June 28, 2021 Media Brief

Orange County

OC Register: County courtrooms are again open to the public

Social distancing requirements have been lifted, and vaccinated visitors are no longer required to wear masks. Access to public windows where visitors can pay tickets or check court records are open as well, though some areas – such as family law and the self-help divisions – remain appointment-only

 

Voice of OC: Banning Ranch becomes a coastal public park with state grant

Efforts to preserve 401 acres of wetlands, coastal uplands and vernal pools near the mouth of the Santa Ana River — known as Banning Ranch — capture a long-waged battle in Orange County over who the region’s public lands belong to.

 

Voice of OC: Ethnic studies moves forward in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District

“This is about teaching empathy and when I look at ethnic studies and what I want to see out of this course is: how do we teach empathy to our students and to our community. We all come from different places and it’s important that we recognize that and that we celebrate it,” said Trustee Carrie Buck at the district’s Tuesday meeting.

 

Daily Pilot: Huntington Beach City Council seat has no shortage of applicants

The City Council will conduct interviews with prospective candidates on July 9 and 10, City Manager Oliver Chi said. The final deliberations and appointment are scheduled to occur at the council meeting on July 20.

 

Voice of OC: Why does the Sheriff destroy misconduct files after five years?

Thanks to recent state law, the public now has a right to see investigation files about police officers who were found to have committed serious misconduct – including lying, wrongfully killing someone, or sexual assault. But if you ask the OC Sheriff’s Department for anything older than a few years, you’re largely out of luck.

 

California

Associated Press: Court says California must more quickly move mentally incompetent defendants out of jails

California can’t lock up people for months in jails after they have been found mentally incompetent to stand trial, a state appeals court said.

 

Cal Matters: An entire California town is without running water — in a heat wave

Teviston residents are relying on limited bottled water for necessities such as staying hydrated, cooking, bathing and flushing toilets. Some residents, like Galaviz, are traveling to neighboring towns to stay with family or friends to shower and wash clothes.

 

Publication Date: June 28, 2021