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10.14.21 Unanswered questions about oil spill suggest oversight isn’t working

Experts say current rules and regulations on offshore oil might not be good enough.

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.

10.14.21 Column: Newsom made the right decisions on fishing, ‘ghost guns’ and 3 other simple bills

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.

10.12.21 Weather is warming, surf is up – is it safe to go to the beach?

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.

10.12.21 Hotel Laguna reopens lobby and restaurant to public after long restoration

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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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.

[...]

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.