Nixon Foundation president is picked to oversee National Archives

• February 18, 2025

James Byron, president and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation, has been selected to help oversee the National Archives and Records Administration.

President Donald Trump on Sunday, Feb. 16, took to social media to announce Byron, 31, will serve as a senior advisor to acting archivist Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the National Archives. The government agency is tasked with preserving important records and documents.

“Jim will manage the National Archives on a day-to-day basis, while we continue our search for a full-time Archivist,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account. “Jim has worked with the National Archives for many years, and understands the great responsibility and duty we have to preserve the History of our Great Country.”

Byron, of Costa Mesa, will take a leave of absence from the Nixon Foundation while serving in the National Archives and Records Administration. While gone, Joe Lopez, the foundation’s vice president of marketing and communications, will serve as acting president and CEO.

The Chapman graduate took the top post at the foundation in 2021. As president, his goal has been to create an immersive and educational experience for visitors around the globe who come to Yorba Linda to visit the presidential library, according to his biography on the foundation’s website.

Through special exhibits — including former President George. W. Bush’s “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors,” which visited the library in 2024 — Byron has said he hopes to raise the foundation’s and library’s national impact and online presence.

Byron also oversaw the American Civics campaign, a $40 million effort launched in 2023 that helps educate middle and high school students on American civics and history.

“The Nixon Foundation is pleased that President Trump has appointed Jim Byron to this important role at the National Archives. The Board congratulates Jim and looks forward to welcoming him back to Yorba Linda when his work is finished. We wish him great success,” said Robert O’Brien, chair of the Nixon Foundation.

“Jim Byron’s fingertips on maintaining and curating America’s history are found all over Orange County,” said Will O’Neill, former Newport Beach mayor and recently elected chair of the Orange County Republican Party. “Our county’s loss is truly our nation’s gain. I commend President Trump on his election and wish Jim the absolute best as senior advisor to our nation’s acting archivist.”

Recently, acting archivist William J. Bosanko and other senior staff members reportedly resigned from the National Archives, the latest shakeup since Trump took office again.

Byron, according to his bio, is a native of Santa Monica who grew up in Orange County.

Byron is just one of several people from Southern California who is serving in the new Trump administration.

O’Brien, a longtime attorney in Los Angeles and chair of the Nixon Foundation’s Board of Directors, was tapped earlier this month to serve as a member on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. In an emailed release, the White House said those on the advisory board will advise Trump “on our nation’s most important security challenges and ensure that the intelligence community is working to advance the president’s America First agenda.”

​ Orange County Register 

Columbine High School shooting survivor dies decades after tragedy. Her tenacious spirit is remembered.

• February 18, 2025

While Columbine High School shooting survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter’s life was shaped by tragedy, the tenacious woman worked hard to ensure tragedy did not define her.

Hochhalter was 17 when her life shifted from teen clarinet player to among the most injured survivors of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. The high school junior was paralyzed after being shot in the back. She spent the rest of her days in a wheelchair with medical complications.

Six months after the shooting, her mother, Carla Hochhalter, walked into a pawnshop, asked to see a revolver and fatally shot herself.

Amid the media frenzy, medical care and grief, Anne Marie Hochhalter was determined to live life on her own terms. She went on to find her new normal, living independently in a handicap-accessible home with dogs to love and friends to cherish.

Anne Marie Hochhalter, 43, was found dead in her home Sunday.

Her death appears to be complications from the medical issues she suffered from the shooting, said Sue Townsend, stepmother of Lauren Townsend who died in the Columbine shooting. Sue and Rick Townsend reached out to Anne Marie Hochhalter after the tragedy and formed a familial relationship with her, calling her their “acquired daughter.”

“She was fiercely independent,” Sue Townsend said. “She was a fighter. She’d get knocked down — she struggled a lot with health issues that stemmed from the shooting — but I’d watch her pull herself back up. She was her best advocate and an advocate for others who weren’t as strong in the disability community.”

