2018 Headline News Archive

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport decreased in November 2018 as compared with November 2017. In November 2018, the Airport served 850,458 passengers, a decrease of 4.8% when compared with the November 2017 passenger traffic count of 892,995.

Using equipment that consists of a medium format camera and an 8x10 large-format wooden camera, photographer Joel Brown's black and white photographs offer a unique perspective of his subjects that bring out the hidden details, textures and shapes that often go unnoticed with color photography.

In the wake of record-breaking travel days during peak holiday periods earlier this year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects record numbers of air travelers during the December holiday season.

The Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa & Friends annual gift drives are currently collecting donations for children and seniors across the county, respectively.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich reminds Orange County taxpayers that the first installment of secured property taxes is due no later than Monday, December 10, 2018.

The Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency advises swimmers that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, close to storm drains, and the outlets of creeks and rivers during and after rainstorms.

In commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1, the County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) challenges community members to take the lead in reducing new HIV infections by knowing their status through getting tested.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in September 2018 as compared with September 2017.

A new exhibition featuring Hobart "Hobie" Alter, a Southern California native known for inventing the “Hobie Cat” catamaran and changing the way people use the water for surfing and sailing is on display at John Wayne Airport (JWA).

The County of Orange is moving its "Orange is the New Green" Zoning Code update project another step forward after OC Public Works (OCPW) processed and incorporated feedback it received from the public at a series of Planning Commission and Community Workshops held since May 2018.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors proclaimed November 2018 as Adoption Awareness Month in Orange County and presented a resolution to the Social Services Agency and Miguel and Raquel Alcantara for their significant contributions to support and mentor adoptive families in Orange County.

This week the County of Orange received an upgrade in its Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from Fitch Ratings to AAA and a reaffirmation of its Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) from S&P Global Ratings of AA+.

John Wayne Airport (JWA) understands that traveling through an airport can be a difficult experience for individuals with hidden disabilities.

The Orange County Local Oral Health Program (OC-LOHP) was established within the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) with funding from the California Department of Public Health last January.

OC Waste & Recycling announces the EcoChallenge Day collection event at the Honda Center on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 from 8 to 11 a.m.

Congress through the National Park Service, Department of Interior, selected OC Parks as a grant recipient to “Save America’s Treasures.”

The City of Placentia, in partnership with the County of Orange, Mercy Housing California, and New Directions for Veterans celebrated the groundbreaking of the Placentia Veterans Village today. The celebration marks the official start of construction for a permanent supportive housing development in Orange County designed to serve military veterans who are homeless or disabled.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich, CPA, announced that her office has mailed approximately 15,800 delinquent notices totaling $19.3 million to taxpayers who have unsecured property taxes outstanding as of September 1, 2018.

"Pop up" mobile voting returns to Orange County beginning October 27 at the Santa Ana MainPlace Mall. Additional locations can be found by visiting ocvote.com/early. Any Orange County voter can vote their official ballot at any "pop up" mobile voting location.

The OC Health Care Agency encourages community members to drop-off expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on "National Take Back Day" Saturday, October 27 at numerous locations throughout Orange County.

On Tuesday, October 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Library of the Canyons in Silverado, officials with multiple agencies will participate in a collaborative town hall meeting to update residents about the Holy Fire impacts and preparations for potential debris flows.

As a professional landscape photographer who travels throughout North America, Europe and Asia, Scott Amling's photography inspiration comes from his discovery of new locations and the landscape of structures and natural phenomena he experiences that often go unnoticed.

The 24th Annual Conditions of Children in Orange County report was released yesterday, offering a comprehensive assessment of the health, economic well-being, education and safety of the County's children.

The first human death associated with West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Orange County has been confirmed by OC Health Care Agency officials.

Chairman Andrew Do, 1st District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, encourages community members to participate in the OC Health Care Agency's (HCA) Point of Dispensing (POD) emergency preparedness event at the Great Park in Irvine on October 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announced that over 850,000 secured property tax bills have been mailed to the names of the property owners shown on the most recent tax roll. The secured property tax bills are now available online at ocgov.com/octaxbill.

