News

Excerpted from NBC San Diego

By Lexie Michel

As the Santa Ana winds roll in, fighting fires quickly and efficiently is of the utmost importance. San Diego may soon benefit from a new program helping firefighters on the ground make informed decisions.

Orange County Fire Authority launched its new Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) on Sept. 1 and has been flying successful pilot missions of the new tool.

Excerpted from abc7

By Jessica De Nova

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (KABC) -- Leaders in the Southern California firefighter community demonstrated a tool they say could be the future of wildfire combat during a press conference Monday.

The Fire Integrated Real Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) is a 150-day pilot program funded with $4.5 million from a state grant secured by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.

Excerpted from Newport Beach Independent

By Sara Hall

The City Arts Commission discussed how to best utilize half a million dollars in grant funds earmarked for the city’s rotating sculpture exhibition at Civic Center Park and arts education programs.

Earlier this year, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris allocated $500,000 in the 2019-20 state budget for city of Newport Beach Arts Commission.

There was a great deal of discussion on the item during the Sept. 12 meeting, Library Services Director Tim Hetherton said in an email Tuesday.

Excerpted from the OC WEEKLY

By Anthony Pignataro

Excerpted from The Orange County Register

By Teri Sforza

In that unwieldy stack of newly proposed laws atop Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk: Four bills that aim to require licensing, reduce fraud and false advertising and raise standards in California’s notoriously under-regulated addiction treatment industry.

Excerpted from mHealthIntelligence

By Eric Wicklund

A California lawmaker is hoping that replacing one word in the state’s telehealth law will enable residents to get birth control pills through an mHealth app or telehealth service.

AB 1264, submitted by State Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) earlier this year, replaces the word “it” with “the licensee” in defining the Business and Professions Code regarding the use of telehealth or prescribe, dispense or furnish so-called “dangerous drugs.”

Excerpted from the Sacramento Bee

By Andrew Sheeler

It could soon be legal to access birth control through a smartphone app.

California lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom that “clarifies vague telehealth law related to safely prescribing prescriptions,” according to the office of bill sponsor Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach.

Excerpted from Orange County Register

By Alicia Robinson

As the state-owned Fairview Developmental Center prepares to close in coming months, Costa Mesa officials are taking steps to ensure they’re involved in decisions on reuse of the center’s spacious campus in the heart of the city.

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By Bradley Zint

Local officials and activists gathered Saturday morning to unveil a new mural at a historic Costa Mesa church that aims to raise awareness for helping Orange County’s homeless population.

The artwork by Brian Peterson and Damin Lujan at First United Methodist Church was completed in three days on a small structure housing telecommunications equipment in the church’s parking lot.

Excerpted from Orange County Register

By Teri Sforza

His kids, ages 9 and 11, ran into the living room screaming. “There’s someone laying in front of our house in the middle of the street!”

Jeff Briney, a 20-year resident of Laguna Beach, ran to the window. Indeed, a young man was sprawled out, unconscious, on their narrow, winding South Laguna road.