Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: February 2018

UCI Jumpstart’s Literacy Fair coming to Santa Ana’s Heritage Museum on March 3

Posted on by Posted in Education, irvine, Literacy, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

UC IRVINE’S JUMPSTART LITERACY FAIR TO BRING BOOKS TO LIFE TO ENCOURAGE

EARLY CHILDHOOD READING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3 AT HERITAGE MUSEUM IN SANTA ANA

The program works with early childhood educators to reduce achievement gaps for children in underserved communities

Families from across Orange County are expected to attend UC Irvine’s Jumpstart’s free annual Spring Literacy event on Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heritage Museum of Orange County at 3101 W. Harvard St., in Santa Ana. The exciting event supports the development of literacy through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities, readings from children’s authors, activities such as making your own balloon rocket car, science experiments, and other STEAM related activities to encourage an interest in reading among preschool age children.

Jumpstart will give more than 1,000 free books to children who attend the event. Nurses from Santa Ana Unified School District will be present as well to provide free basic health screenings for children. Children’s author Annie Banannie, who brings stories to life with her unique balloon storytelling, will also be at the event. Continue reading→

Candidates may sign up now for the 2018 O.C. Election Academy workshop

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Orange County Elections Invites Applications for Upcoming Election Academy

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 Registrar of Voters is currently accepting applications for the 2018 session, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. The program will be conducted at the Registrar of Voters, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana. The curriculum will encompass all election management functions including candidate filing, campaign finance, ballot creation, election security, communications and more. Continue reading→

Homeless man arrested after police find a woman’s body at Talbert Regional Park

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Man arrested after police find woman’s body in Talbert Regional Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2018

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested a man today after the body of a woman was found in Talbert Regional Park.

At approximately 7:10 a.m., on Feb. 28, 2018, CMPD Dispatch received a call from a man advising he had found a female’s body in the Talbert Regional Park area. Police officers and detectives responded to the Talbert Nature Preserve, at 1299 Victoria Street, and located the male caller, identified as Daniel Correa, as well as the female’s body in the brush area nearby. Continue reading→

Man charged with stabbing and murdering a man in Costa Mesa

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

Case # 18WF0485

Date: February 28, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR STABBING ACQUAINTANCE DURING DISPUTE IN COSTA MESA

*Defendant was out of custody after posting $60,000 bond for two 2015 cases

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged yesterday with murder for stabbing his acquaintance during a dispute in Costa Mesa.

Defendant: Jasper Bear Belknap, 21, Azusa

Charged on Feb. 27, 2018, with the following: Continue reading→

Kiddie Academy now open and enrolling in Santa Ana

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Kiddie Academy® Expanding Footprint in Orange County

Kiddie Academy®, the leading provider of comprehensive education-based child care programs, is expanding its footprint in Orange County with its newest location in Santa Ana.

“We are so thrilled that we are growing to provide our unique services to more children in Orange County,” said Joseph Haikal, owner of the Kiddie Academy® coming to Santa Ana in fall 2018. Haikal already owns well-established academies in Tustin, Irvine and Huntington Beach. “This is a really exciting time for us and we look forward to introducing our well-trained, attentive staff to local area parents and their children. In the near future, we look forward to assisting local children in developing the confidence and self-esteem necessary they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow.” Continue reading→

The new O.C. mental health facility will be located in Orange

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Homeless Response: In 24 months, Orange County will open $26 million mental health facility

O.C.’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 28, 2018) — With its largest homeless encampment now dismantled, Orange County is moving forward with a $26 million investment in the county’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility, to be located at 265 S. Anita Drive, in Orange, CA.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of an office building in Orange that will be renovated into a treatment center for people with mental health and substance abuse problems. Continue reading→

The O.C. Auto Theft Task Force recovered 224 stolen vehicles last year valued at over $4M

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 27, 2018

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKAS HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS OF OC AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE IN PRESENTATION TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – At the request of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas delivered a presentation to the Board today highlighting the success of the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force (OCATT).