The County of Orange and OC Parks are pleased to present the annual Halloween Zoo-tacular at the OC Zoo located inside Irvine Regional Park on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate the fall season with festive activities and the animals of the OC Zoo!

In 2018 OC Parks received multiple achievement awards from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA), National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO), and the Los Angeles Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), in partnership with Chairman Andrew Do and Supervisor Michelle Steel of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, will be hosting a Food Safety Seminar on October 10th in the City of Fountain Valley.

As two storms have made their way from the Pacific Ocean to Southern California, the latest forecasts are predicting rainfall across Orange County starting late Tuesday, October 2, with the heaviest rainfall expected on Wednesday, October 3. Local agencies continue to closely monitor weather conditions and are strongly advising residents of the potential risk of mud and debris flows originating from the Holy Fire burn area.

On October 3, beginning at around 11:18 a.m., Orange County residents will receive a test emergency alert to their mobile devices from the federal government testing the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) capabilities. In addition, those who have opted into AlertOC will receive a second alert testing the County’s mass notification system. There is no cause for alarm when receiving the alerts.

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA), City of Irvine and seven South County cities will be exercising a Point of Dispensing (POD) emergency preparedness event at the Great Park, Irvine on October 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to practice rapid distribution of medicine in the event of a public health outbreak.

With two storms making their way across the Pacific Ocean and expecting to bring rainfall across Orange County next week, local agencies are closely monitoring weather conditions and are strongly advising residents of the potential risk of mud and debris flows originating from the Holy Fire burn area.

Effective October 1, John Wayne Airport will introduce a new pick-up area for passengers using ride apps Lyft, Uber and Wingz.

Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announces that the California Property Tax Postponement Program (PTP) application period opens October 1, 2018.

Join the County of Orange for its first Career Expo and Open House – a free, family-friendly event open to all.

Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: Irvine Ranch Historic Park
13042 Old Myford Rd., Irvine, California 92602

Kittens. They're cute, they’re cuddly, and when they’re under 8 weeks old, kittens are the highest risk population at shelters in Southern California and across the country.

OC Animal Care is asking the community for donations to aid an injured dog in its care. On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, Orange County Animal Control officers recovered an approximately 18-month-old female Pug in the city of Fullerton.

On September 25, 2018, the public is invited to participate in the release of the County of Orange 2017 Hate Crimes Report. The report will also be available online upon release at www.occommunityservices.org/oc_human_relations_commission.

Bruce Barton’s exhibit at John Wayne Airport’s Community Focus Space from September 13 – October 15, 2018, will elicit second looks, occasional giggles and perhaps pauses of reflection from guests that have the opportunity to interpret Barton’s artistic commentary of nature/culture dialectics.

A bat found at University Community Park located at 1 Beech Tree Lane in Irvine, California on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at approximately 12 p.m. has tested positive for rabies.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in July 2018 as compared with July 2017. In July 2018, the Airport served 991,003 passengers, an increase of 7.8% when compared with the July 2017 passenger traffic count of 919,223.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich reminds those with unsecured property taxes due for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 relating to business property, leased equipment, boats and aircraft to submit payment by Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 to avoid late charges.

Inspired by the colors and movement found in nature, Steve Wang’s landscapes reflect a love for natural and harmonic living. An exhibit of his paintings is on display in the John Wayne Airport Community Focus Space August 14 – September 13.

County of Orange officials gathered today to commemorate the “topping out” of the new Building 16, as the final beam was placed on top of the first building to be constructed as part of the first phase of the County’s multi-phase Civic Center Facilities Master Plan for the Civic Center area in Santa Ana.

A Tustin woman in her 70s was diagnosed this week with West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis. She is the first human WNV infection identified in Orange County, California this season.

Smoke from the Holy Fire may pose a health danger to some Orange County residents, especially those in certain high-risk groups. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a Smoke Advisory for Orange County.

