December 28, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: What is the future of COVID mandates in Orange County?
It’s still unclear if Orange County businesses and residents will fall under a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a new variant — Omicron — is raising concerns from public health experts.
OC Register: Orange County reported 987 new cases and 40 more hospitalizations as of Dec. 28
Another 40 people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Orange County hospitals on Tuesday, bringing the total number of hospitalizations to 322, with 66 patients in intensive care units.
OC Register: Authorities announce cleanup of October’s oil spill off Orange County complete
A temporary repair has been completed and representatives from PHMSA, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the State Fire Marshal will oversee flushing operations to remove the remaining product from the line, Tuesday’s announcement said.
OC Register: Newport Princess, after sinking off Long Beach coast, suffers even more storm damage
More than a week after the Newport Princess partly submerged off of the Long Beach coast during a storm, another wave of weather battered the 77-year-old boat even more, sending debris to the shoreline.
Daily Pilot: Cold case of slain Palestinian American activist Alex Odeh gets high-ranking attention
Over the years, various elected officials have tried to get some answers on the Odeh case, with virtually no success. But it was back in the spotlight this week when U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) demanded the FBI to provide an update on the case.
Daily Pilot: Fountain Valley moving toward permitting short-term rentals
A draft ordinance brought to council to help drive the discussion set limits of one license per owner and no more than 100 unhosted short-term rentals within the city. It also established quiet hours and required on-site parking to be provided.
Labor
KTLA: California minimum wage to rise on Jan. 1, 2022
Starting Jan. 1, businesses with 26 or more employees will have to pay their workers at least $15 an hour — a figure that labor rights advocates like Fight for $15 have sought for years. The new amount represents an increase of $1 from the current minimum wage.
California
KTLA: ‘It’s snowmaggedon’: Record-breaking Sierra snow buries towns
“It’s snowmaggedon,” said Stephen Kulieke, 71, whose mountain cabin was piled under at least 4 feet of powder Monday afternoon amid record-breaking snowfall in the Sierra Nevada. “It’s just beyond belief how much snow there is.”
Nation
Associated Press: US officials recommend shorter COVID isolation, quarantine
U.S. health officials on Monday cut isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine.
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
