The facilities include Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Los Alamitos Medical Center, Placentia-Linda Hospital and Lakewood Regional Medical Center.

Pending regulatory approvals, the hospitals and their associated clinics will become part of UC Irvine’s healthcare system. The deal was approved by the UC Board of Regents and is expected to close later this spring.

Also see: Hospital building spree could turn Irvine into nation’s next big health brand

Tenet’s Chief Executive Officer Saum Sutaria in a statement said the company’s Pacific Coast Network “will be in good hands under the new ownership.”

UCI expands again

The deal marks another significant expansion for UCI Health, which includes a medical center in Orange and a network of specialty care centers.

In 2021, UCI Health CEO Chad Lefteris said UCI Medical Center was “essentially full all the time” and had limited space for inpatients.

More on UCI: Samuelis give university $50 million for health, society and environmental research

To further its reach, UCI Health launched work on a $1 billion medical complex next to its main campus, approved by UC Regents in 2021. UC Irvine Medical Center Irvine-Newport, a multi-building complex on 202 acres with a 144-bed hospital and emergency room, will offer specialty care in oncology, neurosciences, children’s health and other areas. It’s expected to open in 2025.

UCI also added the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, which was established in 2001. The institute was made possible by Orange County philanthropists Henry Samueli and his wife, the building namesake, who donated $200 million to create the school.

Employee unrest

The acquisition comes amid ongoing labor disputes by union employees at many hospitals across Southern California. Most of the protests center on wage and staffing issues, a common theme since the pandemic.

The Pacific Coast Network has seen its share of unrest as nurses and technicians protest what they call understaffed facilities.

Employees picketed in Tenet’s Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos and Lakewood hospitals in June 2021, alleging the facilities had left some workers without health insurance while the company received billions in federal COVID-19 relief funds and spent $1.1 billion to buy 45 surgery centers.

In a statement issued late Thursday, NUHW President Sal Rosselli said Tenet still has “chronically understaffed” hospitals in Orange County while employees have struggled to provide adequate patient care.

“We’re hopeful that the sale to UC Irvine Health will benefit patients and caregivers,” he said. “But we still need the university to explain how it plans to operate the hospitals and protect the critical jobs and services they provide.”

The UC health system also faced temporary layoffs during the pandemic. Hundreds of employees protested the move, which affected Southern California hospitals in Riverside and San Diego, though not UCI Health.

Tenet’s workers are represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers and the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. UCI Health employees are represented by the California Nurses Association and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, among others.

The two hospital systems didn’t address how the acquisition would affect union employees.

Expanded services

The university said the Tenet acquisition would give patients access to advanced therapies and clinical trials related to cancer, neurosciences, digestive diseases, orthopedics and internal medicine.

UCI Health operates the only Level I trauma center in Orange County. It also operates the region’s largest burn center in addition to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and high-risk perinatal-neonatal service, hospital officials said.

Patients at UCI Health and Tenet facilities can continue receiving care as they normally would, officials said.

The UC system, a $14 billion enterprise, includes six medical schools, along with other facilities, including four children’s hospitals and the Global Health Institute.

UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said the acquisition would help the university deepen its “healthcare commitment to the future of Orange County, our region and California.”

Tenet operates 67 hospitals and medical facilities throughout California, including the Coast Surgery Center of South Bay in Torrance, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and Providence Holy Cross Surgery Center in Mission Hills, among others.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare said the four hospitals and related operations generated revenues of about $1 billion in 2024, Tenet said. The Dallas-based company estimates the transaction will generate a pre-tax gain of approximately $500 million.

Late last year, another academic health system, UC San Diego Health, finalized a $200 million deal to acquire Alvarado Hospital Medical Center from Ontario-based Prime Healthcare.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Dave Obrand

Current Job Title: Deputy County Counsel, Orange County

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Tustin

Campaign website or social media: www.obrandforassembly.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is a top-five economy in the world with some of the most innovative industries and companies headquartered in the state. While the difficulties here at home are the primary priority, California has the ability to influence global and national politics. By pursuing priorities of equity, workers’ rights, healthcare and environmental protections, California can set a standard for other states and nations to follow.

This is not a political message — California has not only an ethnically diverse population but because of its population size, California also represents an incredibly diverse political population. That is especially true here in Orange County. With that sort of influence, it is incumbent upon the leadership of California to participate in foreign affairs for the benefit of all Californians and, as a result, of the world. I am proud to have been born and raised in this unique and influential state.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

I am in favor of greater participation by all eligible voters in California.

