Orange County News

A woman with dark skin tone wears a blazer decorated with flowers. She holds a small model skull in one hand and a model pelvis in another. A woman with light skin wearing a green sweater is gently taking the skull from her.

Midwife training options dwindle even as California searches for answers to maternity crisis

Advocates say a dearth of education programs will make it harder to get midwives into the workforce at a time they’re critically needed.

A mottled colored bird is a gloved human hand.

Climate & Environment

How you can help owls, foxes and more animals displaced or injured by wildfires

Look out for wildlife with burnt paws, or singed feathers. And call the authorities if you spot anything.

An empty silver chair on a dais with a microphone and a placard that reads "Andrew Do/District 1"

Civics & Democracy

3 reform bills inspired by LAist investigation signed into law by Newsom

Two of the laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and a third a year later. They increase transparency in how government contracts are awarded.

Climate & Environment

How Orange County gets PFAS out of its drinking water

Water utilities across the country will have until 2029 to comply with EPA limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking water. Orange County got a head start.

Climate & Environment

Weather continues to cool down for the weekend

It's starting to feel like fall!

A close-up of a clear glass front door in a long, tan walkway. The door has the text "VAS Viet-America Society" displayed, with an additional sign that says "available for lease" below it.

Civics & Democracy

Reform bills inspired by LAist investigation are before Newsom for final approval

The proposed ethics and transparency reforms are in response to LAist’s investigation of millions of unaccounted for tax dollars directed by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do to a group his daughter was helping lead.

An empty silver chair on a dais with a microphone and a placard that reads "Andrew Do/District 1." A man is out of focus speaking at a podium in the foreground to the left of frame.

Civics & Democracy

OC Supervisors remove Andrew Do from his board committee assignments

The move comes more than nine months after LAist first started reporting on issues with public funding he directed to a nonprofit where his daughter served in leadership roles.

Civics & Democracy

OC supervisors to vote on whether to remove Andrew Do from his committees

Board Chair Don Wagner moved for the vote as Supervisor Andrew Do faces escalating calls to resign in the wake of an FBI search and long-running LAist investigation.

A two story building has a glass entry. Be Well is over the doorway.

Health

After audit raises dozens of concerns, OC cuts short a key mental health services contract

The audit, obtained by LAist through a public records request, looked at the county's Be Well campus in the city of Orange. The director of the O.C.’s Health Care Agency tells LAist the county will terminate the contract.