OCATT is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program that works to investigate, arrest, and prosecute criminals in Orange County responsible for professional-level auto theft rings. The task force has operated in Orange County since 1993 and has successfully contributed to a 55 percent decrease in auto theft across the county since its creation. Continue reading→

OCDA Deputy District Attorney from Santa Ana appointed to the O.C. Superior Court

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Democratic Party, Jerry Brown, Lawyers, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Cynthia M. Herrera, 46, of Santa Ana, to a judgeship in the Orange County Superior Court.

Herrera started with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) as a deputy district attorney in 1997. She has served the Office as a senior deputy district attorney since 2011, rising to the Homicide Unit. Herrera earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine. Continue reading→

A Santa Ana family turned in their ex-con son after he threatened gun violence

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD, Seniors 1 Comment

What would you do if your son was such an awful person that you had no choice but to call the police?

The Ojeda family had to deal with exactly that situation this week when they called the SAPD to report that their son, Giovanni Santos Ojeda, 31-years-old, was threatening and abusing his parents, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Orange County paid $26M for property for a new mental health facility for the homeless

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Homelessness: Orange County buys property for $26 million mental health facility

Orange County purchased a property that will become the county’s first publicly-owned mental health facility.

As part of its long-term response to homelessness through the county-wide System of Care, the County of Orange is building a $26 million mental health facility that will provide emergency mental health crisis stabilization, drug abuse treatment, and long-term residential psychiatric care. Continue reading→

OC taxpayers paid to house 700 homeless people in local motels

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

700 Homeless Individuals Along Santa Ana Riverbed Are Motel-Sheltered

The County has linked approximately 700 homeless individuals encamped on the riverbed to motels or shelters; clearing the Riverbed of all encampments.

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 26, 2018) — As of Monday, February 26, 2018, the individuals homeless individuals encampment on the Santa Ana Riverbed Trail has officially been cleared. This announcement comes after the County has ensured temporary shelter in the form of motel vouchers, shelter beds, and alternative housing placement for all individuals who were previously encamped along the riverbed. Continue reading→

An SAPD K9 police dog knocked out most of his teeth when he chased down a carjacker yesterday

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, irvine, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Puskas, an 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd and member of the SAPD Police Department, heroically took down a carjacker in Irvine yesterday but in the process he was very badly injured, according to the O.C. Register.

Puskas, who is named after Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskás, chased the carjacking suspect, Antonio Padilla Jr., when he got out of a black Audi that he carjacked in Irvine. Continue reading→

LA/OC rehab center owner convicted of sexually assaulting seven female patients

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Rehab Center Owner Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Seven Female Patients

The founder of a Los Angeles drug and alcohol treatment facility was convicted today of sexually assaulting seven women, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

A jury deliberated for about a day before finding 56-year-old Christopher Bathum guilty of 31 counts, including forcible rape, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation and sexual exploitation. Continue reading→

Man arrested after carjacking a woman in Irvine and fleeing from cops

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Antonio Padilla Jr.

Carjacking in Irvine Occurs During Pursuit

Irvine, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2018) – A female Irvine resident was the victim of a carjacking during a pursuit initiated outside of the City on Monday.

On Monday evening, the Santa Ana Police Department informed the Irvine Police Department of a pursuit in which a suspect was driving in and out of Irvine. At approximately 5:40 p.m., the suspect came to a dead end on Rosa Drew. At that time, a female Irvine resident was backing up her black Audi SUV. The suspect exited his vehicle, opened the door of the Audi and pulled the woman from her vehicle. Continue reading→

The OC Sheriff will enforce trespass laws on the Santa Ana River Trail as of today

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, homeless, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCSD to enforce trespass laws following the voluntary transition of homeless individuals encamped along the Santa Ana River Trail

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 26, 2018) – 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. Continue reading→