Correctional officer, suspected trafficker charged in L.A. County cocaine smuggling case
A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officer and a suspected drug trafficker have been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to smuggle cocaine into Los Angeles County, prosecutors announced Friday. Authorities said 20 kilograms of cocaine were discovered at a stash house in Rowland Heights as part of the investigation. “It is reprehensible […]
OC’s Biggest Civic Headlines as Cities Grapple With Budget Deficits
Irvine City Council members are wrestling with a projected budget shortfall of $6 million by the end of this fiscal year – a deficit that could balloon to $47 million by the end of the decade. Yet half of the city council largely brushed off concerns and voted against...
Inside California’s Largest Traditionally Built Hindu Temple | Bartell’s Backroads
CHINO HILLS, Calif — As the sun rises over Chino Hills just outside Los Angeles, the noise of cars and traffic fades, giving way to a sense of calm at the BAPS Hindu Mandir. “A Mandir, the term is a Sanskrit word which splits up into two parts. MAN, which means 'mind.' DIR, which means 'still.' So when you kind of look at the place...
Authorities consider charges in Orange County puppy dumping case
Authorities have identified and spoken with the man who squeezed a puppy through the iron fencing of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in the middle of the night last Friday. The dog, named Magnolia by shelter staff, was unharmed. While the facility accepts animal surrenders during regular hours, officials shared concern over the way […]
8 Minutes of Head-High Huntington Beach
I made a last-minute decision to film Huntington Beach, California on April 6 to catch a short-lived swell. The surf was super fun with a few overhead sets and there were plenty of talented surfers in the water including Brett Simpson. Huntington Beach is one of my favorite places to film because it always provides something fun to film. Enjoy the watch...
Community Update: Suspect Arrested in Copper Theft Incidents
On Thursday, April 16, the Orange County Sherriff’s Department (OCSD) arrested a male suspect in connection with the copper pipe thefts that first occurred over Easter weekend. The investigation is ongoing, and we hope to provide more details regarding how the suspect was identified and eventually arrested when the time is appropriate.
Man pleads guilty to threatening OC DA Todd Spitzer
SANTA ANA – A 63-year-old Costa Mesa man has pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced to time served in jail for threatening Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, according to court records obtained Thursday. Danny Bruce Richards pleaded guilty Tuesday to criminal threats and threatening public officials, both felonies....
New Chinese restaurant offering hand-pulled noodles opens at Santa Ana’s CityPlace
Xibei Eatery quitely opened up in Santa Ana a few weeks ago. Check out their Yelp reviews here. They are a Northwestern Chinese restaurant that specializes in the grain-rich flavors of Northwestern China. They are part of a larger chain known for authentic regional specialties like hand-pulled noodles, unique oat-based dishes, and street food.
Boat Implodes on Sandbar in Wild Newport Beach Wipeout (Video)
A boat was beached by a wave near the Newport Beach shoreline. No injuries were reported, but the boat suffered significant damage. Wild scenes out of Newport Beach, CA, on Friday, as a boat (maybe sailboat? Probably not) got sucked over the falls by a wave, and beached onshore. The...
Landlord Cans Costa Mesa’s Lucky Baycrest Bottleshop After 65 Years
Baycrest Caps & Corks, the family-run bottleshop and lotto counter at 333 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa, quietly rang up its last sale at the end of March, closing the book on a 65-year neighborhood streak. Co-owner Bryan Nye said the shop shut down on March 31 after a new property owner declined to renew the lease. For the regulars who...

















