Body dysmorphia: Children’s doctor offers tips for recognizing early signs

• September 15, 2026

By Dr. Marshneil Chavan

Contributing Columnist

Right before schools resume in the fall, there is usually a sense of excitement in the air. However, for many middle and high schoolers, this is also a time of severe anxiety about their appearance.

Teens have always cared about fitting in. However, today’s social media — with its AI capabilities and filters — rewards perfection, which can push normal self-consciousness into a dangerous obsession.

And this obsession can lead to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health condition in which one cannot stop thinking about minor or sometimes perceived flaws. This can eventually lead to significant distress and impact a teen’s ability to function in daily life.

Although BDD is most common in older adolescents and young adults, the age of onset can be in the pre-teen years or even younger. Also, while more common in girls, it can affect boys as well, manifesting as an obsession with spending hours in the gym to become hyper-muscular and lean.

Recognizing body dysmorphia in its early stages is important. If left untreated, it can lead to depression, eating disorders, isolation, self-harm — or worse. So early intervention is critical.

Here are some signs to watch for and some things every parent should know:

Seeking reassurance: How do I look? Do I look fat? How’s my face?

If your child frequently asks you these and similar questions, and if despite your reassurances they don’t appear to be satisfied, this could be a red flag.

Mirror obsession or avoidance: Spending hours in front of or constantly checking themselves in a mirror — or completely avoiding mirrors or photos — also are warning signs.

Hiding their body: Hiding themselves under baggy clothes and heavy hoodies even in hot weather

Excessive self grooming: Be on the lookout for your teen applying layers and layers of makeup to hide some minor or imagined flaw.

Withdrawal: Be wary if your child consistently skips family events or avoids spending time with friends.

Weight fluctuations: Rapid or frequent fluctuations in weight, hunger and eating patterns also is a concern.

If you recognize any of these behaviors in your child, talk to your child’s pediatrician. After an initial assessment, your pediatrician may refer your teen or pre-teen to a psychologist for treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In severe cases of body dysmorphia, your child may be referred to a psychiatrist if medications are necessary.

At home, you can also make a difference by changing how you talk about body image.

It is important to model positive behavior about your own appearance. Instead of focusing on your flaws such as weight or wrinkles, focus on health goals and say things like, “I want to move my body more.”

Shift the focus off your child’s weight. Avoid commenting on their weight. Instead, tell them that weight is a tool to measure overall health and an indicator of lifestyle and not a definition of who they are. Remember to praise your child’s efforts and achievements, instead of their physical appearance.

When your teen voices their insecurity, do not dismiss their concerns. Acknowledge what they are feeling and don’t debate their flaws — perceived or real. Let them know that you are there to support them and get them the help they need.

Dr. Marshneil Chavan is a primary care physician at Premiere Pediatrics in Irvine, part of Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County’s primary care network.

​ Orange County Register 

Muslim region in southern Philippines holds first elections

• September 15, 2026

By TERESA CEROJANO

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines held its first elections for a regional parliament Monday and Tuesday following years of delays, moving it closer to self-rule after decades of insurgency and violence.

Officials said turnout was over 80%, even as five people were killed in election-related violence in the regional capital and polling was extended to a second day in some precincts over a suspected effort to cheat.

More than 20,000 soldiers and police officers were deployed to provide security for the election.

Voters are choosing the 80 members of a regional parliament, who will in turn elect a chief minister in their first session. The winners are expected to be announced by the end of Tuesday.

Voting extended into Tuesday over suspected cheating attempt

Authorities extended voting for a second day in 36 out of 86 precincts in Maluso town on Basilan island after finding pre-filled-out ballots. New ballots for 16,000 affected voters were printed and delivered late Monday and polls will remain open for them until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia celebrated the high turnout and said those behind the attempted cheating will be charged with election sabotage.

“The elections stand on generations of Bangsamoro struggle for homeland, identity, and self-determination, in the face of dispossession, marginalization, conflict and sacrifice,” Garcia said in an earlier statement

Mindanao is recovering from decades of insurgency

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was established under a 2014 peace deal, replacing an older autonomous region with a larger, better-funded and more powerful area. The new region has been run by an appointed transitional government made up of former guerrilla leaders since its creation.

