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    IRS says 940,000 unclaimed tax refunds are about to expire
    • March 26, 2024

    By Fatima Hussein | Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — The IRS is warning taxpayers that they may be leaving more than $1 billion on the table.

    The federal tax collector said Monday that roughly 940,000 people in the U.S. have until May 17 to submit tax returns for unclaimed refunds for tax year 2020, which total more than $1 billion nationwide.

    The average median refund is $932 for 2020. Texas (93,400), California (88,200), Florida (53,200) and New York (51,400) have the largest amount of people potentially eligible for these refunds.

    IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement: “We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, but time is running out for people who may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds. There’s a May 17 deadline to file these returns so taxpayers should start soon to make sure they don’t miss out.”

    For people who need to file a return, the IRS advises taxpayers to request their W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 from their employer or bank — or order a free wage and income transcript using the “Get Transcript Online” tool at IRS.gov.

    Taxpayers typically have three years to file and claim tax refunds, otherwise the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

    Generally the deadline to claim old refunds falls around the April 15 tax deadline, but this year the three-year window for 2020 unfiled returns was postponed to May 17, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But if taxpayers haven’t filed a return for tax year 2021 and 2022, any 2020 refunds would be withheld until they file for those years as well to make sure they don’t owe.

    Werfel said “some people may not realize they may be owed a refund. We encourage people to review their files and start gathering records now, so they don’t run the risk of missing the May deadline.”

    Tax season officially began on January 29.

    According to the latest tax season statistics, more than 71.5 million individual tax filings have been submitted to the IRS this season.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Orange County baseball stat leaders through March 23
    • March 26, 2024

    Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

    Orange County baseball stat leaders through Saturday, March 23.

    To be included, teams must have their stats up to date on the MaxPreps.com leaderboards.

