Coastal flood advisory issued for Orange County Coast and San Diego County Coastal Areas from Monday to Wednesday

• September 26, 2026

Orange County Coast and San Diego County Coastal Areas are included in a coastal flood advisory released by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 2:08 p.m. The advisory is valid from Monday 5 a.m. until Wednesday Sept. 30, at 5 p.m.

“Minor coastal flooding expected due to the combination of high tides and elevated surf,” the NWS San Diego CA said. “Elevated surf of 3-5 feet expected. Local sets to 6 feet possible on south-facing beaches. Morning high tides are expected to peak between 6.7 feet and 7.0 through Wednesday, peaking Tuesday morning. The listed tide predictions have been corrected to reflect current trends in actual tide observations.”

“Minor coastal flooding and minor coastal erosion expected during high tides. Additionally, elevated surf will lead to strong rip currents,” according to the NWS. “Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. Avoid beaches during morning high tides.”

Your guide to weather alerts: advisories, watches, and warnings

Flash flood warning: Take action.

A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.

Flood warning: Take action.

A flood warning is declared when flooding is on the verge of happening or is already underway.

Flood advisory: Be aware.

A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

Flood watch: Be prepared.

A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It doesn’t guarantee that flooding will occur, but it signifies that the possibility exists.

Staying safe during a flood: Recommendations from the NWS

In flood-prone regions or while camping in low-lying areas, understanding and following the NWS flood safety guidelines can be a lifesaver:

Seek higher ground:

If you reside in a flood-prone region or are camping in low-lying terrain, the first step to safety is relocating to higher ground.

Follow evacuation orders:

If local authorities issue an evacuation order, heed it promptly. Prior to leaving, secure your home by locking it.

Disconnect utilities and appliances:

If time allows, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding.

Avoid basements and submerged areas:

Steer clear of basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. This helps prevent electrical accidents.

Evacuate promptly for safety:

If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping sounds, evacuate without delay. Do not enter water that may carry an electrical charge.

Stay away from floodwaters:

Never attempt to walk through floodwaters, even if they appear shallow. Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can forcefully sweep you off your feet.

Seek high ground if trapped:

In the event you become trapped by moving water, make your way to the highest point available and contact emergency services by calling 911.

During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas. It is imperative to avoid driving through any water on the road, even if it seems shallow. According to the NWS, most cars can be swept away by just 12 inches of rushing water. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA football routs Maryland to remain undefeated

• September 26, 2026

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In Bob Chesney’s fourth game as UCLA’s football coach, his run-oriented offense featured a new, critical wrinkle: the direct snap.

Wayne Knight opened the scoring on one such 45-yard carry and Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas also scored on runs from a direct snap during a 20-point second quarter in the Bruins’ 54-3 romp over Maryland on Saturday.

It marked the largest road conference victory since 1955 for the Bruins, who improved to 4-0 – one season after winning just three games – and 2-0 in the Big Ten.

“I thought we finally played a complementary game of football, where offense, defense and special teams all got each other’s backs,” Chesney said. “And at the same point, when we got to make some plays, we made some plays.”

Knight finished with 100 yards on 10 carries after entering Week 4 as the FBS leader in touchdowns (eight), rushing touchdowns (eight) and yards per carry (8.85).

Nico Iamaleava completed 15 of 24 passes for 209 yards and an 83-yard touchdown to Aidan Mizell on his final throw of the day. The senior signal caller grabbed at his right arm after the pass over the flat, but the game was also out of hand when younger brother Madden took over late. Chesney said there was no concern with Nico postgame.

“He did a good job of staying in that game today,” Chesney said. “It was probably a little too late for him to be getting hit in that game, but at the same point, to stand in there and throw that touchdown was really good by him. And to see Mizell open it up and run was exciting as well.”

Troy Leigber completed UCLA’s second consecutive 50-plus point performance with a 63-yard run long after it was clear Chesney would become the first UCLA coach to begin his career 4-0 since the legendary Red Sanders did so in 1949.

