehensive” effort to respond to a longstanding and systemic public safety crisis in Santa Ana — one dogged by distrust in police, outsized city spending of tax dollars on law enforcement, and environments that neglect youth.
Voice of OC: Santa Ana to consider reversing past relaxation of Affordable Housing law
Last year, Santa Ana City Council members relaxed regulations on housing developers in the city in an effort to encourage more construction during the Coronavirus pandemic — making it easier for developers to build luxury and market-rate housing with less requirements to accommodate lower-income renters.
OC Register: Effort to recall six Huntington Beach council members could get messy
During public comments at the start of the Aug. 3 city council meeting, a group of residents operating as “Save Surf City” served “notice of intent” to circulate recall petitions against six of the city’s seven council members.
Voice of OC: OC Power Authority approves revised conflict of interest code following criticism
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a five-fold increase in the number of miles of trails open to certain electric bikes in the forests surrounding Lake Tahoe.
California
KTLA: ‘Heartbreaking’: Emaciated bear cub spotted alone in NorCal burn area may have lost mom to Dixie Fire
The pointy-eared cub is seen rambling solo along a mountain road burned by the Dixie Fire near Taylorsville, peering through brush and leaping through plants covered in fire retardant chemicals.
Publication Date: August 16, 2021