    BATTING AVERAGE

    Name, school
    BA
    H
    AB

    Julian Gonzalez, Santa Ana
    .500
    12
    24

    Jesus Ramirez, Buena Park
    .481
    13
    27

    Grady Faris, Dana Hills
    .476
    20
    42

    Logan Asch, El Modena
    .475
    19
    40

    Reed Fry, Pacifica Christian
    .474
    18
    38

    Keenan Anzai, Mission Viejo
    .474
    18
    38

    Will Morales, Costa Mesa
    .474
    9
    19

    Kai Cesare, San Clemente
    .458
    22
    48

    Kevin Reyes, Katella
    .457
    21
    46

    Tyler Holland, Mission Viejo
    .455
    10
    22

    Junior Rizo, Bolsa Grande
    .439
    18
    41

    Joshua Gutierrez, Sonora
    .438
    21
    48

    Miguel Velazquez, Fullerton
    .433
    13
    30

    Evan Tamayo, Irvine
    .433
    13
    30

    Trevor Carter, El Dorado
    .429
    6
    14

    Zach Lopez La Habra
    .429
    5
    14

    Cole Lefebvre, Estancia
    .429
    21
    49

    George De Avila, Buena Park
    .417
    10
    24

    Zack Bretza, Segerstrom
    .417
    10
    24

    Ethan Pardo, Rancho Alamitos
    .415
    17
    41

    Gabe Fraser, Orange Lutheran
    .414
    12
    29

    Cohen Gomez, Canyon
    .412
    14
    34

    Adan Magallanez, Godinez
    .410
    16
    39

    Owen Dever, Costa Mesa
    .409
    9
    22

    Vander Ploog, Troy
    .407
    11
    27

    Adrian Perez, El Modena
    .405
    17
    42

    Andrew Mits, Estancia
    .404
    19
    47

    Brandon Tatch, Aliso Niguel
    .404
    19
    47

    Sawyer Atkinson, Estancia
    .400
    18
    45

    Shayan Eldridge, University
    .400
    14
    35

    RUNS BATTED IN

    Name, school
    RBI
    PA
    GP

    Reed Fry, Pacifica Christian
    17
    46
    14

    Sawyer Atkinson, Estancia
    16
    56
    16

    Brandon Tatch, Aliso Niguel
    15
    50
    14

    John Coopman, Pacifica Christian
    15
    44
    13

    Aiden Comte, Costa Mesa
    14
    56
    16

    Jude Dravecky, Pacifica Christian
    14
    44
    14

    Adan Magallanez, Godinez
    14
    42
    11

    Cole Lefebvre, Estancia
    13
    60
    16

    Nate Baughman, Yorba Linda
    13
    53
    16

    Rylan Morris, Sunny Hills
    12
    57
    14

    Andrew Gandara, La Habra
    12
    45
    15

    Christian Tafua, El Modena
    12
    50
    15

    Grady Jackson, Costa Mesa
    12
    61
    16

    Bennett Molica, Estancia
    12
    51
    15

    Austen Barnett, University
    12
    46
    12

    Garrett Allen, Yorba Linda
    11
    58
    17

    Riley Witte, Estancia
    11
    58
    16

    Scout Escobedo, Pacifica Christian
    11
    30
    8

    Brock DellaVedova, San Clemente
    11
    53
    15

    Izaiah Posada, La Habra
    11
    48
    15

    RUNS

    Name, school
    R
    PA
    GP

    Blake Hayes, Pacifica Christian
    20
    51
    14

    John Uchytil, Costa Mesa
    20
    67
    16

    Spencer Carty, La Habra
    18
    58
    17

    Wylan Rottschafer, Costa Mesa
    18
    67
    16

    Omar Gutierrez, Costa Mesa
    17
    65
    16

    Jonathan Nadolski, Aliso Niguel
    17
    53
    14

    Ethan Pardo, Rancho Alamitos
    17
    51
    13

    Jake Humphries, Estancia
    16
    67
    16

    Cole Lefebvre, Estancia
    15
    60
    16

    Bobby Fiero, La Habra
    14
    61
    17

    Grady Jackson, Costa Mesa
    14
    61
    16

    Luke Miller, Pacifica Christian
    14
    48
    14

    John Coopman, Pacifica Christian
    14
    44
    13

    Aiden Comte, Costa Mesa
    14
    56
    16

    Keenan Anzai, Mission Viejo
    13
    41
    13

    Derek Curiel, Orange Lutheran
    12
    47
    13

    Miguel Velazquez, Fullerton
    12
    41
    11

    Joshua Garza, Yorba Linda
    12
    63
    17

    Owen Smith, Yorba Linda
    12
    45
    17

    Heath Carlson, Capo Valley Chr.
    12
    44
    14

    Andrew Mits, Estancia
    12
    58
    16

    Kevin Reyes, Katella
    12
    57
    14

    Nico Lopez, Troy
    12
    56
    15

    Jesus Ramirez, Buena Park
    12
    34
    13

    John Peterson, Pacifica Christian
    12
    47
    14

    Scout Escobedo, Pacific Christian
    12
    30
    8

    EARNED-RUN AVERAGE

    Name, school
    ERA
    IP
    ER

    Jake Nobles, Villa Park
    0.00
    15.0
    0

    Izeah Reyes, Buena Park
    0.00
    15.0
    0

    Evan Tamayo, Irvine
    0.00
    15.0
    0

    Peter Mellana, Sunny Hills
    0.00
    12.1
    0

    Adam Ujiie, Foothill
    0.00
    11.0
    0

    Andrew Mits, Estancia
    0.19
    36.2
    1

    Nic Park, Laguna Hills
    0.28
    24.2
    1

    Nick Santivanez, El Modena
    0.35
    20.0
    1

    Will Clark, Costa Mesa
    0.47
    30.0
    2

    Aaron Sambath, Villa Park
    0.47
    29.2
    2

    Justin Timms, Villa Park
    0.50
    28.0
    2

    Jon Stone, Pacifica Christian
    0.50
    14.0
    1

    Ross Clark, Orange Lutheran
    0.50
    14.0
    1

    Alejandro Tinoco, Katella
    0.50
    14.0
    1

    Manuel Rivera, Buena Park