Yet the offense was merely explosive. One week after allowing 38 points to Purdue, the defense was truly impressive, albeit against a Maryland team that looked shaken by the pressure on embattled coach Mike Locksley following last weekend’s loss to Virginia Tech.

“It was just fundamentals, doing the things we lacked last week,” Bruins senior linebacker Sammy Omosigho said. “And we’re tying to focus on that each week. Of course we had a better outcome this week, but we still have to get better.”

The Bruins picked off Terrapins sophomore quarterback Malik Washington four times, with Ta’Shawn James and Scooter Jackson returning theirs for touchdowns during the third quarter.

Mason Rivera and Trent Hendrick also had picks. By the time it was over, UCLA had outgained Maryland 475-181 overall and 266-39 on the ground while holding the Terrapins to just 1 of 15 on third down.

Maryland entered with a plus-four turnover margin.

“Any time you have two pick-sixes, it’s a pretty impressive day,” Chesney said. “Especially against a team that has not turned the ball over at all … .”

It wasn’t clear UCLA’s strong start would continue when Bruins offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy faced a fourth-and-1 early in the second quarter of a scoreless game, with Knight to that point limited to four yards on four carries.

So the Bruins lined Iamaleava out wide and Knight in the shotgun. Knight took the snap, followed pulling guard Julian Armella and Thomas as a blocking back through the left side of the line, then sprinted untouched into the second level and eventually the horseshoe end zone at Maryland’s SECU Stadium.

“My job was to try to pull any defenders out to the flat,” Iamaleava said. “Wayne just being Wayne. He had a great lead block by (Thomas). The O-line opened up a great hole for him.”

Knight also had a 33-yard carry on an option pitchout during UCLA’s second drive, a four-play, 62-yard march aided by a Maryland facemask penalty. Woods finished it with two direct snap runs, a 13-yard dash to the left on first down followed by a 1-yard punch-in.

Thomas got in on the fun on a 3-yard TD carry that completed a 75-yard drive prolonged by another Maryland facemask offense.

That made it 20-0, with Iamaleava yet to be called on to make a big play.

“You don’t want to just hand the ball off and play with 10 guys all the time, right? So you get into this read game where the quarterback’s going to keep it,” Chesney said. “We just didn’t want him to get hit too much either. I thought the wildcat option was something that we could employ to put ourselves in position where we still could get the same advantage numerically speaking but not putting him in a whole lot of danger.”

​ Orange County Register 

Kiké Hernandez’s 9th-inning blast lifts Dodgers past Giants again

• September 26, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a four-inning wellness check.

Pitching for the first time since he left his start in Cincinnati after one inning with groin muscle discomfort, Blake Snell passed his test. He allowed one run on five hits in his four innings Saturday afternoon as the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Kiké Hernandez’s ninth-inning home run.

The Dodgers will finish the season with a chance to reach 100 victories for the first time since 2023 – but the fourth time in the past six seasons and sixth time in the past nine full seasons.

Snell was healthy if not efficient. He threw 77 pitches to get through his four innings, allowing hits in each inning.

He stranded runners at the corners in the first inning and at second base in the second. Jonah Cox led off the third with a double into the left-field corner, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly. Snell gave up a two-out single in the fourth but Shay Whitcomb was thrown out by left fielder Teoscar Hernandez when he tried to stretch it into a double.

After the game in Cincinnati, Snell expressed confidence that he had avoided serious injury by recognizing the signs early and coming out of the game – something he didn’t do before landing on the injured list four previous times with groin injuries.

Saturday supported that decision. Snell’s fastball averaged 96.8 mph (up slightly from his season average) and he got 10 swings-and-misses (though only three strikeouts). Snell now lines up as the likely Game 3 starter in the National League Division Series, giving him over a week before his next start.

The Dodgers’ offense gave Snell a 3-1 lead.

Mookie Betts hit a solo home run in the third inning – his seventh home run in September as he surges over the final month of the season. Four singles and a walk produced two more runs in the fourth inning.