That means, first, automatically registering all citizens at age 18 who are not barred from voting. Of course, anyone can opt out of registration or otherwise not utilize the privilege. I also believe strongly that the policies enacted today will affect our youth the most so lowering the voting age to 16, when our high schoolers begin to drive and enter the workforce, is appropriate. They pay taxes; they should have a say in how that money is used. Also, there should be a clear pathway to reinstate voting rights for former felons who have served their time and are now contributing members to our society.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

– Ensure the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, including imposing a wealth tax on the top 1% who have built fortunes on the work of their employees.- Focus on building our green/clean energy infrastructure to create jobs and boost the economy as well as to make a clean energy transition seamless and ensure those working in traditional fossil fuel industries have a natural transition to similarly good paying jobs when California does transition to clean energy.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Improve funding for public education and ensure all public schools have adequate resources for students to thrive.- Ensure everyone has adequate healthcare coverage which will not put them into bankruptcy if they are injured or become sick.- Ensure the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

There needs to be a move away from improper incentives for policing and incarceration, primarily eliminating private prisons which prioritize profits over service.

Second, and specifically with regard to policing in our communities, there needs to be a change to how law enforcement agencies report data; it must be made consistent and mandatory across all agencies. Due to the fact that agencies provide data only on a voluntary basis, the best efforts to address both agency and citizen concerns on law enforcement can only be so certain. With mandatory reporting, experts can better assess current issues and propose changes that directly address them.

Lastly, I believe in tremendous transparency and accountability for all public service agencies, but especially for the leadership. I propose community/police oversight boards that review certain misconduct and agency management issues while being mindful of protecting personal information to protect officers against any unnecessary risk.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

I am a big proponent for social housing initiatives that would provide subsidized housing for mixed-income families and individuals. I prefer this approach to traditional affordable housing initiatives that often are only built in already underserved communities and limit the options for people who move into them. Social housing, on the other hand, will provide housing for a wider range of people from different socio-economic backgrounds and should provide a pathway to creating housing options in more communities and provide residents access to more opportunities and services.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

Yes, varying industries should have different minimum wage standards. This recognizes the truth that some industries may pose greater risks to workers and that workers in some industries depend on that work for full-time careers versus part-time work. Nonetheless, I believe the minimum wage should be standardized at a minimum to allow a person to afford the costs of daily living and rent for anyone who works 40 hours per week.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

I am focused on building the infrastructure for future energy transition, including building out a sufficient electric grid as the state moves away from fossil fuels. This not only will make the transition to clean and renewable energy more seamless, but it will also create more jobs and bolster the economy.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

I would like to improve public transportation and establish a comprehensive light rail system connecting all parts of Orange and San Bernardino counties to the business hubs in central Orange County and the Chino Valley. With the Santa Ana Streetcar project well underway, it is important to capitalize on the opportunity to expand clean public transportation.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

Mental health is severely under-addressed in our current healthcare model. The state must mandate that health insurance cover mental health to the same extent as physical injuries. This includes preventative care wherein medical providers recommend mental health screenings when an issue is suspected.

Similarly, training should be provided to teachers to identify potential mental health disorders in their students for assessment. Teachers should also be trained on strategies to support students who exhibit behaviors consistent with mental health. By identifying and treating mental health early in life, students will be better equipped to thrive after they graduate. Finally, police should be further trained on how to address calls involving people with mental health and funding should be reallocated so that mental health professionals and/or social workers respond to appropriate mental health-related emergency calls so that proper support can be referred and provided.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Lead with principles. Work hard. Do good.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Sweet and spicy beef jerky, always.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Phillip Chen

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Walnut Valley Unified School District, Board of Trustees

City where you reside: Yorba Linda

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.phillipchen.org; Social: @PhillipChenCA

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is the fifth largest economy in the world. Many global companies choose to do business here, and that is wonderful. However, our state has many problems from the rising cost of living, crime and a budget deficit that deserve our attention. We must place the needs of hardworking Californians first.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

I support safe and secure elections.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Stop the high-speed rail boondoggle. Audit statewide homelessness spending, and end programs that waste our tax dollars.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Public safety.- Infrastructure.- Mental health funding.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I was proud to support and help pass into law SB 14 in the legislature to combat child sex trafficking. As a former reserve deputy sheriff, the safety of our communities is my top priority. We need to repeal AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop 57 which have lowered the penalties for criminals and tied the hands of the justice system.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

Mandatory substance abuse and mental health services in addition to housing are needed to combat the homelessness epidemic in our state.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

It should be up to the free market to decide.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

My office is a strong proponent of protecting and expanding our open spaces for current and future generations to enjoy. I am proud to have co-authored legislation to grow and safeguard Chino Hills State Park.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

The 59th Assembly district is a bedroom community and commuter district. My office is proud of our work with Caltrans, OCTA and our local partners to grow our infrastructure to meet future needs along the 55, 57, and 91 freeways and important thoroughfares like Imperial Highway and Carbon Canyon Road.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

We need to build on the CARE courts program with mandatory mental health and substance abuse services for homeless individuals.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Hope, opportunity and freedom.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Girl Scouts’ Samoas cookies.