The County of Orange activated and staffed the Emergency Operations Center with County agency representatives at 2:17 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2018. The Public Information Hotline is staffed and ready to accept calls of inquiry in regard to the Holy Fire.

An immediate evacuation order has been issued for the Holy Jim community. A shelter location is to be determined.

A care and reception center has been established at the Bell Tower Community Center at 22232 El Paseo in Rancho Santa Margarita for evacuees of the Holy Fire.

The County of Orange is deactivating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 9 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2018.

Evacuations remain in place for Orange County residents of the following areas impacted by the Holy Fire: Holy Jim Canyon cabins, Trabuco Canyon Residence Tract cabins, and Blue Jay and Falcon Campgrounds. The following road closures also remain in effect in Orange County: Trabuco Creek Road at Trabuco Canyon Road and Robinson Ranch at County Hollow Lane.

Calling all historians and those with an interest in history, John Wayne Airport is pleased to share the story of the Laguna Art Museum in our Orange County: Destination Art & Culture exhibit now through December 2018.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in June 2018 as compared with June 2017. In June 2018, the Airport served 950,834 passengers, an increase of 5.4% when compared with the June 2017 passenger traffic count of 902,059.

The National Weather Service – San Diego Office has issued a Heat Warning for Inland Orange County, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke for those who are more sensitive to heat.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is pleased to announce the County’s successful efforts in assisting foster youth in applying for college financial aid. SSA collaborated with the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) and other partners to help high school seniors in foster care sign up for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Yesterday the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Option and Master Lease Agreements for the revitalization of Dana Point Harbor (“Harbor”) with Dana Point Harbor Partners (“DPHP”).

A new director will join OC Animal Care following a five-month nation-wide recruitment to fill the high-level position.

This upcoming July 21, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be celebrating the five-year anniversary in which he has opened his offices to the public one Saturday per month. The program was implemented shortly after Clerk-Recorder Nguyen took his position in the year 2013. Since the implementation of the special Saturday hours, demand has continued to increase and the openings have become very popular with wedding parties and other customers.

In a major step to improve the water quality of South Orange County's coastal areas and inland waterways, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) recently accepted the South Orange County Water Quality Improvement Plan (South OC WQIP) that lays a foundation for managing stormwater runoff for years to come.

Have a cluttered garage or cabinets and need to free up some space? Celebrate National Drive-Thru Day with OC Waste & Recycling on Tuesday July 24.

The Office of Care Coordination recently published the June 2018 newsletter regarding the County's continued efforts to address homelessness. In this newsletter, you can learn about resources recently allocated to addressing homelessness, the completion of Phase II of Bridges at Kraemer Place, success stories of individuals on the path to increased housing stability, and more.

Over 100 professionals from Orange County's non-profit, public, and private sectors attended the first Families and Communities Together (FaCT) Family Resource Center Meet & Greet on June 27th at the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living in Newport Beach. Hosted by FaCT, in coordination with the Costa Mesa Family Resource Center and the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living, attendees had the opportunity to engage with the county wide FaCT network of 15 Family Resources Centers that offer support services to Orange County’s families.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in May 2018 as compared with May 2017. In May 2018, the Airport served 915,833 passengers, an increase of 4.2% when compared with the May 2017 passenger traffic count of 878,901.

Due to an abundance of dogs, cats and other animals, OC Animal Care will begin waiving fees for pets adopted by residents across Orange County.

Today the Board of Supervisors voted as part of the approval of the FY 2018-19 budget to re-establish the Internal Audit Department, reporting directly to the Board of Supervisors, removed the Auditor-Controller and Internal Audit augmentations while also cutting $656,570 of funding from the Auditor-Controller’s base budget.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is warning residents of a phone/texting scam that attempts to obtain cardholder information of CalWORKs, CalFresh, and General Relief clients throughout California.

A bat found was found on the corner of S. Country Hills Road and S. Mohler Dr. in Anaheim, California on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at approximately 7:15 p.m. and has since tested positive for rabies.