The largest Muslim rebel group — the Moro Islamic Liberation Front — gave up its pursuit of independence from the largely Roman Catholic country in exchange for broader autonomy and the group’s 40,000 fighters promised to demobilize and join civilian life.

The region covers five provinces, plus three cities and 63 additional villages, and is home to nearly 2.4 million voters.

Since the 1970s, about 150,000 combatants and civilians have died in the southern Philippines, while development was stunted in the country’s poorest region. With bombing attacks and kidnappings, Mindanao was viewed as a haven for al-Qaida and the Islamic State group until a U.S.-backed Philippine offensive weakened the militants.

In May 2017, IS-linked militants laid siege to the city of Marawi, triggering five months of ground assaults and airstrikes that left more than 1,100 people, mostly militants, dead and destroyed the mosque-studded city’s commercial and residential districts.

“Whoever wins, hopefully we will see change,” said Sittie Ashuya L. H. Omar, a 22-year-old voter from the city of Marawi. “Hopefully they can implement their promises.”

​ Orange County Register 

China can block citizens from leaving the country over national security or tech export violations

• September 15, 2026

BEIJING (AP) — New border control rules taking effect in China on Tuesday could ban citizens from leaving the country if they engage in illegal activity that endangers national or industrial security.

The rules, part of a broader overhaul of border regulations, reflect in part heightened government concern about the export of technology at a time of growing competition with the U.S. in artificial intelligence and other emerging areas. The opening clause of the regulation says it was drawn up to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests.

A citizen engaging in illegal or criminal activity overseas that endangers national security could be prohibited from leaving China again for six months to three years from the date of their return. Similarly, a citizen who violates technology export or import regulations could be banned from leaving if the action endangers industrial or technological security, the regulation says.

The regulations also allow the authorities to refrain from notifying the individuals concerned if doing so could affect national security or the investigation of a criminal case.

Experts expressed concerns that the regulations may give officials substantial discretion to determine which activities and individuals fall under their authority, given the broad use of terms such as “national interests” and “technology security.”

“Given how broadly national security is defined nowadays, one could easily find themselves subject to bans without even these basic procedural protections promised in the text,” said Mark Jia, a law professor at Georgetown University.

“The new regs are another indication of just how serious China is about preventing the transfer of key tech and technical knowledge,” the consultancy Trivium said in a note after the regulations were announced about six weeks ago.

In an unexpected move, China blocked tech company Meta from acquiring artificial intelligence startup Manus in April, after the deal apparently aroused government concern about the transfer of advanced technology. Manus is a Singapore company with Chinese roots.

The new border rules also include a provision that could ban foreigners from entering for one to five years if they provide false information in a visa application or at the port of entry.

The regulations also seek to prevent citizens from being deceived into traveling abroad and then forced to participate in illegal gambling or online and phone scam operations, a persistent problem in recent years.

The Cyberspace Administration of China, which monitors online discussions, sought to assuage concerns that the new rules would make travel more difficult. The measures target people involved in illegal cross-border activities, not ordinary citizens with legitimate reasons to travel abroad, the agency said in an online post last week.

​ Orange County Register 

Cypress man convicted in shooting death of boy, 12, in Long Beach

• September 15, 2026

A Cypress man was convicted by jury on Tuesday, Sept. 15, of fatally shooting a 12-year-old boy in Long Beach in 2023 after apparently mistaking him for a gang member, authorities said.

Reshawn Jonae Strother, now 24, was also convicted by the Long Beach Superior Court jury of three counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful firearm activity, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and assault with a firearm. Jurors deliberated for less than a day before reaching the verdicts following a week-long trial.

Most of the counts stem from the fatal shooting of Eric Gregory Brown III, who was walking with two teenage girls on Lewis Avenue near Hill Street the night of May 9, 2023, when Strother and his then-girlfriend, Destenee Scipio, now 24, pulled up in her car, according to evidence presented during court proceedings.

At a preliminary hearing in 2024, Detective Jesus Espinoza testified that two other people were also in the car and that two men, including Strother, got out, asked, “Where you from?” and opened fire on the youngsters, hitting Brown in the back of the head and a 14-year-old girl in the leg.

A 13-year-old girl walking with them escaped unharmed.

Police characterized the shooting as gang-related, but said Brown and the two girls were not involved with gangs.

