L.A. Times - Orange County News

Machete-wielding man critically wounded by police in shooting outside Orange County hospital

Seamus Bozeman — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:07:30 GMT

A machete-wielding man was suspected of driving under the influence before he was shot by police in front of a hospital in Los Alamitos.

O.C. gang members convicted of murder while carrying out armed robbery for Mexican Mafia

Clara Harter — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:07:58 GMT

Two members of an Orange County street gang were found guilty of murdering a man while attempting to carry out an armed robbery under the direction of the Mexican Mafia, authorities said.

Shaikin: Cultural exchange: In Irvine, a new minor league team with Asian fanfare (and fan fare)

Bill Shaikin — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:52:34 GMT

A minor league team plans to launch in Irvine next year, and the entrepreneur behind it is pitching it as a way to provide fans with a taste of Asian baseball.

Filmmaker father of slain autistic man wishes son had never called police: 'He just needed help'

Andrew J. Campa, Joseph Serna — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:02:45 GMT

Police went to Irvine's Turtle Rock neighborhood in response to reports of a man with a knife suffering a mental health crisis outside his home.

Manslaughter charge filed in death of 20-year-old 'surf royalty heir' in Huntington Beach

Clara Harter — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

A manslaughter charge has been filed against a young man accused of towing Kolby Aipa, the late grandson of a legendary Hawaiian surfboard shaper, along PCH in Huntington Beach.

Orange County demands $4 million from company at center of Garden Grove chemical crisis

Salvador Hernandez — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:22:53 GMT

Orange County is demanding that GKN Aerospace, the company whose Garden Grove facility sparked a chemical crisis that forced wide evacuations across six cities, pay more than $4 million to cover costs stemming from the emergency.

Arellano: Trump's noncitizen voting fraud claims will backfire. Just look at history

Gustavo Arellano — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:00:27 GMT

Republicans' crusade against imaginary noncitizen voters may pay off in the short run but will inevitably, spectacularly backfire.

Buena Park police warn of social media-fueled teen takeover of Knott's Berry Farm

Jaweed Kaleem — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:13:40 GMT

Buena Park police issued a warning over of possible social media-fueled teen takeover of Knott's Berry Farm, following a similar warnings in Lakewood and Huntington Beach after an incident took place in Newport Beach last week.

'Real Housewives of Orange County's' Jennifer Pedranti says son was involved in starting brush fire

Emily St. Martin — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:51:59 GMT

"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Jennifer Pedranti confirmed her son was involved in starting a seven-acre brush fire in Ladera Ranch. Fire officials said the incident was under investigation.

Huntington Beach says a Newport-style 'takeover' is in the works, and police intend to stop it

Andrew J. Campa — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:49:05 GMT

Huntington Beach Police are warning online organizers and promoters attempting a "takeover" that they will be prosecuted for any criminality.

Hours of chaos, vandalism in Newport Beach: Are viral social media posts to blame?

Hannah Fry, Richard Winton — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 20:43:00 GMT

Newport Beach's Balboa Peninsula neighborhood became a scene of chaos Saturday night after hundreds of teens and young adults showed up at the beach unexpectedly.

Orange County police officer accused of 'inappropriate interaction' with underage Explorer

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 04:40:31 GMT

Roberto Machuca, 32, of the Garden Grove Police Department was arrested Saturday and booked into the Orange County Jail.

Hazardous waste removal at Garden Grove's GKN Aerospace starts Monday. Here's what to expect

Jaclyn Cosgrove — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 19:29:28 GMT

Orange County officials say the clean-up process of two GKN Aerospace storage tanks in Garden Grove will start sometime Monday through Thursday.

'I'm a better rider than you': Teen's e-motorcycle impounded after he tries to outrun police in O.C. park

Hannah Fry — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:41:56 GMT

A 13-year-old boy was riding an e-motorcycle without a helmet when an officer tried to stop him inside a park in Orange. But the boy tried to speed away, police said.

Suspected South American burglary crew, including 4 minors, accused of hitting 10 Irvine homes

Andrew J. Campa — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 02:53:46 GMT

Six South Americans were arrested on suspicion of being part of a residential burglary unit that hit at least 10 homes in the last year, Irvine police said.

