🌱 Tom Brady Patriots Imposter Arrested + O.C. 'Karate Kid' Wins Gold

Hello again. It's Wednesday in Orange County and I'm here with the most important things happening in O.C. today.

• Orange County's "Karate Kid" wins gold medal.
• Man poses as Tom Brady Patriots teammate to sell fraudulent Super Bowl rings.
• Motorist's relieved as gas prices continue to fall, setting record.

First, today's weather:

Sunny today and very warm. High: 91 Low: 72.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Orange County:

1. A shout out to 13-year-old Edgar Velez, the "Karate Kid" of Orange County. Velez took home a gold medal at the International Martial Arts Council USA World Championship in Las Vegas. The "Karate Kid" won the gold medal with the help of the nonprofit. Families Together, that works with children to "keep their health and wellness in check all year long." Congratulations, Edgar Velez! (Orange County Patch)
2. If you attend an auction to buy a Tom Brady Super Bowl ring, make sure you didn't buy it from this man. Scott Spina, 25, of Roseland, New Jersey, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Carter in Santa Ana, California, after pleading guilty "to five felony counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft." Spina posed as a Tom Brady Patriots teammate to try to sell unauthorized Super Bowl rings to an O.C. broker. Spina was also ordered to pay $63,000 to a former Patriots player identified as "T.J." in court papers. (Reuters)
3. Drivers are happy to see gas prices continue to fall in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Gas prices continued their steady decline at gas stations across Los Angeles and Orange counties. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Los Angeles County dropped Sunday for the 73rd time in the last 75 days "setting a record." The average price of regular gas in Orange County dropped a half-cent to $5.184, the lowest price since March 4. (KABC-TV)

Today in Orange County:

• Special Exhibit — Cold War: Soviet, Spies and Secrets. (10 a.m.)
• Family Yoga (All Ages) at Haskett Branch. (10:30 a.m.)
• Kindergarten Readiness Storytime: Dana Point Library. (10:30 a.m.)
• Wired Wednesdays — Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library. (11 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County: "Calling All Angels: GSROC learned about an emergency situation in the Inland Empire: A beautiful sable shepherd and her 9 newborn puppies were being kept outside in 110-degree weather with no cover and no comfort." (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• Orange County Guide and OC events: "Pumpkin Mickey Mouse is back at the Disneyland Resort!" (Orange County Guide and OC events via Instagram)
• Orange County Register: "During the Inglewood stadium tour stop on Saturday, Mötley Crüe was awful, Def Leppard was triumphant, Poison was joyous, Joan Jett was legendary and Classless Act was ascendant." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Orange County Register: "The Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo continues today and is hosted at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano and all the proceeds benefit charities in the community." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Philharmonic Society of Orange County: "We'd like to wish a heartfelt happy birthday to Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, who will lead the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for our first concert of the season on Oct. 11!" (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a contributing writer, author, and award-winning media producer. She is committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking or watching the fireflies in the sultry moments before sunset. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orange County Daily? Contact me at orangecounty@patch.com