New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Orange County

Orange County reports first influenza related death

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: January 16, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Orange County Reports First Influenza Related Death

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed our county’s first influenza related death in a person under 65 this year. The Public Health laboratory confirmed that the 48 year-old woman, who had preexisting health conditions, was infected with the influenza A virus.

“This is a sad and somber reminder of the serious threat posed by influenza,” County Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler said. “It is important for everyone to continue practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene to limit the transmission of influenza germs from person to person, and to get vaccinated.” Continue reading→

Eight measles cases confirmed in Orange County

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

For Immediate Release: January 9, 2015

Contact: Nicole Stanfield nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Eight Confirmed Measles Cases in Orange County

MMR Vaccination Recommended Due to Potential Public Exposure

(Santa Ana) – Orange County has eight confirmed cases of measles, in conjunction with the outbreak recently reported affecting multiple counties in California and Utah. The Orange County Health Care Agency expects that the measles outbreak will continue to spread, and reminds the public that the best way to prevent the measles is by getting vaccinated.

The most recent cases spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious, increasing the possibility that Orange County residents may be exposed to measles. For a current list of potential exposure locations and times, please visit the Health Care Agency website at www.ochealthinfo.com/measles. The website will be updated as additional exposure locations are identified. Continue reading→

Public safety unions line up behind Correa for the First District

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITES BEHIND CORREA FOR SUPERVISOR FOR JANUARY 27th SPECIAL ELECTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2015

CONTACT: Matt Reilly, (916) 201-9636

SANTA ANA, CA—Senator Lou Correa today announced endorsements from Orange County’s law enforcement leaders and public safety groups including Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackaukus, Orange County Cops (OC Cops), the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the Fountain Valley Police Officers Association, Garden Grove Police Officers Association and Santa Ana Police Officers Association. OC Cops is the umbrella organization for 16 local law enforcement agencies.

“Senator Lou Correa’s law enforcement record is impeccable,” said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. ”He strengthened laws aimed at stopping sexual predators, fought against criminals gaining early release, and delivered needed funds for deputies to patrol our communities here in Orange County.” Continue reading→

Andrew Do blew off the First District Candidates Forum in Santa Ana

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party, Lou Correa, Lupe Moreno, Mark I. Lopez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Predictably Andrew Do blew off the First District candidates forum that was held in Santa Ana yesterday. Why would he want to put himself in a position to have to explain why he quit the Garden Grove City Council in 2011 or answer the questions about whether or not he actually lived in Garden Grove at that time?

The rest of the candidates showed up including Lou Correa, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Chris Phan, Lupe Moreno and a write-in candidate, Mark I. Lopez.

Here are a few highlights from the forum courtesy of the OC Political Blog: Continue reading→

First District candidates are looking for volunteers to help their campaigns

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party, Garden Grove, Lou Correa, Lupe Moreno, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

There are several local candidates running for the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors – and several of them are looking for volunteers to help them as the special election is coming up very quickly, on Jan. 27, 2015.

If you would like to help former State Senator Lou Correa, a Democrat who lives in Santa Ana, contact Alex Flores at 714-474-8768 aflores18@gmail.com.
If you are interested in helping Garden Grove Councilman Chris Phan, a Republican, contact George Brietigam at gbrietigam@gmail.com.
If you want to help Andrew Do, a Republican who quit the Garden Grove City Council a few years ago, click here.

Continue reading→

O.C. Auditor-Controller releases the CAFR and OC Citizens’ Report

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Jan Grimes, OC Auditor-Controller, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: December 30, 2014

For further information contact: Jan Grimes, 714.834.2457

Orange County Auditor-Controller Jan Grimes Releases the CAFR and OC Citizens’ Report

(Santa Ana, CA) Dec. 30, 2014 – The Orange County Auditor-Controller Department released the Annual OC Citizens’ Report today, also called the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). This report presents financial highlights for the County of Orange, California for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 and provides the general public a summary of the information contained in the County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

“The OC Citizens’ Report is designed to be easily understood by non-accountants and helps provide the transparency in government that the public deserves,” says Auditor-Controller Jan Grimes. Continue reading→

O.C. Sheriff’s DUI sweep nets 25 suspects with outstanding warrants

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

25 Suspects with Outstanding DUI Warrants Caught in Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sweep

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (December 30, 2014) – On December 15,, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies fanned out into neighborhoods in search of high risk driving under the influence (DUI) offenders with outstanding arrest warrants. Deputies served warrants and arrested 12 offenders who either failed to show up for a court date or violated terms of their probation in an outstanding DUI case. An additional 13 offenders turned themselves in to court during the two weeks following the warrant event.

“The best bet for anyone with a missed DUI court date is to go to court on their own now,” said Lieutenant Jim England of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Bureau. “If you don’t, that warrant isn’t going away. We’re going to come find you and take you to jail.” Those caught often face additional jail time for failing to appear in court or for violating probation. Continue reading→

Orange County DUI Task Force holiday crackdown on impaired driving

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

Orange County DUI Task Force Holiday Crackdown on Impaired Driving

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (December 12, 2014) — This time of year, with all the holiday parties and festive occasions, many partygoers will be drinking. If you are celebrating with alcohol this holiday season, local law enforcement agencies have a message for you: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across the country will be out in force December 12, 2014 through January 1, 2015 actively searching for drunk drivers.