Teen falls 50 feet on Disneyland ride with no belts or lap bars; state finds no operational issues

Hannah Fry — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:59:47 GMT

California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health's Amusement Ride & Tramway Unit inspected Tiana's Bayou Adventure after the incident, which occurred Sunday, and approved it to reopen.

Arellano: The joy of Mexico's World Cup soccer triumph in the Trump era

Gustavo Arellano — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:52:27 GMT

A year earlier, Fourth Street was empty. Federal immigration agents were seizing people across the city. On Thursday night, Santa Ana erupted in joy.

Shaikin: An Anaheim vision: The Anaheim Angels in a new stadium, next to a youth sports complex

Bill Shaikin — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT

A new owner could move the Angels, but Anaheim offers a 150-acre site with what every owner in pro sports covets: land around the venue to turn the property into a year-round money-making operation.

Hundreds rescued at Newport Beach this month; more dangerous coastal conditions ahead

Summer Lin — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:50:20 GMT

Dangerous conditions are expected to continue along Southern California beaches this week, with officials warning swimmers to be mindful of life-threatening rip tides and sneaker waves that could catch beachgoers off guard.

5-year-old girl swept into ocean off Laguna Beach is identified, mourned

Jazmin Alvarado, Karen Garcia — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:11:59 GMT

The body of a 5-year-old girl who was swept into the ocean with her family in Laguna Beach this week has been recovered, and authorities identified the child.

Arellano: In Orange County, a progressive Latina pol beats back well-funded haters — again

Gustavo Arellano — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:53:12 GMT

Expect the race between Jessie Lopez and David Penaloza in California's 68th Assembly District to become a referendum on whether the leftward trend of Latino voters in Orange County continues — or whether its center holds.

O.C. man downs 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's, shoots at sheriff's helicopter, gets 9-year sentence

Seamus Bozeman — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 02:25:13 GMT

A Laguna Nigel man was sentenced to nine years in prison for shooting at a sheriff's helicopter after downing 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's.

50 gallons of water spill into storm drain at site of O.C. chemical crisis, testing underway

Rong-Gong Lin II — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 03:02:04 GMT

The spill occurred during a routine effort to empty what the Orange County Health Care Agency called an "onsite stormwater/condensation tank located in an area unrelated to the incident site."

Orange County health officials walk back claim that there was 'no leak' in chemical tank crisis

Rong-Gong Lin II, Tony Briscoe — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 22:59:17 GMT

In response to questions from The Times, the O.C. Healthcare Agency said it did not dispute statements that vapors were released from the pressurized tank on May 21.

O.C. immigration attorneys suspended for filing briefs filled with AI-hallucinated errors

Grace Toohey — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 21:18:01 GMT

Briefs from two Orange County attorneys contained "multiple nonexistent cases, misattributed quotations, and gross misrepresentations" from generative AI, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found, issuing temporary suspensions.

Orange County business owner accused of supplying Iran with 'sophisticated' U.S. tech

Seamus Bozeman — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 00:23:57 GMT

Jamshid Ghomi, 63, of Newport Coast is accused of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to a federal criminal complaint.

'We need answers.' Politicians demand accountability from GKN Aerospace after hazmat crisis

Clara Harter — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

In the aftermath of a six-day chemical crisis that displaced tens of thousands of Orange County residents, elected leaders want answers from GKN Aerospace.

Arellano: O.C.'s most overlooked city weathers chemical crisis

Gustavo Arellano — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Stanton, with about 40,000 residents, has long been a regional afterthought, the type of community that makes the news only when a tragedy happens

Industry knew about chemical 'runaway' dangers for years. Then came near-catastrophe in O.C.

Hannah Fry, Rong-Gong Lin II — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A failing tank holding 7,000 gallons of a highly reactive chemical at a Garden Grove aerospace plant forced 50,000 evacuations and nearly triggered a catastrophic explosion.

All evacuation orders lifted in O.C. chemical crisis. Threat is over, officials say

Clara Harter, Salvador Hernandez — Wed, 27 May 2026 03:08:28 GMT

The rest of the approximately 50,000 evacuees in Orange County are safe to return after authorities said there was no remaining danger of a chemical tank explosion.

Orange County leaders say previously evacuated area is safe. Experts say risks linger

Tony Briscoe, Clara Harter — Tue, 26 May 2026 23:02:42 GMT

Although many environmental experts praised the efforts of first responders, they remained skeptical that no toxic substances had been released.

