Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Santa Ana

Free Christmas Laundry Day and Pancake Breakfast for the homeless and needy

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Operation Warm Wishes Presents: The Gift Of Giving-Christmas Day Breakfast Celebration and Laundry Day for the Homeless and Families in Need!

This Holiday Season, share the Gift of Giving! Christmas is a time to be with family, it’s a time of celebration, it’s a time of giving, and be thankful for what you have been given.

Christmas is also a time to remember those less fortunate, the needy, the forgotten, the homeless. Most of all, Christmas is a time to remember what our Savor Jesus Christ did for us, and in return share that same Love! Continue reading→

Orange County joins the whistleblower lawsuit against wireless carriers

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County Joins Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Wireless Carriers

(Santa Ana, CA) — Orange County has joined with 10 other California counties and dozens of other government entities across the state in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower against Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile alleging they collectively overcharged government customers by more than $100 million.

The suit, brought in Sacramento County Superior Court under the California False Claims Act, alleges that the wireless carriers ignored cost-saving requirements included in master contracts under which their services were purchased by various government entities. The Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized joining the lawsuit on September 22, 2015. However, the lawsuit was filed under seal until this week. Continue reading→

South Coast AQMD residential no-burn day today and tomorrow

Posted on by Posted in Air Quality, Environment, Fires, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NO-BURN ALERT: MANDATORY WOOD-BURNING BAN IN EFFECT TODAY AND TOMORROW FOR RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN

All Indoor and Outdoor Residential Wood Burning Prohibited Due to High Air Pollution Predicted for Today and Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday, December 10

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has issued a residential no-burn alert effective Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday, December 10, 2015, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the greater Los Angeles area, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

SCAQMD reminds residents in these areas that burning wood in their fireplaces is prohibited from midnight tonight through midnight on Thursday night. Continue reading→

The O.C. property tax payment deadline is Thursday, December 10

Posted on by Posted in OC Treasurer, Orange County, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2015

Contact: Shari L. Freidenrich, (714) 834-7625, Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

Property Tax Payment Deadline is Thursday, December 10!

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich reminds Orange County property owners that the first installment of property taxes is due no later than Thursday, December 10, 2015. Payments not received by Thursday will incur a 10% late fee penalty unless they have a United States Postal Service stamp dated on or before December 10. Current first installment secured property tax receipts are nearly 2% ahead of the same time last year, with $136 million more in property taxes being received.

“Last year, we received over 50% of property tax payments electronically. Taxpayer payments online by eCheck are the fastest growing payment method and property tax payments by eCheck have almost doubled in the last several years” Treasurer Freidenrich said. “This secure online payment option using a bank account does not charge any service fees to the taxpayer, and the taxpayer receives same day payment credit to their property tax account.” Taxpayers can make payments using this method up to midnight on December 10 by going to ocgov.com/octaxbill or scanning the QR code below. Taxpayers can also include their e-mail address to have their payment receipt e-mailed directly to them and have it printed as well. The receipt now includes the property address and the APN. Continue reading→

Wake and funeral for Santa Ana resident and terrorist attack victim set for Dec. 11 and 12

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A wake for Tin Nguyen, a 31-year-old Santa Ana resident who was killed in the recent San Bernardino mass terrorist shooting, will be held on Friday, Dec. 11, and funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, according to the O.C. Register.

The wake is set for at 10 a.m. this Friday in Room 1 at the Peek Funeral Home, 7801 Bolsa Ave., Westminster. The funeral services are set for 8 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Saint Barbara, 730 S. Euclid St., Santa Ana. The burial will be at Good Shepherd Cemetery, 8301 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, after the funeral service. Continue reading→

Search is on for Santa Ana hit and run driver who killed a man at a bus stop today

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Requesting public’s assistance in locating vehicle wanted in fatal hit and run collision

Summary:

On 12/8/15 at 4:36 a.m., an elderly couple was standing at a bus stop on the northwest corner of McFadden Avenue and Center Street in front of the Southwest Senior Center. An eyewitness said a dark colored SUV was eastbound on McFadden, approaching Center. The SUV veered into opposing lanes and onto the north sidewalk, striking the bus bench and the two pedestrians. Continue reading→

Convicted felon charged with pimping and pandering a woman in Santa Ana

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Case # 15CF2635

Date: November 30, 2015

CONVICTED FELON CHARGED FOR PIMPING AND PANDERING WOMAN AND CARRYING LOADED FIREARM IN PUBLIC

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A convicted felon has been charged for pimping and pandering a woman and carrying a loaded firearm in public. Andrew Michael Meteau, 29, Pomona, is charged with one felony count of pimping, one felony count of pandering, one felony count of carrying a loaded firearm in public with a prior conviction, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and sentencing enhancement allegations for two prior felony convictions for carrying a loaded firearm in public in 2005 in Los Angeles County and possession of a firearm by a felon in 2012 in San Bernardino County and not remaining free for a period of five years of both prison custody and the commission of his two prior felonies. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years and eight months in state prison. He was arraigned Nov. 24, 2015, and is being held on $100,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for pre-trial Dec. 4, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Circumstances of the Case

Meteau is accused of being a pimp who exploits women for financial gain. Victims are often required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in physical and/or emotional abuse. Continue reading→

Man charged with pandering and trying to pimp a woman in Santa Ana

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OCDA Seal

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF2645

Date: November 30, 2015

MAN CHARGED WITH PANDERING AND ATTEMPTING TO PIMP WOMAN IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man has been charged with pandering and attempting to pimp a woman in Santa Ana. Lamont Lee Stcyr, 20, Dixon, is charged with one felony count of attempted pimping and one felony count of pandering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. He is currently in custody in Contra Costa County and awaiting extradition to Orange County.