    0.53
    39.1
    3

    Brandon Schaff, Aliso Niguel
    0.55
    12.2
    1

    Nicholas Murrey, Marina
    0.56
    25.0
    2

    Ethan Kim, Irvine
    0.57
    12.1
    1

    Grady Jackson, Costa Mesa
    0.58
    24.0
    2

    Keegan Demots, Pacifica Christian
    0.58
    12.0
    1

    Hunter Harrington, Laguna Beach
    0.60
    11.2
    1

    Eddie Acitia, Fullerton
    0.67
    21.0
    2

    Jack Bretza, Segerstrom
    0.68
    20.2
    2

    Mike Erspamer, San Clemente
    0.75
    28.0
    3

    Rodrigo Rivera, Segerstrom
    0.77
    27.1
    3

    STRIKEOUTS

    Name, school
    K
    BF
    IP

    Andrew Mits, Estancia
    59
    138
    36.2

    Landon Martin, Sonora
    49
    161
    41.0

    Becker Sybirski, Laguna Beach
    44
    160
    39.1

    Manuel Rivera, Buena Park
    42
    150
    39.1

    Alan Vargas, Bolsa Grande
    40
    139
    33.0

    Aidan Alvarez, Yorba Linda
    39
    162
    40.0

    Mike Erspamer, San Clemente
    38
    105
    28.0

    AJ Frausto, El Dorado
    37
    110
    26.0

    Romeo Montes De Oca, Bolsa Grde
    37
    125
    24.2

    Zack Bretza, Segerstrom
    37
    88
    20.2

    Darren Woo, Troy
    36
    142
    33.2

    Andrew Johnson, Capo Valley Chr.
    36
    112
    26.1

    Nolan Owens, Kennedy
    34
    77
    31.0

    Rodrigo Rivera, Segerstrom
    34
    109
    27.1

    Nick Santivanez, El Modena
    33
    80
    20.0

    Jared Day, La Habra
    33
    123
    29.2

    Vincent De Marco, Woodbridge
    33
    117
    28.2

    Cooper Berger, University
    32
    87
    24.0

    Mark Aguilar, Godinez
    32
    121
    26.0

    Justin Tims, Villa Park
    30
    101
    28.0

    Cooper Hahn, Mission Viejo
    29
    94
    21.2

    Nicholas Moreno, Katella
    29
    109
    25.1

    Henry Garcia, Rancho Alamitos
    29
    152
    32.0

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani says he never bet on sports, interpreter Ippei Mizuhara stole money, told lies
    • March 26, 2024

    LOS ANGELES — Speaking for the first time since he has been embroiled in an alleged $4.5 million fraud potentially tied to gambling, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani said on Monday that he has never participated in sports betting or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

    Instead, Ohtani says his close friend engaged in a scheme of lies that went on for years, with the two-time American League MVP unaware funds from his account were being drained to satisfy a massive gambling debt until after Mizuhara told members of the team he had a gambling problem.

    Ohtani took a seat in front of the assembled media with Will Ireton, who is serving as his new interpreter. Ireton has been a Dodgers employee since 2016 after first serving as an interpreter for former Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda.

    “I have not bet on (anything), or never have asked somebody to (bet on sports events) on my behalf,” Ohtani said. “And I have never gone through a bookmaker to bet on sports.”

    The gambling controversy surfaced last week when the Dodgers were in South Korea and about to face the San Diego Padres in the second game of the regular season. The Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported that Ohtani’s representatives accused Mizuhara of draining funds from Ohtani’s personal bank account in a scheme tied to a Southern California bookmaker.

    Ohtani, who spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Angels, signed a record-setting 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason. He had not spoken publicly on the issue until Monday, saying that he asked authorities to look into the matter and is participating fully with the investigation. MLB announced Friday that it had launched its own investigation.

    Wearing a Dodgers cap and sweatshirt while sitting in front of approximately 100 media members in a cramped interview room beneath the third base stands that is normally reserved for postgame press conferences, Ohtani read quickly in Japanese from a prepared document, while speaking in an assured manner and keeping his face to the assembled mass for much of the session. He did not take questions.

    “First of all, thank you very much for coming; I wanted to be here today to be able to talk,” Ohtani said at the outset. “I’m sure it was very tough, it’s been a tough week for fans, and team officials, and I’m very grateful that the media has been patient in this process. Just on a personal note, I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I entrusted has done this.”

    While not addressing how such a massive amount of money was drained from his account without being noticed, Ohtani admitted that there are some details, “that I am limited in being able to talk about.”

    The IRS has confirmed that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office.

    In direct fashion, Ohtani said he has been betrayed by his friend and former confidant.

