Newport Beach Film Festival closes tonight, its 27th year. Two final screenings at 8 PM: Behemoth! with Tony Gilroy at Regal Edwards Big Newport, and Unleashed Spirits at the Lido. Both with Q&As. Last chance to catch it in Newport. #OrangeCounty

PCH at Crystal Cove: both southbound lanes now closed, Reef Point Dr to Irvine Cove Dr. Traffic shifts to the northbound side, one lane each way. Caltrans has $4M for emergency repairs on a 360-ft bluff crack, no reopening date. Add time to Laguna drives. #OrangeCounty

DA Todd Spitzer's office has charged six more parents with child endangerment for letting kids ride illegal high-powered e-motorcycles. A second wave of filings. The message from the county: parents will be held responsible when kids are allowed on these.

Norte Fire is 93% contained at 570 acres, and South OC is moving into recovery. Crews are still on perimeter monitoring and suppression repair. Two closures remain: the burn scar stays off-limits to the public and Via La Mirada is closed to vehicles north of Esperanza.

Storm day in OC: rain, possible thunderstorms, a flood watch and high surf. The real local exposure is the Norte Fire burn scar in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Crews have laid wattles and sandbags to slow runoff. Get on AlertOC so evacuation orders reach you fast.

Teamsters Local 952 paused its strike against the county in a good-faith gesture. 400+ workers expected back Thursday. Friday’s meeting takes up a new contract. Landfills reopening is the watch item. #OrangeCounty

FIRST TO KNOW: OCSD launched Drone as a First Responder in Laguna Hills, Lake Forest and Stanton. 🚁 Unarmed, pilot-operated drones respond to 911 calls, giving deputies real-time views. #OrangeCounty

Newport Beach: local emergency ahead of king tides Oct. 26–28. EOC active; sand replenishment authorized; free sandbags available. Low-lying residents: clear drains, move cars up, sandbag. #OrangeCounty

Heads up, Dana Point: Wharf retailers & restaurants in Buildings 2–5 wrap up at current locations Oct 31 as Phase 4 begins. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Catalina Express continue from temporary trailers. One more visit?

Newport Beach declares emergency before King Tides Oct 26–28. Ocean +18–22″ vs forecast; storm Oct 21–22. Free prefilled sandbags, while supplies last: 592 Superior Ave, Marina Park, temp Fire Station 1 by Balboa Pier.

South OC: Norte Fire is 80% contained (570 acres), per OCFA’s Oct. 19 update. Crews strengthen lines and tackle hot spots that can smolder underground for weeks. Via La Mirada north of Esperanza and the burn scar remain closed.

Day 7: No deal in OC Teamsters' strike. 465+ county workers remain out after rejecting a 3% raise with no retro pay, alleging bad-faith bargaining. Landfill, road and shelter operations are affected. #OrangeCounty

OC voters: Today, Oct. 19, is the final day to register for California’s Nov. 3 general election. Register or check your status through California’s official voter registration portal. Don’t leave it to later. #OrangeCounty

Norte Fire: 60% contained, up from 25% yesterday; 570 acres. Evacuation orders lifted. Capistrano Unified schools reopen today on regular schedules. 7+ homes damaged or destroyed; burn scar remains closed. #OrangeCounty

Sunday plans, sorted: Newport Beach Film Festival runs through Oct. 22. Today’s slate is a good one: Paper Tiger at 1:15 PM, Irish Spotlight film at 6:45 PM, surf doc Stern Fever at 7. Catch one in Newport this week.

Costa Mesa dog registered to vote; its 2021 recall ballot counted. Owner pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor; case dismissed Oct. 13 after a $1,500 deal: four anti-voter-fraud billboards with her photo on 55/22 through Nov. 3.

Good news, south OC: all Norte Fire evacuation orders are lifted. 570 acres, 25% contained. Via La Mirada remains closed north of Esperanza; burn area stays closed. Welcome home, San Clemente + San Juan Capistrano.

Final day at OC Japan Fair! Today, 11 AM–7 PM at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Explore 250+ vendors, Japanese food, anime & pop culture programming. Last chance to catch it this year: what’s first on your list? #OrangeCounty

First to Know: Day 6 of Teamsters Local 952 strike. 465+ workers out; no deal after union rejected county’s one-year 3% offer. Landfill service and animal shelter staffing affected. #OrangeCounty

First to Know: Norte Fire evacuation orders lifted at 6 PM Saturday. The 570-acre fire is 25% contained, up from 5%. Crews remain for mop-up; burn scar stays closed. Via La Mirada remains closed to vehicles. #OrangeCounty