Judge denies two emergency requests related to Huntington Beach air show settlement

• June 30, 2023

A state judge on Friday, June 30, denied two emergency requests related to Huntington Beach’s near $5 million settlement with the operator of its annual air show over cancelling a day because of an oil spill – one sought to prevent the city from paying out the settlement and the other to require the city to release a full copy of the agreement.

City Attorney Michael Gates said Friday that Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Strickroth denied both emergency requests. A full hearing for the two cases is scheduled for July 17 before Judge Martha Gooding.

The settlement between the city and Pacific Airshow LLC was announced in May, with the city agreeing to pay the air show operator nearly $5 million. Huntington Beach could pay $2 million more if the city recovers additional money through its lawsuit against Amplify Energy Corp., the company that owns the pipeline that leaked in 2021, forcing the cancellation of the last day of the air show. 

Gates said he was happy with Friday’s outcome.

“I think Judge Strickroth got it right. There’s absolutely no urgency on any of this,” Gates said.

Former Huntington Beach Mayor Connie Boardman and former Planning Commissioner Mark Bixby filed the lawsuit to block the settlement. Huntington Beach resident and former City Council candidate Gina Clayton-Tarvin filed a separate lawsuit to get a copy of the air show settlement that Gates has refused to release.

“His dismissal of the demands by Clayton-Tarvin, Boardman and Bixby speaks to the merits of their claims. If their claims were compelling, the judge’s ruling might have been different,” Gates said.

The city has already budgeted the first settlement payment of $1.9 million that could be sent as early as July 1, Gates said. According to a summary of the settlement agreement, Pacific Airshow LLC must be paid that first installment by the end of July. If a judge rules against the city, Gates said any payment made could be retrieved.

Boardman and Bixby’s attorney Lee Fink said Friday that he remains hopeful going into the hearing on July 17 because the judge did not throw out their case.

“So the fact he’s put it over is a telltale sign that our application is good,” Fink said. 

Related links

First day of Pacific Airshow brings high-flying action above Huntington Beach
Here’s what it looks like to fly with the planes in the Pacific Airshow
Major oil spill closes OC beaches, kills wildlife in Huntington Beach
A year later, the Huntington Beach oil spill still is being felt

​ Orange County Register 

Heat, storms bring a tumultuous start to summer

• June 30, 2023

By Tom Davies | Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — People in the central U.S. headed into the July Fourth weekend facing smoky haze, high temperatures and dealing with the aftermath of powerful derecho winds that caused widespread damage and left hundreds of thousands of residents without power.

Utility crews were scrambling Friday to restore electricity after a storm system moved across Illinois and Indiana on Thursday packing winds that sometimes reached more than 70 miles (112 kilometers).

The storm damaged trees and buildings in the central parts of both states from the Mississippi River to the Indianapolis area. Utility companies faced the challenge of trying to replace electrical lines entangled in downed trees ahead of more expected thunderstorms and temperatures climbing to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

“We’re seeing a large number of broken poles, trees and powerlines, spans of wire down,” said Angeline Protogere, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy in Indiana.

Some communities in central Illinois and western Indiana declared disaster emergencies to limit traffic on roads for utility and cleanup crews to work. Utility companies reported that more than 250,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Friday morning.

The National Weather Service said the storm was a derecho, which is often described as an inland hurricane because of its line of strong winds stretching for hundreds of miles.

“We had damage all the way from northeast Kansas, all the way down into Kentucky and across Indiana,” said John Bumgardner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Illinois.

In the South, a dangerous heat wave that has been blamed for the deaths of at least 14 people was expected to last into the weekend in some areas. Forecasters warned that heat indexes could rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) and an excessive heat warning remained in place Friday for parts of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.

In Memphis, Tennessee, city and county officials said relief efforts were focused on those who still had no power and air conditioning after strong storms Sunday that knocked down trees and power lines. About 10,000 homes and businesses still had no power on Friday morning, according to the local utility, Memphis Light, Gas and Water.

“To all of those customers, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. I know how difficult it can be in the absence of a utility and a commodity that you rely on for your daily life to help you cook, clean, and stay cool,” said Doug McGowen, the utility’s president and CEO, during a news conference Thursday.

The storm in the Midwest did help clear the region’s air of smoke from Canadian wildfires that had prompted warnings for people to stay inside. The Environmental Protection Agency had listed many cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, Ohio, as having “very unhealthy air” earlier in the week.

The EPA warned Friday that parts of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut could experience “unhealthy” air conditions because of the wildfires in Quebec and northern Ontario.

“The primary concern is high concentrations of fine particle air pollution that is unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups such as people with respiratory disease, the elderly, or people with compromised health,” the agency said.

