Voice of OC

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.

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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.

Key Figure in Anaheim Corruption Scandal Looks to Backtrack Guilty Plea A federal judge on Friday is expected to decide whether he will let Todd Ament, a key figure in Anaheim’s corruption scandal, reverse pleading guilty to multiple fraud charges.

A federal judge on Friday is expected to decide whether he will let Todd Ament, a key figure in Anaheim’s corruption scandal, reverse pleading guilty to multiple fraud charges.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen to Celebrate 10 Years of Special Saturday Passport Days on March 28 Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen invites families and individuals to get a head start on travel plans at the 10th Special Passport Day on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Old Orange County Courthouse

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen to Celebrate 10 Years of Special Saturday Passport Days on March 28

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen invites families and individuals to get a head start on travel plans at the 10th Special Passport Day on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to…

Valentine: When Disability Rights Exist Only on Paper, A Tenant’s Fight With Corporate Housing in Orange County A disabled Orange County tenant waited months for a parking accommodation that was “approved” but never implemented. During the delay, she fell repeatedly and suffered harm. This story exposes how disability rights fail when enforcement allows delay to become denial.

Valentine: When Disability Rights Exist Only on Paper, A Tenant’s Fight With Corporate Housing in Orange County

A disabled Orange County tenant waited months for a parking accommodation that was “approved” but never implemented. During the delay, she fell repeatedly and suffered harm. This story…

Orange County Healthcare Workers Return to Work After Month-Long Strike Kaiser Permanente nurses returned to work Tuesday morning as bargaining continues and negotiators get closer to a contract agreement.

Orange County Healthcare Workers Return to Work After Month-Long Strike

Kaiser Permanente nurses returned to work Tuesday morning as bargaining continues and negotiators get closer to a contract agreement.

Who is The Voice of Government? Cypress Grapples With Who Can Speak For City Cypress officials are putting together a media policy dictating who exactly can speak on behalf of the city in an official capacity and who cannot.

Cypress officials are putting together a media policy dictating who exactly can speak on behalf of the city in an official capacity and who cannot.

Does OC’s Healthplan for the Poor Really Know What It’s Spending On? Auditors call out the agency’s failure to detail what they did with their money for over a decade.

Does OC’s Healthplan for the Poor Really Know What It’s Spending On?

Auditors call out the agency’s failure to detail what they did with their money for over a decade.

US Supreme Court Goes Dark on Huntington Beach’s Housing Battle Against Sacramento Justices declined to take up the case, meaning that city leaders are now facing state and court mandates to develop a housing plan immediately.

Justices declined to take up the case, meaning that city leaders are now facing state and court mandates to develop a housing plan immediately.

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Officials are looking to ban the use of price fixing algorithms based on nonpublic real estate data to set rents amid concern the practice is driving up housing costs for renters.

https://voiceofoc.org/2026/02/santa-ana-bans-automated-rent-price-fixing/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

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Officials are starting to discuss the future of Angel Stadium with the Mayor calling for a master plan for the site, years after a corruption scandal tanked the last proposed property sale.

https://voiceofoc.org/2026/02/whats-in-store-for-angel-stadium/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

OC’s Biggest Headlines as District Attorney Grapples With Lawsuits Orange County lost another lawsuit alleging harassment by a prosecutor, Santa Ana Police Chief disputes federal officials’ assertion protestors attacked them last month – these are some of OC’s biggest headlines.

Orange County lost another lawsuit alleging harassment by a prosecutor, Santa Ana Police Chief disputes federal officials’ assertion protestors attacked them last month – these are some of OC’s biggest headlines.

More Dogs and Cats at OC Animal Care Are Waiting to be Adopted As of Feb. 19, there are 103 dogs and 14 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin available for adoption.

As of Feb. 19, there are 103 dogs and 14 cats at OC Animal Care in Tustin available for adoption.

Second Female Prosecutor Wins Harassment Lawsuit Against Orange County Over Workplace Harassment Orange County leaders have now spent over $11 million in settlements and legal battles defending DA Todd Spitzer’s workplace with nearly half a dozen other cases still pending.

voiceofoc.org/2026/02/oc-d...

Correction: A jury found prosecutor Bethel Cope-Vega was sexually harassed in the workplace. It did not find that she faced retaliation for bringing a claim of sexual harassment as originally reported in the article.

More Orange County Cities Eye Kratom Bans The drug has been cut down across the county, facing bans and restrictions for its sale, despite usage bans already being in place at the state level.

The drug has been cut down across the county, facing bans and restrictions for its sale, despite usage bans already being in place at the state level.

Free Things to Do: Tết Parade and Movie Screenings The annual Tết parade in the City of Westminster and movie screenings are among many free events this weekend.

The annual Tết parade in the City of Westminster and movie screenings are among many free events this weekend.

McCord: Run Huntington Beach Like a Service Business Run Huntington Beach like a service business—not a political stage. Demand accounting on the 25-year Pacific Airshow deal, stop “balanced” budgets that rely on reserve raids and one-time patches, and tackle deferred maintenance and real hazard risks. November 2026: vote for competence, not drama.

McCord: Run Huntington Beach Like a Service Business

Run Huntington Beach like a service business—not a political stage. Demand accounting on the 25-year Pacific Airshow deal, stop “balanced” budgets that rely on reserve raids and one-time patches, and tackle deferred maintenance and real hazard…

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Officials in Fullerton and San Clemente are limiting how many times older residents are allowed to use senior taxi services per month for certain trips amid funding concerns.

https://voiceofoc.org/2026/02/senior-mobility-program-changes/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Is Irvine Trading One Neighborhood Next to a Polluter for Another? While city leaders celebrated the demolition of an asphalt factory near homes earlier this month, they just sold land to a developer for new houses right next to a county landfill.

While city leaders celebrated the demolition of an asphalt factory near homes earlier this month, they just sold land to a developer for new houses right next to a county landfill.

Santana: Santa Ana Police Dispute Federal Account of ICE Protest In a stark change to their reaction to protests last June, Santa Ana police disputed federal agents’ claims that they were under attack during a downtown protest last month.

In a stark change to their reaction to protests last June, Santa Ana police disputed federal agents’ claims that they were under attack during a downtown protest last month.

When Will Huntington Beach Pier Get a New Restaurant? After years of delays and unclear benefits for the city, some city council members are beginning to publicly question who should hold the keys to the end of their pier.

After years of delays and unclear benefits for the city, some city council members are beginning to publicly question who should hold the keys to the end of their pier.