FBI agents arrested Shawn Schaefer, 51, on Wednesday, Jan. 17 on five charges related to his actions during the 2021 attack on the Capitol, an event that had been hyped for months among supporters of former President Donald Trump as he pursued illegitimate claims he actually won the election over Joe Biden.

Schaefer was accused of entering a restricted building and attempting to impede government business.

Federal records showed he was in custody Thursday, Jan. 18, but booking information was not available; nor was information for an attorney who may be representing him.

In a criminal complaint filed in a federal district court in Washington, D.C. last week, a special agent working for the FBI’s L.A. field office investigating domestic terrorism cases said Schaefer was spotted on security cameras walking with a large crowd and taking photos inside the Capitol building “for less than two minutes.”

According to the complaint, an associate of Schaefer who traveled with him to D.C. identified him to the FBI as part of a plea deal. The associate was not identified in the complaint. Portions of the identification of the associate were redacted from the complaint.

Schaefer and the other person had planned since Dec. 28, 2020 to travel to the Capitol to be there for Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally, according to the complaint.

In text messages, the pair discussed buying small radios to stay in touch with each other once they got to the rally. They also met on Jan. 4, 2021, the day before their flight.

The day of the attack, the agent said, Schaefer entered the Senate wing of the Capitol building through a fire door just before 3 p.m. He packed into a narrow hallway with dozens of others bearing flags and wearing gear showing their support for Trump.

That was about 40 minutes after elected officials inside were ordered to evacuate, suspending the certification of the election for nearly six hours.

While he was in the hallway, Schaefer held up a phone, appearing to record what was happening. He briefly entered the office of the Senate’s parliamentarian, before police pushed Schaefer and everyone else in the hallway outside.

In the complaint, the agent further tied Schaefer to the rally after finding an account on Parler, a social media network, under the name “QPatriot420” that used a selfie Schaefer took of himself near the Washington Monument in front of a crowd of Trump supporters. The agent said Schaefer’s email and phone number were both associated with the account.

The agent interviewed Schaefer at his home in Placentia on March 28, 2023. The agent said Schaefer admitted to attending the Trump rally, then walking with the crowd to the Capitol building before they went inside.

Schaefer told the agent he left the building after “seeing a ransacked office,” according to the complaint.

“People could get in trouble for this,” the agent quoted Schaefer as saying in the interview.

An arraignment hearing for Schaefer had not been scheduled as of Thursday.

At least two dozen Southern California residents have been arrested, and many convicted, for traveling to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and participating in the assault on the building.

Ex-La Habra police chief gets 11-year sentence for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

List: Southern California residents accused or convicted in the Capitol insurrection

The dedicated food week will feature deals and prix-fixe menus ranging from $15 to $25 for lunch, and $25 to $45 for dinner, a date-night lineup and even luxury menus offering a more tony experiences for $60 to $120.

New to this year’s lineup include Irvine’s Benny and Mary’s, Bloom Restaurant and Bar in San Juan Capistrano, Le Shrimp Noodle Bar in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo’s Dizzy Bird and Oliver’s Trattoria in Irvine, to name a few.

This year’s week-long event will also highlight family-friendly dining, which is a great way at getting kids to learn about cuisine and dining out, and vegetarian dining, ideal for those who either eschew a carnivorous lifestyle or yearn for a more vegetable-forward menu.

The annual event is put on by the Orange County Restaurant Association. Diners can find participating restaurants’ menus and prices at www.OCRestaurantWeek.com.

This year’s restaurants are as follows:

1886 Brewing Company – Orange

399 Vietnamese Kitchen – Tustin

Anaheim White House – Anaheim

Angelina’s Pizzeria – Irvine

AnQi Bistro – Costa Mesa

Apola Greek Grill – Yorba Linda

Aria Kitchen – Irvine

AVEO Table + Bar – Dana Point

Avila’s El Ranchito – San Clemente, Santa Ana

Benchmark – Santa Ana

Benny and Mary’s – Irvine

Billy’s at the Beach – Newport Beach

Blaze Pizza – Newport Beach

Bloom, Restaurant + Bar – San Juan Capistrano

Bluegold – Huntington Beach

Bodega Laguna – Laguna Beach

Bottega Angelina – Laguna Niguel

Brio Italian Grille – Irvine

BRU Grill and Market – Lake Forest

Brunos Italian Kitchen – Brea

Cabo Wabo Beach Club – Huntington Beach

Cafe Sevilla Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar – Costa Mesa

Cambalache Grill – Fountain Valley

Cappy’s Cafe – Newport Beach

Casa Ramos – Santa Ana

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Brea

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Irvine

Chapter One: the modern local- Santa Ana

Chelas Mexican Kitchen – San Clemente

Churriño – Costa Mesa

Citrus City Grille – Orange

Citrus Fresh Grill – Aliso Viejo

City Cruises Anchored by Hornblower – Newport Beach

Congregation Ale House – Santa Ana

CUCINA enoteca – Irvine, Newport Beach

CUCINA enoteca – Newport Beach

Descanso – Costa Mesa

Dizzy Bird – Mission Viejo

Eureka! – Irvine

Falasophy – Irvine

Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens- Corona Del Mar

Fermentation Farm – Costa Mesa

Five Crowns – Corona Del Mar

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar – Newport Beach

Fly N Fish Oyster Bar and Grill – Newport Beach

Gracias Madre – Newport Beach

Great Maple – Anaheim

Great Maple – Newport Beach

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Santa Ana

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ – (Huntington Beach, Tustin)

Haagen-Dazs – Irvine

Habana – Costa Mesa, Irvine

Hammer Burger – Santa Ana

Harborside Restaurant – Newport Beach

Hatam Restaurant – Mission Viejo

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar – Orange

Henry’s Coastal Cuisine – Huntington Beach

High Horse Saloon – Fullerton

HoléSmokes – Costa Mesa

Il Fornaio – Irvine

Il Sole La Nuova Cucina – RSM

Indigo | Modern Indian Bistro – Huntington Beach

Ironwood, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Hills

Izakaya Osen – Irvine

JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings- Irvine

Jars Sweets & Things – Laguna Niguel

Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen- Fullerton

Le Shrimp Noodle Bar – Costa Mesa

Left Coast Brewing – Irvine

Lido Bottle Works – Newport Beach

Lighthouse Cafe – Newport Beach

Little Sister – Irvine

Lola Gaspar – Santa Ana

Luciana’s Ristorante – Dana Point

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que- Brea, Lake Forest, Orange, Tustin)