The families, united by tragedy, found joy within each other’s understanding, caring nature. They spent holidays and vacations together and developed a unique, intimate bond knitted together by wounds few else could understand.

“She was fun,” Sue Townsend said.

In 2018, they all took a Hawaii trip and rigged an innertube so Anne Marie Hochhalter could float in the ocean, her legs dangling in the water.

“She said the two hours she was out there she didn’t have any nerve pain at all,” Sue Townsend said. “The ocean was her happy place even though she didn’t get to go there but once.”

Nathan Hochhalter, Anne Marie Hochhalter’s brother, said his big sister was always a straight ‘A’ student who loved learning and reading. She had an affinity for musical instruments, playing harp, piano, clarinet and guitar.

“And she loved her mom a lot,” Nathan Hochhalter said.

Animals — particularly furry, four-legged friends — filled a huge part of Anne Marie Hochhalter’s heart.

She fostered dogs and owned several over the years, doting on them.

“She could probably name every dog in the neighborhood but maybe not the neighbors,” Sue Townsend said, laughing.

Two neighbors, Jan and Dave Anderson, who were a part of Anne Marie Hochhalter’s village, are taking her beloved chiweenie dog, Georgie.

Though Anne Marie Hochhalter was often in pain, she found escape in cinema. Sometimes, she and her friends would call each other, turn on a movie at the same time and watch it silently together over the phone, Sue Townsend said.

More than anything, Sue Townsend said Anne Marie Hochhalter would have wanted people to know she wasn’t a victim.

Her resilience, Sue Townsend said, was driven in part by stubbornness.

“It was this attitude of ‘I’ll show you,’” she said. “‘You’re not going to get me down.’”

In 2016, Anne Marie Hochhalter wrote a letter to the mother of Dylan Klebold who, along with Eric Harris, killed twelve students and one teacher in a shooting rampage at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.

The letter to Sue Klebold coincided with an ABC television interview promoting her book “A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy.”

In the letter, Anne Marie Hochhalter told Sue Klebold she harbored no ill will toward her.

“Just as I wouldn’t want to be judged by the sins of my family members, I hold you in that same regard,” Hochhalter wrote. “It’s been a rough road for me, with many medical issues because of my spinal cord injury and intense nerve pain, but I choose not to be bitter towards you. A good friend once told me, ‘Bitterness is like swallowing a poison pill and expecting the other person to die.’ It only harms yourself. I have forgiven you and only wish you the best.”

​ Orange County Register 

Young dancer thanks UCI Medical Center after removing rare pancreatic tumor

• February 18, 2025

Lauren Torres is small, even for a 12-year-old.

But her resilience is unparalleled.

A year ago, Torres had a baseball-sized tumor removed from her pancreas at UCI Medical Center.

Now, the Corona girl is back to jazz dance, school and everything else she loves to do — in full health.

Earlier this week, the Torres family revisited staff at the UCI Medical Center in Orange to say thank you and to showcase Lauren’s outstanding progress.

“I was debating going back because I just didn’t know how it would feel, what emotions it would bring back,” said Lauren’s mom, Vicki Torres. “But then I thought that if sharing Lauren’s story can maybe help somebody or give them a positive outlook, then I decided it’d be worth it.”

For Lauren, the visit showcased her resiliency.

Going back to the hospital wasn’t scary. Actually, “it was really fun,” she said.

Her favorite part, she said, was reconnecting with Lulu and Pixel, the two therapy dogs that helped her cope through recovery.

Dr. David Imagawa said Lauren was a “remarkable patient.”

Imagawa is a leading expert in liver and pancreatic tumors who diagnosed Lauren with SPN, a slow-growing pancreatic tumor seen mostly in women in their 20s or 30s. He performed the surgery to remove the tumor.

In doing online research, Vicki Torres said she only found stories of two or three other children across the nation who went through what Lauren did, which is why she wanted to share her daughter’s success story.

