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10.11.21 California Assembly forms committee to determine Orange County oil spill blame

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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10.11.21 California attorney general launches investigation into Orange County oil spill

Excerpted from LA Times

By Robin Estrin, Hannah Fry

Monday also saw California state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) announce the creation of a special committee tasked with delving into the disaster.

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) will chair the committee.

Petrie-Norris said forming the committee is an important step in guaranteeing officials get to the bottom of what happened and to ensure there’s oversight and accountability at the state level.

10.08.21 California adds ‘ghost guns’ to list of weapons seized under firearm restraining orders

Excerpted from KTLA

By Associated Press

California is adding a secretive but growing class of weapons to those that can legally be seized under gun violence restraining orders, under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Friday.

What also is known as a “red flag” law allows police along with family members, colleagues, employers and teachers to ask judges to take firearms from those they fear are a possible threat to themselves or others.

10.08.21 Huntington Beach Oil Spill Cleanup Efforts Continue

Excerpted from CBSLA

By CSLA Staff

Amplify Energy, the pipeline owner, has suggested that a ship’s anchor may have dragged the pipeline and damaged it

There were reports that the cargo ship Rotterdam Express could have been involved in the spill, but the ship’s owner said the Coast Guard has informed them that they are no longer under investigation.

Though the investigation is ongoing, authorities said that Amplify Energy and anyone else liable for the environmental catastrophe will pay for the cleanup and more.

10.7.21 Galvanized by O.C. spill, local lawmakers seek federal help to end drilling off California coast

Excerpted from the Daily Pilot

By Sara Cardine

Following the oil spill reported Saturday off Huntington Beach, a contingent of Orange County elected officials are calling on members of Congress to not only ban new offshore drilling off California’s coastline but end all such operations in federal waters.

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Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie Norris (D-Laguna Beach) held a virtual media briefing Thursday during which she described recent events as “our worst fears come to life.”

10.06.21 New California laws aim to combat fraud in jobless benefits

By Adam Beam

Excerpted from the Fresno Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new laws Tuesday to tighten security in the state's unemployment system after his administration OK’d billions of dollars in fraudulent payments during the pandemic while legitimate claimants languished in a backlog awaiting approval.

10.06.21 Local leaders survey oil spill cleanup at Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach

By Matt Szabo

Excerpted from the Daily Pilot 

Local elected officials took a tour of the oil-spill-affected Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach on Wednesday, as the cleanup continues.

Workers from Patriot Environmental Services, based in Wilmington, used rakes and large white bags to remove oil from the area near the rocks by the shore. The oil was then deposited in a dumpster at the marsh, located south of Brookhurst Street off Pacific Coast Highway.

10.5.21 Gov. Newsom Declares State Of Emergency as Officials Say Oil Leak is Shut Off

Excerpted from Voice of OC

By Noah Biesiada 

Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency late Monday over the oil spill off the coast of Orange County while officials say that the leak is stopped and not continuing to leak.

The letter calls on a variety of state agencies to continue and enhance their work in Orange County after an oil spill dumped around 126,000 gallons into the water just a few miles off the coast of Orange County.