After a two-hit game including an RBI double Thursday, Shohei Ohtani has gone 1 for 9 with five strikeouts in the two games against the Giants. The lone hit was a ground ball under the glove of Giants first baseman Brett Harris in the fourth inning that was originally ruled an error and later changed.

The Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t hold the 3-1 lead. The Giants came back to tie it with single runs against Brock Stewart in the seventh and Evan Phillips in the eighth before Hernandez put the Dodgers back in the lead with a leadoff home run in the ninth.

​ Orange County Register 

Meet pretty calico kitty Ladybug Jane

• September 26, 2026

Breed: Domestic shorthair

Age: 7 years

Sex: spayed female

Ladybug Jane’s story: Ladybug Jane is a sweet girl with pretty calico colors and green eyes. She is very gentle and loving and gets along great with gentle dogs. She hasn’t been around other cats and keeps her distance from the other cats in her foster home. She would make a sweet companion for someone.

Adoption fee: $250, FVRCP vaccines, FIV/FeLV test, microchip, and flea and parasite treatments.

Adoption procedure: Fill out the required adoption application at DREAM Animal Rescue’s website, dreamanimalrescue.org. An adoption contract and home visit are also required.

​ Orange County Register 

Football roundup: San Clemente, Rancho Alamitos, Anaheim earn wins in Week 5

• September 26, 2026

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San Clemente’s football team wrapped up nonleague play with a dominant 42-13 win over Murrieta Valley on Friday at Murrieta Valley High.

Preston Beck threw for 202 yards with two touchdowns on just eight completions. Ryan Matheson caught three passes for 135 yards with a touchdown and Jett Wright added a touchdown catch.

Charlie Bunker ran for 126 yards with a touchdown. Darion Ranuga, Jaxson Rex and defensive lineman Jonas Hurley also ran for touchdowns.

Gunnor Bachhuber led the defense with seven tackles. Payton Proffitt had two sacks and Collin Soboleski forced a fumble that Jackson Ortiz recovered.

San Clemente is 5-0 for the first time since 2023 and will host Yorba Linda in its Alpha League opener Friday, Oct. 2.

In other games Friday:

Laguna Beach 21, San Pedro 7: Jack Hurst threw three touchdown passes for Laguna Beach in a road win over San Pedro.

Air Force commit Brady Stringham had two touchdown receptions and Ryder Bright added one. Laguna Beach (2-3) had two interceptions on defense against a San Pedro quarterback who had not thrown an interception all season.

Colter Steris had an interception for the Breakers on the opening series of the game which led to Hurst’s touchdown pass to Bright.

Laguna Beach will open Delta League play against Troy on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Fullerton High.

Rancho Alamitos 38, La Quinta 7: Osvaldo Ramos threw three touchdown passes for Rancho Alamitos.

Joe Vazquez had two touchdown catches for Rancho Alamitos (5-0) and Jorge Ayala added one. Erick Garcia had two rushing touchdowns for the Vaqueros, who are 5-0 for the first time since 2022.

Rancho Alamitos opens Sigma League play Friday, Oct. 2, against Saddleback.

In the Tango League:

Santa Ana Valley 42, Godinez 6: Santa Ana Valley snapped a two-game losing streak with a dominant win over Godinez.

Diego Vargas ran for over 150 yards with three touchdowns for Santa Ana Valley (4-2, 2-2). Fern Dircio also ran for over 100 yards and Jason Avina added a touchdown run. Angel Garcia threw for 90 yards with a touchdown pass.

Isaac Najera had a touchdown run for Godinez (1-5, 1-3).

Loara 43, Magnolia 8: Loara scored 34 unanswered points to open the game in a win over Magnolia at Western High.

Isaac Yamamoto threw for 185 yards with two touchdown passes to Briand Torres for Loara (5-1, 4-0). Santiago Gaudillo, Gael Ramirez and Giovani Gutierrez added rushing touchdowns.

Angeles Delgado and Daniel Quiroz had interceptions for Loara’s defense.