    “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies,” Ohtani said.

    Ohtani said he was made aware of a connection to sports betting when media members began asking him about it while the team was in South Korea.

    “Ippei never revealed to me that there was this media inquiry and to the representatives of my camp. … Ippei told to the media and to my representatives that I, on behalf of a friend, paid off debt,” Ohtani said. “Upon further questioning it was revealed that it was actually in fact, Ippei who was in debt.

    “This – all of this – has been a complete lie.”

    After the Dodgers’ victory over the Padres at South Korea on Wednesday, Mizuhara reportedly addressed the team as details about his debt began to emerge. Ohtani said he was present at the time but was without an interpreter as Mizuhara spoke in English.

    “… But even with that, I kind of understood what was going on and started to feel that there was something amiss,” Ohtani said.

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    Ohtani and Mizuhara met together at the team hotel later that evening.

    “So up until that team meeting, I didn’t know that Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt,” Ohtani said. “And that obviously at that point, obviously, I did not never agree to pay off the debt or make payments to the book maker.

    “And finally, when we went back to the hotel and talked one-to-one, that’s when I found out he had a massive debt. And it was revealed to me during that meeting that Ippei was sending money, using my account, to the bookmaker.”

    “To summarize how I am feeling right now, I am just beyond shocked. It is really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point. The season is going to start, so I am going to let my lawyers handle matters from here on out. I am completely assisting in all investigations the tare taking place right now.”

    Ohtani drove in a run in each of the first two games of the season and had three hits in 10 at-bats during the series against the Padres. He was in the Dodgers’ lineup for Monday’s Freeway Series game against the Angels and batting second as the designated hitter.

    “I do want to make it clear that I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker… I’m just beyond shocked. It’s hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point.” – Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/itf1BuAkbv

    — SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 25, 2024

    Shohei Ohtani addresses the media regarding Ippei Mizuhara and the recent gambling allegations. pic.twitter.com/tioSqvkPvn

    — SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 25, 2024

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    OC Health Care Agency names new director, Dr. Veronica Kelley
    • March 26, 2024

    The OC Health Care Agency announced its new director, Dr. Veronica Kelley, has been promoted from her role as chair of the agency’s behavioral health division.

    Former director Dr. Clayton Chau left the post as of last June.

    “The county of Orange and I are very excited that Dr. Kelley will be stepping into the director role at the HCA,” CEO Frank Kim said in a statement. “Dr. Kelley has demonstrated tremendous leadership strength in her role as chief of behavioral health services and navigated extraordinary transitional times in the mental health and recovery care landscape.”

    Kelley has been leading the county’s behavioral health services since December 2021.

    She has more than 33 years of experience in the behavioral health field and has been a licensed clinical social worker for nearly 25 years, according to the county’s announcement Monday, March 25. Her career started at the Health Care Agency in 1999, in the behavioral health department, before she left for San Bernardino County where she spent 13 years with its Department of Behavioral Health, including six years as its director.

    Since rejoining the HCA, the county’s announcement said Kelley has been responsible for reorganizing the department to help better prepare Orange County for addressing behavioral health changes, including changes to Medi-Cal. She also helped collaborate with local law enforcement to divert mental health and homeless calls from public safety responders to mental health workers.

    Kelley’s promotion to director of the Health Care Agency was effective March 22.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    LeBron James doubtful for Lakers’ trip opener against Bucks
    • March 26, 2024

    LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ six-game road trip has already gotten off to a less-than-ideal start.

    Star forward LeBron James is doubtful to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks because of the left ankle peroneal tendinopathy that he’s dealt with for the last few months, the team announced on Monday.

    If James sits out Tuesday, it will be the 10th game he has missed this season. The Lakers are 5-4 in games without the four-time league MVP this season, including a 123-122 home win over the Bucks on March 8.

    D’Angelo Russell, who didn’t play in Sunday’s 150-145 home win against the Indiana Pacers because of a non-COVID illness, wasn’t listed on the injury report for Tuesday and is expected to be available.

    James, 39, played 38 minutes in the victory over the Pacers, finishing with 26 points (8-for-19 shooting), 10 assists and five rebounds.

