TimesOC: Latest news in Orange County

Good morning, and welcome to the TimesOC newsletter. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 18.

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

Orange County is back to the worst tier in California’s COVID-19 reopening roadmap: purple.

What does that mean for the county? Restaurants can only offer outdoor dining. Retail stores can only open to 25% capacity.

Forget about working out inside a gym, yoga or dance studio, going to a movie theater, museum, zoo or aquarium, and attending a service inside a place of worship. All of them are closed.

Why? The coronavirus is raging in Orange County and the state.

Here are the latest headlines for our Orange County readers:

A couple walks by the outdoor dining area at Newport Beach Hotel on Tuesday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

NEWS

— Californians must mask up outside their homes under new expanded mandate

— Orange County officials cry foul after state imposes sweeping COVID-19 restrictions

— As California pulls the ‘emergency brake’ due to COVID-19, Orange County businesses are stuck in neutral

— Orange County moves back to ‘purple’ reopening tier as coronavirus surges

— Appeals court grants stay in lawsuit over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s use of executive power

— With two vaccines on the horizon, here’s what you need to know

— What does California’s alarming COVID-19 surge mean for schools?

— Amid COVID-19 travel warnings, California lawmakers fly to Hawaii

— As Orange County returns to ‘purple’ tier, Heroes Hall at O.C. fairgrounds recloses

— Crystal Cove tree lighting and holiday bazaar at the beach canceled due to COVID-19

— Faux firs provide a blank canvas for area arts groups in South Coast Plaza’s Pavilion of Holiday Tree

— Dry heat, wet feet: Record temperatures and king tides collide in Southern California

— Huntington Beach City Council extends Main Street closure through February

— Fountain Valley breaks ground on $29.6-million affordable housing project, its first in 16 years

— Couple arrested on suspicion of murder in Costa Mesa

— Huntington Beach leaders address State of the City gathering

— Spa Del Rio celebrates opening with ribbon-cutting ceremony in Laguna Beach

Lakers star Anthony Davis, seen celebrating winning the NBA title against the Miami Heat on Oct. 11 in Orlando, Fla., is expected to re-sign with Los Angeles.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

SPORTS

— Lakers set to restock talent with free agents, starting with Anthony Davis

— NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Will the Timberwolves take LaMelo Ball at No. 1?

— How a childhood spent in an MLB clubhouse prepared Perry Minasian for Angels GM job

— Owner Arte Moreno says Angels’ payroll will not shrink under new GM Perry Minasian

— Eric Kay trial in connection with Tyler Skaggs death rescheduled for April

— Dodgers to celebrate World Series championship and holidays with drive-through festival

— Dodgers may not re-sign Kiké Hernández despite his versatility and postseason heroics

— Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman voted MLB executive of the year by his peers

— Jalen Ramsey showed his value to the Rams against the Seahawks

— Chargers acknowledge Dolphins defense left them ‘pretty confused’

— McClain brothers leaving USC football team after fallout from suspension

— Will Chip Kelly keep UCLA on the fast track in return to Oregon?

— Newport Harbor High honors athletes going on to next level

— Newport Harbor High’s Morgan Netherton commits to USC women’s water polo

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