Brandon Matamoros ran for a touchdown for Magnolia (2-3, 1-2).

— Michael Huntley

Anaheim 21, Buena Park 7: Lloyd Nolasco had 15 carries for a season-high 133 yards and one touchdown to lead the Colonists (4-1) to a fourth consecutive victory.

Anaheim led 21-7 going into the fourth quarter.

Buena Park (0-5) continued to play solid defense. The Coyotes have held opponents to an average of 20.2 points per game.

Santa Ana 51, Ganesha 0: Nathan Lopez rushed for 136 yards and one touchdown and Troy Alvarez had three tackles for loss as the Saints (1-4) earned the first victory for first-year coach Jarid Allchin. Alvarez also rushed for a touchdown. Santa Ana led 44-0 at halftime.

Calvary Chapel 29, Carpinteria 13: Jack Haney caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Colin Wiles in the fourth and Judah Budd returned an interception 17 yards for a score in the quarter as the Eagles (3-2) won their third consecutive game.

Budd, a sophomore, also returned an interception 49 yards for a score in the third quarter. Calvary Chapel sophomores Jackson Garner, Jack Easter and Elliot Dien also had interceptions.

Los Amigos 23, Eisenhower 20: Jonathan Evaristo kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Lobos (4-1) to their fourth consecutive victory.

Evaristo made all three of his field goals.

Dennis Smith shifted to quarterback from wide receiver to fill in for his brother Mytrell, who was out with an injury. Running back/safety Alexis Marcel Chamu also played well for Los Amigos.

In 8-man football:

Sage Hill 42, Chadwick 36: Bryce Pruter had 25 tackles and Dylan Streiff scored three touchdowns for Sage Hill (4-0). The Lightning led 34-21 going into the fourth quarter and held on to win the clash of highly-ranked 8-man teams. Sage Hill entered ranked No. 6 in the state by hsratings.com, one spot ahead of Chadwick (2-2).

— Dan Albano

​ Orange County Register 

Don’t let Newsom rewrite his dismal COVID record

• September 26, 2026

Politicians are not generally celebrated for consistent adherence to principles. But few politicians are as shameless as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is often happy to shed past stances in his pursuit of higher office. Newsom’s recent effort to whitewash and wave away his truly abysmal record on civil liberties during the COVID years should not go unnoticed.

On September 15, CNN aired Jake Tapper’s interview with Newsom, which the pair filmed while fly fishing together in Montana. Newsom admitted that California’s decision to close beaches was “insane, in hindsight” and that his much-maligned decision to dine at the exclusive dining destination the French Laundry was “boneheaded.” Newsom’s interview gives the impression that California’s (indeed, his own) COVID-era restrictions were laughable excesses that can only be criticized with the benefit of hindsight. In reality, Newsom made the deliberate decision to trample civil liberties without a clear public health justification.

Newsom’s disregard for basic human freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution is perhaps best exemplified by his policies on religious gatherings. In May 2020, the Supreme Court initially let his 25%-capacity cap on churches stand, with Chief Justice Roberts reasoning that it merely mirrored limits on comparable secular gatherings. But as Newsom’s restrictions dragged on, the court’s scrutiny intensified. In February 2021, in a second South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom ruling, the justices enjoined California’s outright ban on indoor worship in the state’s most restrictive tier while refusing to block the 25% capacity cap or the state’s prohibition on singing and chanting.

Two months later came Tandon v. Newsom, where the court went further, blocking Newsom’s rule limiting even private Bible studies and prayer meetings in people’s homes to three households — while hair salons and retail stores operated under far more permissive rules. Newsom could have collaborated with religious leaders to issue reasonable public health guidance that safeguarded key religious freedoms — instead, he fought churches tooth and nail in order to subject them to far more stringent restrictions than their secular counterparts.

