Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Orange

DNA links man to 2001 cold-case rape of woman he kidnapped from a bus stop

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF1024: May 23, 2014

MAN LINKED THROUGH DNA TO 2001 COLD-CASE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF WOMAN HE KIDNAPPED FROM BUS STOP TO FACE TRIAL

SANTA ANA – A man faces a jury trial Tuesday for kidnapping a woman from a bus stop and forcibly sexually assaulting her in his car in a 2001 cold-case after being linked to the crime through DNA using the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) local DNA database. Raul Moreno-Perez, 34, is charged with one felony count each of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, forcible oral copulation, and sentencing enhancement allegations for increasing the risk of harm by kidnapping and kidnapping to commit a sexual offense. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Bike Rally set for May 15 at OCTA HQ in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Entertainment, OCTA, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OCTA Bike Rally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

NEWS ADVISORY: Bike Rally Set to Support Bike Month

WHAT: Officials from the Orange County Transportation Authority will lead a four-mile bike ride with bike enthusiasts from the Orange Metrolink Station to OCTA headquarters in Orange to celebrate May as Bike Month.

Following the ride, OCTA Chairman Shawn Nelson will discuss regional bikeways planning in Orange County. Those who participate in the ride will be entered into a drawing to win prizes such as a $50 gift card to P.F. Chang’s, a bike helmet and a one-hour free rental from Pedego. Continue reading→

OCTA seeks help planning for Orange County’s transportation future

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Seeks Help Planning For Transportation Future

Draft Long Range Transportation Plan looks at mobility for the next 20 years in Orange County with public meeting planned for May 7

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is seeking public input to help plan for the county’s transportation needs for the next 20 years.

A draft copy of the Long Range Transportation Plan, called Outlook 2035, was presented to the OCTA board at a recent meeting and is now up for public review and comment on the website at: www.octa.net/lrtpdraftplan.

A review period will follow with an open house to solicit more input on the plan scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on May 7 at OCTA Headquarters, 550 S. Main Street in Orange. Continue reading→

The OCTA seeks volunteers to serve on its Citizens Committee

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Transportation Leave a comment

octa_logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Citizens Committee

Applications for advisory committee are being accepted through May 4

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is recruiting community leaders to fill openings on the Citizens Advisory Committee, a 34-member group that provides input on a broad spectrum of transportation projects, studies and outreach activities.

Appointed by OCTA’s Board of Directors, the committee’s responsibilities include identifying opportunities for community input, serving as a liaison between the public and OCTA, and participating in roundtable discussions. Continue reading→

Driver who was on meth to face trial for killing a cyclist in a hit and run

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

Sommer Nicole Gonzales

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF1047: March 31, 2014

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING CYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

SANTA ANA – Driver under the influence of methamphetamine is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run crash. Sommer Nicole Gonzales, 18, Tustin, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury, hit and run with death, possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia, and sentencing enhancement allegations for inflicting great bodily injury, and fleeing the scene of a crime. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and eight months in state prison for the felonies and one year and six months in Orange County jail for the misdemeanors. The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Orange resident charged with trying to murder a Dana Point man

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

Julian St. John

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14HF0931: March 11, 2014

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR SHOOTING VICTIM AND EVADING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH STOLEN VEHICLE

SANTA ANA – A man was charged today with attempted murder for shooting a victim and attempting to flee from law enforcement with a stolen vehicle. Julian St. John, 49, Orange, is charged with two felony counts of attempted murder, two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two felony counts of assault with a firearm, one felony count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, one felony count of attempted false imprisonment by violence or deceit, one felony count of unlawful taking of vehicle, one felony count of evading while driving recklessly with sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, personal discharge of a firearm, personal use of a firearm, and great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 52 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Five confirmed measles cases in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Health and Medical, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Kid with measles

Potential Public Exposure to Measles
Five Confirmed Measles Cases in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed five cases of measles in Orange County in the last nine weeks, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. These cases raise the possibility that Orange County residents may be exposed to measles. The most recent case spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious.

