🌱Last OC Survivor+ Dashboard Numbers Questioned + Claassen Honor

Happy Wednesday, Orange County! Let's catch up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

A few clouds today, then sunshine. High: 66. Low: 50.

Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. The last Orange County survivor of WWII's Pearl Harbor attack, John Hughes, died only one month before his 103rd birthday. Major John Hughes survived the devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, on the U.S. naval base on Oahu, Hawaii, that brought the United States into World War II. Beyond surviving the devastating Pearl Harbor attack, he went on to fly 150 dive bomb missions and received four Distinguished Flying Crosses. You can read more here: (KABC-TV)
2. Orange County parents are keeping a close watch over school COVID-19 dashboards as thousands of kids are returning to school amid soaring COVID-19 numbers. Positive cases are rising so quickly that one local district last week temporarily shut down its dashboard when a top official questioned its accuracy. Saddleback Valley Unified School District had trouble keeping up with the volume of positive cases and temporarily shut down their dashboard after the accuracy was questioned by Robert Craven, a Saddleback Valley district assistant superintendent. He noted that an inaccurate dashboard didn’t serve the community. After the Voice of OC covered the dashboard shutdown Friday morning, officials brought it back online. Some parents said the numbers on the COVID-19 dashboards don’t match the number of empty seats at local classrooms, and that the number of cases may be higher. You can read more here: (Voice of OC)
3. Congratulations Brian Claassen, a partner at Knobbe Martens, who has been elected president of the Orange County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association this year. Claassen, an intellectual property litigator, represents clients in federal courts around the country, the International Trade Commission, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has served in FBA/OC leadership positions since 2018. You can read more about this story here: (Business Wire)
4. Free COVID-19 rapid test kits for Orange County are now available through the USPS website. The free rapid tests enable you to test for COVID-19 four times at home. Households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home test kits at USPS.com. Orders can be placed today and will ship for free starting in late January. You can find out more and sign up here: (Orange County Patch)

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Today in Orange County:

• Collaboration Day — Late Start (GGHS Website). (All Day)
• SAHS Orchestra Student Recitals — Santa Ana High School. (All Day)
• Collaboration Day (Schoolwide Events). (All Day)
• Late Start (Student Activities) — Pacifica High. (All Day)
• LATE START SCHEDULE/COLLABORATION DAY (Events). (All Day)
• TBS Hebrew Option 1 — Temple Beth Sholom. (All Day)
• Learning walk (student) — John F. Kennedy High. (All Day)
• Regular Bell Schedule (No Staff Meeting). (All Day)
• Periods 1, 3, 5 — Valley High School. (All Day)
• Late Start Day (1-8) — Woodbridge High. (All Day)
• 2nd quarter grades due by 4 p.m. — Santiago High. (All Day)
• Start of Spring Semester — Woodbridge High. (All Day)
• ICC Meeting (Events) — Los Amigos High. (8:25 a.m.)
• ALL PERIODS DAY — Northwood High. (8:30 a.m.)
• PTSA RM9 (Events) — Nicolas Junior High School. (8:30 a.m.)
• 1st & 3rd a.m. Wednesday Leads Group — Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce. (8:45 a.m.)
• Coffee with the Principal (School Calendar). (9 a.m.)
• Periods 1 - 8 (Jan. 19) — Irvine High. (9 a.m.)
• Citizenship Class — Huntington Beach Public Library. (10 a.m.)
• Winter Storytime (Main) — Orange Public Library — Kids. (10:30 a.m.)
• HBHS Basketball, G. Fundraiser (MOD Pizza) (Events). (10:30 a.m.)
• Virtual: Family Storytime (All Ages) at Ponderosa Branch. (10:30 a.m.)
• Soft Skills in the Workplace: On-Site. (10:30 a.m.)
• 1st & 3rd Wednesday Leads Group — Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce. (11:45 a.m.)
• Crafternoon! — Adult Crafting at Central. (Noon)
• Business Networking Group — Orange Chamber of Commerce. (Noon)
• ICC/SALC Lunch Meeting (Schoolwide Events). (12:09 p.m.)
• Film Club — Early College High. (12:12 p.m.)
• Boys V/JV Soccer vs FUHS — Sunny Hills High School. (3 p.m.)
• Academic Decathlon Essay Competition Rm 133 (Coyle) 3-4. (3 p.m.)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— Paula Constance

About me: I am a freelance writer, author, and media producer. I am committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place.