In the educational context, Newsom put children last through his willingness to keep schools closed. In 2020, Newsom’s health department created color-coded county tiers that effectively barred most public schools from reopening in person. When teachers’ unions lobbied to keep classrooms shut even as mounting evidence showed they were low-risk, Newsom bowed to pressure from this key interest group. He waited until March 2021, only after a lawsuit was filed and nearly every other state had already reopened, to call for schools to resume limited in-person instruction.

Meanwhile, his administration enforced a rigid six-foot distancing rule that had little scientific backing but made reopening logistically impossible for many districts. California thus ranked last among the fifty states for in-person instruction during the 2020-2021 school year; by June 2021, most of the state’s largest districts — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento — still had fewer than one in ten schools offering in-person classes as their primary mode.

While public school children languished in virtual classrooms, Newsom’s own children attended in-person private school. Test scores reflected the failure of Newsom’s policies. Los Angeles Unified reported that roughly 72% of students failed to meet state math standards and 58% fell short in English. As tone-deaf as the French Laundry dinner was, it was nothing compared to the massive harm caused by prolonged school closures.

Newsom’s beach closures weren’t as constitutionally offensive as his policies on religious gatherings or as damaging as his school closures, but they nonetheless underscore the absurdity of his COVID-era policies.

In April 2020, after crowds gathered on the coast during a heat wave, Newsom ordered a “hard closure” of every beach and state park in Orange County. Huntington Beach and Dana Point sued, arguing the state had trampled their constitutional authority over their own shorelines; Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel noted the county already had among the lowest per-capita COVID death rates in the state, making the closure political theater rather than public health policy.

A judge declined to block the order, and Orange County’s beaches sat empty while the state litigated its own overreach. Newsom eventually relented, permitting “active recreation” while still banning sunbathing and beach gatherings outright. He now calls this insane, which was obvious to many at the time.

The same governor who now shrugs off his COVID-era record as an easy target for hindsight is positioning himself for a national campaign, asking voters to trust his judgment on a far bigger stage. Newsom had the chance to lead California through a genuine crisis with a light touch and constitutional fidelity. He chose control instead, and only now, safely past the consequences, does he call it what it was.

Voters weighing his next act should remember that it took him half a decade to say so.

Jesse D. Franklin-Murdock is the Miles Visiting Fellow at the Center for American Liberty. He is also a partner at Sweigart Murdock, LLP, in San Francisco, where his litigation practice focuses on First Amendment and defamation law, civil rights, and political law

​ Orange County Register 

Ohana kicks off with surprise set from Pearl Jam and its brand-new drummer

• September 26, 2026

Eddie Vedder was clearly enjoying the moment – teasing fans at his 10th annual Ohana Festival with the opening notes of Pearl Jam‘s “Corduroy,” before switching from acoustic to electric guitar and musing that he might need some help on this song.

“I feel like I would need some friends,” Vedder said, grinning as low lights silhouetted a drummer and one or two other musicians on a scrim behind him. “Like, I would need a whole – like some really good friends. Do I got any extra friends back there?”

The curtain dropped, and fans screamed as in the shadows on stage they recognized Pearl Jam guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, bassist Jeff Ament, who’d already appeared for a duet with Vedder in his headlining Eddie Vedder & Friends set on Friday, Sept. 25.

But who was that seated by the drum kit with a kick drum on which a large question mark appeared to have been made out of gaffer’s tape? With a bit more light it became clear: Abe Laboriel Jr., with his shaved head and beard, who since 2001 had been Paul McCartney’s drummer on tour, and now might be Pearl Jam’s replacement for longtime drummer Matt Cameron, who last year announced his departure.

No official announcement was made on stage on Friday, and Laboriel looked a little unsure whether he should join the other four for a bow before Vedder waved him over. But he sounded terrific with the band, with a heavy beat and deep pocket all night long, and he clearly had rehearsed with Pearl Jam extensively to learn the hits, deep cuts and covers it mixes in and out of the set night by night.

And then there was the moment late in the show when you could hear Vedder say, “Thank you, Paul,” almost under his breath, which certainly could be read as a passing of the drumsticks.

