Orange County

Commentary

Orange County feud shows how school boards became a key front for culture wars

A long-running feud between Orange County's elected schools superintendent and its school board exemplifies how public education has become a major venue for culture war clashes.

By Dan Walters • March 5, 2024

Politics

The Pride flag is gone. Library books are under review. It’s a new era of backlash politics in California

Lacking power at the state level, conservatives are leaning into local governance to protest California’s progressive politics. The fight in Huntington Beach could be a harbinger of what’s to come.

By Alexei Koseff • November 15, 2023

Politics

California gunmakers fear their ‘expiration date’ in a state that doesn’t want them

Gov. Newsom just signed a tax on firearms and ammunition, among other new gun control laws. California’s remaining gun manufacturers wonder if they have a future.

By Alexei Koseff • September 28, 2023

Health

Is California breaking its promise to cut health care costs?

California set up a fund to cut out-of-pocket costs for those enrolled in Covered California, but Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget shifts that money to other expenses.

By Kristen Hwang • February 21, 2023

Environment

A pivot on desalination plants: California approves project in Orange County

After rejecting a controversial proposal in Huntington Beach, the state Coastal Commission greenlights another in Dana Point. While environmentalists raised concerns, the commission calls it a well-planned project.

By Rachel Becker • October 13, 2022

Politics

As Asian American voters ascend, a key battle in Orange County

In California's June primary, two battleground U.S. House races in Orange County could come down to a runoff between Asian American candidates. Both parties are invested heavily in outreach to the community, a signal of the ascent of Asian American voting power in California.

By Alexei Koseff • June 3, 2022

Environment

A salty dispute: California Coastal Commission unanimously rejects desalination plant

The commission, in a marathon session today, killed a proposed desalination plant in Huntington Beach that’s been debated for more than 20 years.

By Rachel Becker • May 12, 2022

WhatMatters

Port backlogs sum up California’s COVID crisis

The extent to which California’s — and the country and world’s — challenges are interconnected was exemplified by President Joe Biden’s Wednesday announcement that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will move toward 24/7 operations to help unsnarl massive supply chain backlogs. Before the pandemic, usually just one cargo ship had to anchor […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 14, 2021

Environment

A rare ecological gem is slicked with spilled oil — again

Wetlands painstakingly created with millions of dollars are the most devastating victims of the Huntington Beach oil spill. The trio of marshes provides rare feeding and resting grounds for at least 90 species of shorebirds.

By Rachel Becker • October 5, 2021

WhatMatters

California’s new state of emergency

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, October 5. Calls mount to end offshore drilling At nearly 10 pm on Monday night, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County due to the region’s largest oil spill in three decades. The announcement came more than two days after authorities began sounding the alarm on […]

By Emily Hoeven • October 5, 2021