June 27 marks National HIV Testing Day, which helps promote testing and early diagnosis of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. There are 6,711 individuals living with HIV disease in Orange County and by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, an additional estimated 941 residents who have HIV and don’t know it – some of whom will develop AIDS before realizing they are HIV-infected.

The state of California is transitioning to a new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Vendor on June 30, 2018. Because of this transition, a statewide 24-hour EBT outage and black-out period is scheduled from Saturday, June 23, 2018 beginning at 11 p.m. until Sunday, June 24, 2018 at 11:00 p.m. During this outage, cardholders will not be able to access their EBT food or cash benefits. EBT cardholders are encouraged to plan ahead for their shopping needs.

The County of Orange and OC Public Libraries are pleased to announce the expansion of the Lunch @ the Library program, beginning June 18. Any child 18 and under who walks in the door during the six week program at participating branches will receive a free lunch!

Today the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a County directive to expedite 11 housing projects in the pipeline for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding, unveiled a Housing Funding Strategy to develop 2,700 housing units and paved the way to receive approximately $15.5 million in state Emergency Homelessness Aid Block Grant funding by declaring a Homeless Shelter Crisis.

OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) has received one of the waste industry's most important awards, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) 2018 Gold Award for Landfill Management Excellence of the Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.

Orange County residents are invited to take just 10 minutes out of their day this month and learn a skill that can save a life: Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

During a County of Orange Board of Supervisors meeting on May 22, the Board approved the Orange County Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan Update FY 2018/2019, directing staff to execute updates that include adding 58 MHSA-related positions to the Health Care Agency (HCA). The County's estimated year-end balance, as of June 30, 2018, is $81 million, with no funds subject to reversion to the State of California.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in April 2018 as compared with April 2017. In April 2018, the Airport served 893,668 passengers, an increase of 5.0% when compared with the April 2017 passenger traffic count of 851,169.

“Clay is clean dirt and I love to play in it,” states Connie Major, the featured ceramic artist for the John Wayne Airport Community Space from May 21, 2018 – June 14, 2018. Her unique pieces may be viewed on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C, and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4.

The County of Orange received a total of 13 awards in May 2018, including nine Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and four Golden Hub of Innovation awards from the Association of California Cities-Orange County (ACC-OC).

John Wayne Airport recently launched the JWAlive music program in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal. Featuring a rotating roster of musicians, ticketed passengers at John Wayne Airport can enjoy live acoustic guitar and piano performances while waiting for a flight.

The County of Orange's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 Recommended Budget has been released for review by the Board of Supervisors and the public. It is available online at http://www.ocgov.com/gov/ceo/deputy/finance/budget.

After four years of construction and enough earthwork to fill Lake Mission Viejo nearly three times, OC Public Works has announced the significant completion of its Avenida La Pata Extension Project, the largest roadway project in the department’s history.

John Wayne Airport (JWA) has elevated curbside convenience to the next level with FlashValet, an enhanced valet parking system that provides a faster check-in and check-out process, and new amenities for guests utilizing the valet parking service.

The OC Health Care Agency encourages community members to drop-off expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on "National Take Back Day" Saturday, April 28 at several locations throughout Orange County.

As of April 10, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), in partnership with the City of Santa Ana Police Department, completed all assessments of homeless individuals residing in the Civic Center.

The County of Orange, in cooperation with the host cities of Fullerton and Santa Ana, is extending the County's Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelters in Santa Ana and Fullerton an additional 90 days.

Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich encourages taxpayers to save the cost of a stamp and pay your property tax bill on-line by eCheck (bank) without any service fee at ocgov.com/octaxbill, on the County's secure website.

To provide an update on steps being taken by the County of Orange to help address growing mental health needs, OC Health Care Agency (HCA) staff will present an overview of changes to the proposed FY 2018-19 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan at the Orange County Mental Health Board's public hearing Wednesday, April 11.