Pearl Jam headlines Ohana on Sunday, Sept. 27, and by then we might know more. But for fans who didn’t expect to see them with Vedder on Friday, it was a thrilling capper to a day of music at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point that included performances from Maná, Billy Idol, Bad Religion, Courtney Barnett, Sugar, and more.

This 10th year of the festival Vedder founded to play music with his friends and advocate for environmental causes had to be emotionally tough for the Pearl Jam singer. In the past, a headlining set by Eddie Vedder & Friends almost always included the Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, one of Vedder’s close friends, who died in a motorcycle accident in July.

And after opening his set solo on acoustic guitar with Pearl Jam’s “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and his own “Far Behind,” Vedder addressed the absence he and many festivalgoers felt.

“I think we’re just gonna jump into it here, because there is a friend we’re all missing, and he was such a big part of this festival and a lot of people here knew him through this festival,” Vedder said of Hansard, who performed at Ohana at least five times in its first nine years.

“He was here so often, we worked so closely, and it was always so much joy,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion. “And he has so many friends and they all knew him as a very powerful musician but a very beautiful friend.”

Vedder continued, acknowledging that many in the audience might be experiencing their own kinds of loss and grief.

“There’s no way around it, just through, and it’s not easy and it takes time,” he said. “Again, because here on the shore and feeling the healing powers of the ocean, we thought we’d play this and share it with anybody who needs it.”

Hansard’s own “Song of Good Hope” followed, with Vedder singing and Irish guitarist Simon Good accompanying him as a slideshow of photographs of Hansard, often with Vedder – at Ohana, in Ireland, on the infield grass at Wrigley Field, home of Vedder’s beloved Chicago Cubs – played on the video screens.

After a duet with Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament on “Bee Girl” and another with Billy Idol singing the Who’s “I’m the One” to Vedder’s accompaniment, the Pearl Jam surprise arrived, and the mellow melancholy of the acoustic part of the show shifted into a blast of furious, fun rock and roll.

Fan favorites “Corduroy” and “Porch” bookended the 12 songs of the main set. In between came a trio of songs including the title track of Pearl Jam’s most recent album, “Dark Matter,” and Pearl Jam tunes including “Scared of Fear” and “Wishlist.”

“I Got Id” and “Green Disease” aren’t played that often in recent years, but here they surfaced paired with “Do the Evolution” as the musical accompaniment for Vedder’s celebration of the ocean environmental success of the Ohana community in recent years.

Neil Young, a kind of musical and spiritual elder for Vedder and Pearl Jam, wasn’t physically present, but he was clearly in mind with “Do the Id” slipping into a bit of Young’s “Cinnamon Girl,” and Pearl Jam’s “Won’t Tell” dedicated to Young and the harvest moon that shone over Ohana and the sand and surf that border the festival grounds.

After a quick consultation offstage on what to play in the encore, Pearl Jam returned with “Better Man,” the band loose and smiling, and “Even Flow,” which soared, as other songs had in the set, on the epic power of the music.

A cover of “Sonic Reducer” was dedicated to the late Cheetah Chrome, who co-wrote the Dead Boys classic punk song. A final epic, the Who’s “Baba O’Reilly,” had the crowd singing along to its lyrics of teenage wastelands.

So, yeah, with friends like these, who could lose? Of course, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what came before on Friday, but earlier sets included highlights of their own.

The Mexican rock superstars Maná played a terrific set of its classics, including “Clavado en un Bar,” “Mariposa Traicionera,” and “Me Vale,” the latter sung by drummer Alex González. Vedder introduced the band himself, clearly thrilled to have Maná on “our relatively small stage.”

Billy Idol thrilled a large crowd at the Tiki second stage with hits such as “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell,” “Flesh for Fantasy,” and “Dancing With Myself,” taking multiple opportunities to celebrate his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens. He sounded great and looked great too, changing his stage clothes at least four times during his hour on stage.

