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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 tornado early Thursday lasted 2 minutes and was around 1 mile long and 80 yards wide, officials confirmed.
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As predicted, rainfall rates peaked between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
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Suhoor parties, Egyptian TV shows galore, late night Qiyam prayers and Yemeni coffee have become integral parts of the Islamic holy month.
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This week's rain storm is expected to be strong enough to cause debris flows in and around recently burned areas.
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“I can't sleep. I cry every day. I'm really nervous.”
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Mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration could be eligible for the relief.
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Federal funds can be used toward home repairs and other expenses like childcare, but you must apply by the end of March.
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That incident is one of numerous complaints of alleged mismanagement against Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich.
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For years, experts warned against developing the unstable cliff top, but property owners prevailed. Now they’re paying the price.
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A controversial plaque will be placed at the city’s Central Library. Look closely and you will see it spells out "M-A-G-A."
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Evacuation orders remain in place for some areas as the risk of mudslide and debris flows remains from heavy rain overnight Thursday.
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The agency says 52% of the post-wildfire cleanup work is complete.