    “It’s a day-to-day process,” James said of his ankle after Friday’s home win against the Philadelphia 76ers. “Every day I’m working on it, working at it, continue to make that priority No. 1 going down the stretch of the season.”

    The Lakers are entering this trip as the ninth-place team in the Western Conference standings with a 39-32 record, the first time they’ve been at least seven games over .500 since the end of the 2020-21 season. They have 11 games left in the regular season.

    “We know where we are right now,” James said. “Just continue trying to play some good basketball. That’s a very testy road trip for us.

    “It’s very rare, I can’t remember in my career where I’ve had such a late East Coast road trip or vice versa when I was in the East to go to the West so late in the season, so that’s challenging. But we’re looking forward to it.”

    The Lakers enter the trip, which continues on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, winners of 15 of their past 22 games, including their last three.

    Their recent success has kept them from falling below No. 10 in the standings, with the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors and 11th-seeded Houston Rockets entering Monday’s schedule 2½ and 3½ games behind the Lakers, respectively.

    But the Lakers also haven’t been able to make a jump in the standings either, staying 2½ games behind the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, who entered Monday tied and occupying the seventh and eighth seeds.

    “A little,” Anthony Davis responded when asked how much he watches the standings. “I mean, it’s everywhere right now. But for us, just try to control what we can control and that’s winning one game at a time.

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    “Obviously we try to figure out how far we are behind the sixth seed, but you stress yourself out putting too much pressure on yourself when you are constantly looking at it. But we’re ninth right now, so we just got to continue to play our style of basketball and focus on us and taking it one game at a time and worrying about winning that game. And if we continuously do that, then the rest will take care of itself.”

    PLAYER OF THE WEEK

    Davis on Monday was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from March 18-Sunday.

    It was the first time Davis received the award this season and the 10th weekly honor of his career.

    Davis led the Lakers to a 3-0 record in last week’s games, averaging 27 points (68.6% shooting%) 16.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, two blocked shots and 1.3 steals.

    LAKERS AT BUCKS

    When: Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. PT

    Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee

    TV/radio: TNT/710 AM

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    Holocaust survivors honored with rarely given USC Medallion
    • March 26, 2024

     

    Steven Spielberg hugs Holocaust survivor Daisy Miller, of Studio City, as they attend a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Rob Williams and student athlete Rae Ann Serville listen to Holocaust survivor Shaul Ladany give his survivor story via Zoom during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    The USC Medallion was given to Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Joel Citron, USC President Carol Folt, Stephen Spielberg and Holocaust survivor Celina Biniaz pose with the USC Medallion which was awarded to Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Steven Spielberg visits with Holocaust survivors during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Flanked by Joel Citron and Holocaust survivor Celina Biniaz, Steven Spielberg hugs USC President Carol Folt during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    USC President Carol Folt speaks during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Steven Spielberg kisses Holocaust survivor Celina Biniaz after she spoke during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Steven Spielberg passes the USC Medallion as he approaches the lectern to speak during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Steven Spielberg speaks at a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Steven Spielberg gets his cheek pinched as he visits with Holocaust survivors during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Stephen Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    USC President Carol Folt speaks during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Cantor Leslie Goldberg sings Ani Ma’amin during a USC Medallion event honoring Holocaust survivors and the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles on Monday, March 25, 2024. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg following his 1993 film, “Schindler’s List.” The foundation has an archive of more than 56,000 testimonies. This is the fourth time the medallion has been awarded in USC’s history. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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    Los Angeles County resident Celina Biniaz is a Holocaust survivor. She is one of the last living survivors who was on the real-life Oskar Schindler’s list. More than 1,000 Polish families’ stories, including hers, were told in Steven Spielberg’s film “Schindler’s List.”

    Biniaz was symbolically presented with a University Medallion on behalf of all the survivors who have entrusted their testimonies to USC’s Shoah Foundation, which has an archive of more than 50,000 testimonies from Holocaust survivors and witnesses.

    More than 30 Holocaust survivors and around 260 participants attended the event on Monday, March 25 at USC.

    Biniaz received a standing ovation ahead of her speech.

    “Oskar Schindler saved my life,” she said. “Fifty years later, Steven gave me back my voice.”

    For many years, Biniaz said she didn’t talk about being a Holocaust survivor because she didn’t want to relive her trauma, but seeing “Schindler’s List” changed her mind.

