Orange County News

A woman wearing a green short-sleeve rashguard rides a green and pink surfboard to the right as the wave breaks into whitewater behind her.

Explore LA

Why Trestles — known for natural beauty and a long walk to get there — will host Olympic surfing

Lower Trestles beat out Huntington Beach to host surfing’s third Olympic appearance.

A person's hand drops a ballot into a ballot box with oranges and a view to snow-capped mountains

Civics & Democracy

Irvine has a new councilmember. Here's what they plan to do

The top vote-getter told LAist the second-place candidate called to concede the race.

Looking down a train track with waves crashing into boulders on the right hand side, a slope with palm trees and houses on top on the left side, and an excavator about to pick up a boulder next to the tracks in the distance.

Climate & Environment

New sand and rocks approved to stabilize San Clemente rail corridor. Environmentalists object

Critics say the $300-million effort to stabilize a stretch of the popular Pacific Surfliner route is haphazard, curtails public beach access and will only yield short-term benefits.

Civics & Democracy

Live results in the special election for Irvine City Council District 5

The winner will take part in several key decisions facing one of Orange County's biggest cities.

Civics & Democracy

Why Irvine is holding a special election Tuesday — and what's at stake

Irvine voters head to the poll as 2025 is poised to be a year of change for the city. Three candidates are vying for the District 5 council seat.

A white man in a dark suit speaks into a microphone while gesturing with his hands.

Civics & Democracy

OC supervisors battle over Andrew Do plea deal and whether to call for tougher prison sentence

Some on the board contend that the disgraced supervisor's deal equates to “special treatment” compared with other major corruption cases and doesn’t reflect “the severity and extent" of Do’s behavior.

A map that includes a coastal stretch of Huntingtoon Beach with a pink border outlining a slice of land along Pacific Coast Highway.

Housing & Homelessness

Could 800 homes be headed for this coastal stretch of Huntington Beach?

The stretch of seaside Orange County has been the site of oil production for nearly 100 years. But the oil company that owns it wants to redevelop the land for housing, a hotel and other commercial uses.

A man with a mask on uses two hands to place his ballot in the slot of an L.A. County ballot drop box with a big "I Voted" image on the side.

Civics & Democracy

Judge sides with Huntington Beach in voter ID case. Here's what it means

Huntington Beach’s voter ID rule is set to go into effect in 2026, but the city has yet to specify whether or how it would implement it.

A man casts his ballot during early voting in Waukesha, Wis., on March 18.

Civics & Democracy

Huntington Beach clashes with California over voter ID requirement in court

Requiring voters to show ID at polls is controversial, in part because it was historically used as a tool to disenfranchise Black voters.

A screen inside a ballot booth that displays an American flag and reads "Your vote has been recorded. Thank you for voting."

Civics & Democracy

With Huntington Beach's voter ID law in court, President Trump looms large

Huntington Beach wants to enforce its own voter ID rules — and the state is seeking a court order to stop them.

Civics & Democracy

Newspapers are now banned at Fullerton's city hall and community centers

Critics say the ordinance will curb access to local news.

Civics & Democracy

Fullerton considers banning newspaper distribution at City Hall

The city says the proposed ban, coming up for a vote as a local political activist says he plans to create a print component to his blog, would ensure a neutral space for the public.

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