Strother and Scipio had been staying at the Tower Motel near Pacific Coast Highway and Chestnut Avenue. Strother was out driving in Scipio’s car near Orange Avenue and Hellman Street on May 9, 2023, when he said someone opened fire on him and grazed the car, detectives said.

Strother returned to the hotel and, detectives said, wanting to retaliate. But Scipio did not want him to take her car to do so, according to text messages and video presented during the earlier hearing.

Video from the hotel shows Strother grab Scipio by the throat and slam her onto the hood of the car, pinning her for several seconds before another man who apparently knew them intervened, after Scipio attempted to block him from getting into the driver’s seat.

Scipio testified against Strother in trial and told detectives they drove to Carson and Downey to pick up two other men, at least one she saw get into the car with a gun.

They then traveled to Lewis and Hill, where they happened upon the three children.

Strother and the other armed man were identified by detectives as gang members.

One of the attempted murder charges and the assault and possession charges stem from a shooting at a Los Angeles music studio in March 2023 when Strother fired into the studio and hit Scipio in the leg. Another man was injured in the melee.

Scipio’s public defender, in the 2024 hearing, argued that Scipio’s actions at the hotel and text messages show that she did not want Strother taking the car to carry out his plan. But a judge said she ended up getting in the car anyway, knowing what was going to happen.

She pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in July 2025, court records show. She hasn’t been sentenced yet.

Strother’s sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 7.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump and the court: If he wins, he’s happy. When he loses, he ridicules justices he appointed

• September 15, 2026

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has taken his wins, and more notably his losses, at the U.S. Supreme Court quite personally.

It is a court he shaped with three nominees during his first term and he has frequently expressed admiration when the court rules his way, only to turn sharply critical when it delivers him a defeat.

On Monday, the court rejected his administration’s planned restrictions on mail ballots for the midterm elections and by the morning on Tuesday, Trump took to social media to denigrate the decision and the justices he had appointed who rejected Trump’s argument.

None of the three justices wrote about their rationale for joining the majority opinion, though Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated he might see things differently if the election wasn’t coming up so quickly. Of the nine-member court, only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito fully agreed with the administration.

Trump’s rebuke also resurfaced his frustration over losses on tariffs and birthright citizenship — two other issues where the conservative majority court has checked the power of the Republican president.

The court has let Trump move ahead with much of his agenda

The justices have handed the president nearly two dozen victories in emergency appeals, often lifting lower court orders that had blocked key aspects of his boundary-testing second-term agenda. While technically temporary, those decisions have largely allowed his administration to push ahead with his crackdown on immigration, ban on transgender people serving in the military and dismantling of the Department of Education.

He also got significantly more power over federal regulatory agencies that Congress had created to operate independently when the court found presidents can fire those leaders at will. Another ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act allowed his call for redistricting for partisan advantage to proceed.

Those decisions, though, achieved longtime goals of the conservative legal movement. “They’re the kind of cases that, for the most part, it doesn’t matter what administration would have brought them, the court would have come out the same place,” said Erin Murphy, an appellate attorney who clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts. She spoke at a Tuesday panel at Georgetown Law’s Supreme Court Institute.

Trump also has been dealt high-profile losses

Trump’s record has been more mixed, though, in cases where the court has gotten a full briefing and heard arguments. The justices struck down his far-reaching tariffs on nearly every other country, his restrictions on birthright citizenship and put the brakes on his push to fire a member of the Federal Reserve Board.

His administration is still pursuing those goals in new ways, but for Trump the losses have rankled. On Tuesday, he assailed the justices “for shockingly bad rulings that are of such magnitude that it won’t be easily possible for our Country to recover or heal.”

He referenced his own role in appointing three of the nine justices, writing that “these are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court.”

The missive came after a high-profile loss on the emergency docket: the high court’s rejection of his proposed restrictions on mail ballots before the fast-approaching midterm elections. Trump has long targeted mail voting even while using it himself, falsely blaming it for his 2020 election loss despite a lack of evidence of fraud.

“I think it’s certainly right that this is not a MAGA court. The court is asserting its independence from the president,” said Don Verrilli, a former Solicitor General under President Barack Obama, also speaking at Georgetown.

The justices have twice rejected Trump-backed cases ahead of the midterms

The mail ballots decision was the second time in as many weeks that the court rejected a Trump-backed appeal related to the election. The high court also refused to allow Missouri to use new elections maps redrawn at Trump’s urging to help Republicans gain an extra seat in the U.S. House.