Circumstances of the Case

Stcyr is accused of being a pimp who exploits women for financial gain. On May 15, 2015, Stcyr is accused of driving 20-year-old Jane Doe to an area known for prostitution and human trafficking in Santa Ana with the intent to have the victim engage in commercial sex for his benefit. A nearby Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officer noticed the victim getting out of the defendant’s vehicle and approached the defendant’s vehicle. SAPD investigated this case and arrested the defendant a short time later. Continue reading→

Former office manager arrested by the SAPD for stealing $511K in company funds

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Young Ah Kim

Young Ah Kim

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Former Office Manager For Theft Of $511,000 in Company Funds
Arrested: Young Ah Kim (47) Cypress

Booking Charges: CPC 487 Grand Theft and CPC 471 Falsifying/Altering Business Records

Young Ah Kim from Cypress, CA was employed as the office manager for California Systems, a computer component retailer, in 2006. Kim was responsible for maintaining customer accounts and was fired in 2012 for job performance issues.

California Systems conducted an audit and discovered that in November of 2011, Kim began embezzling money from the company. Kim would collect checks from clients and falsified the client’s account to show that it was paid. Using a forged document showing she was authorized to cash checks for the company, Kim cashed checks in excess of $500,000 over an eight month period. Continue reading→

CPK to donate 20% of sales on 12/1-2 to support the family of fallen police officer Ricky Galvez

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Fallen Downey Police Officer Ricky Galvez

Fallen Downey Police Officer Ricky Galvez

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN TO DONATE 20 PERCENT OF SALES DEC. 1-2 TO SUPPORT FAMILY OF FALLEN DOWNEY POLICE OFFICER, RICKY GALVEZ

What: All California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) locations in Southern California will be hosting a two-day fundraiser on Tuesday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 2 to raise money in support of fallen Downey Police Officer Ricky Galvez in partnership with Badge 2 Badge.

To participate, diners must bring and present the fundraiser flyer (below) to their server, and CPK will donate 20 percent of sales from each guest’s bill.

In addition, CPK’s Mobile Kitchen will be parked downtown at LAPD Police Headquarters serving food to support the fundraising efforts. Continue reading→

Goodwill of OC receives $100,000 to support vets, from Edwards Lifesciences

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Tierney Center For Veteran Services

GOODWILL® OF ORANGE COUNTY TO RECEIVE $100,000 FROM EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES FOUNDATION

Funds will Further Goodwill’s Efforts to Help Local Veterans

SANTA ANA, CA — December 1, 2015 – Goodwill of Orange County announced it will receive $100,000 from Edwards Lifesciences Foundation to support Goodwill’s Tierney Center for Veterans Services, a global approach to serving veterans and their families that helps find resources and services to meet and serve their unique needs, including housing, employment training and job placement, educational advancement, and wellness programs.

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation’s three-year investment will allow Goodwill to enhance the quality of life of veterans and their families living in Orange County by integrating Goodwill’s services with those of other veterans service providers in the community. Continue reading→

Third Annual Plaza Navideña celebration set for 12/12

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Family, Food, Latinos, music, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Plaza Navideña 2015

City of Santa Ana,Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Third Annual Plaza Navideña / Tercera Celebración Anual de Plaza Navideña

The City of Santa Ana is excited to announce its Third Annual Plaza Navideña celebration on Saturday, December 12th at Plaza Calle Cuatro on the corner of Fourth and French Streets. The festivities will take place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The event will include a visit from Santa Claus and candy filled piñatas for the children. There will be festive live entertainment including mariachi music, ballet folklorico, tamale contest, and the adorned 30 foot holiday tree for all to enjoy. Continue reading→

Santa Ana police toy drive needs toys!

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Police toy drive

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: 5th Annual Toy Drive Benefiting Needy Families of the Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activities League

Helping Hands Santa Ana, Hired Guns LEMC and GT BMX Bicycles will host their 5th Annual Toy Drive for the Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activities League (SAPAAL) to benefit those families in need during the upcoming holiday season.

Please support this great cause by contributing toys for children ages 6-12, gift cards, sports caps, skate boards, and sports gear for children ages 12-17, both boy and girls. They also accept cash and check donations. Please make checks payable to Helping Hands Santa Ana. Contributions are tax deductible. Continue reading→

The SAPD needs our help to ID a hit and run suspect’s vehicle

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Santa Ana hit and run car

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD requests public’s assistance in attempting to locate fatal hit and run suspect vehicle.

Location: 1200 W. 1st Street. (1st / Baker)

Suspect: Unknown

Outstanding vehicle: 2013 – 2015, Honda, Accord, 4-door, obsidian blue pearl (midnight blue)

Synopsis: On 11/29/15 at 1:43 AM, Officers responded to a report of a hit and run traffic collision involving a pedestrian at 1200 W. 1st St. When the officers arrived, they located the deceased pedestrian lying on the center median. Continue reading→

World AIDS Day is on Dec. 1, 2015

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

World Aids Day

For Immediate Release:November 30, 2015

Contact: Tricia Landquist tlandquist@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2015

(Santa Ana) – More than 60 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and approximately 30 million people have died of AIDS worldwide. In Orange County, 11,987 people have been diagnosed with HIV and using CDC criteria, 938 people are estimated to be infected but do not know it.

World AIDS Day is commemorated on December 1st; it is a day to reflect and remember those who have lost their lives and those who are still living with HIV disease. The 2015 theme for World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero. Zero new HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths.” Eliminating stigma about HIV, encouraging everyone to know their HIV status, and making sure people living with HIV have access to medical care and medications are all important steps to “Getting to Zero” in Orange County. Continue reading→