Deep Dive: 6 of our best stories from the past week

In Depth

Health Care

15 female patients allege doctor at UCI, Hoag-affiliated clinic sexually assaulted them

Fifteen women have filed a lawsuit alleging an Irvine physician forced them to expose their breasts and, in many instances, groped them under the guise of treatment at UCI Medical Center and a clinic affiliated with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. Dr. John C. Hoefs, a 79-year-old hepatologist, also faces criminal charges in connection with the alleged assaults. Read more

This Week's Editors' Picks

Criminal Justice

Nearly 20% of shifts at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall did not meet staffing minimums in July
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall failed to meet legally required staffing minimums for nearly 20% of its shifts in July despite the county’s controversial efforts to boost its numbers by involuntarily reassigning more than 100 field officers to the juvenile facility. Read more

Elections

For Secretary of State Shirley Weber, access to voting was a lesson learned from a young age

When Shirley Weber, California’s secretary of state, was growing up, her living room served as the polling place for her neighbors. Her brothers and father would spend the night before moving out furniture and moving in voting booths. And thus, from a young age, Weber’s family instilled in her the importance of voting and accessibility to it. Read more

Environment

Will our slice of the Pacific Ocean still be healthy in 2050?

The waters that support Southern California face a wide range of environmental threats. New studies suggest the next 25 years might be critical. Read more

Government

California legislators want public schools to teach Mendez v. Westminster
California students soon may start learning the story of the Mendez family and how their response to being turned away from a school in Westminster led to the repeal of segregation laws in the state. Legislators, just ahead of the deadline, OK’d a bill that would incorporate the Mendez v. Westminster case into the history and social science curriculum standards for public schools in California. That bill now awaits the governor’s signature or veto. Read more

Local

Old Towne Orange has nearly 50 restaurants. How did it become a dining destination?
When Enrico Pozzuoli opens Centro in a couple of months, Old Towne Orange will have approximately 50 restaurants. Realtor Al Ricci, who owns the property of about half of them, says the market is far from saturated. And, a quick glance around the Orange Circle at Glassell Street and Chapman suggests that he’s probably right. On any given night, downtown is packed with people. The restaurants are bristling with diners. And, Orange is attracting a refreshing diversity of options for a small town. Read more

Recent Editors' Picks