Staff at the Health Care Agency has been working with these locations to contact people who may have had a prolonged exposure to this case. The risk of developing infection after brief encounters with persons with measles is low, but as a precaution, people who were in the below locations around the same time as the individual with measles should: Continue reading→

Ride Metrolink to the Festival of Whales this Saturday, March 1

Posted on by Posted in Metrolink, OCTA, Orange, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOW_Header2014

Ride Metrolink Free* to the Festival of Whales

The Festival of Whales is coming to Dana Point March 1, 2, 8 and 9. Rain or shine, the event will feature contests, exhibits, whale watching and more. Start the fun with OCTA at the Orange Station this Saturday, Mar. 1 at 9 a.m. The first 50 guests can ride Metrolink to the festival for FREE! Stop by and enjoy:

  • Free round-trip Metrolink tickets (limited quantity)
  • Free food courtesy of Ruby’s Diner
  • Live music performed by Headshine
  • A prize wheel for visitors who bring a food donation** Continue reading→

UnitedHealthcare donates wheelchairs to Lestonnac Free Clinic patients

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Health and Medical, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Lestonnac

UnitedHealthcare Donates Wheelchairs to Lestonnac Free Clinic Patients

Orange County Residents to Receive Wheelchairs on International Wheelchair Day

WHAT: In honor of International Wheelchair Day, UnitedHealthcare will donate 10 wheelchairs to the Lestonnac Free Clinic. Lestonnac Free Clinic is a volunteer-run organization working with local physicians and hospitals to meet the needs of low- and no-income families of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. In the last three years, the Lestonnac Free clinics in Orange, Yorba Linda, Los Alamitos, Artesia, Compton, and Riverside have treated nearly 20,000 patients. Continue reading→

Annual OCTA Measure M public hearing set for Feb. 11

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Measure M

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Feb. 3, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Joel Zlotnik, (714) 560-5713/Eric Carpenter, (714) 560-5697

Annual Measure M Public Hearing Set Feb. 11 for Taxpayers Oversight Committee

Half-cent sales tax is driving force behind local transportation improvements

ORANGE – The Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee is conducting its 23rd annual public hearing on Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

Measure M, administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), was approved by voters in 1990 and renewed by a vote of nearly 70 percent in 2006. Each year, the committee seeks public input on how funds are being spent. Continue reading→

Police are seeking potential additional victims of Tustin man charged with rape

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange, Tustin Leave a comment

Michael Curtis Hernandez

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF3815: January 16, 2014

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND RAPING WOMAN

SANTA ANA – Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man who is charged with kidnapping and raping a woman. Michael Curtis Hernandez, 37, Tustin, is charged with four felony counts of forcible oral copulation, two felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count each of sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object and force, kidnapping to commit a sex offense, false imprisonment by violence or deceit, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for kidnapping, kidnapping which substantially increased the risk of harm to the victim, and a prior strike conviction of kidnapping from 2003 in Riverside County. If convicted on all counts, Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of over 100 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Jan. 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Christmas at the Orange County Zoo set for Dec. 14

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Nature, Orange, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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Christmas at the OC Zoo is set for Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, from 10 am to 4 pm, at 1 Irvine Park Road, in Orange.

Come celebrate Christmas at the OC Zoo! Visit with Santa, listen to story time with Mrs. Claus, make fun kids crafts, and get your face painted. See the animals receive treats hidden inside Christmas trees and gift boxes. Continue reading→

Free acupuncture this Sunday at Blue Heart Acupuncture in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

balloons

Do you love the idea of making acupuncture more accessible to everyone? Do you enjoy supporting a local social business? Are you curious about acupuncture?

Join Blue Heart Acupuncture this Sunday, November 17, 2013, for their Grand Opening from 2-6pm for free treatments, refreshments, face painting and all around good fun! You are welcome to invite friends and family who might benefit, too. Continue reading→