This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page An official website of the United States government Location: 24000 Avila Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 The striking Chet Holifield Federal Building was constructed in Laguna Niguel Pereira & Associates designed the building General Services Administration’s (GSA) inventory The building has a remarkable stepped pyramid silhouette that is rare in American architecture The building was originally constructed for Rockwell International a multifaceted company that worked in the manufacturing arena for defense and space industries Rockwell never occupied the building; the company no longer required it after a defense contract that it was relying on never came to fruition The company offered to trade the building to the federal government in exchange for three surplus government facilities of equal value Pereira (1909-1985) was an American architect who designed futuristic His best-known building is San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid He designed Los Angeles Airport’s Theme Building and completed master plans for the cities of Irvine and Newport Beach He also worked briefly as a Hollywood art director sharing an Academy Award for Best Special Effects for the film Reap the Wild Wind in 1942 Pereira is credited with more than 400 projects and his stylish yet efficient architecture had a tremendous impact on California from the 1950s through the 1980s the building was rededicated in honor of Congressman Chet Holifield (1903-1995) who Represented California’s 19th District from 1943 to 1974 Holifield was a Congressional adviser on nuclear weapons testing and disarmament and atomic energy The building’s unique form has been featured in several films In 2020, GSA began planning to transfer the building out of federal ownership. An interactive virtual tour was developed in 2025 as mitigation under the National Historic Preservation Act. GSA invites everyone to visit and learn about the Chet Holifield Federal Building and it’s history.  The sculptural Chet Holifield Federal Building is skillfully executed in a stepped pyramidal form that has a similar appearance to ancient ziggurats Pereira developed the unified design that is unparalleled in the federal government A large portion of the more than one million square foot building is below grade It is located on a 92-acre parcel of land in Laguna Niguel and approximately 4 miles from the Pacific coastline The building has seven tiers and is constructed of angled pre-cast concrete panels with reticulation a textured finish that displays curvilinear forms The building displays some characteristics of the Brutalist style of Modern architecture expansive wall planes; and recessed windows The building has a concrete frame and the lateral force-resisting system consists of concrete shearwalls and single-level concrete moment frames It was constructed on spread footings and caissons which are separated by slanting concrete walls with triangular forms are recessed between the horizontal levels Evenly spaced windows provide a consistent rhythm to the symmetrical building The top tier of the building has a large flat roof with attached protruding vertical elements providing additional texture to the structure referencing the overall shape of the building A moat of smooth rocks surrounds the building on three sides alluding to the idea that the massive structure is a modern-day fortress symmetrical plaza is located outside of the main entrance and planters greet visitors and provide contrast to the massive concrete structure more than 2,500 trees and 6,500 shrubs were included in the initial landscape plan Concrete benches echo the materials and form of the building both escalators and elevators provide high-speed vertical movement Pereira’s efficient interior circulation system allowed for a maximum travel time of approximately five minutes between any two points in the building Select walls are covered in wood paneling and some areas contain wooden slat ceilings Portions of the interior were redesigned by GSA to accommodate increased office space Other buildings on the site include a maintenance warehouse; 500,000-gallon water tank that services the fire protection system; energy plant cooling tower; a 1,000,000-gallon thermal energy storage tank; and security buildings A heliport is located on the site and additional landscaped areas are found throughout the large parcel which radiate diagonally along the building axes in anticipation of the thousands of employees that were to occupy the facility state-of-the-art upgrades and modifications to the roofing were completed as part of an energy-saving plan that saves $650,000 per year in utility costs critical to efficient circulation in the building Download the poster [PDF - 549 KB] Home Rates are available between 10/1/2022 and 09/30/2025 Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) office moved to a new location and got a new name led by Local Taxpayer Advocate Araceli Miranda Araceli and her staff of experienced case advocates can be reached at (949) 638-7001 for assistance with tax problems that you can’t resolve on your own They will ensure that you are treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights To find a local TAS office near you, visit our Contact Us page and choose your state or territory from the dropdown menu TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayers’ rights We can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a financial difficulty you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS or procedure just isn’t working as it should we will do