The Midwest might only have a brief respite from the Canadian smoke as another storm is poised to move through the region Sunday, meteorologist Bumgardner said.

“Behind that our winds will probably switch back to northerly, which theoretically could bring a little more smoke into the area,” Bumgardner said. “But that’s tough to predict more than a day or two out.”

Airline travelers did get some relief Friday, with none of the weather-induced restrictions imposed earlier this week on planes landing and taking off at major airports in the Northeast.

Still, by midday on the East Coast more than 2,000 flights had been delayed and more than 300 others canceled — more than 200 of those on United Airlines, according to FlightAware.

If the trends hold up, United will have the most cancellations of any U.S. airline for a seventh straight day.

Associated Press writers David Koenig in Dallas, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee and Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, N.J. contributed.

​ Orange County Register 

Los Alamitos is the 11th Orange County city to allow July 4 fireworks sale, use

• June 30, 2023

Los Alamitos residents can set off their own Fourth of July fireworks at home for the first time in 37 years.

This year, Los Alamitos is joining the 10 other Orange County cities that have been allowing the sale and use of legal “safe and sane” fireworks.

Two stands selling the fireworks are being allowed, one in the Vons parking lot at 11322 Los Alamitos Blvd., and the other shopping center at 4141 Katella Ave. They will open on Saturday, July 1, and sell through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Safe and sane fireworks must carry the California Fire Marshall seal.

Anaheim booths are the first in the county to start sales, which kicked off Wednesday in that city. Most of the cities allow sales from July 1 to 4, a few start on June 30 each year. Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park and Westminster all allow fireworks sales.

Lisa Clemons, right, hands a bag of fireworks to a customer at the fireworks stand for the Anaheim Amateur Figure Skating Association at 420 N. Euclid in Anaheim on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Anaheim residents may purchase the approved fireworks from June 28 to July 4 at 16 stands throughout Anaheim. Fireworks are banned for the Anaheim Hills area east of the 55 freeway and southeast of the 91 freeway. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Alamitos hosts a free annual fireworks show with Seal Beach at the Joint Forces Training Base, which is attended by 7,500 to 10,000 people each year, City Manager Chet Simmons said.

Now in its 36th year, the event has been moved to July 3 – gates open at 4 p.m. and the fireworks are at 9 – to allow the military personnel the opportunity to celebrate Independence Day with their families. So in December, the City Council approved the use and sale of fireworks so Los Alamitos residents could light their own on July 4.

For more, see: Where you can see July 4 fireworks in Orange County

Another driving force in the discussion to legalize fireworks was the city’s proximity to other communities that allow their use, meaning residents were purchasing them elsewhere and bringing them home, Councilmember Shelley Hasselbrink said.

“And it’s not going to stop illegal fireworks at all,” she said.

After discussing with major fireworks distributors and other cities with fireworks booths, Los Alamitos leaders decided that their city of about 11,700 people could accommodate two booths, Simmons said.

The booths will be operated by the Los Alamitos Community Foundation to raise money for three main projects: a Police Department canine program, an adaptive recreation program and an urban forest program. Hasselbrink, who is also the foundation’s treasurer, said a police dog could help the officers tackle drug sales and the adaptive recreation program could help children with disabilities.

She estimated that each booth could make about $20,000 in profit.

Volunteers from four or five other nonprofits have also been trained to help operate the booths.

As the council was discussing reversing the ban on fireworks, concerns were raised about their effects on pets. The city has posted firework safety tips on its website and social media.

“Safe and sane isn’t going to add to pets’ distress,” Hasselbrink said, noting how loud the night already is with the illegal fireworks people have been using. “They’re already distressed.”

Hasselbrink has never sold fireworks before and said she is looking forward to her shift in one of the booths on Saturday. Through the fireworks sales, she said she’ll be getting to share the fond memories from her childhood of the Fourth of July. There are kids in Los Alamitos who have never held a sparkler, she said.

All cities in Orange County prohibit the use of fireworks without the state seal and many have hefty fines for those caught using illegal fireworks.

Los Alamitos and most cities also restrict the use of the safe and sane fireworks to the Fourth of July; Santa Ana and Stanton also their use starting Saturday and Costa Mesa on Sunday. In Anaheim, fireworks of any kind are prohibited in in the hilly eastern side of Anaheim where wildfires are a risk. The ban runs east of the 55 and east and southeast of the 91 freeway.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Prado Dam patriotic mural to be lit up for July 4th

• June 30, 2023

It’s time to shine for the Prado Dam’s newly restored patriotic mural.

