October 14, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Oil spill takes center stage as Congress debates offshore drilling ban and safety rules
This coming Monday, one of Orange County’s Congressional Democrats, Katie Porter, is planning a hearing on the oil spill by the investigative subcommittee she chairs. The congressional debates offer Orange County residents a front row look at how their members of Congress are reacting to the spill.
OC Register: OC oil spill was likely about 25,000 gallons, Coast Guard officials said Thursday
State and federal officials overseeing the cleanup are at the beginning of sampling fish and other marine life to determine when it’s safe to reopen fisheries – and it could be two to four weeks before that decision is made.
OC Register: Oil spill investigation: Members of Congress to host hearing in Irvine
As questions continue to pile up about the oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach earlier this month, local Democrats who sit on key subcommittees in the U.S. House of Representatives will host a public hearing Monday in Irvine to investigate and take testimony on the impacts of the leak.
Fullerton Observer: Council deadlocked over budget cuts and use of federal relief funds
Fullerton resident Heather Sutherland said, “Hearing that the Council is considering making cuts to services especially while they’ve got this federal aid coming their way, it seems like the wrong move at the wrong time. As someone who uses our city services, I want to see our parks and trails continue to be maintained and safe for families.
OC Register: Company challenges award of $100 million contract to manage new 405 toll lanes
A company that bid to manage the new toll lanes being created by the 405 widening project is challenging the awarding of the contract to another operator, arguing the decision contradicts recommendations of staffers and subcommittees and the established evaluation criteria.
OC Register: OC deputy facing felony perjury charge pleads guilty to misdemeanor, stays out of jail
Deputy Chad Renegar originally faced a maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison if convicted on felony charges that he falsely signed a police report under his trainee’s name and forged a victim’s signature.
Labor
Labor 411: Truck drivers win $30 million settlement for getting paid sub-minimum wage
“One of the world’s largest trucking companies, XPO Logistics, agreed Tuesday to pay $30 million to settle class-action lawsuits filed by hundreds of drivers who said they earned less than minimum wage delivering goods for major retailers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
California
KTLA: Judge blocks COVID vaccine mandate for California prison employees
Kern County Judge Bernard Barmann issued a temporary restraining order that prevents enforcement of the vaccination mandate for guards and peace officers represented by a powerful union while the court weighs a request for a preliminary injunction.
Nation
Associated Press: New wind farms would dot US coastlines under Biden plan
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said her department hopes to hold lease sales by 2025 off the coasts of Maine, New York and the mid-Atlantic, as well as the Carolinas, California, Oregon and the Gulf of Mexico.
Publication Date: October 14, 2021
