Jueves, 25 Junio 2026, 10:50
The developer of two hotels planned at the Dana Point Harbor announced Wednesday that the project will not move forward after the Orange County Board of Supervisors postponed a vote on a new 66-year ground lease until next month at the earliest. The two proposed hotels, a luxury hotel and a surf lodge, had already received approval from the city of Dana Point and the California Coastal Commission.
On Tuesday, the developers sought county approval for new ground leases, which they said were essential to secure financing and begin construction in time for the 2028 Olympics, where surfing competitions are planned at nearby Lower Trestles. The request also included a separate ground lease for the hotels and extended both leases by 10 years.
Some supervisors were receptive but requested more time to consider the implications, deferring the decision to a future meeting.
Bob Olson, the partner responsible for designing and planning the hotels, stated, "As it stands today, the hotels will not get built. The demands that were brought to the board kill any hope of going forward.
We have stopped all work: architects, engineers and designers." Olson emphasized that the delay prevents him from obtaining a loan for the hotels because the current financing for the harbor project does not include them. He expressed surprise at the requests made by Supervisor Katrina Foley, which included a requirement for a labor peace agreement for future hotel operators and a transition plan for employees affected by the pending closure of the Marina Inn.
Foley argued that her proposals were meant to ensure the deal benefits the community for the next 66 years and that Olson was being "overly dramatic." She noted that Olson has a contractual obligation to build the hotels and can continue negotiations with county staff before the supervisors make their final decision.
Joe Ueberroth, who is leading the marina portion of the renovation, said board approval would allow the partners to preserve agreements with Pacific Life, their current lender, and move forward. However, Olson countered that no lender would finance the hotels with such restrictions, particularly the labor peace agreement, which he claimed would essentially require a union-run hotel.
He also dismissed the need to retrain Marina Inn employees, stating that there are ample hospitality jobs in the area. Foley responded that she did not ask for anything that would cause additional costs to the hotel and that the delay was not the end of the world.
She suggested that county staff work with the developer to refine the terms over the summer.
The developers had planned to complete the renovation in time for the Los Angeles Olympics, but the delay has halted all progress. Olson said they would be forced to remodel the Marina Inn to comply with their lease.
The dispute highlights the tension between development timelines and community oversight, with the future of the Dana Point Harbor renovation now uncertain.
Source: ocregister.com
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol's Border Division Cargo Theft Interdiction Program and Organized Retail Crime units executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Anaheim on Thursday, June 18th. The operation led to the recovery of stolen merchandise valued at over $2.2 million.
During the search, authorities discovered a wide range of items, including TaylorMade golf balls, Meta server switches, Tamiya hobby products, and other stolen goods. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to identify the origins of the stolen property and any potential suspects.
The CHP emphasized the importance of such operations in combating cargo theft and organized retail crime, which impact businesses and consumers across the region. This seizure highlights the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to dismantle criminal networks and recover stolen assets.
Source: kmph.com
A 13-year-old boy was hospitalized and later released after falling approximately 50 feet down a waterfall at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred when the teenager exited the Grizzly River Run ride prematurely and ended up in a restricted area near the attraction's waterfall.
Park officials reported that the boy was evaluated at a hospital as a precaution and was discharged the same day. The incident took place on a busy afternoon at the theme park, prompting a swift response from Disneyland security and emergency medical personnel.
The Orange County Fire Authority also responded to the scene. The teen sustained minor injuries, but the exact nature of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Disneyland officials stated that they are reviewing the incident and reminded guests to follow all safety instructions while on rides. The Grizzly River Run, a whitewater rapids adventure ride, features several waterfalls and is popular among visitors.
The ride was temporarily closed for inspection following the incident but has since reopened. The boy's family has been notified, and no further details have been released.
Source: telemundo52.com
A former California State Parks superintendent faces serious charges after allegedly using hidden cameras to record naked lifeguards and other workers in a men's locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Orange County, then sharing the images with friends, authorities announced today.
Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, was charged with five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another, and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The alleged offenses occurred in the men's locker room at the Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters and victimized 23 lifeguards and other workers, none of whom consented to being recorded.
Pearsall, who had been subject to a $500,000 arrest warrant, turned himself in on Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance. His arraignment is scheduled for August.
According to the DA's Office, the case began in July 2025 when a USB memory stick containing a hidden camera was discovered in the men's employee locker room at the lifeguard headquarters. State parks officials reviewed the content on the device and contacted the California Highway Patrol, which conducted an investigation.
Prosecutors allege that Pearsall was responsible for placing hidden cameras in the locker room, which recorded both audio and video, and used them to capture numerous videos over an 11-month period starting in August 2024.
Pearsall served as a California State Parks superintendent from 2023 through July 2025, a sworn law enforcement position overseeing the management and operations of state parks in the Orange Coast District, including Orange County. He is further accused of sending images of nude or partially nude men from the locker room to two men and making sexually charged comments about the victims' anatomy.