The iconic 76,800-square-foot mural near Corona, revived with the help of $100,000 in community donations and dedicated in early June, will be illuminated for one night only on Tuesday, July 4, in celebration of Independence Day, Riverside County officials announced Thursday, June 29.

Originally created in 1976 by 30 Corona High School students to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial, the mural has the phrase “200 Years of Freedom” in red paint, along with “1776-1976” painted in red, white and blue to resemble the American flag. A blue liberty bell is in between.

“After celebrating the collaborative effort to restore the mural to its original glory, we wanted to take another step and honor all those who made it possible,” Jason Uhley, general manager and chief engineer of the county’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District, said in a news release.

The illuminated mural will be visible from the 91 and 71 freeways.

Related links

Patriotic mural restored on Prado Dam near Corona
Watch this patriotic mural at the Prado Dam go from old to new again
Repainting of patriotic mural on Corona-area Prado Dam begins
Prado Dam patriotic mural near Corona loses legal protection, but could be repainted

​ Orange County Register 

Gregg Berhalter’s return as USMNT coach set for September

• June 30, 2023

Gregg Berhalter’s second tenure as U.S. men’s national soccer coach officially begins after the current CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The first competitions for Berhalter will come in September with a pair of international friendlies against Asian Confederation nations Uzbekistan (Sept. 9) and Oman (Sept. 12).

This will be the first time the U.S. has ever faced either nation.

“We are very intentional and committed to presenting different challenges to our team during the next three years as we continue to develop the program,” Berhalter said in a statement. “Uzbekistan and Oman are first-time opponents for us and both are preparing for the AFC Asian Cup, so we expect them to be good tests.”

The game against Uzbekistan will take place at CITYPARK in St. Louis (2:30 p.m., TNT). The meeting against Oman will be played at Allianz Field in Minnesota (5:30 p.m., TNT).

The matches will fall on a FIFA international fixture date, meaning all players will be available for selection.

In October, USMNT will face Germany (Oct. 14) in Connecticut and Ghana (Oct. 17) in Tennessee.

Berhalter, whose contract had expired at the end of 2022 after the FIFA World Cup, where he led the U.S. to the Round of 16, was initially replaced by assistant and interim coach Anthony Hudson amid controversy and allegations of blackmail.

The parents of Gio Reyna, upset with their son’s treatment and lack of playing time at the World Cup, notified the U.S. Soccer Federation of Berhalter allegedly assaulting the woman who later became his wife in 1991. An ensuing independent investigation by U.S. Soccer cleared Berhalter to be rehired as USMNT head coach June 16.

B.J. Callaghan is currently serving as interim coach through the CONCACAF Gold Cup, taking over after stepped down a month ago. Callaghan also led the USMNT to the CONCACAF Nations League win.

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​ Orange County Register 

What makes you a mosquito magnet? Some people can’t escape the pesky but dangerous bites

• June 30, 2023

Mosquitos can carry some dangerous diseases, including malaria, recently rediscovered in Florida.

Whether you are a target of those pesky insects may depend on an odd array of factors including your your blood type, your body scent, your metabolism, and what you wear.

“Some people are more prone to bites than others,” said Eva Buckner, Assistant Professor & State Extension Specialist at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach. “If you are one of these people you need to protect yourself this summer.”

Mosquito season in the state started earlier than usual this year, in mid-April, and the extreme heat and rain are triggering higher mosquito levels.

“In Florida we get mosquitoes year-round but the numbers are highest in the warm summer months,” Buckner said.  “We are in the middle of mosquito season and it’s hot and we are getting lots of rain this year and those two things are promoting more production of mosquitoes.”

What makes you a magnet

Scientists estimate that 20% of people are more likely to attract mosquitoes and thus get bitten more often.  Here is why you may be one of them:

Your blood type: If you have type O blood, you will attract more mosquitoes than people with all other blood groups. Type A is the next most popular for mosquitoes, followed by Type B, according to research published by the US National Library of Medicine.
Your scent: A new study found that people who are most attractive to mosquitoes produce a lot of certain chemicals on their skin  that are tied to smell. Researchers at New York’s Rockefeller University designed an experiment pitting people’s scents against each other, and discovered people who are mosquito magnets had high levels of certain acids on their skin. Those people who attract mosquitos based on smell tend to get bitten over and over. Scientists  don’t yet know why mosquitoes prefer certain body scents, just that they do.
Your metabolism:  Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide from a distance of up to 50 meters. The faster your metabolism, the more carbon dioxide you exhale. So those people who have a faster metabolism are more likely to be victims of bites. Mosquitoes also prefer pregnant women because they have a higher metabolic rate and tend to exhale more CO2.
Your clothing choices: Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, and dark colors hold in heat more than light colors do. Colored clothing, such as black, navy, blue or red  may make it easier for these insects to find you. Light-colored clothing tends to reflect heat. This means mosquitoes are less likely to notice you in a white or pale yellow garment. While you have the most protection when when your arms and legs are covered by pants and long sleeve shirts, those pesky insects can pierce fabrics like leggings that are thin and tightfitting as easily as they do skin.
Your drink selection: Several studies have shown mosquitoes are more attracted to people after they drink beer. It could be that people breathe a little harder afterward or their skin is a little warmer. Or, the ethanol you give off in your sweat when you have been drinking could be what lure the mosquitoes.