everything possible to help you You can follow news from the TAS online or on Social Media. Subscribe to receive general news updates the National Taxpayer Advocate’s weekly NTA blog in English and Spanish and upcoming TAS events while looking at cute dogs and pop culture references like and share our content to help spread the work on how we advocate for taxpayers Our advocates will be with you at every turn as we work with you to resolve your tax issue “We ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that taxpayers know and understand their rights” Do you know of a tax issue that affects a large group of taxpayers Let us know by submitting through our Systemic Advocacy Management System (SAMS) As an independent organization within the IRS the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps taxpayers resolve problems and recommends changes that will prevent problems Print Orange County Beaches from Treasure Island to Table Rock remained closed to the public until further notice due to a sewage spill in Laguna Beach The spill was caused by a sewer line that ruptured at Laguna Niguel Regional Park representatives for Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said Tuesday evening but about 465,000 gallons of wastewater wound up leaking into the ocean Affected beaches will be temporarily off limits to swimmers, surfers and divers until the Orange County Health Care Agency determines it’s safe to go back into the water. More information and updates on the closure can be found at ocbeachinfo.com. “I thank the public for your cooperation and continue to monitor the situation to ensure we maintain public health,” Foley said in a statement. Eric Licas covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. He previously was a crime and public safety reporter and, before that, spent four years as a staff writer with the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. He was born in the Philippines, raised in the San Fernando Valley and is a Cal State Northridge alumnus. News Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Print You don’t have to travel to New Orleans to celebrate carnival season Laguna Niguel is bring Mardi Gras to Orange County by hosting famed NOLA bar Cure The classic cocktail bar will pop up at the Dana Point resort at Bar RAYA now through March 31 how do we take the long and storied history of New Orleans and run it through the bounty of California?” said CureCo managing partner Neal Bodenheimer “It became really fun for me to think about all the things we have in common and all the things we don’t have in common.” Bodenheimer is also co-chair of the board of directors for the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and author of “Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em.” On Feb the pop-up kicked off with a King Cake Party managing partner Neal Bodenheimer brings signature Cure cocktails to Orange County for carnival season Laguna Niguel) “We are here because we love to represent New Orleans cocktails and culture and it has been really fun to do it in California especially in Orange County specifically,” said Bodenheimer A menu of Cure cocktails offers descriptions of the drinks as well as a short history of their origins Each one is inspired by New Orleans but reimagined using California ingredients to really make them shine drinking and eating really is local,” said Bodenheimer “You are only as good as the bounty of your area and who has better bounty than California?” is named for Count Louis Phillipe Joseph de Roffignac the highball cocktail gets a SoCal twist in the form of blanco tequila mezcal and house-made carrot and blood orange shrub The Hurricane cocktail is another drink that gets credited to the Big Easy Said to have been created at Pat O’Briens in the 1940s the rum drink has become a tropical favorite worldwide “Pat O’Brien is the creator of the Hurricane and you can still get a Hurricane there today,” Bodenheimer said which was considered the wettest city in American during prohibition.” Bodenheimer said the key element to a good Hurricane is fassionola guava and passion fruit are in season in California now and Bodenheimer used those tropical fruits to make Cure’s house-made fassionola Other drinks on the menu are lesser known classic cocktails that Cure has made popular by reworking them to fit today’s palette and that cocktail was not a popular New Orleans at all but it is a cocktail that we thought drank like a very modern aperitivo cocktail,” said Bodenheimer “So we dusted it off and had a great time messing around with it.” served at the New Orleans’ classic cocktail bar Cure pop-up at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel) In honor of the pop-up has added Louisiana staples like po’ boys and étouffée to the menu savory bites like cacio e pepe deviled eggs spiced with black pepper and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese are served along with crawfish croquettes in remoulade and traditional sweets like beignets King Cake from pastry chef Abigail Naguit will be served too the cake is served 12 days after Christmas with a porcelain figure of a baby baked inside meant to represent Jesus and said to bring good luck to the person who gets the baby in their slice Naguit’s take on the classic cake includes whipped cinnamon ganache with butter pecan ice cream like Meyer lemon curd accompanied by a gin glaze designed to pair with Bodenheimer’s cocktails On weekends a live Jazz band will play in the lounge, completing the New Orleans experience. For dining reservations visit ritzcarlton.com. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. TimesOC The Laguna Niguel Summer Trolley is a FREE summer public transportation service that begins on Thursday Explore Laguna Niguel from the hills to the sea with FREE unlimited rides From Crown Valley Park to Salt Creek Beach such as the City's Summer Concert Series starting this June Please understand that the trolley has limited storage space and all items must be able to fold and stow for the duration of the ride Bicycles may be stowed on the front of the trolley only Riders can expect a trolley at each stop about every 20 minutes Trolley stops are clearly marked with signs Please click the image below to view and download the trolley map Your feedback is important to us! Click here to complete our online survey about your experience on the FREE Summer Trolley Thursday12:00 pm - 8:00 pmFriday9:00 am - 10:00 pmSaturday9:00 am - 10:00 pmSunday9:00 am - 9:00 pmHolidays (5/26 9/1)9:00 am - 9:00 pmTrolley runs every 20 minutes - Crown Valley Park (transfer point to Laguna Niguel north line trolley route)- Library/Civic Center- Ritz Carlton Dr (transfer point to Laguna Beach & Dana Point Trolleys)- PCH/Niguel Rd- Crown Valley Mall (Alicia Pkwy/Crown Valley Pkwy) - Crown Valley Park (transfer point to Laguna Niguel south line trolley route)- EB Crown Valley Pkwy/Cabot Rd (by Costco)- Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station- WB Crown Valley Pkwy/Cabot Rd (under SR 73)- WB Crown Valley Pkwy/Greenfield Dr Public Works Department (949) 362-4337works@cityoflagunaniguel.org Trolley runs every 20 minutes. Trolley runs every 20 minutes. Crown Valley Park (transfer point to Laguna Niguel north line trolley route) Ritz Carlton Dr (transfer point to Laguna Beach & Dana Point Trolleys) (Coming Summer 2025) Crown Valley Park (transfer point to Laguna Niguel south line trolley route) Hours More contact info » This press release was produced by the City of Laguna Niguel The views expressed here are the author’s own Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 12:59 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Laguna Niguel ranks among the top 10 safest cities in California CA — Laguna Niguel ranks among the top 10 safest cities in California SafeWise, a security product review platform, looked at FBI crime statistics for cities in California to compile its 11th annual Safest Cities report ranked in the top 10 safest cities in the state Orange County cities dominated the list with cities in the region claiming five of the top 10 spots daily concern continues to be the California state of mind," the report said 64 percent of Californians feel a high daily level of concern for their safety—the highest percentage in the nation and up from 50 percent last year." Here are the 10 safest cities in California in 2025 For more information on Laguna Niguel's ranking, visit Safewise. 2025 at 8:13 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}One person was injured in a deputy-involved shooting in Dana Point Friday morning CA — One person was injured in a deputy-involved shooting in Dana Point Friday morning The incident was reported when deputies responded to a welfare check in Dana Point at 4:10 a.m a caller reported that a woman was screaming nearby the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported The identity of the injured person was not immediately known No further information was immediately available 2025 at 10:17 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel — often called the "Ziggurat" building —​ is coming under new ownership CA — The Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel — often called the "Ziggurat" building — is coming under new ownership Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has been awarded ownership of the 92-acre facility wrenching it away from San Juan Capistrano-based Pintar Investment Co and Signal Hill-based Hilco Development Services according to the Orange County Business Journal representatives with Hilco vowed Wednesday to fight the decision made by the U.S To read the full article, visit the Orange County Business Journal. I first saw that film in the early 1970s at an Orange County Planning Commission hearing where development was being considered for the ridgetops south of Aliso Canyon A firefighter veteran of the Bel-Air inferno showed the film and pleaded with the commission to not approve development on the ridgetops He said this was the most dangerous place to put homes and warned of the “chimney effect,” where fires burning up slopes increase in height and danger Despite the promised 100-foot irrigated setback Thinning the vegetation on the slopes would supposedly reduce the fire danger but it didn’t prevent losses from the Coastal fire Even a fire access road below the homes made no difference The chimney effect pushed flying embers into the air Developers made a lot of money from having more lots to sell with better views unaware of the warnings and voided protections relied on the government to approve safe building sites Political compromises with fire realities have proved tragic time after time The writer is a landscape architect and former mayor of Laguna Beach To the editor: Like they did in Santa Rosa after their disastrous wind-driven fire in 2017 you can rebuild with non-flammable home materials and succulents But driving through Bel-Air and Brentwood recently — and it’s the same in many areas in SoCal — I noticed a plethora of palm eucalyptus and pine trees that were dead or emaciated near homes With climate change increasing the likelihood of wind-driven fires what is the solution to avert an almost certain disaster unrealistic goal to simply remove all of these trees Simply having clearance around these homes is not enough when there is a wind-driven fire storm To the editor: Please remind me why anyone thinks it is a good idea to encourage and promote the building of accessory dwelling units on properties in hillsides and canyons To the editor: How many times have we heard that there is a homelessness problem that can be solved by building more homes We’re told that the problem is so acute that we need to fast-track the permitting process Get rid of those pesky environmental reports ignore fire regulations and get those homes built it’s political expediency fueled by greed (or is it the other way around?) Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Roughly 465,000 gallons of sewage spilled due to a break in a main sewer line near Laguna Niguel Regional Park the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Environmental Health Services said An undetermined portion of that sewage seeped into nearby beaches Although the sewer line breach has since been patched area beaches remained closed to activities that include swimming The waters will remain closed until conditions improve “I urge OC residents, visitors, and tourists to heed public health experts’ warnings and avoid the closed beaches in Laguna while the @ochealth tests water quality,” Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley posted on X The spill is the second to hit the county in as many months. In December, the coastal area around Salt Creek in Dana Point was closed after 3,375 gallons of sewage spilled into the sea. Then, too, a sewage line break was the culprit. Andrew J. Campa is a member of the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times, having previously covered the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. Before, he worked at several medium and small daily newspapers and has covered education, sports and general news. He’s a proud University of Alabama (#RollTide), Cal State Fullerton and Pasadena City College alumnus. California Hollywood Inc. 2024 at 2:51 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A new doughnut shop is planning to open its doors in South Orange County CA — A new doughnut shop is planning to open its doors in South Orange County Indiana-based Parlor Doughnuts will open its doors to the community on Dec The chain is known for its unique layered doughnut that is crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside The shop will be located at 23870 Aliso Creek Road in the Aliso Village Shopping Center the location has been undergoing tenant improvements needed to serve up the craft doughnuts Residents can visit Parlor Doughnuts' website for more information and details. Her mother called after initially receiving an extension only to be arrested moments later when a different agent intervened "This official was cruel," said Stephanie "They arrested my dad first and then called my mom in and arrested her too." between March 2000 and August 2021," despite numerous appeals through various immigration channels.After their initial detention the couple spent weeks moving through the system—first to a San Bernardino facility and finally Louisiana before being deported The experience left them traumatized but grateful to reconnect with family in Colombia who are helping them restart their lives confirming their parents had arrived in Colombia together.The Gonzalez family's story reflects the broader shift in immigration enforcement priorities that now target anyone living in the country without authorization rather than focusing primarily on those with criminal records 5Gallery5 ImagesStay in the Know! Get the top news from Los Angeles Magazine sent to your inbox every day. Sign up for The Daily Brief below or by clicking here Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird A Californian couple living in Orange County was deported to Colombia on March 18 after living in the U.S The couple Gladys Gonzalez, 55, and Nelson Gonzalez, 59, who lived in Laguna Niguel, were detained on Feb. 21. According to the Orange County Register the couple had been held in detention centers since then “We’re just really happy that they’re out of the detention centers finally,” Gabby Gonzalez told the Orange County Register they were ordered to leave after an immigration judge granted both voluntary departures the couple pursued legal paths to remain in the country from U.S The Gonzalezes were detained during a routine check-in on Friday, Feb. 21, a GoFundMe page called, Help My Parents Rebuild Their Lives in Colombia and this sudden occurrence has left us in shock," the GoFundMe page states surpassing the fundraiser's goal of $50,000 we are happy to share with you all that our parents are free They arrived in Colombia together and are doing well while at the same time grieving the reality that our parents will not be coming home anytime soon," Stephanie Gonzalez wrote on the GoFundMe page updates on March 20 "Our goal now is to help them prepare for their new lives in Colombia and do whatever we can to bring them back home in the future." Related: State bill would prohibit ICE at California day care centers, but does it go far enough? The couple just recently became grandparents with their first grandchild "This cruel and unjust situation has shattered our family emotionally and financially," the GoFundMe page states The Orange County Register reported that an ICE spokesperson confirmed that the couple did not have a criminal record but had “exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S between March 2000 and August 2021," and remained in violation of immigration law The daughters said Nelson Gonzalez has family in Colombia