Recent News Stories

Fifth man arrested in Craigslist teenage sex sting

Staff, City News Service

Huntington Beach police apprehend another man accused of soliciting sex from an underage girl.

Blind Dana Point woman asks for quick trial on medical pot lawsuit

Staff, City News Service

Malinda Traudt, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is blind, wants a judge to move up the trial of her lawsuit aimed at preventing Dana Point officials from closing a collective where she gets medical marijuana. Her lawyer says she may not live long enough for a lengthy process.

Party trains to Vegas compete with Anaheim's high-speed plans

Daisy Nguyen, Associated Press

One company wants to convert double-decker passenger cars into casinos on steel wheels. The "X Train" would feature a sports bar, sushi bar and entertainment.

FBI: Irvine still nation's safest city, Santa Ana leads OC in violent crime

Erik Holmes, OCLNN

Irvine last year experienced just 0.7 violent crimes – murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – per 1,000 residents. Santa Ana led OC in violent crime last year, with 5.1 incidents per 1,000 residents.

LOCAL NEWS

Fifth man arrested in Craigslist teenage sex sting

Staff, City News Service

Huntington Beach police apprehend another man accused of soliciting sex from an underage girl.

• Party trains to Vegas compete with Anaheim's high-speed plans
• St. Joseph Hospital opens 3-D operating room
• Seatbelt crackdown begins Monday

Government-Politics

Grand Jury: County layoffs allowed $9.6M in welfare fraud

Staff, City News Service

Orange County cut the number of welfare investigators to save $900,000, resulting in an estimated loss of $9.6 million over six months paid to people ineligible for benefits, according to an Orange County Grand Jury report released Friday.

• Deadline for voter registration is Monday
• Prop. 15 would test government funding of California state elections
• Former EPA exec talks clean-tech with OCLNN

California

Schwarzenegger vetoes smoking ban at state parks

Samantha Young, Associated Press

San Clemente's Surfrider Foundation is dismayed the governor "has not prioritized clean and healthy beaches, especially since our coast lines are a driving force to our California economy."

State bill seeks to raise age for kindergarten

Robin Hindery, Associated Press

California currently has the latest cut-off date for children to turn 5 in order to enter kindergarten that school year. The new legislation would move the date from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1.

Census mail results could be trouble for California

Hope Yen, Associated Press

The Census Bureau worries that tensions over immigration will discourage Latinos, and particularly illegal immigrant, from participating in the government count.

Crime & Courts

Fifth man arrested in Craigslist teenage sex sting

Staff, City News Service

Huntington Beach police apprehend another man accused of soliciting sex from an underage girl.

• Blind Dana Point woman asks for quick trial on medical pot lawsuit
• FBI: Irvine still nation's safest city, Santa Ana leads OC in violent crime
• Border patrol ends pursuit in Irvine

Education

ROP students recognized for overcoming odds

Tom Ragan, Daily Pilot

130 students were honored Friday for their ability to overcome illness or disability and completing classes through the Regional Occupational Program.

• CdM senior honored for work off the wrestling mat
• OCC funds to change hands
• Costa Mesa students dig up 'ancient' history

Environment

Former EPA exec talks clean-tech with OCLNN

Mike Reicher, OCLNN

The managing partner of one of the leading OC clean-tech investment firm explains how to create clean-tech jobs, why there may be business opportunities after the Gulf oil spill, and how local companies can save lives and America's image overseas.

• Controversial HB water desalination plant goes for another permit
• Newport Beach opens its first natural gas fueling station
• A weekend soaking in green products: good for business and for consumers

Nation & World

Cleaning oil-soaked wetlands may be impossible

Matthew Brown, Associated Press

The gooey oil washing into the maze of marshes along the Gulf Coast could prove impossible to remove, leaving a toxic stew lethal to fish and wildlife, government officials and independent scientists said.

• Brittany Murphy's husband found dead at home
• Human error possible in Indian plane crash
• Moms of jailed Americans return from Iran