Lumberyard Restaurant – Laguna Beach

Luna Rossa – Tustin

Maldon’s Bistro – Irvine

Market Broiler – Huntington Beach, Orange

Mayor’s Table at Lido House – Newport Beach

MESA – Costa Mesa

Mickey’s Irish Pub – Fullerton

Morton’s The Steakhouse – Santa Ana

Mozambique – Laguna Beach

Mr. D’s – Placentia

Muldoon’s Irish Pub – Newport Beach

Native Son – Santa Ana

Newport Landing – Newport Beach

NOVA Kitchen and Bar – Garden Grove

O Fine Japanese Cuisine – Irvine, Laguna Beach

O SEA – Orange

Oak – Laguna Beach

OC Fish Grill – Irvine

Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge – Huntington Beach

Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Newport Beach

Oliver’s Osteria – Laguna Beach

Oliver’s Trattoria – Irvine

Pacific Catch – Tustin

Pacitas Modern Filipino Kitchen – Anaheim

Paradise Dynasty – Costa Mesa

Paul Martin’s American Grill– Irvine

Perla Mexican Cuisine – Santa Ana

Pieology The Market Place – Irvine

Pita Feast – Huntington Beach

Playa Mesa – Costa Mesa

Plums Cafe – Costa Mesa

Pressed – Newport Beach

Prime Cut Cafe – Orange

Pub Thirty-Two – Mission Viejo

Puesto – Anaheim

Puesto Los Olivos – Irvine

Puesto Park Place – Irvine

RA Sushi – Tustin

RAKKAN Ramen – Tustin

Rancho Capistrano Winery – SJC

Rangeen Kitchen – Laguna Niguel

Red O Restaurant – Newport Beach

Robata Wasa – Irvine

Rockin Baja Lobster – Newport Beach

Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Irvine

Rub Red’s BBQ – La Habra

Rumari – Laguna Beach

Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Beach

Scratch Bakery Cafe – Laguna Hills, Scratch Bakery Cafe

SideDoor – Corona Del Mar

Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar- Costa Mesa

Simply Fish – Costa Mesa

Skyloft – Laguna Beach

Starfish – Newport Beach, Laguna Beach

StillWater Spirits & Sounds- Dana Point

Summit House Restaurant – Fullerton

Sundried Tomato American Bistro & Catering – SJC

Sweetgreen – Irvine, Tustin

Taco Rosa – Irvine, Newport Beach

TACOMPADRE – Santa Ana

Tacos TJ Style – Santa Ana

Tangerine Room – Anaheim

Taste of Beauty – Fountain Valley

Tea Maru – Irvine, Santa Ana

The Bungalow Restaurant – Corona Del Mar

The Country Club – Costa Mesa

The Crack Shack – Costa Mesa

The Peel Craftbar & Kitchen – Orange

The Pizza Press – Santa Ana

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar – Tustin

The Yellow Chilli Tustin – Tustin

Thirty Four Bar & Bistro – Irvine

Vacation Bar – Santa Ana

Villa Roma – Laguna Hills

Vine Restaurant & Bar – San Clemente

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar – Dana Point

Wild Goose Tavern – Costa Mesa

Woody’s Wharf – Newport Beach

Ysidora Restaurant and Lounge – SJC

Zabb Thai Cuisine – Newport Beach

ZOOD – Newport Beach

No one was injured. Detectives were interviewing the man at the station, Sgt. Joe Connell said.

The commotion can be heard on the church’s livestream.

Around 8:20 a.m. police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue, the sergeant said. Another call came about a man seen with a possible handgun in his hand.

Officers arrived and were told that the man was last seen going into the church, Connell said. Multiple witnesses heard a gunshot, he added.

Police found a man matching the description of the man they were looking for sitting in a pew at Saint Joseph, at 717 Bradford Ave.

As the priest held up the host in one hand, a goblet in his other hand and said, “Behold lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who called to suffer…” he gets interrupted, the church video shows. Several voices can be heard in the background. One could be heard saying: “Get on ground. Get on the ground.”

A man, likely an officer, was later heard directing people to stand up. A woman said they were receiving Holy Communion.

“I’m sorry but we have somebody that was firing a firearm on the church property and they have a gun,” the man can be heard saying on the video. He tells the worshipers that officers will guide them to the parking lot.

Connell said it was officers who told people inside the church to put their hands up and ordered the man to get down on the ground.

Police evacuated the church to look for additional suspects and a gun, he said. No other person or gun was located.

After the sweep, worshipers were allowed to return to the service.

The schools at the church property, Valencia High School, Ruby Drive Elementary and Kraemer Middle School were told to shelter in place, the sergeant said.

Canine teams from Placentia Police, Fullerton Police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department searched the area.

The board, in a unanimous decision Tuesday evening, Dec. 12, OK’d Orange County School of Computer Science’s plans to take over Bernardo Yorba Middle School in Yorba Linda.

OCSCS was granted a five-year term that begins July 1, 2024. Then, Bernardo Yorba Middle will be converted into a charter school that can accommodate 600 seventh and eighth-grade students.

At the end of those five years, the charter school anticipates serving up to 1,000 students, and the contract could be extended for additional years.

Students who reside in the Bernardo Yorba boundary area — including feeder elementary schools Fairmont, Glenview, Glenknoll and Woodsboro — will automatically be enrolled in OCSCS unless they want to transfer. In that case, they can apply to attend any middle school in the district, said Superintendent Alex Cherniss.

Priority, after those in the area, will be given next to siblings of current students, children of employees, middle school students in PYLUSD but outside Bernardo Yorba’s area and, lastly, students outside the district.

Several informational meetings and “shadow days” — where prospective families can learn more about the curriculum by OCSCS administration — are planned over the next several weeks for PYLUSD families. At these meetings, questions about transportation, curriculum and overall concerns will be addressed, said Beth Fisher, the Bernardo Yorba principal and lead petitioner for OCSCS.

The first meeting for current Bernardo Yorba families will take place on Dec. 14 online. Details about this meeting and others can be found on PYLUD’s website.

The school will utilize the “Code to the Future” curriculum, an instruction outline that focuses on programming and game design, what its creators say are “21st-century skills.” Through history, math and science, “Code to the Future” teaches students life skills under the umbrella of computer science, Nathaniel Langemann, its director of operations, has said.

“OCSCS will prepare students for jobs that are yet to be invented by empowering them with high-level computer coding skills, innovative creation modules and foundational mathematical skills that have been absent since the inception of the failed Common Core curriculum,” said Cherniss, the district’s superintendent.

The charter school will continue dual-language instruction offered to students at Glenview Elementary. If those students attend OCSCS, they can continue with their Spanish dual-language instruction, a petition for the charter says.

In addition to other core classes like mathematics and English, students will participate in school-wide graphic arts electives featuring computer science principles and design thinking, according to Alyssa Griffiths, a PYLUSD spokesperson. Other electives expected to be offered are instrumental music and student leadership.

Students will be given a computer to use as a part of their schooling, but they will not be behind screens the entire day, said Griffiths.

“They will continue to have access to hard copies of texts and engaging, in-person instruction from highly qualified, credentialed district teachers,” said Griffiths.