What if a disease carrying mosquito bites you

More than 80 species of mosquitos circulate in Florida, however only certain types bite humans. Some bite at night, others during the day, and often they come out at dawn and dusk. Some mosquito species are leg and ankle biters and are attracted to the stinky smell of bacteria on your feet. Other species prefer the head, neck and arms, possibly because of the scents emitted by your skin and closeness to carbon dioxide released by your mouth.

The majority of mosquito bites are annoying rather than harmful. About a dozen types can pass on diseases to humans, including chikungunya, dengue, Zika and West Nile viruses.

The Anopheles mosquitos were just linked to cases of malaria in Florida. The Florida Department of Health issued a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory after four locally contracted cases of malaria were reported along the Gulf Coast south of Tampa.  Malaria, caused by a parasite that spreads through bites from Anopheles mosquitoes, has symptoms that include fever, chills, sweats, nausea and vomiting, and headaches.

Buckner said most likely, someone in the area traveled to a foreign country where they contracted malaria. That person then got bit by a mosquito locally, and it went on to bite other people.

Most mosquitoes have flight ranges of only 1 to 3 miles.

“These cases are very localized,” Buckner said. “These type of mosquitoes are not as great vectors as others that carry mosquito-borne pathogens like dengue fever.” The four residents in Sarasota County who contracted malaria from a mosquito have received treatment and have recovered, according to the state’s Department of Health advisory.

“This mosquito-borne malaria in Florida is a different subtype than the African one. It is not associated with fatal disease,” said Michaela Gack, Ph.D., scientific director of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida Research and Innovation Center.

Diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika are spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, an aggressive biter. Miami-Dade County issued a dengue alert in April.

Adriana Toro with Broward County Mosquito Control said the county has stepped up spraying for mosquitoes and is doing pre-treatment on larvae. However, anyone who is experiencing mosquito problems at their home can request service by calling 311 or by completing a Mosquito Service Request Form. “If you are having problems with mosquitoes, notify us and we will check the area during the day, and if confirmed, we will send our trucks at night,” Toro said.

The Palm Beach County Division of Mosquito Control also has increased its aerial spraying in response to increased mosquito levels and the potential of vector-borne disease threats.

Experts warn that summer travel can put you in contact with disease-carrying mosquitoes, so take precautions.

European Union officials recently cautioned that there is a growing risk this summer of mosquito-borne viral diseases in Europe due to climate change. Because summers are getting longer and warmer, conditions are more favorable “for invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti,” the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said.

In other parts of the world, the Zika virus still looms. And Peru is currently grappling with the worst outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever on record.

“In the Caribbean and South America, in certain areas, there is a lot of rain and risk for malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika,” Gack said. “It doesn’t mean they are everywhere, just in the areas that are more swamp-like. With diseases like dengue, there a range of symptoms, but most of the time they are mild.”

What works and what doesn’t to prevent bites

Experts say the best defense against mosquitoes remains traditional repellents with ingredients like DEET, Picaridin and  IR 3535. The higher the concentration, the longer it lasts.

“These are not 100% protection,” Gack said. “It’s about how much you apply and how often.”

Natural repellents like lemon eucalyptus oil can also work, but they must be reapplied more often. If you are outside, don’t count on citronella for protection. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, citronella candles have only a mild repellent effect.

What does seem to work are fans.  Mosquitoes are notoriously weak fliers, so circulating air can stop the bugs from reaching you.

Researchers like Leslie Vosshall, the chief scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, said the future lies in studying people who are mosquito magnets and figuring out how to “manipulate” the odors that originate from their skin.  She believes scientists may be able to develop a cream that interferes with or reduces the levels of certain byproducts on the skin, which could make a person less attractive to mosquitoes.

Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Mayo Clinic Minute: How to use an asthma inhaler

• June 30, 2023

Alex Osiadacz | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network

Summer temperatures, humidity and allergies are triggers for people diagnosed with asthma. These triggers can range from being a nuisance to being life-threatening.

