TimesOC: Latest news in Orange County

Good morning, and welcome to the TimesOC newsletter. It’s Friday, Nov. 6.

My name is David Carrillo Peñaloza, the author of the TimesOC newsletter and an editor for Los Angeles Times Community News.

After three sleepless nights, the country is close to finding out who will be the next president. Joe Biden is beating incumbent Donald Trump in the popular vote by about 4 million votes, but what decides the presidency is the electoral college vote and Biden is on the cusp of the 270 needed for election.

With 264 electoral votes, all Biden has to do is flip Georgia (16 votes) or Pennsylvania (20), or take Nevada (6) to win the White House. At 1:20 a.m. Friday, Biden took the lead in Georgia, a state no Democratic presidential candidate has won since Bill Clinton did in 1992.

Here are the latest headlines for our Orange County readers:

Democratic candidate Joe Biden, left, pumps his fist as his wife, Jill, waves her hand at a drive-in rally at Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

ELECTION

— Joe Biden takes the lead in Georgia as Donald Trump falsely claims fraud

— Joe Biden urges calm, Donald Trump falsely claims election stolen as Democrat moves closer to victory

— Officials blast Donald Trump as he continues to falsely claim election fraud

— Election 2020 live updates and presidential election results

— What if there’s a recount in the presidential race? Here are the rules in the closest states

— Donald Trump’s mixed message: Stop the count or keep counting?

— Legal experts cast doubt on Donald Trump’s bid to involve Supreme Court in election results

— Election experts and officials respond to Donald Trump’s false claims of victory, fraud

— Judge orders Postal Service to search for ballots, but no evidence so far of widespread missing votes

— Republicans have edge to keep Senate and block Joe Biden if he wins

— Despite Nancy Pelosi’s confident predictions, House Democrats lost seats. What happened?

— Orange County, once a GOP bastion, goes for Joe Biden over Donald Trump

— Orange County election results

— Fake polling place or service to the community? Questions swirl around ‘ballot room’ in OC’s Little Saigon

— Latino voters tired of being taken for granted by baffled Democratic campaigns

— Column: Lots of Latinos voted for Donald Trump. That should not be a surprise

Anti-Trump protesters dance as night falls Thursday outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where ballots were being counted.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Supporters of President Donald Trump protest against the ongoing ballot count at the Clark County Election Department on Thursday in Las Vegas.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

— Photos: Vote counting continues in presidential race too close to call

— Americans broke a 120-year-old turnout record — and are more divided than ever

— Column: With Donald Trump we lost the democratic system envisioned by our founders. With Joe Biden we could get it back

— Column: In case of a Donald Trump win, I’m weighing my options. Canada? Mexico? Secession?

— Polls underestimated Donald Trump’s support, but not by as much as you might think

— California goes big on criminal justice reform, setting a more progressive path

— Voters reject Prop. 16, which would have allowed affirmative action policies in California

— Kanye West receives thousands of votes from Orange County residents

— Michelle Steel extends lead against Harley Rouda in 48th Congressional District race

— Tito Ortiz, Dan Kalmick, and Natalie Moser win Huntington Beach City Council seats

— Katrina Foley earns second term as Costa Mesa mayor, retail cannabis scores big win

— Brad Avery and Noah Blom maintain leads in Newport Beach City Council races

— Bob Whalen and George Weiss stay ahead in Laguna Beach City Council race

— Glenn Grandis is in command of Fountain Valley City Council race

— Latest returns for Orange County school board races

Students walk across Magnolia Street as they leave Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Thursday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

NEWS

— Huntington Beach Union High School District reopens campuses, as Newport-Mesa Unified preps for Monday return

— After a busy wildfire season, O.C.-based National Guard helicopter battalion will deploy in 2021

— Wet weather should clear the air in parts of California plagued by smoke since August

— Consulate of Mexico in Santa Ana celebrates Mexican culture all week long

— Orange County Bail Fund prepares to help protesters in the weeks ahead

— Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa sells for $216 million to Eagle Four Partners and Lyon Living

— Huntington Beach hires Julian Harvey as interim police chief

— ‘The Donut King’ documentary release makes an O.C. homecoming

— Costa Mesa man sentenced to six years in prison for altered debit card scheme in Louisiana

— Fashion Island prepares for upcoming holiday season with arrival of 90-foot Christmas tree

SPORTS

— Joe Biden-Donald Trump election has been a roller-coaster ride for bettors

— NBA players agree to starting new season on Dec. 22

— Mookie Betts and Mike Trout win Silver Slugger awards

— Angels had a chance to sign Troy Percival’s son but Cole went to Dodgers instead

— Former Dodger Shawn Green helps team and fans celebrate a World Series title during a pandemic

— Galaxy tie Seattle and are eliminated from MLS playoffs

— UCLA coaches have found matching Terry Donahue’s success an elusive goal

— UCLA players to wear jerseys with social justice messages when they face Colorado

— Best quarterbacks in the Pac-12 will duel when USC opens season against Arizona State

— Rams head into the tough part of their schedule

— Justin Herbert impresses Chargers teammates with ability to bounce back

— Rachael Carver, Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo player, commits to Princeton