    “I believe that personal experiences can inspire others to value human beings,” Biniaz said during her speech. “Today, we’re living in a world that is shaken by tremendous divisions and horrible violence.”

    USC President Carol Folt presented the medallion for all Holocaust survivors to Biniaz. This award is considered one of the university’s highest honors and has only been given out three other times, according to USC officials.

    “We must make sure that the stories of the Holocaust are never forgotten, that the voices would never be silenced,” Folt said as she presented the award.

    Thirty years ago, Spielberg founded the Shoah Foundation after being inspired by survivor stories he heard while making his film about a German who saved more than 1,000 Polish families during World War II.

    “We see every day how the machinery of extremism is being used on college campuses where now 50% of students say they have experienced some discrimination because they are Jewish,” Speilberg said. “This is also happening alongside anti-Muslim, Arab and Sikh discrimination. The creation of the ‘other’ and dehumanization of any group based on their differences, are the foundations of fascism.”

    Los Angeles resident Rochelle Brenner, whose mother Deborah survived the Holocaust by posing as a Russian child and hiding with a Russian family, said she is glad to see her mother’s history being honored.

    “I’m amazed by her because had I been in her shoes, I don’t know if I would have survived five seconds,” Brenner said. “I don’t know if I have the strands, because she had so many near misses.”

    One near-miss Deborah Brenner had was so close that she was bouncing on a Nazi’s lap. She said the man was saying how cute Brenner was moments after talking about how many Jews he had killed.

    “My heart was pounding so hard, I thought he’d hear it,” Deborah, 86, said.

    Survivors, like Brenner, were asked to stand as Biniaz was presented with the award, while audience members clapped.

    USC will be a caregiver of the Medallion and a plaque honoring survivors will be coming to the campus in the future, according to Robert Williams, the Shoah Foundation’s executive director.

    Los Angeles resident Joseph Alexander is a Holocaust survivor who was sent to seven concentration camps over the course of five years.

    One of the last camps he was at was Auschwitz-Birkenau.

    Alexander, 101, said that upon entering Auschwitz-Birkenau, he was originally assigned to a line on the left, with sick people, children and elderly people.

    “I snuck back to the other side when the Nazi turned away,” he said. “If I didn’t move back to the right, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”

    He said the people in the left line later went straight into gas chambers.

    He was 19 at the time and 15 when he first entered a Nazi-controlled camp.

    Alexander said he still shares his experience with the Holocaust in hopes of reaching the next generation.

    “I spoke to hundreds of thousands of kids at high schools and many have never heard about the Holocaust,” Alexander said. “Those of us left, we have to spread the stories and let them know what happened.”

    Last summer, the foundation sent USC students on a trip to Auschwitz, where Folt said one of the students found their family’s name in a book of victims’ names.

    “It’s a chance for the students to understand that survival can lead to a rebirth of life and the return of a rich history between different communities even in countries that were so destroyed by Nazi Germany,” Williams said.

    Other speakers at the event included Spielberg, Joel Citron, who is the son of Holocaust survivors and a panel discussion with USC student-athlete Rae-Anne Serville and Holocaust survivor and two-time Olympian Shaul Ladany.

    Ladany, 88, also emphasized the need for the history of the Holocaust to continue to be taught and documented.

    “I believe the story of the Holocaust should be told in order to educate the public in order for such an awful situation like the Holocaust to not repeat itself again,” he said. “The roots of it should be told to everyone, every place, and therefore, I’m happy to tell it and to try to educate people about it.”

    Before leaving the stage, Spielberg had a reminder for all attendees.

