February 5, 2021

Orange County

Voice of OC: Pantries adjust to feed residents as less federal food boxes are sent to OC

$1.5 billion worth of food is being given out all across the U.S., courtesy of the federal government, but local food distribution leaders say Orange County residents will receive very little of that aid.

 

OC Register: County’s last traditional Sears is closing in Orange

The retailer, like many brick-and-mortar chains, has struggled for years. At the Orange location, the store was chopped in two, with part of the square footage leased to 24 Hour Fitness. The pandemic likely hurt dwindling sales at the aging store, which has been part of two significant renovations at the mall.

 

Voice of OC: Orange Council member Mike Alvarez could lose seat as judge ruled him ineligible to run in the last election

Alvarez won the seat this past November, and is now on his third consecutive council term despite city law restricting elected officials to just two back-to-back terms.

 

OC Register: Sexual harassment claims lodged against former high-level supervisor at OC DA’s Office

Three female employees have filed claims against the county and District Attorney Todd Spitzer accusing ex-Senior Assistant District Attorney Gary Logalbo, who had been recently promoted to the high-level post overseeing prosecution operations at the county courthouses.

 

Daily Pilot: Impact of pandemic on homeless shows need for housing options

“The connection between health and housing is something that has always been there, and I think the COVID pandemic is illuminating that even more,” said Becks Heyhoe, executive director of United to End Homelessness.

 

Labor

KTLA: Grocers organization sues Montebello, Oakland over ‘hero’ pay mandate

As a movement to give grocery workers a temporary pay hike gains steam, an industry group has sued the cities of Oakland and Montebello over legislation requiring the raises.

 

California

KTLA: Pentagon to deploy 1000 troops to assist COVID-19 vaccinations, arrive in state next week

The Pentagon will deploy more than 1,100 troops to five vaccination centers in what will be the first wave of increased military support for the White House campaign to get more Americans inoculated against COVID-19.

 

Nation

ABC7: VP Harris casts first ever tie breaking vote for resolution to pass COVID relief

Vice President Kamala Harris cast her first-ever tie-breaking vote in the Senate early Friday morning on a budget resolution that's a key step toward fast-track passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan without Republican support.

 

Publication Date: February 5, 2021