During the meeting this week, leading to the unanimous vote, all PLYUSD trustees expressed positive sentiments regarding the school. The front page of the PYLUSD website already boasts the charter school’s coming.

“This is a great opportunity for the kids,” said Trustee Leandra Blades, adding that she “appreciates how fast the PYLUSD staff had to work on this.”

“It is clear that the mission of OCSCS shares our interest to prepare students for the high-growth, high-demand jobs of the future while offering the well-rounded and engaging educational experience synonymous with PYLUSD,” said Blades.

“I want kids to be challenged and be able to scaffold and get them to that level,” said Trustee Carrie Buck. “I think that this will very much feel like all of our other schools but just have a different focus.”

Parents weigh in on the change

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, PYLUSD families conveyed concerns about what they said was a lack of information by the district about the takeover, citing uncertainties about the fates of various extracurricular programs, transportation logistics and the potential impacts on future high school classes.

Parent Denelle Voegtly, who said that the first time families had heard about the possibility of OCSCS coming in and taking over the school was during the October meeting, said, “I am disappointed but not surprised. My youngest will not attend the charter.”

And Emily Job, a parent of a Bernardo Yorba seventh grader, said she’s concerned that students have not been given a coding foundation ahead of this transition.

Introducing a new coding class for her daughter next year, she said, “feels a little like pushing our kids into a pool with a life vest on and saying, ‘They’ll be fine.’”

“I’m cautiously optimistic and plan to keep our child on the campus because I believe my daughter is flexible enough to handle this experience,” said Job, an alumna of the middle school. “My hope is that with even just one year of coding, she will learn some valuable life skills.”

Although the change is unnerving, she said she is saddened to “watch a school I attended 30 years ago dissolve. That part makes me emotional.”

“I think change is inevitable, and I think that pivoting is the right decision,” said Kristen Habbestad, a parent of a seventh grader. “However, I think that there can be hiccups along the way and that this whole charter proposal needs some massaging. I am curious to see how this will unroll for my child in the first year.”

One unique feature of the school — which has garnered a mixed response from parents — is that OCSCS will cut the physical education requirements down to only two days a week.

“While it’s true that many students are involved in sports, I think dropping physical education requirements down to two days a week is concerning considering that many kids do need the physical effort in order to stay healthy,” said Habbestad. “It’s also a good tension reliever and a way for kids to get rid of excess energy.”

Habbestad said she will not pull her child from the school, though, due to friends who attend and she loves the band program. She still has other concerns, though, from how an increase in student population could create traffic in the area and teachers having too much time for professional development.

Currently, the student population of Bernardo Yorba is just under 600 students.

Other parents, like Erica Perez, see this change to be positive for the PYLUSD community.

“This opportunity for our students is going to be amazing,” said Perez. “Both Trustee Anderson and Trustee Buck asked great questions to which I believe they got the answers they were looking for. Dr Fisher and (assistant principal Racheal) Collins should be applauded for their tireless hours and dedication to our students and the community. I look forward to seeing what leaders come out of OCSCS at Bernardo Yorba.”

PYLUSD is not home to other charter schools, but there have been requests over the past year.

In April, Orange County Classical Academy began to petition for a spot in the district, but it was ultimately never presented to the school board.

And in July, California Republic Leadership Academy petitioned to institute itself as a transitional kindergarten through eighth grade but was denied. CRLA has since gone to the Orange County Board of Education to appeal PYLUSD’s decision.

This story has been updated.

Sasha Lizette Jimenez, who pleaded guilty May 22 to a count of a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney to pay $2.3 million in restitution. Carney sentenced Jimenez to 41 months in federal prison. Jimenez is formerly of Placentia and most recently lived in Riverside County.

Jimenez, who was the bookkeeper for the scheme, caused $2.8 million in phony unemployment insurance benefit cards to be issued with at least $2.3 million withdrawn from the cards, prosecutors said. The scheme involved crimes mainly in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, prosecutors said.

Jimenez’s ex-boyfriend, Meshach Samuels, 26, of Placentia, was sentenced in October to 90 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $423,087 in restitution.

Samuels charged fees to his social media followers for tips on how to recruit others to help them use a check fraud scheme to steal from banks, prosecutors said. Jimenez admitted to participating in that scheme, prosecutors said.

Samuels and others ran the scheme involving stolen personal identifying information and depositing phony checks into third-party accounts from May 2021 through March 2022, prosecutors said.

Once the money from the bogus checks was registered in a bank account, Samuels and others would take out the cash in amounts lower than $10,000 so they could avoid activity security safeguards, prosecutors said.

The scheme sought about $1.2 million, but led to losses of at least $423,087, prosecutors said.