A portion of the Santa Ana River Trail from Memory Lane in Santa Ana to Taft Avenue in Orange was closed to the public on January 22, 2018, for an environmental remediation project. It was anticipated to remain closed for up to three months. The County has made significant progress on the project, and a modified public access route will be restored April 7, 2018.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich today reminds Orange County taxpayers that the second installment of property taxes is due no later than Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Payments not received by the deadline, unless postmarked by April 10, will incur a 10 percent late penalty plus a $23 fee.

As of March 28, 2018, the County of Orange concluded its 30-day motel program for individuals previously encamped along the Santa Ana Riverbed. The program, which began at the end of February 2018, involved 697 individuals and 51 motels throughout Orange County.

John Wayne Airport today introduced its new Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle, "Crash 2", with an airfield demonstration of its advanced features.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in February 2018 as compared with February 2017. In February 2018, the Airport served 763,505 passengers, an increase of 7.4% when compared with the February 2017 passenger traffic count of 711,010.

John Wayne Airport (JWA) has recently upgraded its parking system with Near Field Communication (NFC) capability as well as Europay, MasterCard® and Visa® EMV chip technology. This new system will provide an additional level of security to credit card transactions as well as enhance the parking experience by providing multiple payment options for JWA guests including the ability to use Apple Pay.

From March 20, 2018 – April 19, 2018, photography by Stephanie Hager will be on display at John Wayne Airport (JWA) as part of JWA's Community Focus Space Program. These works can be viewed on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C, and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4.

Please join the County of Orange for a public, family-friendly grand opening of the new OC Animal Care facility in Tustin.

The County of Orange Board of Supervisors voted March 13 to approve the appointment of Kevin Rogan as the Executive Director of the County's Office of Independent Review (OIR).

The County of Orange celebrated the completion of OC Animal Care's new shelter with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 7.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Shari L. Freidenrich, announced that the Top Twenty Property Taxpayers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18 in the secured and unsecured categories in the County of Orange are as follows:

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) announces the availability of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 Mental Health Services Act Plan Update for public review and comment at www.ochealthinfo.com/mhsa through April 4, 2018.

The Office of Care Coordination recently published the February 2018newsletter regarding the County's continued efforts to address homelessness. In this newsletter, you will find information on the efforts to assist those in the River Trail.

As of 2 p.m. today, all individuals encamped along the Santa Ana River Trail in the project area between Ball Road in the city of Anaheim and Memory Lane in the city of Orange have voluntarily complied with the request to relocate. The Orange County Sheriff's Department will now actively enforce state trespass laws and will maintain high visibility patrols in the area. This active enforcement of trespass laws will enable the County to complete the environmental remediation project and restore the area to its intended purpose.

The Environmental Health division of the OC Health Care Agency advises swimmers that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, close to storm drains, and the outlets of creeks and rivers during and after rainstorms.

The County of Orange has expanded temporary shelter capacity at Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim – providing accommodations for an additional 52 individuals inside the facility and an additional 13 individuals in two temporary structures on the facility property.

Orange County Treasurer Shari L. Freidenrich announced that the next tax auction is at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Building 10 in Santa Ana. "We currently have 15 improved parcels and six unimproved parcels to auction, and expect to actually auction off between five and 10 parcels," stated Treasurer Freidenrich. The Treasurer will not auction off properties that have paid all delinquent taxes and penalties in full by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 or are otherwise ineligible for sale. The current list of parcels, a link directly to the parcel on a GIS map and other information on our upcoming tax auction are available at ocgov.com/taxauction. The list of parcels is updated every week.

From February 20, 2018 – March 19, 2018, paintings by Veronica Schmitt will be on display at John Wayne Airport (JWA) as part of JWA's Community Focus Space Program. These works can be viewed on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C, and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4.

The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Orange County beginning at 10 p.m. this evening to 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. Overnight temperatures in some areas will dip to the low 30s with isolated locations in the upper 20s.

Pursuant to the approvals given by the Orange County Board of Supervisors during a special Board meeting today, the County of Orange will be providing additional motel stays, shelter spaces and related services for individuals presently encamped along the Santa Ana Riverbed between Taft Avenue/Ball Road in Anaheim and Memory Lane in Orange (also referred to as the "Project Area" for the County's environmental remediation project).

