Voice of OC

A state environmental oversight agency has launched a probe into herbicide spraying by OC Public Works along South County’s San Juan Creek, which flows into Doheny State Beach, reports @NorbertoSantana. buff.ly/ZyyYpGT

Fullerton city officials are beefing up fines and looking to crackdown on illegal cannabis shops as they grapple with a projected multi-million budget deficit. buff.ly/Wjybb7o

A 6.5-acre vacant site in Lake Forest’s Whispering Hills neighborhood might become affordable housing after it was designated to become a park decades ago and left undeveloped. buff.ly/tirz2De

Meanwhile, City of Orange officials plan to defer over $7.2 million in infrastructure renovations as they once again plan to ask voters to raise taxes this November to help bail them out of a long time structural deficit. buff.ly/OADewAC

Santa Ana officials are staring down the barrel of a projected $19 million budget deficit this summer – years before a sales tax measure increase is set to expire and strike a $30 million blow to city coffers. buff.ly/OJo9xOW

Budget woes continue across OC as half of Irvine’s City Council largely brushed off warnings of a potential $47 million shortfall in the next five years amid calls from their colleagues to immediately reign in spending. buff.ly/HXMqCky

Skaters will see Costa Mesa’s skatepark more than doubled in size and soon get to try out tricks on new terrain and obstacles like a clover pool, pump track, snake run and a quarter pipe. buff.ly/QL6nlBO

Cesar Chavez Campesino Park and other city owned facilities in Santa Ana bearing the likeness and name of disgraced labor rights leader, Cesar Chavez, will be renamed after multiple sexual abuse allegations. buff.ly/nWR5dRV

Mission Viejo officials are moving forward with plans for a community parade along Marguerite Parkway to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. buff.ly/vRcTGAh

Many Orange County residents are set to see their trash bill go up in a couple of months as cities grapple with rising costs to dispose of their waste and comply with new state laws requiring composting. buff.ly/gHMaJf1

Some local immigration advocates say Anaheim’s unique daily public updates on deportation raids are critical for residents allowing city officials to lead the way when it comes to responding to ICE raids. buff.ly/fT1lmFU

Amid looming budget cuts, Fullerton city staff are contesting elected officials’ statements that they didn’t know just how bad the budget was, saying they warned city council members years ago of a structural budget deficit. buff.ly/dB443zH

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A host of middle and elementary school students in South Orange County could soon be barred from riding e-bikes to school. buff.ly/HIoXK04

As auditors examine how much damage former County Supervisor Andrew Do was able to do inside the county government, supervisors confront the biggest problem fueling fraud, waste and inefficiency in OC – themselves. buff.ly/RRoasUr

Orange voters will likely decide on another sales tax measure this year after residents rejected a smaller proposed tax increase in 2024 as officials across OC are crafting tax measures in effort to keep their budgets afloat. buff.ly/DG8MAOU

Cities across Orange County are thousands of units behind on their goals to build more affordable housing according to new reports filed with state regulators. buff.ly/5y1g7Mn

OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer has cost taxpayers nearly $18 million after approval of another round of legal settlements in cases alleging a litany of misconduct including whistleblower retaliation, harassment and botched prosecutions. buff.ly/vNziiiW

Fullerton residents could soon see a new 110,000-square foot warehouse despite local concerns about long-term environmental impacts like air quality and traffic. buff.ly/5SdD6j5

San Clemente’s fire prevention goats will continue grazing hillsides in effort to prevent wildfires as city staff assess long-term costs to try and make the program permanent citywide. buff.ly/xyZISmg