Stephanie Gonzalez said they are currently living with Jessica Gonzalez and her husband in Newport Beach The Orange County Register reported that while President Donald Trump's administration has emphasized a focus on removing individuals with criminal records or those who have pending charges recent ICE data shows that close to half of the individuals who were detained in early February had no criminal history Do you know your rights if ICE agents appear at your home or stop you in public If you have heard of the red cards, these are wallet-sized cards with statements you can read to an ICE agent They also state your constitutional rights Related: As immigrants face arrests in California, here's what to know about your rights and ICE The red cards come in various languages and can be found for free at many local nonprofit organizations, but can also be found online for download, at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) Statements on the red cards to read to an ICE agent: you have the right to record the encounter as long as you don't interfere with the arrest "It is legal to film immigration and law enforcement in public in the United States, regardless of your immigration status," the Witness website states To learn more about filming immigration enforcement, visit witness.org TrendingCommercialLos AngelesABidders ratchet up price of Ziggurat building in Laguna Niguel to $164MFederal office pyramid on 91 acres has drawn bids every business day since July 31 Zeal for the pyramid-shaped federal office building known as the Ziggurat in Laguna Niguel has driven up its price to $164.4 million more than twice the auction’s starting price The bidding war has extended the auction by the General Services Administration of the seven-story, 1 million-square-foot Chet Holifield Federal Building at 24000 Avila Road, the Orange County Register Reported. The $164.4 million bid on Monday, Sept. 23, was 135 percent above the initial $70 million ask Online bidding for the 91-acre property in south Orange County opened June 5 and was supposed to close July 31 — if bidding slowed The rules state that the auction will stop when a business day ends without a bid in the previous 24 hours But the bidding has continued for 37 straight business days usually with minimum required bid increases of $300,000 Three bidders have prolonged the auction for the Ziggurat, a Brutalist concrete structure designed by William Pereira to resemble a Ziggurat A bidding volley began late Friday afternoon breaking a 17-day run when the only activity were two bids: one made just minutes before the deadline An investor known as “Bidder #02” by the GSA bid up the price by $300,000 only 29 minutes before the auction was to end “Bidder #01” shot back by bidding another $300,000 Bidder #02 responded with another $300,000 returned by a $300,000 backhand by Bidder #01 with #02 and #01 exchanged four more bids of $300,000 each The competition for the Ziggurat site comes as a rare opportunity for large-scale development in south OC A study by the Urban Land Institute last year recommended the City of Laguna Niguel allow a developer to build between 2,000 and 4,000 homes completed in 1971 for North American Aviation has historic importance in its resemblance to “the ancient ziggurats,” according to the GSA Uncle Sam bought the building three years later the building housed thousands of federal employees from up to 12 agencies 2025 at 3:31 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A new elementary school is opening for enrollment in South Orange County after Stratford School Laguna Niguel announced its opening (Stratford Schools Courtesy Photo)LAGUNA NIGUEL CA — A new elementary school is opening for enrollment in South Orange County Community members celebrated the opening of the new school with an ice cream social that included family "We are delighted to expand Stratford School’s presence in Orange County with theopening of our second campus in this vibrant community," Cheryl Molenkamp "Stratford is renowned for its commitment to educational excellence and for inspiring students to develop a lifelong love of learning and a natural curiosity about the world." The newest Stratford School campus offers four bright preschool classrooms and nine elementary school classrooms an outside playground and play space for both elementary and preschool students as well as a multipurpose room that also serves as a music room and library To learn more about Stratford School Laguna Niguel, visit the website. TrendingCommercialLos AngelesA‘Bidder #2’ gets  Ziggurat in Laguna Niguel for $177M The gavel has finally fallen on the Chet Holifield Federal Office Building in Laguna Niguel the distinctive complex better known as the Ziggurat for its pyramid-like tiers An investor identified only as “Bidder #2” paid a hammer price of $177 million for the seven-story building at 24000 Avila Road, the Orange County Register reported.  The auction of the 1 million–square-foot building by the U.S General Services Administration came to $177 per square foot although the 91 acres of land that’s part of the deal likely accounts for much of the value The winning bid was $106.7 million more than the price set on the auction’s opening day. Uncle Sam opened bidding at $70 million on June 5.  