The OC Health Care Agency in partnership with the Orange County Perinatal Council is proud to announce the launch of a new website (www.everywomanoc.org) with the goal of providing essential health information and resources to women who are considering pregnancy, pregnant, or in the postpartum period with infants through their first year of life.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2018 Award of Excellence to 3,110 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2017.

OC Parks is initiating a new firewood policy designed to reduce the risk of damaging Orange County's oak and sycamore woodlands and other trees from invasive pests.

In 2010 the Registrar of Voters launched the Orange County Election Academy, an academic program designed to teach participants about elections in Orange County, California. This award winning, one-of-a-kind elections education program, is open to the public at no cost. The comprehensive curriculum is particularly beneficial to those individuals interested in voting, running for office, and the elections process in general.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is warning residents of a phishing scam on Facebook that attempts to obtain cardholder information of CalWORKs, CalFresh, and General Relief clients throughout California.

The pilot phase of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) will officially launch in Orange County on February 1, 2018 in participating restaurants in the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana. Upon launch, Orange County will become the ninth county in California to offer this program to eligible participants.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approved a Settlement Agreement January 19 with the City of Newport Beach and the County of Orange defining flight paths from John Wayne Airport (SNA).

On January 23, 2018, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the newly restructured Commission to End Homelessness, representing a transition to a regional, systems-based approach to solving homelessness.

The Treasurer-Tax Collector has been notified that only a few taxpayers have requested a lowering of their property taxes due to damages from the Canyon Fire 2. Those taxpayers who lost their homes should consider applying to temporarily lower their property taxes.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in December 2017 as compared with December 2016. In December 2017, the Airport served 899,451 passengers, an increase of 3.3% when compared with the December 2016 passenger traffic count of 870,956.

(Santa Ana, CA) - The OC Health Care Agency in partnership with the Orange County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board will present a Public Forum on January 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Delhi Center in Santa Ana to address the opioid epidemic in Orange County and identify prevention and treatment needs to reduce overdose and addiction.

The Office of Care Coordination recently published the January 2018 newsletter regarding the County's continued efforts to address homelessness. In this newsletter, you can learn about progress made in 2017 and steps expected to be taken in 2018 toward building an integrated System of Care.

For those looking to tie the knot on what many consider to be the most romantic day of the year, look no further. To accommodate couples, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be offering extended hours at his offices in Fullerton, Laguna Hills and at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana on Valentine's Day. The department will close at 5:30 pm instead of its normal closing hours to issue marriage licenses and perform marriage ceremonies.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be rolling out his department's new OC Weddings mobile app. The mobile app will allow customers to both complete a marriage license application and to set an appointment for a civil marriage ceremony, all from the convenience of their mobile devices.

The County of Orange is hard at work throughout each year, providing services to Orange County’s more than 3 million residents. This 2017 Accomplishments and 2018 Goals document highlights that work by noting significant accomplishments throughout the County in 2017, while looking forward to our most important goals and areas of expected achievement for 2018.

OC Community Resources (OCCR) is a multifaceted, service-driven public agency that seeks continuously to achieve its mission of connecting people and resources. Click "read more" to view the OCCR annual report for Fiscal Year 2016-17.

Supervisor Andrew Do, First District, has been chosen unanimously by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors for 2018. Supervisor Shawn Nelson, Fourth District, will serve as the Board's Vice Chair.

With coordination and support from the California Military Department and in conjunction with the County Office of Emergency Services, the Orange County Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelters (armories) located in both Santa Ana and Fullerton will operate with extended hours on Tuesday to provide shelter and protection to the homeless community during the upcoming storm.

The County of Orange Board of Supervisors approved the purchase and sale agreement with Fountain Valley School District for purchase of an office building for the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) at 265 S. Anita Drive in the City of Orange.

Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be moving his North County Branch Office in Fullerton to a new location in Anaheim in an effort to address increasing demand for services and also to offer expanded services.