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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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The bakery’s announcement came after another beloved L.A. institution, Milk Jar Cookies, announced its closure on social media.
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The city will determine additional celebrations on a quarterly basis.
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One expert warned that there is a “potential for cliff failures, for sure, as those waves are just beating against the base of the cliff more frequently during events like this."
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They are a mix of first-timers and seasoned pros. Some of them have been coming for decades.
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A lot of it will be in our taps in up to 25 years.
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The cake, a localized version of British fruit cake, is a treat enjoyed by all faith groups.
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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza as airstrikes continue is prompting grief, survivors’ guilt, and “bringing back a lot of baggage.” Seeing a need for support, a mosque and school in Garden Grove have incorporated mental health into their programming.
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Instead, proponents say the city will celebrate Huntington Beach, California and federal history, including the Civil War and the Bill of Rights.
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But, researchers say residents are burdened by the housing market.
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But church’s position on same-sex marriage has not changed.
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The climate crisis will increase the number of marine mammals needing treatment, experts say.
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Those who oppose the ban say the policy unfairly targeted a practice that predates the founding of Los Angeles.
