Voice of OC

Orange County Cities Grapple With Rising Rents & Tracking Evictions Costa Mesa officials are expected to debate a rental registry this month while efforts are brewing in Anaheim to put a rent control ordinance on the November ballot.

Costa Mesa officials are expected to debate a rental registry this month while efforts are brewing in Anaheim to put a rent control ordinance on the November ballot.

Santana: Why Did County Blow Off Grand Jury Questions on Supervisors’ Pay Hike? County supervisors in a draft grand jury response argue their pay raise last year gave the public enough notice, but they go silent on allegations that county executives blew off grand jurors on key questions about where the idea came from.

County supervisors in a draft grand jury response argue their pay raise last year gave the public enough notice, but they go silent on allegations that county executives blew off grand jurors on key questions about where the idea came from.

Santa Ana Cracks Down on Illegal Smoke Shops Another Orange County city is tightening rules on smoke shops to curb underage use as local officials also crack down on drugs like Kratom and whippets.

Another Orange County city is tightening rules on smoke shops to curb underage use as local officials also crack down on drugs like Kratom and whippets.

Newport Beach Leaders Look to Bulldoze Portions of Garden for New Police Station City leaders are looking to build a new $160 million police station, but there’s resident pushback over the leading potential location.

City leaders are looking to build a new $160 million police station, but there’s resident pushback over the leading potential location.

OC’s Biggest Headlines as Controversy Brews Over Herbicides in Creeks South county residents forced a pause on herbicide use in local waterways, another city may require staffed self-checkout stands – these are some of OC’s biggest civic headlines.

South county residents forced a pause on herbicide use in local waterways, another city may require staffed self-checkout stands – these are some of OC’s biggest civic headlines.

A Look at More Homeless Pets at Orange County Animal Care As of March 5, there are 100 dogs and 26 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.

As of March 5, there are 100 dogs and 26 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.

Santana: Herbicide Spraying of South OC Waterways Halted, For Now OC Supervisor Katrina Foley said spraying has been halted during a heated town hall in Dana Point, where local residents posed tough questions to government bureaucrats.

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley said spraying has been halted during a heated town hall in Dana Point, where local residents posed tough questions to government bureaucrats.

Anaheim Might Require Staffing at Self-Checkout Stands Orange County’s largest city could soon follow in Costa Mesa’s footsteps and mandate staffed self-checkout stations as industry groups say the move could increase prices.

Orange County’s largest city could soon follow in Costa Mesa’s footsteps and mandate staffed self-checkout stations as industry groups say the move could increase prices.

Free Things to Do: Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities A scavenger hunt in Newport Beach and a mountain bike ride are among many free events offered through public libraries, OC Parks and museums this weekend.

A scavenger hunt in Newport Beach and a mountain bike ride are among many free events offered through public libraries, OC Parks and museums this weekend.

Bixby: The Federal Plan to Drill Our Coast is Wrong For OC’s Businesses and Economy The 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill turned thriving beach economies into ghost towns overnight, and Washington learned nothing. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the federal government is fast-tracking new offshore drilling along OC's coast, risking small businesses on an industry that has already proven it will leave devastation in its wake.

Bixby: The Federal Plan to Drill Our Coast is Wrong For OC’s Businesses and Economy

The 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill turned thriving beach economies into ghost towns overnight, and Washington learned nothing. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the federal government is fast-tracking new…

Irvine Partners with Costa Mesa for Homeless Shelter Beds Irvine residents will have access to beds, as available, at Costa Mesa’s homeless shelter.

Irvine residents will have access to beds, as available, at Costa Mesa’s homeless shelter.

450 Apartments Slated for Anaheim Hills Amid Fire Evacuation Concerns Anaheim officials approved a new apartment complex at the Festival Shopping Plaza despite intense pushback from residents who say it will increase evacuation times in a fire prone area.

Anaheim officials approved a new apartment complex at the Festival Shopping Plaza despite intense pushback from residents who say it will increase evacuation times in a fire prone area.

Will Irvine’s Great Park Run Out of Cash Before It’s Completed? City staff announced last week the park is losing millions of dollars a year under its current spending plans as projects struggle to break ground.

City staff announced last week the park is losing millions of dollars a year under its current spending plans as projects struggle to break ground.

Six-Story Apartment Proposal Sparks Community Uproar in Mission Viejo Mission Viejo leaders are weighing a high-density housing project that would add hundreds of new units to a pre-existing apartment complex.

Mission Viejo leaders are weighing a high-density housing project that would add hundreds of new units to a pre-existing apartment complex.

Another Orange County City May Require Staffed Self-Checkout Stands Anaheim might become the latest Southern California city regulating self-checkout stands on the heels of ordinances being adopted in Costa Mesa and Long Beach.

Anaheim might become the latest Southern California city regulating self-checkout stands on the heels of ordinances being adopted in Costa Mesa and Long Beach.