Samuels was also involved during the pandemic in the scheme to steal about $14,250 in state unemployment benefits using the identities of the deceased or others not eligible for benefits, according to prosecutors.

Samuels has a criminal history that includes aggravated battery on a police officer in Florida with an enhancement for attempted murder, prosecutors said. During an August 2021 traffic stop in Costa Mesa officers recovered a gun and ammunition on him, prosecutors said.

When federal agents searched Samuels’ home in March 2022 they found five guns and ammunition, prosecutors said.

Orange County School of Computer Science presented its proposal to the PYLUSD board in October for a charter school with an in-depth computer science program for up to 1,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students. The charter would fully take over the Yorba Linda middle school campus beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

Beth Fisher, the Bernardo Yorba principal and lead petitioner for OCSCS, is spearheading the request, saying that the school is “needed after the detrimental losses this community faces due to the aftermath of COVID-19.”

“The clearly identified learning deficiencies in the district in the area of mathematics and language arts has caused community concern and a demand that our schools address these gaps while increasing opportunities for students,” said Fisher. “OCSCS presents this petition as a means to address the needs identified by the community.”

What the new charter is slated to look like

The charter school is seeking to affiliate with the district where it could utilize its resources and keep the PYLUSD board as its governing body while also implementing its own curriculum, said Fisher.

If the charter is approved, Bernardo Yorba students would be allowed to attend OCSCS or transfer to the next closest middle school in the district, Fisher said during the Oct. 10 meeting. The closest middle school is Travis Ranch Middle School, about 3 miles away.

Teachers and staff, too, would remain at the school and be trained on the respective curriculum, said Fisher.

“I could not be more pleased with our school staff’s nearly unanimous meaningful support to convert the current Bernardo Yorba Middle School into a charter school that, pending PYLUSD board approval, will be the model for all future schools in the country,” said Fisher.

OCSCS plans to allow for enrollment of up to 600 students for the initial year. Then, by the 2029 school year, OCSCS plans to have an enrollment of up to 1,000 students. Currently, there are about 600 students enrolled at Bernardo Yorba.

According to the petition, the school will follow the PYLUSD student calendar except for no minimum days or early/late release days and an additional five no-student days.

The school would utilize the “Code to the Future” curriculum, an instruction outline created in 2014 that focuses on programming and game design, what the creators of the curriculum say are “21st century skills.”

Through history, math and science, “Code to the Future” teaches students skills needed for life under the umbrella of computer science, Nathaniel Langemann, its director of operations, said during the October PYLUSD meeting.

Although the school has an emphasis on computer science, according to Fisher, it will also encourage “unplugged engagement” inside and outside of the classroom by providing assignments and activities that teach coding but do not necessarily require computers.

The “unplugged model” will use “active and ongoing student dialogue and collaboration that supports product design, prototyping, entrepreneurism, marketing, and presentation delivery,” the petition said.

“As a parent and principal of the district, it haunts me how many students we have lost through the system,” said Fisher. “Now, we have a group that is putting the students first through this school.”

The charter school would also continue dual-language instruction offered to students at Glenview Elementary. If those students attend OCSCS, they would be able to continue with their Spanish dual-language instruction, the petition said.

“This school will be committed to actual equity,” said Fisher. “We want all opportunities to be the same for our students. But we also recognize that all students are unique and we have to meet their needs differently.”

Those who do not come from Glenview but hope to be a part of the dual-language program would need to be specially admitted through a series of exams. Fisher said these students who complete the dual-language program will be trilingual in English, Spanish and computer science by the time they graduate from OCSCS.

PYLUSD board members were contacted for comment but did not respond.

There has been no date given for a vote on the proposed charter school, but the board meets next on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 1301 E. Orangethorpe Ave. in Placentia.

Parent’s thoughts on the matter

“There are no doubts that there positives to this charter,” Bernardo Yorba parent Denelle Voegtly said. “But there has been a lack of information to families. Something that would take over a year to do is being rushed in a matter of months”

As Voegtly said, the first time that any of the families had really even heard about the possibility of OCSCS coming in and taking over the school was during the October meeting, when Fisher presented the school to the board.

“We have a whole group of us parents in the district who do not feel like we have been heard regarding the matter,” said Voegtly.

Lauren Yadav, the parent of an elementary school student and a recently graduated high schooler in the district, said that deciding where to send her student in the next couple of years has become a much more difficult decision than originally anticipated.

“When I was sending my oldest out to school, there was no worry and trouble finding his next steps. We had our neighborhood schools and they all were great academically, it was never a problem,” said Yadav. “Now, I have a fifth-grader who will soon enter junior high, and he was originally supposed to go to Bernardo Yorba, but with this, I have no idea what to do. There are too many unknowns.”

