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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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Around 38,000 people are under evacuation warnings after the fire quickly grew to more than 10,300 acres.
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Should you sell? Do you pay the mortgage if everything was lost? LAist has answers.
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“It just has to make us stronger. We can't let it go someplace else.”
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What happens to security deposits? Who pays for repairs? LAist answers these and other questions from tenants affected by the L.A. fires.
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The debris could contain harmful substances, which can have short- and long-term health consequences.
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Beaches are closed from Laguna Beach to Aliso Viejo.
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Let us help you separate fact from fiction.
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The vote comes after the county decided not to open additional winter shelters this year.
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Firefighting efforts got a leg up Tuesday from weaker than predicted winds — but harsh fire conditions are still in the forecast.
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Water-dropping Super Scooper aircraft set to return to service after colliding with a civilian droneThe drone was flying illegally over the Palisades Fire Thursday, taking a vital firefighting resource out of commission for repairs.
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed 27 deaths, a toll that rose after structure-to-structure searches by authorities.
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Experts say parents should validate feelings and create avenues for kids to express themselves.