Fielder: OC Budget Survey, I Give it One Star It is also true that most services funded by the County are mandated. […] But the laws that mandate these services do not mandate how much the County has to spend on them.

Fielder: OC Budget Survey, I Give it One Star

It is also true that most services funded by the County are mandated. […] But the laws that mandate these services do not mandate how much the County has to spend on them.

Another Orange County City Dials Back Senior Transportation City officials in Mission Viejo are limiting the number of rides allowed per month for its senior mobility program after other cities made similar cuts.

City officials in Mission Viejo are limiting the number of rides allowed per month for its senior mobility program after other cities made similar cuts.

Garden Grove Moves to Ban Whippets While city officials originally moved to crackdown on kratom and whippets, they instead banned nitrous oxide for recreational use – more commonly known as whippets.

While city officials originally moved to crackdown on kratom and whippets, they instead banned nitrous oxide for recreational use – more commonly known as whippets.

Who’s Paying for OC Supervisors’ Campaigns?  Candidates for county supervisor are sitting on $1.4 million heading into the home stretch of the primary election.

Candidates for county supervisor are sitting on $1.4 million heading into the home stretch of the primary election.

Guilty Plea Sticks on Key Figure in Anaheim Corruption Scandal, For Now A federal judge has yet to rule on whether or not former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament can reverse his guilty plea to federal fraud charges.

A federal judge has yet to rule on whether or not former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament can reverse his guilty plea to federal fraud charges.

Santana: Herbicide Could be Making Its Way to South OC Beaches After locals start asking tough questions to county leaders about herbicide spraying in OC waterways, Supervisor Katrina Foley schedules a public meeting for Monday at Dana Point Harbor.

After locals start asking tough questions to county leaders about herbicide spraying in OC waterways, Supervisor Katrina Foley schedules a public meeting for Monday at Dana Point Harbor.

OC’s Biggest Headlines as Supervisor Campaign Flairs Over Landfill The campaign for 5th District OC Supervisor is heating up over a controversial landfill, immigrant aid funds could be expanding in a couple cities – these are just some of this week’s top headlines.

The campaign for 5th District OC Supervisor is heating up over a controversial landfill, immigrant aid funds could be expanding in a couple cities – these are just some of this week’s top headlines.

More Pets Available For Adoption at Orange County’s Animal Shelter As of Feb. 26, there are 109 dogs and 20 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.

As of Feb. 26, there are 109 dogs and 20 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin waiting to be adopted.

Kriz: Arriving at a “New Normal”? Another 23 People Died “Without Fixed Abode” in OC in January, Same as in 2020/2025, but still 2/3 of Peak in 2022/2023 With another 23 people having died “without fixed abode in OC in January 2026, a “new normal” may be in the process of being established. Still the county’s death rate among the unhoused remains 2/3 of what it was at its peak in 2022 and 2023.

Kriz: Arriving at a “New Normal”? Another 23 People Died “Without Fixed Abode” in OC in January, Same as in 2020/2025, but still 2/3 of Peak in 2022/2023

With another 23 people having died “without fixed abode in OC in January 2026, a “new normal” may be in the process of being established. Still…

Expansion of County Landfill Turns Into Hotbutton Campaign Issue The race to decide who will be the next south Orange County Supervisor is heating up amid debates over where the county sends its trash.

The race to decide who will be the next south Orange County Supervisor is heating up amid debates over where the county sends its trash.

Invest in young reporters serving our communities. Help us raise $3,000 on Student Press Freedom Day: support.voiceofoc.org/campaign/721...

Orange County Greenlights Voluntary Climate Action Plan While county leaders signed a new climate plan into law, they were very explicit that it contained no mandates on reducing greenhouse gas.

While county leaders signed a new climate plan into law, they were very explicit that it contained no mandates on reducing greenhouse gas.

Free Things to Do: Bird Watching and Trail Access A “bird walk” within the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and other outdoor events are among many free events offered through public libraries and OC Parks this weekend.

A “bird walk” within the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and other outdoor events are among many free events offered through public libraries and OC Parks this weekend.

Immigrant Aid Efforts Expand Again in Orange County Irvine is launching a $100,000 fund to help connect immigrant families impacted by deportation efforts to lawyers as an Anaheim official calls for a legal aid fund in OC’s largest city.

Irvine is launching a $100,000 fund to help connect immigrant families impacted by deportation efforts to lawyers as an Anaheim official calls for a legal aid fund in OC’s largest city.

Newport Beach Bans Most Tents at Coastline Over Resident Concerns City leaders highlighted the ban as part of a crackdown on big parties at the beach over concerns from residents that it would drive down shade for visitors.

City leaders highlighted the ban as part of a crackdown on big parties at the beach over concerns from residents that it would drive down shade for visitors.