Dr. Jacqueline Squire, a Mayo Clinic allergist and immunologist, demonstrates proper technique for using inhalers to combat these asthma triggers.

When asthma symptoms flare, an inhaler is the first line of treatment. Different types of inhalers serve different purposes, and knowing how to use each type is key to breathing easier.

“There are short-acting inhalers, which is like our rescue inhalers,” says Dr. Squire. “For more persistent asthma, we’re going to recommend a daily inhaler.”

Rescue inhalers, also called metered-dose inhalers, are pressurized to deliver medication fast. To get the most medicine in your lungs, Dr. Squire recommends using a spacer — a holding chamber between the inhaler and mouth.

“Place the spacer into your mouth and take a deep breath in,” says Dr. Squire. “Hold your breath to at least the count of five. Ten is even better. Then slowly exhale. Repeat as needed.”

Dr. Squire says the process differs slightly for dry-powder inhalers, which should not be used with a spacer.

“Place your hands on the side you want to avoid covering the opening on the top,” says Dr. Squire. “With a dry-powder inhaler, you’re going to take a little bit faster and deeper breath, compared to a metered-dose inhaler. Again, hold your breath to at least the count of five. Then slowly exhale.”

Dr. Squire recommends that if you have any questions or concerns to ask your physician or other health care professional to review your inhaler technique.

___

©2023 Mayo Clinic News Network. Visit newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

I’m a tattoo artist, and I support the Supreme Court’s ruling protecting artistic freedom

• June 30, 2023

I’ve been a tattoo artist in California for twenty-five years and currently run my own tattoo parlor, Captive Hearts Tattoo. As an artist and small business owner, I’ve worked with people from all walks of life to create all kinds of tattoos—from small bunnies on wrists to entire dragon scenes on backs. One thing I know from my experience: I should have the freedom to choose the images I create and those I don’t. That’s because my artistic choices express my  values and beliefs. What I create, what I say, and what I affirm matters to me. It matters to most Americans. Who wants to say something they don’t agree with?

But last spring, I learned that officials in Colorado were trying to force Lorie Smith—a Colorado-based website designer and graphic artist—to design custom websites expressing a message that went against her sincere beliefs. As an artist and business owner myself, that didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t sit idly by.

So I decided to join a friend-of-the-court brief in Lorie’s case, 303 Creative v. Elenis. I and others urged the U.S. Supreme Court to protect Lorie’s First Amendment freedom to choose which messages to promote through her custom designs. I believe that freedom of expression is a compass that points towards the larger society’s freedom. I thought Colorado’s treatment of expression was headed in the wrong direction.

Today, the Supreme Court set Colorado straight. The Court reiterated that the government cannot tell Americans what to say or how to express themselves. Each of us gets to decide what to say and what not to say. That freedom protects Lorie. It also protects other Americans like me as well.

Decisions about what to say—whether through our words or our artistic creations—belong to each individual.  For me personally, there are lots of tattoos I simply cannot create for anyone. Those decisions are based on my personal beliefs and my own experiences as a tattoo artist. That’s true of most of the tattoo artists I know.

For example, I cannot create tarot card tattoos. They’re currently trendy. Many tattoo artists are happy to ink them. But I disagree with the fortune-telling premise of and message behind tarot cards. And I can’t create artwork that contradicts my beliefs. I’m sure other artists draw different lines. But it’s the artist’s line to draw—not the government’s.

At the same time, when I meet with potential customers about the unique tattoo they’re asking me to design, I never consider the customer’s identity. Instead, I review every request on a case-by-case basis to determine if the requested tattoo itself would say something or celebrate an idea, value, or concept consistent with my beliefs. If it does, I can move forward. If it doesn’t, I can’t.

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The truth is that artists like Lorie and me can serve everyone who walks into our studios while simultaneously choosing which messages we express through our work. That’s how most Americans operate. We treat everyone with respect, but it doesn’t mean we have to support and promote everything someone else wants us to.  We are not always going to agree with everyone on everything. And that’s what makes America so unique—we have the freedom to be who we are.

That’s why I’m so thankful the Supreme Court confirmed this freedom in 303 Creative. That’s a win for everyone. It’s a win for artists who continue to be free to create consistent with their convictions. It’s a win for Americans who don’t want the government to tell them what they must (or cannot) say. And it’s a win for a diverse society that prevents the government from compelling speech through its own say-so.

It disturbed me to see Colorado officials try to compel Lorie’s speech and take her First Amendment freedoms away from her. That is why I supported Lorie’s case. Lorie’s freedom is all of our freedom. And thankfully we’re more free today than we were yesterday.

Sabin Brock is a tattoo artist in California.

​ Orange County Register