Bidding was supposed to close on July 31, if bidding slowed The building was sold as part of a soft auction meaning bidding reset every day as new bids were placed The winning bid had to go unmatched for 24 hours to bring the auction to a close with minimum increments of $300,000 required Two undisclosed bidders went back-and-forth keeping the auction alive for more than four months The government put the property up for sale to avoid spending $300 million on long-term repairs and upgrades SIGN UPThe competition for the Ziggurat was viewed as a rare opportunity for large-scale redevelopment in  South OC The intense investor competition at the latest auction — without the preservation restriction — suggests the buyer will likely bulldoze the 53-year-old building and seek new zoning for the site designed by William Pereira and completed in 1971 for North American Aviation 2025 at 11:41 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A new chief will take over in Dana Point after the Orange County Sheriff's Department announced the Captain Frank Gonzalez would serve as the new Chief of Dana Point Police Services (Orange County Sheriff's Department Courtesy Photo)LAGUNA NIGUEL CA — A new chief will take over in Dana Point after the Orange County Sheriff's Department announced the Captain Frank Gonzalez would serve as the new Chief of Dana Point Police Services Gonzalez has served the Sheriff's Department since 2006 when he was assigned to the Crisis Negotiations Team as a deputy and a sergeant and also supervised the Behavioral Health Bureau leading the operational team tasked with engaging with those experiencing homelessness and people with mental health needs Gonzalez served as Captain for Court Operations overseeing daily public safety services for the county's justice centers "Being selected as the Dana Point Chief of Police Services is both an honor and a great responsibility," Gonzalez told Patch "I look forward to working alongside an exceptional team and serving an engaged community where safety is a shared priority." 2025 at 12:08 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Kevin Skinner joined the Orange County Fire Authority in 1999 (Orange County Fire Authority)LAGUNA NIGUEL CA — A longtime firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority died Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest while responding to a residential structure fire in Laguna Niguel suffered the medical emergency shortly before 5 a.m while at the scene of the fire in the 29400 block of Pointe Royale according to the Orange County Fire Authority Kevin reported feeling unwell and was escorted outside to a waiting paramedic unit," the agency announced on social media Despite the heroic efforts of our crews and medical personnel Skinner served the Orange County Fire Authority for more than 25 years He is survived by his wife and three children friends and all who knew him during this incredibly difficult time," the agency said "We are deeply grateful for Kevin's dedication to protecting our community and will never forget his sacrifice." 2025 at 9:28 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An Orange County Fire Authority veteran firefighter suffered a cardiac arrest and died Sunday morning while fighting a residential structure fire in south Orange County (Orange County Fire Authority Courtesy Photo)LAGUNA NIGUEL CA — An Orange County Fire Authority veteran firefighter suffered a cardiac arrest and died Sunday morning while fighting a residential structure fire in south Orange County "It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) announces the passing of Fire Apparatus Engineer Kevin Skinner," the Orange County Fire Authority said Sunday Skinner was among those dispatched to a residential blaze in Laguna Niguel at around 4:56 a.m Skinner experienced a sudden medical emergency Fellow firefighters performed life-saving measures and Skinner was moved to a nearby hospital "Kevin Skinner was a dedicated member of the OCFA family serving with distinction and unwavering commitment to the community His loss is deeply felt by his colleagues and the countless lives he touched during his career," the department said At a news conference later Sunday morning at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo where Skinner was taken by ambulance and pronounced dead OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said Skinner and his crew were assigned to search the home for residents but he informed his captain that he wasn't feeling well He was escorted outside to a paramedic unit where he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital Fennessy said Skinner joined the OCFA on July 3 "Kevin was well-liked throughout our agency and had a gift for making everyone around him feel welcome His presence will be missed," the chief added Skinner is survived by a wife and three children 2024 at 12:22 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A woman was sentenced for her involvement in the death of an Iranian-American man in south Orange County CA — A woman admitted to being an accessory and was sentenced to community service after her former boyfriend — a white supremacist gang member — fatally stabbed an Iranian-American man in 2015 following an argument at a South Orange County bar The sentencing comes more than nine years after the violent Labor Day Weekend conflict between Craig Matthew Tanber and Shayan Mazroei at Patsy's Irish Pub Elizabeth Anne Thornburg — Tanber's then-girlfriend — was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and two years of probation after admitting that she helped him flee from the bar in the aftermath of the killing To read the full article, visit this link. TrendingCommercialLos AngelesABidders drive price of Ziggurat building in Laguna Niguel to $152MBrutalist office structure on 91 acres has drawn at least 72 bids in extended auction A photo illustration of the Chet Holifield Federal Building at 24000 Avila Road in Laguna Niguel (Getty Bidders for a federal