August 13, 2019

Orange County

Voice of OC: County asks Court to let it keep deleting texts about government business

The California Supreme Court established in 2017 that the Public Records Act covers officials’ text messages about government business, regardless of whether it’s on personal or work phones. And a state law says public records must be kept for two years, which a judge cited in a ruling against Orange County last month.

 

OC Register: Paperwork for another ballot measure filed to change veterans cemetery location in Irvine

Former mayor Larry Agran is seeking a 2020 vote that could supersede council's site choice; meanwhile, council may change zoning of original cemetery site.

 

OC Register: Does Southern California need 571 more hotels?

Atlas Hospitality’s mid-year report on local lodging development activity tells us there’s little cooling in hotel construction in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

 

Daily Pilot: Costa Mesa planners reject permit for Eastside psychiatric group home

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission denied a permit for an Eastside psychiatric group home Monday after determining it is too close to other communal housing in the area.

 

OC Register: OC Fair’s 2019 run closes with 1.39 million visitors, plus a new calf and piglets

The 1.39 million visitors during the 23 days of this year’s fair fell short of last year’s record total of 1.47 million, according to a news release from fair officials, but there were plenty of other big numbers to report.

 

OC Register: Santa Ana’s troubled Spurgeon school renamed, to the chagrin of local historians

School officials are thrilled to start afresh with the newly renamed Romero-Cruz Academy, with an emphasis on science. But Santa Ana historians take umbrage that the Santa Ana Unified School District isn’t using the campus’ former name, which honored Santa Ana founder William H. Spurgeon.

 

Labor

Labor 411: After Spending Billions On Stock Buybacks, Lowe’s Refuses To Pay Severances For Laid-off Workers

Thousands of workers recently got the boot and received no notice and no severance. Instead, Lowe’s — a profitable company that spends billions buying back its own stock — offered the equivalent of two weeks ‘transition’ pay to full-time workers, some with the company more than a decade.

 

Publication Date: August 13, 2019