Since Lauren’s tumor pressed against a vein, surgery was risky.

Imagawa and a Children’s Hospital Orange County oncologist initially tried a clinical trial to shrink the tumor’s size.

But, after three rounds of treatment, the tumor continued to grow.

Surgery was the only option for a cure.

During the procedure, however, Lauren had an unexpected adverse reaction to anesthesia that Dr. Govind Rajan, the performing anesthesiologist, said he had seen only once prior in his 30-year career.

Consequently, the procedure ran longer than expected. Nevertheless, Imagawa and the UCI Health team navigated a successful eight-hour operation to remove Torres’ tumor.

“It was a surgical miracle,” Rajan said.

Once the tumor was out, Vicki Torres said her daughter’s recovery initially seemed slow.

“The whole thing was pretty traumatic; I was just in kind of a zone,” she said.

“But looking back at it, everything went by so fast. It’s amazing how fast the body can heal in such a short amount of time.”

​ Orange County Register 

KFC is leaving its ancestral home as parent company moves its corporate office to Texas

• February 18, 2025

By BRUCE SCHREINER

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Fried Chicken is being uprooted from its ancestral home state in a shake up that will relocate its U.S. corporate office to Texas, the chain’s parent company said Tuesday.

The KFC chain — launched by Colonel Harland Sanders and his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices — will be based in Plano, Texas, and about 100 KFC corporate employees will be relocated in the next six months, said Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

Moving the corporate office from Louisville brought a swift response from the city’s mayor.

“I am disappointed to learn that Yum Brands will move its KFC employees to Texas – especially since the brand was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement.

Yum said the move is part of its broader plans to designate two brand headquarters in the U.S. — in Plano and Irvine, California. KFC and Pizza Hut will be headquartered in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will remain based in Irvine, it said. Yum added that 90 U.S.-based employees who have worked remotely will be asked to eventually relocate to the Plano or Irvine campuses, depending on their work.

Yum and the KFC Foundation will maintain corporate offices in Louisville, the company said.

“I’ve asked to meet with the Yum CEO soon and am heartened Yum will retain its corporate headquarters and 560 employees here,” Greenberg said. “I will work tirelessly with Yum’s leadership to continue growing its presence in Louisville.”

Employees being shifted will receive relocation and transition support, the company said.

Yum said that designating two brand headquarters is meant to foster greater collaboration among its brands and employees.

“These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders,” Yum CEO David Gibbs said in a news release.

Yum also announced it will provide a $1 million endowment to the University of Louisville’s College of Business to fund Yum-sponsored scholarships. And the company said KFC will continue its brand presence in Louisville with the goal of building a first-of-its-kind flagship restaurant.

KFC’s ties to Kentucky run nearly a century deep. In 1930, at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, Sanders began feeding travellers and spent the next nine years perfecting his blend of herbs and spices, as well as the basic cooking technique, KFC’s website says. There are now over 24,000 KFC outlets in more than 145 countries and territories around the world, it said. And the goateed entrepreneur’s likeness is known globally, having been stamped on KFC restaurant signs and chicken buckets.

​ Orange County Register 

Supervisor in DC federal prosecutors’ office told to resign after dispute over investigation

• February 18, 2025

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top supervisor in the federal prosecutors’ office in Washington said she was forced to resign following a dispute with her boss over a directive that she scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during the Biden administration, according to a letter reviewed by The Associated Press.

Denise Cheung, a longtime Justice Department official who led the office’s criminal division, wrote in a resignation letter that interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin ordered her to seek a freeze on assets related to the contract and to issue grand jury subpoenas despite her believing there was an insufficient basis for doing so.

Cheung said Martin asked for her resignation after she resisted his demand to tell a bank not to release any funds from certain accounts because of a criminal investigation. Cheung said she “lacked the legal authority to issue such a letter” to the bank, telling Martin that the “quantum of evidence did not support that action.”

