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OC officials decide where to make budget cuts

05/26/2009

There's no doubt that budget cuts are coming for California cities and counties. With the economy flat, sales tax and property tax revenue is down. They'll be talking numbers in Orange County during a county budget workshop this Friday. KPCC's Susan Valot says with the state budget in question, there'll be lots to talk about.

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OC budget officials discuss possible county cuts

05/18/2009

Federal stimulus dollars may help, but it won't be enough to keep Orange County from taking a billion-dollar budget hit. KPCC's Susan Valot sat in on a county budget briefing in Santa Ana today to learn where officials want to make those cuts.

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OC district attorney defends decisions in deputy Taser case

05/12/2009

The Orange County district attorney is defending the way his prosecutors handled a case involving a deputy accused of using a Taser on a handcuffed man. KPCC's Susan Valot says the DA came under fire for implying a "code of silence" among the deputies.

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San Juan Capistrano prepares for water cutbacks

05/05/2009

Water use restrictions are coming, and people who live in San Juan Capistrano are getting ready. Dozens showed up for a water workshop in the South Orange County city today. KPCC's Susan Valot was there.

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Homeowner faces foreclosure after interest-only loan

04/29/2009

Interest-only mortgages allowed people to buy more of a home than they could afford with a traditional loan. But some of those loans had adjustable interest rates and when the rates shifted up, that forced out a lot of homeowners who'd been just scraping by. KPCC's Susan Valot has this portrait of one homeowner who ended up with an interest-only loan and is facing foreclosure.

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Samurai exhibit comes to Bowers Museum in Orange County

04/24/2009

A little piece of Japan will be in Orange County for the next few weeks. KPCC's Susan Valot says a new exhibit about samurai warriors has just opened at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.

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Cal State Fullerton economists say the economy hasn't yet hit bottom

04/24/2009

Cal State Fullerton economists have released their midyear economic forecast. They say we haven't hit the bottom of the recession just yet. KPCC's Susan Valot takes a closer look at the report.

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Governor tours jobs center phone bank

04/21/2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured an Employment Development Department call center in Buena Park Monday. It's one of six call centers in the state. The operators there try to connect people with jobs and KPCC's Susan Valot says they've been busy.

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New OC center helps put people in touch with services

04/15/2009

People who live in Orange County have a new one-stop shop to go to find social services. It's called the WE Connect Neighborhood Center. California First Lady Maria Shriver was on hand for its grand opening today in Santa Ana. KPCC's Susan Valot was there, too.

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Arraignment delayed for driver accused of crash that killed Angels pitcher

04/13/2009

A Superior Court judge in Fullerton this afternoon agreed to postpone the arraignment of Andrew Gallo. He's the 22-year-old man accused of the drunken driving wreck that killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two of his friends. KPCC's Susan Valot was in the courtroom.