An Irvine man accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $5 million in COVID-relief loans for three sham companies was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday Feb. 24, federal officials said. Reddy Raghav Budamala, 35 was arrested after fleeing his residence in Orange County, a day after authorities had conducted a search, according to a…
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After a two-year absence, the roar of NASCAR engines is making a welcome return to The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for what may be the final 400-mile race at the track. Although not finalized, the track is anticipating a possible redevelopment project that would convert the 2-mile track to a high-banked short track later…
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A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, both Orange County residents who had COVID-19, died this month, according to OC Health Care Agency officials. The news was mentioned in the first episode of “Your Health Matters OC,” a new program the health agency is producing and streaming on its YouTube channel and Facebook page. The father of…
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Among its disruptions to normal life, the pandemic has left many of us spending more time alone. For readers, that isn’t always entirely a bad thing, but still: Sometimes, you think, wouldn’t it be nice to hang out with other people – say, some fellow book nerds like yourself? Jhoanna Belfer, the owner of Bel…
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Rams coach Sean McVay has put an end to speculation he will walk away from trying to defend the Super Bowl championship and take a TV job. In a tweet Friday, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said McVay told the network he isn’t pursuing broadcasting opportunities and is committed to coaching the Rams in 2022. This…
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The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have again postponed implementing a fee on companies whose import containers linger at marine terminals, with the assessment now potentially taking effect, if necessary, next week. The Container Dwell Fee has been delayed numerous times due to progress in reducing the number of containers at the terminals…
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JUPITER, Fla. — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred entered long-stalled labor negotiations with players on Friday with just over three days until Major League Baseball’s deadline for a deal that would ensure a 162-game season. After four straight days of largely fruitless negotiating sessions that focused on exchanging proposals in areas of relative minutia, Manfred walked…
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By KRISTIN M. HALL NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In 1973, amid the growing gay rights movement, a band called Lavender Country recorded a country music album that unabashedly explored LGBTQ themes, becoming a landmark that would nonetheless disappear for decades. Led by singer-songwriter Patrick Haggerty, the self-titled album was created by a collective of activists,…
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Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from Feb. 17 to Feb. 25. Kebab Place, 306 W. Fourth St., Santa Ana Closed: Feb. 24 Reason: Rodent infestation Reopened: Feb. 25 Kitchen at Crystal Hall, 2660 W. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Closed: Feb. 24 Reason: Cockroach infestation…
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LOS ANGELES — If you want to know what a room full of all-time NBA greats had to say to one another, Carmelo Anthony has his lips sealed. That’s how much regard he has for the company he kept last weekend. Anthony, 37, sacrificed part of his All-Star break to trek through Midwestern storms to…
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