The high court’s majority didn’t explain either decision in detail, as is typical on their emergency docket. But taken together, the decision seems to signal an unwillingness to intervene in election litigation before the pivotal November contests.

“My guess is there’s a robust majority that doesn’t want to be the decision maker allowing the chaos to happen,” said attorney Roman Martinez, another former Roberts clerk who frequently argues before the court.

The court will likely end up being drawn into election litigation again, though, before or after the votes are cast. “As the rest of this electoral cycle unfolds, I think there is going to be a lot of turbulence around these issues,” Verrilli said.

​ Orange County Register 

‘American Horror Story’ will bring every chapter to life in LA for free

• September 15, 2026

“American Horror Story” season 13 is a little over a week away, and FX is celebrating with fans by offering a sneak peek through a special immersive experience.

This weekend, guests can wander through FX’s “AHS:13” pop-up in Los Angeles, filled with interactive challenges, bone-chilling scares, and nods to all 12 installments of the series, culminating in a sneak peek at the new season. Inspired by a Rube Goldberg machine, guests must activate each space to advance and trigger the final reveal.

The event, happening at Nya Studio East, 1541 N Cahuenga Blvd., is free to attend but requires an online reservation, which attendees can book at eventbrite.com. Guests must be 18 or older and can book a visit from 2-6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, and 2-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.

“American Horror Story” Season 13 premieres Sept. 24 on FX and Hulu and consists of 13 half-hour episodes, meaning shorter run times than its previous seasons, with the finale arriving by Halloween.

Co-creator Ryan Murphy told Variety that this new season feels like a tribute to him and co-creator Brad Falchuk’s idea to make anthologized TV back in 2011. It will feature fan favorites reprising their characters from past shows, and in some cases, actors will play multiple characters from the past.

The cast includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Joey Pollari, and Jessica Lange. The star-studded cast also features Avantika, Jamie Brewer, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Frances Conroy, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Paul Anthony Kelly, John Carroll Lynch, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Mena Suvari, Zach Villa, John Waters and more.

​ Orange County Register 

Extra practice pays dividends for Yorba Linda football

• September 15, 2026

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First-year Yorba Linda football coach John Domen arrived at a crossroads early in his tenure.

He felt the Mustangs needed more practice as the calendar seemed to race toward the start of fall camp.

Domen acted.

“I canceled like four of our passing leagues and the Battle at the Beach (passing tournament),” he recalled Monday. “We just weren’t ready as a team yet and we couldn’t waste any time not getting better at practice.”

“The 7-on-7 stuff and one-on-one is all fun. It’s a break for the kids and you go out there and work on the timing,” he added. “(But) there isn’t a pass rush and a lot of teams will run an offense or defense that they don’t necessarily use in the season.”

Domen’s foresight and understanding of his team looks superb.

Yorba Linda (4-0) is ranked No. 11 in Orange County and No. 38 in the state, according to hsratings, entering a marquee clash at Huntington Beach (4-0) on Friday.

The Oilers are No. 12 in the county and No. 42 in the state.

Yorba Linda’s resume is highlighted by victories against Laguna Beach and Long Beach Poly.

The Mustangs notched the wins while starting 14 underclassmen, including several sophomores.

With another strong performance Friday, they’ll appear well-prepared for their promotion to the Alpha League next month.

For a squad that lost longtime coach Jeff Bailey and wide receiver Troy Roberts (transfer to Crean Lutheran) in the offseason, Yorba Linda has made impressive strides by keeping its head down and grinding.

“Bumping up (a league), (we’ve) got to be a lot tighter at practice,” Domen said. “The Alpha League is loaded with incredible talent and some really good coaching. … but (our previous) Bravo League is pretty competitive as well. Some of those teams in the Bravo League have a lot of Power 4 talent.”

Domen, 36, learned how to guide Yorba Linda while coaching and playing under Bailey, now the coach at Beverly Hills.

He played for Bailey as a lineman at El Dorado and joined Bailey’s staff at Yorba Linda in 2013.

Domen’s coaching staff includes key Bailey assistants such as Gary Bowers, Steve DiTolla and Rich Burrell. Tommy Storing is the defensive coordinator.