Bad Religion had a huge crowd at Ohana main stage, mosh pits churning as they blasted through classic songs such as “21st Century (Digital Boy),” “Infected,” “Punk Rock Song,” and “American Jesus,” the last of which brought Vedder running from the wings to sing the final verse and chorus with Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin.

Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett brought her brand of laconic slacker rock to the Tiki stage earlier in the afternoon. Highlights included “Avant Gardener,” “History Eraser,” and a closing run through “Nobody Really Cares if You Don’t Go to the Party.”

The alternative rock band Sugar reunited last year after three decades apart and arrived on Ohana stage midafternoon, sounding like they’d never stepped away. Singer-guitarist Bob Mould handled most of the vocals on songs such as “Helpless” and “If I Can’t Change Your Mind,” with bassist David Barbe handling “Where Diamonds Are Halos” and backing vocals throughout.

“This is our first time at Ohana,” Mould said at one point. “Everybody says it’s the best festival. They’re right.”

​ Orange County Register 

Rams’ offensive line looks to keep rolling against stout Broncos front

• September 26, 2026

LOS ANGELES — A year ago, the Rams’ offensive line suffered through a litany of injuries during training camp. The team shuffled through a new combination on the line every couple of days, and the results spoke for themselves through the first couple of weeks of 2025 as the Rams allowed three sacks and 24 pressures.

But this summer, the Rams got a cleaner bill of health up front. The five starting linemen – who played together for 33.15% of snaps in 2025, per Sharp Football – worked together every day, learning from every individual snap spent side by side.

And the benefits have been on display through two weeks in 2026. After 14 pressures but no sacks allowed in the opener, the Rams allowed just four pressures and one sack against a deep and versatile Giants front in Week 2.

“That’s been as consistent of a group on our team as anyone the first two weeks,” Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said. “They’re playing confident. They’re playing physical up front. They’re doing a great job in the run game and a great job in the pass game. They know how important it is for those guys to set a tone and they’ve been that for us.”

In Week 3, the Rams (1-1) and their line will face a different kind of challenge as the team travels to Colorado to face the Denver Broncos (1-1) on Sunday night.

The Broncos led the NFL in quarterback pressures in 2025. That has continued through two weeks this season with 13 pressures per game. The front seven is led by All-Pro outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, but is deep and versatile enough that a team can’t focus solely on blocking one man.

“Pretty good group. It’s a pretty good group,” Rams right tackle Warren McClendon said with a laugh. “Seems like that’s the case every week right now.”

The Broncos’ pass rush isn’t just about talent, but about deployment, too. The team’s defensive coordinator is Vance Joseph. That’s a name familiar to the Rams from his years serving in the same role for the divisional rival Arizona Cardinals.

Since his time in Arizona, Rams head coach Sean McVay says he’s seen Joseph’s scheme evolve in his four years in Denver.

“He’s aggressive. He’s got a good understanding of what he’s trying to do to create problems for the offenses,” McVay said. “He’ll mix some different personnel groupings. He’s always been a pain in a positive way, out of respect, to go against. You can see he has a real good understanding. I think good coaches put their players in situations to accentuate their skill sets. That’s what’s on display all over the tape.”

Complicating that will be a raucous road atmosphere in the night game. As the Rams try to adjust to the exotic looks the Broncos show, center Coleman Shelton and quarterback Matthew Stafford will be tasked with keeping the group on the same page with clear communication in a hostile setting.

It will be moments like that when the Rams’ offensive line will have to lean on the reps they had together during training camp, when they developed their shorthand and learned how to block five as one.

“Being next to [right guard Kevin Dotson] and getting all those reps through OTAs, camp, just building that rapport with each other and building that trust between each other, it definitely helps a lot,” McClendon said. “I know everybody’s going to do their job and that if I do get in trouble, K-Dot’s going to be there to help me. K-Dot is in trouble, I’m going to be there to help him. For all five of us, just that connection that we have and that bond that we’ve all built to have trust in each other.”

RAMS (1-1) at DENVER BRONCOS (1-1)

When: 5:20 p.m. PT Sunday

Where: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 193, 192

​ Orange County Register