    “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” he said.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Orange County scores and player stats for Monday, March 25
    • March 26, 2024

    Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

    Scores and stats from Orange County games on Monday, March 25

    Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

    The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

    MONDAY’S SCORES

    BASEBALL

    ANAHEIM LIONS TOURNAMENT

    Spanish Springs (NV) 5, Katella 2

    Canyon Springs 6, Oxford Academy 0

    Columbia (ID) 5, Anaheim 1

    Putnam (OR) 3, Kennedy 2

    Crean Lutheran 10, Reed (NV) 0

    Valencia 2, Montclair 1

    SOFTBALL

    WOODBRIDGE ALAN DUGARD CLASSIC

    Fountain Valley 11, Long Beach Wilson 3

    Aliso Niguel 4, Rosary 0

    SAN JOAQUIN LEAGUE

    Capistrano Valley Christian 14, Samueli Academy 0

    NONLEAGUE

    Valencia 11, Anaheim 0

    Segerstrom 10, Calvary Chapel 0

    BOYS VOLLEYBALL

    EXPRESS LEAGUE

    Orangewood def. Magnolia Science Academy, 25-10, 25-17, 25-12

    BOYS TENNIS

    TRINITY LEAGUE

    Orange Lutheran 11, St. John Bosco 7

     

     

     

     

     

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Workers at 34 Southern California hotels getting pay hikes, other perks
    • March 25, 2024

    Workers at 34 Southern California hotels hailed new labor contracts Monday that will boost wages by $10 an hour over four years, ending months of protests and rallies for thousands of employees.

    The cooks, room attendants, dishwashers and others represented by Unite Here Local 11 were part of a massive labor strike that has seen more than 10,000 workers at 53 hotels stage walkouts, protests and picket lines since the labor action began on July 1, 2023.

    Finalized contracts include the Anaheim Hilton, Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. Live, Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel and Irvine Marriott, among others.

    Also see: See the list of 34 Southern California hotels voting on contracts this week

    Labor disputes are ongoing at dozens of other hotels — including the Hotel Figueroa, Hotel Maya, Doubletree Downtown Los Angeles and the LA Grand.

    “There are still 25 to 30 contracts that have to be finished,” Unite Here co-President President Kurt Petersen said. “Many of them are very close. If any employer has a doubt, they need to know they are already defeated. It is time to sign!”

    Pete Hillan, a spokesperson for California Hotel & Lodging Association, welcomed the finalized labor agreements.

    “The ratification votes are a long time coming,” Hillan said in a statement. “We’re glad that hotel employees who have been waiting months now can enjoy the benefits of new contracts, including increased compensation, and continue the great work they do for our guests and our communities.”

    The Beverly Hilton is among 34 Southern California hotels that have ratified labor agreements with Unite Here Local 11. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    Significant pay increases

    Under new four-year contracts, many room attendants, cooks and other non-tipped workers at most of the hotels will get a $5 hourly pay increase in the first year, or an additional $850 monthly or $10,400 a year.

    They’ll see a $10-an-hour pay bump, or an increase of up to 50%, over the course of the labor agreements, which expire Jan. 15, 2028, the union said.

    Most room attendants will earn $35 an hour, or $73,000 a year, by July 1, 2027, Unite Here said, while top cooks will make $41 an hour, or $85,000 a year. When benefits are added in, a hotel will pay $100,000 annually to employ a single room attendant.

    “The most significant achievement is what we won in the first year,” Petersen said. “Because housing costs have soared, we put $5 an hour on the table for the first year. That’s a 20% increase for most workers.”

    Tipped workers also will get double-time pay for holidays, vacation and sick days, as well as increases in their share of service charges. An automatic 20% gratuity in full-service restaurants will likewise be shared 100% among staff.

    Unite Here said the wage increases will ensure workers can remain housed and have the opportunity to live in the communities where they work as rents continue to soar, and money flows into the region with the World Cup & Olympics.

    Brenda Mendoza, a uniform attendant at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown LA for 14 years,  will earn an extra $5 an hour, or $10,400 a year, under the new agreement.

    “It means I don’t have to put in extra hours to make ends meet,” the 42-year-old Apple Valley resident said. “It means that I won’t have to live paycheck to paycheck.”

    Arturo Huezo, who has worked in housekeeping at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica hotel for 30 years, lauded the contract’s preservation of healthcare coverage.

    “The healthcare we were able to keep for me is life-saving,” he said. “I was able to beat cancer, thanks to the medical care I received, and because of that I found the strength to beat this fight, too.”

    Under the new contracts, workers pay no more than $20 a month for full family coverage.

    Employees will also see their employers’ contribution to their pension fund increase by 600% from their last labor contract in 2018, the union said.

    The new contract also restores mandatory daily room cleaning and guarantees pre-pandemic staffing levels.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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