Voeglty and other parents mentioned many questions that they are searching for answers to such as: What happens to the GATE (gifted students) program? What will transportation look like for kids who decide not to attend the school? Will Travis Ranch Middle School now become overcrowded? How does this translate to attending high schools in the district?

Voegtly said she hopes these questions are answered before the anticipated vote.

There are some parents who think that OCSCS is a great addition to the district.

Erica Perez, a member of the Bernardo Yorba’s Parent Teacher Association, said that she is excited to have her daughter, a current seventh-grader at Bernardo Yorba who is involved in the dual-language program, transition to the OCSCS curriculum, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The way the schedule is set up is very beneficial for students, especially those who may be struggling in any of the subjects,” said Perez.

The OCSCS schedule allows students to be in their “core” classes the entire day, until the last hour or so of the school day where the student would then be allowed to get more one-on-one opportunities for learning.

Perez acknowledged that she sees the areas where parents could have questions and concerns.

“We have to follow the school board’s process, and I do not think there has been a lot of information given regarding the school,” said Perez. “I know that in talking with Beth Fisher, her original plan was to meet with the board and then the very next week meet with parents for an informational meeting. However, she has to follow the board’s process and that is where her hand is tied.”

Perez reiterated that although Fisher has to listen to the board, she is very open to taking meetings and phone calls if any parents have any comments or concerns.

PLYUSD’s history with charters and beyond

There are no charter schools in PYLUSD, but this is not the first program to request to be in the district. In July, California Republic Leadership Academy petitioned to institute itself as a transitional kindergarten-through-eighth grade charter school that hoped to instill values of “virtue, responsibility and accountability,” said Gary Davis, its executive director.

This petition was denied in August by the board, but CRLA has since gone to the Orange County Board of Education to appeal PYLUSD’s decision.

In April, Orange County Classical Academy petitioned for a spot in the district, requesting classroom space and use of school facilities. That request was never presented to the school board after a separate petition in opposition gathered more than 1,100 signatures.

The PYLUSD board has become known for taking action against what it sees as progressive integration in the classroom. Last year, the board banned the teaching of critical race theory, an academic concept, from the classroom, the first in Orange County to do so.

This year, it adopted a parental notification policy, a requirement that schools notify families if they have a “reasonable cause to believe that an action of a student will avert a clear and present danger.”

But during the board’s discussion on the policy, Superintendent Alex Cherniss said there could be instances when a teacher or school staff member would notify parents when they become aware that a student desires or starts to transition genders, requests to go by a different pronoun or experiences distress because their gender expression does not match their gender identity.

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  Navy veteran Lynn Bennick signs a poster at the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Boy Scouts raise the flag during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  ASB President Emma Kim speaks during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gustavo Ramos, left, salutes with other service members during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Boy Scouts escort service members to their seats during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  El Dorado High School students listen as Taps is played during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Army veteran Don Ward salutes during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  A Boy Scout presents Marine veteran Bernie Robertson with flowers during the 11th annual El Dorado Fallen Heroes Ceremony at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Robertson’s son, Marine Staff Sgt. William Harrell, is one of three former EDHS students honored at the Fallen Heroes Memorial on campus. Veterans and active duty service members gathered for a roll call and to honor the three former EDHS students who died while serving. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

El Dorado High students took a break from the books Thursday for an in-person history lesson honoring veterans who served their country.

Veterans and active duty members of the military gathered for a roll call in a courtyard of the campus and there were student and veteran speakers and a tribute to Marine Cpl. Claudio Patiño IV, Staff Sgt. William Harrell and Army Sgt. Jason M. Weaver, three Golden Hawks who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Participate: Ceremonies planned for Veterans Day 2023 around Orange County

The early Veterans Day remembrance was started by an El Dorado student more than a decade ago. For an Eagle Scout project, Andrew Binnings lead the construction of a memorial on the campus to honor the three alumni of the Placentia high school. The accompanying ceremony because a campus tradition and welcomes veterans in the community each year.

It was Binnings’ father, Kenny Binnings, who got retired Army Master Sgt. Don Ward, a veteran of the Vietnam War, involved this year for the first time. Binnings also got Ward, after many years of asking, to participate in 2022 and again last month in the honor convoy that has become part of Placentia’s Heritage Festival and Parade.

That experience of having people salute him and thank him for his service “changed my life,” Ward said.  “I brought my uniforms back out again.”

And the reception he received from the students and the El Dorado community on Thursday? “It makes what we fought for worth it,” Ward said. “I can’t say much more than that. This is what we fought for … to see the young people be active in this, to really understand this and know what it is all about.”

“For the veterans it is to help them understand there are people who still care,” Ward said. “That they are not alone.”