The Orange County Avoid DUI Task Force will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers this holiday season with plans in place for 14 DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints, a minimum of 27 local roving DUI Saturation Patrols and a DUI Warrant/Probation Sweep. Continue reading→

O.C. Human Relations Commission plans police community dialogues

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Orange County, Police Brutality, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County Human Relations Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2014

Contact: Ken Inouye, Chair, OC Human Relations Commission, 949-586-6640

Commission Plans Police Community Dialogues

An African American woman shared that her kindergartener asked, “Mommy, why don’t police like Black people like me?”

This anecdote earlier this month symbolized the reach and impact of the national media attention to a series of conflicts between African American young men and police officers resulting in violence and death.

In California Proposition 47 passed aiming to reduce the number of people incarcerated for non-violent offenses.
In Anaheim destructive demonstrations followed after a series of shooting deaths of suspected gang members by the police.
In Santa Ana activists demonstrated at city council meetings with profane messages on their hats and shirts targeting the police.

Continue reading→

Three O.C. cases of wound botulism associated with heroin use reported

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Drugs, Health and Medical, Orange County Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: December 15, 2014
Contact: Nicole Stanfield , nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Three Cases of Wound Botulism Associated with Heroin Use Reported in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – Three cases of botulism associated with heroin use have been reported in Orange County adults in the last month. All were hospitalized and two required admission to the intensive care unit.

Most people with injection drug-associated botulism are users of so-called “black tar heroin”, a specific preparation of heroin. Risk is also higher for those who inject the drug directly into tissues, as opposed to veins (skin popping). California has experienced an epidemic of botulism associated with black tar heroin use in recent years, with more reports of botulism associated with heroin use than any state in the country. Continue reading→

Free flu shots available at the Health Care Agency’s Family Health Clinic

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: December 15, 2014

Contact: Nicole Stanfield nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Get a Flu Vaccination for a Healthy Holiday Season

(Santa Ana) – Influenza activity has begun to increase in Orange County. The Orange County Health Care Agency reminds people that the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated. Peak flu season has not yet arrived and it is not too late to vaccinate.

Influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, and is especially important for infants, young children, pregnant women, adults over 50, and for those with chronic medical conditions. Flu vaccines protect against three viruses which commonly cause disease each year: influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B viruses. While there have been reports nationally of influenza H3N2 strains causing illness that are drifted from the vaccine strain, this is just one of multiple influenza viruses seen so far this season. In situations when there is an imperfect match to one virus, vaccination provides protection against other strains which may be circulating. Continue reading→

2015 point in time count of the Orange County homeless set for January 24

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

2015 Point in Time Count of the Homeless

By Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

A worthwhile event is being planned for late January 2015 that will significantly impact the future of many homeless families and individuals residing in Orange County. Every two years, the County of Orange and its non-profit partners conduct a single day count of the County’s sheltered and unsheltered homeless population. The January 2013 count process determined that approximately 12,700 people become homeless in Orange County over the course of a year.

This project is undertaken to preserve over $16 million in annual federal funding for homeless programs and services. The project also serves as a means for leveraging additional funding from other government and private sources for needed homeless services and provides data to inform decision making on better service planning and delivery including Orange County’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. Continue reading→

New study finds over one-third of O.C. deaths are premature

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: December 8, 2014

Contact: Nicole Stanfield nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

New Study Finds Over One-Third of Orange County Deaths Are Premature

(Santa Ana) – A new study by the Orange County Health Care Agency examines the leading causes of premature death in Orange County residents. Over 6,000 deaths in 2010 were premature – people less than 75 years of age. The three leading causes of premature death were cancer, heart disease, and unintentional injury (primarily drug overdose).

Unintentional injury deaths primarily due to drug overdoses were the number one cause of premature death for young people (15-24 years old) and adults (25-44 years old). “The entire community has a role in promoting healthier behaviors, such as physical activity, smoking cessation, and the prevention of drug abuse in order to reduce premature deaths in Orange County,” said Dr. Eric Handler, County Health Officer. “Drug overdose deaths in particular are both tragic and preventable.” Continue reading→

O.C. Clerk-Recorder’s Swearing in Ceremony set for Jan. 2

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Hugh Nguyen was reelected as the Orange County Clerk-Recorder in the November General Election. Nguyen is the first Vietnamese American to be elected to the Clerk-Recorder office in United States. He will serve over 3.1 million residents in Orange County. Nguyen, a longtime resident of Santa Ana, was previously appointed by the O.C. Board of Supervisors to complete the term of his predecessor, Tom Daly, who moved on to the 69th Assembly District.

Nguyen will be sworn in at the County of Orange Hall of Administration, located at 333 W Santa Ana Blvd, in Santa Ana, on January 2, 2015. The swearing will start promptly at 10:00 A.M. and after the swearing refreshments will be served at the Clerk-Recorder’s office. Continue reading→

Mandatory wood-burning ban in effect today in Orange County

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Environment, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

No-Burn Alert: Mandatory Wood-Burning Ban in Effect for Residents of the South Coast Air Basin

All Indoor and Outdoor Residential Wood Burning Forbidden Due to High Air Pollution Forecast for December 8

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has issued a residential no-burn alert effective Monday, December 8, 2014, 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 through midnight tonight. No-burn alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health due to a high concentration of fine particle air pollution forecast for the area. The no-burn prohibition also applies to manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper.

Fine particles in wood smoke – also known as particulate matter or PM2.5 – can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory illnesses, increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Continue reading→