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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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Owners allege lawsuit against city was too expensive to sustain.
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Once a couple completes the marriage license process, they can choose to take advantage of the free service in Santa Ana.
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The city has 120 days to comply with the ruling and establish a plan that allows developers to build more units in the city.
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Earlier in the day, the encampment had expanded as protestors observed the Nakba, an annual commemoration of when Palestinians were displaced in the creation of the state of Israel.
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$3.3 billion from the around $6.4 billion bond measure will be available starting July.
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The iconic chapel will be moved to storage while church officials debate next steps. The shift of land has been averaging about 7 inches each week.
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The usual main stage commencement ceremony was canceled after Israel-Hamas war protests and the controversial decision to revoke the valedictory address.
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The $1.9 billion expansion plan goes into effect in 30 days.
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The action by authorities began about nine hours after the initial order to disperse was issued around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. Shortly after 5 a.m. the area was cleared, with just a small amount of protesters remaining.
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More communities are turning to their local governments to demand change in Gaza