"These victims had their privacy violated in such a disgusting way, and we will do everything we can to ensure they receive the justice they deserve," prosecutors said. Pearsall faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts.
Source: lbpost.com
The family of Jaden Michaca, a 15-year-old boy with a history of mental health issues, has filed a legal claim against the city of Santa Ana, alleging that police officers were "trigger happy" and failed to de-escalate the situation before fatally shooting him on June 14. The claim, announced during a press conference on Tuesday, June 23, outside the Santa Ana Police Station, accuses two officers of neglect and excessive force.
According to the family's attorneys, Luis A. Carrillo, Michael Carrillo, and Dominique Boubion, the officers never attempted to de-escalate the encounter despite being aware of Jaden's mental health condition.
"They killed a 15-year-old child, they blasted him to kingdom come," said Luis A. Carrillo.
"Unfortunately, I have to say it that way because that is what happened. In my opinion, these officers were trigger-happy cops."
Jaden's mother, Maribel Michaca, said her son was diagnosed as bipolar and had been struggling with his mental health for two years. The family had called law enforcement at least 10 times previously, and officers aided by mental health workers had de-escalated situations and gotten him treatment.
On June 13, the mother called 911 again, as instructed by prior responders, to report that Jaden was having a mental health emergency.
Before police arrived, Maribel Michaca said her boyfriend had tried to take a knife away from Jaden and accidentally got cut. She acknowledged that Jaden was holding a knife but denied that he was a threat to her or the officers.
She also denied that police ordered her son to drop the knife and that he ignored them. "I yelled to the cops, 'Please do not shoot!
Please do not shoot! My son is having a mental-health crisis!
Taze him, but do not shoot!' I was standing next to him and they did not care. Everything happened in the blink of an eye," she said.
During the press conference, she wore a splint on her right thumb, which she said was shattered by police gunfire.
Attorney Dominique Boubion described the fatal shooting as "100 percent preventable." "There is no reason two officers should come to a home—called to help—and just open the door and start shooting. It is totally unacceptable," Boubion said.
The Santa Ana Police Department has provided a different account. Spokesperson Officer Natalie Garcia said the mother's boyfriend called 911 and reported that Jaden was under the influence, vandalizing property, and had stabbed him with a knife.
Officers arriving at the apartment heard an argument between Jaden and his mother, Garcia said, and forced open the door. They made contact with Jaden, who remained armed with a knife, and gave him commands to put it down, but he refused, leading to the shooting.
Garcia denied that officers were responding to a request for mental health services, as the family claimed. The police investigation is ongoing, and limited details have been released.
The officers were wearing body cameras, and video of the shooting is expected to be released publicly at some point.
Family members described Jaden as always willing to help others and loved collecting Pokemon. The claim, filed against the city of Santa Ana, is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit.
Source: ocregister.com
The 2026 USA Surfing Junior Championships concluded on June 20 at Lower Trestles, the future venue for the LA28 Olympic Games, with some of the nation's best young surfers competing in pristine 4- to 6-foot waves. The event drew 250 top surfers aged 10 to 18 from across the United States, all vying for national titles.
San Clemente athletes were particularly successful, capturing several division championships. Charlotte Moschopoulos won the U12 girls division, Moses Hennings took the U14 boys title, Isla Pinto claimed the U14 girls crown, King Nicol secured the U16 boys championship, and Eden Walla earned the U18 girls title.
The junior championships serve as a critical training ground, providing a pathway to international competition and elite-level surfing. Throughout the year, competitors earned their spots through regional and national events.
The swell, described by some as the "swell of the decade," provided consistent, perfectly shaped waves at Lower Trestles, which also hosted the previous weekend's championships in Oceanside. USA Surfing Head Coach Ryan Simmons called the 2026 event the best the organization has ever run, noting the waves were epic all week with 6- to 10-foot faces.
The performance of the surfers was described as radical and dynamic. The championships have been a fixture for over 20 years, where young surfers are scouted by sponsors and transition from amateur to professional.
Current World Surf League competitors from San Clemente, including brothers Crosby and Griffin Colapinto and Cole Houshmand, as well as world champions and Olympic gold medalists Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks, all began their careers at these events. USA Surfing CEO Greg Hulsizer, who has surfed at Lower Trestles for more than 50 years, expressed excitement about the future of the sport, especially with the venue set to host the LA28 Olympics.
He noted that the event gave him tremendous confidence in the next generation of Team USA surfers. The competition followed earlier events in Oceanside, including Para, Longboard, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Surf, and SUP and Prone Racing disciplines.
The junior surfing action continues with the 2026 NSSA National Explorer Championships in Huntington Beach from June 26 to June 28, with waves expected in the 4- to 6-foot range. The NSSA National Open Championships run from June 29 to July 3, with another pulse of swell anticipated for finals day.
Source: ocregister.com