Yusra Farzan
Local news in Orange County has my heart: All those long meetings — city council, school boards, power authorities, housing commissions, planning departments — play a huge role in our everyday lives. So I take the time to synthesize how decisions in Orange County’s 34 cities affect your electricity bill, how your taxes are funding the next big project and the resources available at your child's school.
Even though I got my break in entertainment reporting, the pieces I am most proud of spotlight everyday people: teachers in Orange County, the duo who started a school for Ukrainian refugees, the women behind Ramadan markets and the teenager who invented a cancer-detecting toothbrush.
Ask me about the small liquor store in Garden Grove that also carries Sri Lankan snacks, the best places to get Arab food in Anaheim and why the drive to Laguna Beach is worth it for those warm, summer days.
I grew up in the Middle East, but I am of Sri Lankan descent. I used to live in Irvine, and I still have one foot in O.C. But now I also call Rancho Palos Verdes home — it’s also why I am so invested in covering the land movement here.
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Play places host these events for the youngest residents. -
The ending of federal and state COVID relief dollars, as well as declining enrollment, has resulted in a massive budget deficit.
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Nearly a year after LAist started investigating what happened to millions in taxpayer dollars, Do pleaded guilty to federal charges and resigned as an O.C. supervisor. Here are key takeaways from our investigation.
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LibroMobile is a community arts, culture and history hub run by the city’s youth.
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Dry weather and the city’s dewatering efforts have contributed to the slowdown, even as the area affected by the landslide has roughly doubled.
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Treats you might not have tried but will have everyone talking.
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People say they’re hopeful and anxious for the future.
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Crews have been making steady progress on the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon since the red flag conditions subsided.
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One reason food insecurity rates are high, researchers say, is because of the high cost of living.
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The lawsuit alleges Amy Phan West and NamQuan Nguyen repeatedly disrupt meetings.
