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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I am a geek for city council meetings — meaning I watch those long local government meetings so you don’t have to. And I keep you informed on how decisions in Orange County’s 34 cities affect your electricity bill, how your taxes are funding the next big project, the resources available at your child's school and if there is a corruption scandal brewing within your local government. Orange County’s food scene excites me too. If you ask me about the foods of my childhood, I will tell you about its Levantine shawarma, Korean bulgogi, Yemeni mandi, Sri Lankan kottu, Indian chicken 65, Pakistani biriyani and Malaysian nasi lemak. And guess what, I can find it all in O.C. I hope to help people connect with the different communities that call O.C. home.
My background
I grew up in the Middle East, but I am of Sri Lankan descent and I can count people from 27 different nationalities as friends. I got my start in entertainment reporting but soon realized local news has my heart. My work can be found in the Orange County Register, The Guardian US, L.A. Times, Teen Vogue, NPR and BuzzFeed.
My goals
I want to help people understand how if they want to see systemic change in housing, policing, education or healthcare — it all starts at the local level.
Best way to reach me
Covering 34 cities can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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Commissioner on the civilian oversight body calls for more details to be released.
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The California Coastal Commission wants you to document them.
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The ethnic enclave received the designation in 2022.
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Strong wind gusts will pick up later this afternoon for portions of Southern California.
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‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Barbie,’ ‘Succession’ and ‘The Bear’ lead the nominations.
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In an email to staff, he announced his last day is Friday.
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A new law requires California bars and nightclubs to stock up on testing kits to check for date rape drugs that are often odorless, colorless, and even tasteless.
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No major damage was immediately reported.
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The Inglewood Transit Connector is slated to be completed in time for the 2028 L.A. Olympics.
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Black people were stopped at a higher rate disproportionate to their population size.
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The dinoflagellates that cause the waves to light up come and go in seasons.
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Clothing, non-perishable foods and toiletries are among the items being requested.
