Latest News

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Susan Christian Goulding

Still reeling from the oil spill that fouled local waters and coated wildlife, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach city councils each passed resolutions Tuesday, Oct. 19, calling for limits on off-shore drilling.

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Whalen said he hopes the new city resolutions will inspire more communities to take a formal stand and spur legislative changes on the state and federal level.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Cottie Petrie-Norris, Luz Rivas and Tasha Boerner-Horvath

Southern California’s pristine coastline has once again found itself a victim of the oil and gas industry. Over 25,000 gallons of oil have leaked from a burst pipeline in the coastal waters off Huntington Beach, marking yet another oil spill off our iconic shores.

Excerpted from the Daily Pilot

By Andrew Turner

Orange County beaches have reopened, but local officials and environmentalists are endeavoring to make sure the recent oil spill and its impacts are not soon forgotten.

A crowd of hundreds showed up to support speakers at a news conference calling for an end to offshore oil drilling on Monday at Main Beach Park in Laguna Beach.

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Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) has repeatedly said the oil spill was the community’s worst fears come to life.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Joan Cain, Alicia Robinson, Teri Sforza

California’s fleet of offshore oil and gas rigs, and the miles of pipelines that connect those rigs to on-shore refining operations, feature some of the most advanced technology the industry has to offer.

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By George Skelton

This was a gun control bill that made so much sense that the National Rifle Assn. didn’t even oppose it. Neither did any gun lobby. No legislator — not even a Republican — voted against it.

The measure adds so-called ghost guns to the weapons that can be seized by police from someone who’s “red-flagged” by a judge. In many cases, this is a gunowner under a restraining order because of domestic violence. Or maybe he’s threatening people and talking about wanting to kill.

Excerpted from Orange County Register

By Laylan Connelly

Watch your step if you’re headed to the beach to beat the heat or catch some waves with the swell that’s hitting the coast this week.

Oil cleanup crews were out at local beaches on Tuesday to scoop up tar balls that washed on shore following the whipping winds and big waves that struck the region Monday night into Tuesday afternoon. Oil was spotted along south Orange County beaches as the slick from the recent spill near Huntington Beach continues to move offshore toward San Diego.

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By Andrew Turner

After four years, the Hotel Laguna is resuming operations with the reopening of the historic building’s ground-floor lobby and restaurant area.

The partial reopening of the Hotel Laguna is the first step in the restoration of the property, for which the Laguna Beach Co. has a long-term lease.

A ribbon-cutting event Tuesday celebrated the completion of the first phase of the renovation project, as well as the return of the public to the hotel.

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Excerpted from Fox40 News

By Sonseeahray Tonsall, Jonathan Taraya

A new state Assembly committee will be tasked with figuring out who was responsible for the massive oil spill off the Southern California coast.

The Select Committee for the Orange County Spill was announced Monday in Huntington Beach by California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.

After requesting the effort, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach, will be leading the committee throughout the next legislative session.

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