Silverado
A previously convicted DUI offender who caused a multi-vehicle wreck while intoxicated in Coachella, killing a young man and seriously injuring his brother, was bound for state prison Tuesday to serve 20 years to life behind bars. Antonio Tellez Leon, 41, of Coachella, was convicted in September of second-degree murder,...
This is a community opinion piece. The views are the author’s, not Voice of OC’s. We’re interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. Want to weigh in on this or another issue? Email opinions@voiceofoc.org. The following is a press release from an organization unaffiliated with Voice of...
Three weeks after the Norte Fire damaged or destroyed seven homes in Orange County, some residents whose homes remain standing say they are facing serious smoke damage and insurance challenges as they try to return home. Among them is San Juan Capistrano resident Cyndi Dudek, who evacuated her neighborhood as the fast-moving fire approached. “It was very frightening,” Dudek said. Dudek had moved into her home in August. Two months later, on October 16, the fire reached her neighborhood. She said conditions deteriorated rapidly as she evacuated. “From the time I went from my front door just to my car, we were gasping. The smoke was in our face,” she said. Although homes one block away were destroyed, Dudek's home remained standing. Still, she said the property suffered extensive smoke damage. “We lost the habitability,” Dudek said. She said a strong odor remains throughout the home and that ash continues to cover nearly everything inside. Dudek said she is especially concerned because her husband has compromised lungs. An expected lawsuit alleges the destructive Norte Fire in Orange County was caused by a San Diego Gas & Electric equipment failure. The couple filed a claim with the California FAIR Plan, the
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating what led to an officer's death during a dive training exercise in Orange County.
Riverside County will pay $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of a man whose family alleged that sheriff's deputies failed to protect him from a violent cellmate at an Indio jail. John Leo Hemmer, 48, was beaten to death with a metal crutch by his cellmate , Luke Hanchette, on July 21, 2021, while awaiting trial at the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, prosecutors charged. A federal judge approved the settlement Oct. 9, according to court records. Hemmer's children and parents filed the lawsuit against the county, Sheriff Chad Bianco and several correctional employees in July 2022. Hanchette was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty, but died in December 2023 while awaiting trial at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. Sheriff's deputies found him unresponsive in his cell , and the department reported "no signs of foul play." The cause of Hanchette's death has not been publicly disclosed. Lt. Deirdre Vickers, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff's department, said the coroner's bureau could not release information about his death because of a court-ordered hold on the case. More: Inmate who died in Riverside jail had been charged with killing his cellmate in
From an evening with Ina Garten and the Darker Waves Festival to Broadway musicals and classical music, here’s what’s happening in Orange County this week. A bestselling novel-turned-musical, the story follows a lost man on his journey of self-discovery as he navigates devastating grief. Jacob Jankowski’s life is torn apart by tragedy, but the opportunity to join a traveling circus as the veterinarian offers a welcomed reprieve. The story is told through the eyes of Jacob’s older self, looking back on the adventure that healed him and the lessons he learned along the way. Sara Gruen’s heartwarming and emotional novel is brought to life with a soaring score, beautiful choreography, and an elaborate set design. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org.
Police on Wednesday were seeking the public’s help identifying two men suspected of stealing personal belongings, including cash and a cellphone, from a woman shopping at a Burlington store in Santa Ana. According to the Santa Ana Police Department, surveillance footage shows the two suspects entering the store on...
A 76-year-old Mead Valley man vanished after wandering away from his residence Wednesday, prompting a region-wide alert in the hope of finding him. Terrance Barnhill was last seen at 7 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Lee Road and Mack Street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. His...
A felon accused of fatally stabbing a Mead Valley man during a confrontation at the victim’s property is slated to be arraigned Thursday. Ruben Altamirano Estrada, 54, was arrested in August following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the death of the victim, identified in court documents only by his initials, “G.H.”
The Diocese of Orange broke ground this week on a 21-home private housing development at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in La Habra, converting a patch of land once used occasionally as a softball field into two-story townhomes designed to help pay for Catholic ministries for decades to come. Bishop Kevin Vann led the groundbreaking service and blessing, praying for construction workers' safety and the project's successful completion.
The City of Santa Ana’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency announced today that the El Salvador Community Center at 1825 W. Civic Center Drive has been temporarily closed after thieves stole copper wire, causing damage that now requires water line repairs. The facility is expected to reopen on...
The second round of the CIF-SS football playoffs will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, but at least half of the teams involved in those games will have something to celebrate. From our West Orange County cities, three teams have advanced past the first round. In Division 3 play, Edison...
A motorist who allegedly killed a senior in a driving under the influence collision from which he tried to flee in Riverside pleaded not guilty to felony charges. Jose Angel Campos Andrade, 30, was arrested last week following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the death of 72-year-old Michelle Hunt of Corona.
Garbage gridlock is growing in Orange County as striking landfill workers block access to facilities, delaying trash trucks and raising concerns about residential pickup. Orange County authorities are now asking a court to restrict picketing that officials say is obstructing access and threatening public safety. Residents across the county could soon see delays in their […]
The Door Kick Challenge does not appear to be slowing down, at least in Orange County, where police shared multiple videos and a warning to both potential victims and the perpetrators. “The Door Kick Challenge is making the rounds on social media again,” the Irvine Police Department posted with the videos Tuesday on Facebook. “The […]
Multiple weather systems will bring rain to Southern California starting as early as Thursday night, ending a period of warm, dry conditions. Coastal and high surf advisories are active ahead of the storm, with morning high tides reaching up to 7.4 feet and damaging weekend surf predicted. According to the...
A Cessna 172 flipped over while taxiing behind a United Airlines flight at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Nov. 7. Video provided by the Orange County Flight Center shows the small aircraft slowly tipping onto its side. A report from the Orange County Flight Center suggested the plane may have been impacted by jet blast from a Boeing jet holding on the taxiway. The two people aboard the Cessna were not injured. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Small plane flips over at John Wayne Airport after possible jet blast
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — A driver only received minor injures after unsecured cargo crashed into another car while on the highway. CHP officers responded to a car accident on Highway 405 in Orange County. A truck hauling construction equipment did not properly secure the cargo. Construction parts were...