Cooling system at chemical tanks likely failed, forcing mass O.C. evacuations, fire officials say

Hannah Fry — Tue, 26 May 2026 21:03:37 GMT

The crisis at a Garden Grove aerospace firm that required the evacuation of 50,000 people was likely caused by the failure of a cooling system designed to regulate the temperature of the chemical tanks, officials told The Times.

The next few hours critical in battle to prevent O.C. chemical explosion

Rong-Gong Lin II, Hailey Branson-Potts, Deborah Netburn, Summer Lin — Mon, 25 May 2026 03:40:49 GMT

Days after mass evacuations were ordered in Orange County, the next few hours could be crucial in dealing with a volatile chemical tank at a Garden Grove aerospace company that has threatened to either explode or cause a major spill.

With conditions worsening, how will the Orange County chemical crisis get resolved?

Rong-Gong Lin II, Emily St. Martin — Sat, 23 May 2026 23:34:16 GMT

The battle to keep a highly toxic chemical from exploding took a step backward Saturday.

What we know about GKN Aerospace, the firm at center of O.C. chemical leak

Hannah Fry, Rong-Gong Lin II — Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The chemical leak that triggered evacuations across a swath of Orange County on Friday is located at GKN Aerospace, a manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom.

Why is Orange County chemical tank crisis so hard to fix?

Rong-Gong Lin II, Hannah Fry — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Evacuation orders have been issued in portions of the cities of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Stanton and Westminster.

A night of fear, confusion as thousands flee their homes in O.C. amid chemical crisis

Eric Licas, Hailey Branson Potts, Allen J. Schaben — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:05:47 GMT

It was a night of anxiety and questions as people across a wide swath of central Orange County fled their homes due to the risk of a chemical explosion at a Garden Grove aerospace firm.

Officials say a chemical explosion in Orange County could be catastrophic. Here's why.

Rong-Gong Lin II, Hailey Branson-Potts, Salvador Hernandez, Tony Briscoe — Fri, 22 May 2026 23:55:41 GMT

An "unprecedented" situation was taking hold in Orange County on Friday, as a chemical tank was at risk of spewing a highly toxic chemical that can cause severe respiratory distress and hospitalization, officials said.

Garden Grove chemical leak: Evacuations, closures, shelters

Salvador Hernandez, Rong-Gong Lin II, Clara Harter — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:50:51 GMT

A failing tank in Garden Grove holding toxic chemicals has prompted major evacuations. Here's what you need to know.

Thousands evacuated around leaking Orange County chemical tank: 'It fails, or it blows up'

Salvador Hernandez, Clara Harter, Tony Briscoe, Rong-Gong Lin II — Fri, 22 May 2026 01:58:47 GMT

Residents and several businesses in Garden Grove were evacuated as toxic chemicals spewed into the air from a leaking storage tank at an aerospace company.

Bloody attack amid huge crowd of minors on e-bikes in O.C. 'Out of nowhere,' man says

Salvador Hernandez — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:08:20 GMT

Sam El-Said said he was hit in the face with a glass bottle thrown by someone in the crowd of young e-bike riders and was kicked and stomped on by multiple people.

Amazon halts high-speed e-bike sales in California after fatal crashes

Rebecca Ellis — Sun, 10 May 2026 23:21:26 GMT

Orange County's prosecutor says Amazon agreed to stop California sales of e-bikes that can go faster than state speed limits after a series of fatal collisions.

Teen dies after losing control of electric motorcycle in Garden Grove

Clara Harter — Sat, 9 May 2026 11:00:00 GMT

The Santa Ana teen was traveling at around 35 mph on a black E Ride Pro electric motorcycle when he struck the median and lost control of the vehicle, according to authorities.

Immigration crackdown souring Orange County's view of Trump, poll finds

Hannah Fry — Wed, 6 May 2026 20:34:47 GMT

Six in 10 residents disapprove of President Trump's hard-line immigration actions, according to the survey, a stark contrast to the county's historical stance on the issue.

John Seymour, Anaheim mayor and U.S. senator, dies at 88

Gustavo Arellano — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Republican John Seymour, a former Anaheim mayor and state and U.S. senator, died April 18 at his home in Carlsbad. He was 88.