January 28, 2022 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Breaking point: County social workers decry overwhelming caseloads, understaffing
That’s according to a set of grievances against Social Services Agency management, voiced on behalf of workers last month by the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA), a union representing roughly 18,000 of the region’s public sector employees.
OC Register: Coronavirus: Orange County reported 4,751 new cases and 29 new deaths, Jan. 28
The OC Health Care Agency reported 4,751 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, Jan. 28, increasing the cumulative total since tracking began in the county to 508,043. There were 72,368 new infections reported in the last two-week period as of Friday.
OC Register: What our poop is telling us about the omicron surge
“It seems like, in most locations, concentrations (of the virus in wastewater) are stabilizing, which is very reassuring,” said Kara Nelson, an environmental engineering professor at UC Berkeley who is in charge of the Covid-WEB monitoring program.
Voice of OC: City of Anaheim fights back against lawsuit alleging officials secretly conspired to sell Angel Stadium
Attorneys for the City are also calling for two written statements by a current and former city official – stating the council majority did indeed decide to sell in secret – to be stricken from the record for violating disclosure rules. Critics say that tactic is right out of a “Mafia Don’s” playbook.
Voice of OC: Disneyland moves to implement vaccine mandate for workers
The Workers United Local 50 Union, which represents food and beverage cast members at Disneyland resort, posted on their Facebook page that management is moving forward with a vaccine mandate for union members as well as other unions not currently under a mandate.
OC Register: How much do your local OC city council members make?
Ronald Reagan was president the last time Garden Grove gave members of its city council a raise. It was 1988, and council pay was set at $486 a month. It’s been stuck there ever since. But starting next year, the deep freeze is over.
OC Register: Anaheim Elementary district put $16 million in state funding toward expanding learning
The Anaheim district has made sports activities, leadership clubs, tutoring opportunities, music classes, counseling and more available to all students free of charge, offering what amounts to a nine-hour day that includes an after-school snack and to-go dinner.
Daily Pilot: Newport Beach city manager contract extended by five years
The Newport Beach City Council voted to extend the contract for current City Manager Grace Leung for another five years — a departure from what is traditionally an annual process.
California
Associated Press: California says most of the 345,000 halted disability claims are fraudulent
After suspending 345,000 disability checks because of fraud concerns, California officials on Thursday confirmed nearly all of those suspected claims were associated with criminals trying to trick the state into paying them.
Publication Date: January 28, 2022
