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Press release

This story is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, a partnership with Chapman University that trains student journalists to cover public policy across Orange County. Have a student project or a response to this work? Email admin@voiceofoc.org.

The Orange County Fair kicks off today amid higher prices, meaning it could cost a family of four nearly $70 for tickets and parking to enter the fair – prices that fairground officials say are needed to keep up with rising costs. 

First held in 1890, the fair runs from until Aug. 16 and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

As the summer heat sets in, cities are increasingly grappling with teen takeovers – raucous parties fueled by social media posts. 

In Newport Beach, city officials are mulling over tighter restrictions on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals after a teen takeover on the coast saw 400 people arrested during the Fourth of July weekend.

Just to the north, Huntington Beach officials are gearing up to prevent a teen takeover that’s apparently been making rounds on social media like Instagram – with the police department trying to avoid a repeat of a 2021 viral party known as Adrian’s Kickback.  

Buena Park officials are trying to prevent a spontaneous takeover of Knott’s Berry Farm after the theme park’s seen numerous teen incidents over the years stemming from social media.

As cities throughout Orange County grapple with structural budget deficits, Placentia City Council members opted against leaning on reserves to patch the gap and instead rolled out a series of spending cuts, including laying off two employees. 

Officials in Laguna Beach opted against asking voters to increase a series of taxes this November, instead shelving the proposals until 2028.

While cities grapple with deficits and look to prevent teen takeovers, the OC Board of Supervisors is on an unofficial summer vacation – prompting Voice of OC Publisher and Editor in Chief Norberto Santana Jr. to question how much county leaders work as they field part-time schedules for full-time pay.

Santana Jr. also points out how upcoming policy discussions were more transparent – through regular agenda posting – when the Board of Supervisors met weekly until 2016, with the shift to bi-weekly meetings leading to increased bureaucracy and overwhelmed agendas.   

As supervisors vacation until next month, hundreds of pets – especially kittens – are available for adoption at OC Animal Care in Tustin. Shelter officials are reducing cat and kitten adoption fees to $100 in hopes of finding felines, like Mr. Gq, a home. 

Yesterday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Costa Mesa for not having a “compliant” housing plan as some city council members say numerous housing developments have been approved and officials are filing documents to get a state-approved plan.

Meanwhile, a fatal rattlesnake bite in Irvine prompted local wildlife and public safety officials to highlight safe hiking routines as the heat draws out more snakes – reinforcing preventative measures like wearing boots and pants when hitting the wilderness. 

While rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal, local officials say it’s a good idea to hike with a walking stick, carry a first aid kit and let people know where you’ll be hiking.

Students from Santa Ana College are competing in a NASA competition, showcasing their designs for  life support robots aimed at monitoring vital signs on astronauts and checking the quality of air in the spacecraft’s airlock. 

Condo owners and apartment tenants in Santa Ana are the latest residents to raise parking concerns to their city council, with some calling for more permitted parking so they don’t have to walk blocks from their car when they get home from work.

Newport Beach City Council members decided to reduce affordable housing requirements from 15% to 6% of housing units built near John Wayne Airport – a move city officials say is needed to hit the city’s housing plan.

But state transportation officials and airport commissioners say the move doesn’t follow their guidelines and planning for the area. 

Buena Park officials held a rare public discussion about crime trends with police officials, who said crime was down overall – mirroring statewide trends – but some crime in the city, like theft and rape, are on the upswing this year. 

With crime on the decline across the region, officials in Cypress and Stanton are eying police drones to help officers scope out a situation before they get there and to help monitor events or assist in missing persons reports.