October 29, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Millions in health outreach contracts draws questions, whistleblower complaint
The way health officials are handling the contracts has already triggered an anonymous whistleblower complaint to county attorneys from a Health Care Agency employee. Nearly $23 million in no-bid contracts, funded by a CDC grant to the county, are up for approval Tuesday by county supervisors.
Voice of OC: San Clemente rejects OC Power Authority, seeks another utility
Meanwhile, many public complaints about OC Power Authority have been aimed at agency CEO Brian Probolsky, a long-time political operative in Orange County who landed a $239,000 salary despite having no experience in the electricity industry or a college degree.
OC Register: OCFA firefighters burned out by overtime as hot, windy fire season arrives
“All I know is our guys are overworked, they need a break and fire season is coming and they are dreading it,” said Todd Baldridge, president of the 1,140-member Orange County Professional Firefighters’ Association.
Daily Pilot: Newport Beach emerges from pandemic with $31 million budget surplus
Much of the surplus will be earmarked for capital improvement projects that have not yet been identified.
OC Register: Rep. Katie Porter swaps white board for white rice to make point about Big Oil
Each grain of rice in the bags, Porter said, represented an acre of public land already controlled by the oil industry. “How much more do you need? How much more acreage? You have two of our 50 states at a price that makes the Louisiana Purchase look like a rip-off. Rep. Porter was standing in front of trunk filled with bags of white race.
OC Register: Rent increases will be limited at one OC mobile home park
When the law goes into effect Jan. 1, the owners of the Rancho La Paz park, which straddles the boundary between Fullerton and Anaheim, will be limited to annual increases of no more than 3% for up to 10 years.
Labor
Labor 411: Tragedy at John Deere as union member is killed by car
“A UAW member who was hit and killed by a car as he was walking to the picket line at John Deere Parts Distribution Center Wednesday morning has been identified as 56-year-old Richard Rich. Police say the initial investigation shows Rich was crossing the Rock Island Milan Parkway at Deere Drive.
California
KTLA: Student ‘assigned consequences’ after wearing KKK costume to Bay Area school
A Bay Area community is upset and concerned after a photo of a Pittsburg High School student wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume began circulating on social media, KTLA sister station KRON reports.
Publication Date: October 29, 2021
