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Destiny Torres
she/her
General Assignment Reporter, Orange County
What I cover
I cover all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County. I keep a watchful eye on how public officials address the region’s most pressing issues, such as affordability and immigration.
My background
I previously covered Orange County government, reporting on how policy issues affect everyday life for residents.
My goals
I want to write diverse stories that inform, entertain and inspire change, while also holding those in power accountable.
Best way to reach me
Send your tips to me at dtorres@laist.com. I can also be reached privately on Signal. My username is @destinyt.31. You can follow this link to reach me there or type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat.
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Drugs were found in her system at the time of the crash, according to prosecutors.
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Santa Ana is Orange County’s only sanctuary city. The City Council voted unanimously to adopt the new policy.
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Voters in November will decide whether to make the sales tax increase permanent to pay for city maintenance, police and a host of other services.
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Marilyn “Mari” Barke will have to pay more than $100,000 in penalties, according to a judge's ruling last week.
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The district’s kitchens are moving away from individually-wrapped lunches to freshly cooked dishes in an effort to boost nutrition and reflect their community diets.
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Charter closed $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, bringing in millions of new customers.
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The city was looking at a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
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The Newport-Mesa Unified School District banned electric bikes from school property for kindergarten through eighth grade.
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CalOptima Health invests $4.3 million to serve more unhoused residents through its mobile program.
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The agreement with five big auto dealers only goes into effect if residents approve of increasing the sales tax in November.
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City staff will draft an ordinance barring workers from being laid off during ownership changes.
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OC voters finally know what measures did — and did not — make it to the 2026 general election ballotVoters will be asked to decide on several ideas, including changes to local governance and tax increases.