Cheung’s letter recapping her dispute with Martin did not describe the nature of the contract or which agency was involved. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment, and a spokesperson for the Justice Department said failing to follow orders “is not an act of heroism.”

The conflict was the latest to roil the Justice Department and to result in the resignation of a career official who was unwilling to follow a Trump administration mandate.

Cheung did not explain the reason for her departure in an email to her colleagues Tuesday morning, but encouraged them to continue to fulfill their commitment to “pursuing justice without fear or prejudice.”

“I took an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution, and I have executed this duty faithfully during my tenure, which has spanned through numerous Administrations,” Cheung wrote in the email reviewed by The Associated Press. “All that we do is rooted in following the facts and the law and complying with our moral, ethical and legal obligations.”

Cheung’s resignation comes a day after President Donald Trump said he would nominate Martin to serve as D.C.’s U.S. attorney on a permanent basis. Martin, who has advocated for Jan. 6 rioters and backed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, has been leading the office as interim U.S. attorney since last month.

Martin tapped Cheung last month to conduct an internal review of the prosecutor’s use of a felony charge brought against hundreds of Capitol rioters. Calling the use of the charge “a great failure of our office,” Martin ordered attorneys to hand over to Cheung and another supervisor all relevant “files, documents, notes, emails and other information” and directed the supervisors to prepare a report on their findings.

It’s the latest departure from a Justice Department that has been rocked by firings, resignations and forced transfers since Trump’s inauguration in late January.

Last week, Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest following a directive from Emil Bove, the Justice Department’s acting No. 2 official, to dismiss corruption charges against former New York Mayor Adams. Several high-ranking officials who oversaw the Justice Department’s public integrity section followed Sassoon in resigning after Bove asked the unit to take over the case.

​ Orange County Register 

Terrier mix Sal will be a loyal, loving friend

• February 9, 2025

Breed: Terrier mix

Age: 5 years

Sex: Neutered male

Size: 11 pounds

Sal’s story: Gentle Sal is the ultimate snuggle buddy who loves to sleep by your side and shower you with affection. This calm boy is house-trained, great with kids and dogs, and polite on a leash. He would be the perfect companion for someone looking for a loving and loyal friend. Rescued from a shelter in September, this little guy has been on a journey of recovery after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament and medial patella luxation surgery in October to fix his knee. Now, he’s on the mend and ready to find his forever family! Sal’s favorite pastimes include leisurely walks, basking in the sun in the backyard, and being your shadow wherever you go. His sweet and gentle demeanor makes him a perfect companion for anyone looking for a loyal, loving friend. Sal’s resilience and kind heart make him an extraordinary pup ready to bring warmth and joy into your life.

Adoption cost: $375

Adoption procedure: Complete the required adoption application online or contact I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

German shepherd Dottie is a super dog, mature but still playful

• February 9, 2025

Breed: German shepherd

Age: 6 years

Sex: Spayed female

Dottie’s story: Dottie is a friendly, mature girl who would benefit from regular exercise. She is still playful, but would love nothing more than a comfy place to call her own. She likes cats and other dogs, too. She is up-to-date on vaccines and microchipped.

Adoption donation: At least $315

Adoption procedure: Contact German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County at 714-974-7762 or go to gsroc.org to fill out an application.

Adoption procedure: Contact German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County at 714-974-7762 or fill out an application online.

​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ trade for Mark Williams rescinded

• February 9, 2025

LOS ANGELES —The Lakers’ trade for center Mark Williams has been “rescinded” because of a “failure to satisfy a condition of the trade,” the team announced on Saturday evening.

The Lakers on Wednesday night acquired Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that was officially announced on Thursday night for rookie wing Dalton Knecht, veteran wing Cam Reddish, their 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap.

But the trade was voided, with no elaboration on what condition of the trade wasn’t met.

The Lakers’ full statement from Saturday night read: “The trade between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers has been rescinded due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade.”

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register