San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Dana Point have declared local emergencies after high tide and surf from Hurricane Marie damaged homes, infrastructure and the coast itself – with some beaches disappearing into the sea.

The train line running through San Clemente reopened after coastal erosion from Hurricane Marie’s high tide forced the tracks closed for a week around the Labor Day holiday. 

Seal Beach officials are preparing for incoming El Niño storms by coordinating emergency response crews and constructing a 14-foot sand berm while a climate expert warns it could be the strongest El Niño on record that could heavily impact the coast through flooding heavy rains. 

Meanwhile, Flock cameras are facing increased criticism from a host of Orange County residents as Santa Ana officials are looking to reexamine the use of automated license plate readers after the cameras have seen misuse throughout the country. 

Orange County Supervisors could soon debate giving themselves subpoena power after scathing audits revealed weak internal contract oversight – a key factor in the bribery scheme orchestrated by former Supervisor Andrew Do, who’s serving a five-year federal prison sentence. 

While a host of tax increases are on local ballots this year, city council members in Orange are scrambling to find a strategy if the sales tax increase fails in November as the municipal budget faces bleak forecasts of multi-million dollar deficits. 

Cities throughout the county are struggling with how to both balance their budgets and give raises to law enforcement, with one county supervisor questioning if the county has hit the cap on how much they can afford to spend on sheriff deputies.

Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez speaks at a news conference against Flock cameras outside of city hall on Sept. 9, 2026. Credit: HOSAM ELATTAR, Voice of OC

After Santa Ana City Councilwoman Jessie Lopez’ proposed data center moratorium failed this week, city officials are expected to consider a ban next month as part of a zoning code overhaul approved by the city’s planning commission. 

Newport Beach could see a confusing election this November as city officials move forward with a court-ordered local election on three ballot measures – an election the OC Registrar of Voters isn’t helping with because of missed deadlines, leaving the city to conduct its first election in over 40 years. 

Angels owner Arte Moreno could be off the hook for Angel Stadium repairs as he moves to sell the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke while the city finalizes the long-awaited maintenance assessment of the city owned ballpark. 

As part of an ongoing homelessness local emergency declaration, Stanton officials are moving to demolish a building that’s attracting homeless people in the blighted Tina Pacific neighborhood of fourplexes that borders Anaheim on Magnolia Avenue. 

Laguna Hills is the latest OC city to grapple with overcrowded streets as city officials look to roll out a resident parking permit program in an effort to alleviate congested streets.