Several of Yorba Linda sophomores have flourished with the extra practice.

Insider linebacker Taj Lagraffe (6-0, 205) ranks second to senior Andrew Maldonado in tackles with 28. He also plays running back and fullback.

“Boy is he special,” Domen said of Lagraffe.

Other sophomores who have emerged are defensive end Logan Seib, right tackle Colt Pace, wide receivers Connor Mackay and Kolt Holcomb and quarterback Andrew Churney.

Churney started for the first time last week for the injured Noah Trujillo (shoulder). He passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-7 victory against Esperanza.

Domen said Trujillo will be a “game-time decision” to play against the Oilers.

Trujillo’s brother Isaiah leads the junior class.

The running back/linebacker has rushed for 238 yards and six TDs, and has 18 tackles.

Defensive tackle Landon Pearson, left guard Carter Uvalle and wide receiver Maddex Schroeder are other top juniors.

Maldonado has emerged as standout safety. The senior leads the team in tackles (33) and interceptions (three).

Maldonado anchors a revamped secondary that will be tested by Huntington Beach quarterback Brady Edmunds, who is committed to Ohio State.

The Mustangs’ secondary includes cornerbacks Tanner Melvin and Dylan Newsom, and safety Braden Walker. They group has been working especially hard with DiTolla, Domen said.

“They’re good,” Domen said of Huntington Beach. “They have a great quarterback. Four receivers who can all make plays. They’re big up front.  … It’s going to take a lot of discipline (to win).”

“I try to steer away from having (our players) focus on who we’re playing and have the focus be on preparation and what we can do each day to get better,” the coach added.

MATER DEI’S PAYTYN GUESS RISING

Mater Dei freshman quarterback Paytyn Guess continued to flash his potential in a 10-9 win against Centennial last week.

Guess helped seal the victory with an 18-yard completion to Gavin Honore with about 1:30 left in the fourth quarter.

In the first half, Guess scrambled on fourth down before launching a 28-yard pass to Honore that moved the Monarchs to the Huskies 1. Centennial’s defense answered by forcing a turnover but Guess’ ability remained clear.

“I prepare for moments like this,” he said. “I may not get it all the time but I got to make the most of my opportunities.”

Guess shared time at quarterback with senior Cameron Pooley and junior Russell Sekona.

The day before the Centennial game, Guess starred for Mater Dei’s freshman team. He has played for varsity and freshman teams throughout the season.

“Thursday is the preparation, make sure my mind is right and just perfect my craft,” Guess said. “Friday is when the big stage comes up.”

Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said the quarterback position remains a work in progress for the Monarchs.

SHORT ROUTES

Brea Olinda (4-1) has accepted a forfeit win against Victor Valley this week, Wildcats coach Justin Villasenor confirmed. Victor Valley’s players and coaches were reportedly suspended this week for conduct during a 20-7 win against Apple Valley last week. …

The Orange County all-star game is scheduled for Feb. 6 at Newport Harbor, organizer Frank Albers of Costa Mesa United said. …

Irvine’s Seamus Hoffman (627), Santa Ana Valley’s Fern Dircio (551), Ocean View’s Trevor Vaivao (546) and Servite’s Jorden Wells (508) lead the county in rushing yards.

​ Orange County Register 

Kennedy Center board votes to close over financial woes, Trump branding dispute, AP sources say

• September 15, 2026

By STEVEN SLOAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The board of the Kennedy Center voted on Tuesday to close over financial issues and a dispute over putting President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic performing arts venue, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick participated in the board meeting, according to one of the people. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a private meeting.

Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, a federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding Trump’s name to the structure or grounds, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building.

Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that, “Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”

After the board added Trump’s name above Kennedy’s, Cooper ruled in May that only Congress can approve changes to the Kennedy Center’s name. The board responded by erecting an elevated tarp which obscures Trump’s name and most of Kennedy’s.

The board had recently floated multiple options for getting Trump’s name on the grounds, including inscriptions like “Renovation and endowment overseen by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.” Another option: “With Gratitude for Support from President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”

The board’s proposal flatly states that “without such appropriate recognition” it’s unlikely that Trump will financially support what the board says are desperately needed renovations.

Cooper, in his Tuesday ruling, tartly notes “the government plays word games.”

​ Orange County Register