Newsletter: TimesOC: 400 celebrate groundbreaking for 405 Freeway expansion project

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Jan. 31. Here’s what’s been happening around O.C.

Top story

400 celebrate groundbreaking for 405 Freeway expansion project

More than 400 guests recently celebrated the Orange County Transportation Authority’s groundbreaking for a $1.9-billion 405 Freeway expansion project during an elaborate event in Costa Mesa. The project will affect the 16-mile portion of the 405 between the 73 Freeway in Costa Mesa and the 605 Freeway near Rossmoor. It is expected to be completed in 2023. Daily Pilot

Courts

Man accused of killing ex-classmate reportedly trained with neo-Nazi group

The 20-year-old Newport Beach man accused of killing a former high school classmate is an avowed neo-Nazi and trained with a notorious extremist group committed to violent overthrow of the U.S. government, according to a newly published report. Daily Pilot, KTLA

Protesters ‘livid’ that off-duty LAPD officer won’t face prosecution in dispute with teens

As the sky grew dark, about two dozen people gathered in Anaheim to protest the Orange County district attorney’s decision not to press criminal charges against an off-duty Los Angeles police officer who fired his gun during a confrontation with a group of teens. Los Angeles Times

Around the county

Founder’s legacy lives on in 38th annual Black History Parade

In 1980, Helen Shipp of Santa Ana founded and organized Orange County’s first Black History Parade & Cultural Faire. The woman who had been considered a “mother” to many of her neighbors died Thursday at age 82. TimesOC

O.C. Fair Board to ban marijuana-related events at fairgrounds

Orange County Fair Board members have decided to move forward on a policy that would prohibit marijuana-related events at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds. Daily Pilot

Orange County Blacksmith Guild seeks to preserve the old ways

The Orange County Blacksmith Guild works out of a blacksmith shop at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana. The guild’s mission is to educate people about a dwindling 4,000-year-old practice so it doesn’t disappear. TimesOC

This nonprofit fights homelessness with burritos

While there are many theories about how to counteract the growing issue of homelessness in Orange County, Garrett Dunbar has employed a particularly unique strategy: burritos. TimesOC

Business & real estate

What $750,000 buys right now in three O.C. communities

Here’s a look at what roughly $750,000 buys right now in the Orange County cities of Fullerton and Yorba Linda and the unincorporated Orange Park Acres. Los Angeles Times

Life & arts

Lunafest film festival promotes awareness of women’s issues

In an effort to support female filmmakers and promote awareness of women’s issues, the Lunafest traveling film festival will screen nine short films on Feb. 3 at Chapman University in Orange. Proceeds from the event will be given to select women filmmakers of the school’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. TimesOC

Jazz saxophonist Dave Koz visits O.C. School of the Arts, offering feedback and stories

He’s received nine Grammy Award nominations throughout his 25-year career and has collaborated with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Celine Dion. Dave Koz, a smooth jazz saxophonist, stopped at Santa Ana’s Orange County School of the Arts to teach and perform with music students during a master class. TimesOC

Sports

Vladimir Guerrero will go into the Hall of Fame in an Angels cap

There will be a halo in the Hall. Vladimir Guerrero said he would wear an Angels cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, becoming the first player to do so. TimesOC

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