office building known as the Ziggurat in Laguna Niguel have driven the price to nearly $152 million The bidding war has extended the auction by the General Services Administration of the seven-story, 1 million-square-foot Chet Holifield Federal Building at 24000 Avila Road, the Orange County Register Reported. Online bidding for the building opened June 5 and was supposed to close July 31 — if bidding had cooled But the Ziggurat has been hot since Uncle Sam waived a requirement to preserve the Brutalist concrete structure designed by William Pereira to resemble a Ziggurat and each day extends the auction for the 91-acre property in south Orange County four bids flooded into the GSA website before 6 p.m. raising the ante by $1.2 million to $151.8 million there have been 72 bids by three unidentified wannabe owners And bidding will run at least through 6 p.m The busiest bidding took place during the auction’s first day, with 11 bids from the initial price of $70 million to $125.3 million nine bids on July 30 pushed the price to $135.6 million three more bids sent the price to $136.8 million at least two bids have been made to keep the auction alive This is the second auction for the nearly vacant campus. The first auction in late 2022, which required the buyer to preserve the distinctive beige pile, drew no takers The stampede of investors to the latest auction — without the preservation restriction — suggests the buyer will likely bulldoze the 53-year-old building A study by the Urban Land Institute last year recommended the City of Laguna Niguel should allow a developer to build between 2,000 and 4,000 homes including the “Theme Building” at Los Angeles International Airport the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco and the Disneyland Hotel He also designed the master plan for the city of Irvine and the UC Irvine campus as well as a Ford Aerospace headquarters in Newport Beach later replaced by homes 2024 at 1:12 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The ongoing auction for Laguna Niguel's iconic "Ziggurat" building has come to a close with the building going for $177 million after a five-month bidding war CA — The ongoing auction for Laguna Niguel's iconic "Ziggurat" building has come to a close According to the General Services Administration sales website "Bidder #02" won the auction with the final bid a minimum $300,000 increment made at 3 p.m included rules for a "soft close" — meaning that if the highest bid is topped in a 24-hour period the deadline gets extended for another 24 hours wins the pyramid-shaped Chet Holifield Federal Building that opened in 1971 The end of the auction likely spells the beginning of the end for the building dubbed the "Ziggurat" and designed by famed architect William Pereira required a buyer to keep the building intact The lack of interest resulted in the GSA modifying the purchase rules and allowing for a buyer to demolish the property 2025 at 4:32 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The bodies of two men were found below the I-5 freeway in a 2016 Tesla CA — The bodies of two men were found in a partially submerged vehicle off Interstate 5 and Crown Valley Parkway Thursday night California Highway Patrol officers learned of a vehicle found below the I-5 southbound Freeway between the freeway and a self-storage facility in Laguna Niguel the 2016 Tesla veered off the roadway and ultimately came to rest in the creek which runs just west of the freeway," a CHP spokesperson said "Both the driver and passenger sustained fatal injuries as a result of this crash," they said and the CHP officers did not disclose if the passenger was also belted at the time of the crash It was not immediately known how long the vehicle had been unnoticed in the area The area near the creek is edged by thick vegetation on the storage facility side and obscured by trees from the roadway above Though authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of next of kin, the community of Mission Viejo has actively searched for two missing men, Brandon Blackthorne and Chandler Sykes has stated over a Facebook post that his son was among the deceased inside the vehicle Blackthorne worked as an Uber driver when he went missing His family has yet to comment on the reports The Orange County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau will release the identities once all parties have been notified Man In Tesla Missing In South Orange County: Have You Seen Brandon Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. host of KFI’s Fork Report for a sizzling good time celebrating the holiday season at Wild Fork Foods in Laguna Niguel at the corner of La Paz and Aliso Creek Road on Saturday Neil will be giving away to one lucky winner a MiniMax Big Green Egg Neil will be raffling off specially selected Wild Fork Foods cuts of meat There will be Fork Report and Wild Fork Foods swag and other prizes up for grabs Learn more about Wild Fork Foods So Cal Locations at: https://wildforkfoods.com/ 2025 at 4:58 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting a recycling event Saturday April 26 in commemoration of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in Laguna Niguel old or expired prescription medication taking up space in your medicine cabinet The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting a recycling event Saturday April 26 in commemoration of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and residents are encouraged to stop by and dispose of their unused medication along with the Orange County Sheriff's Department convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs the Orange County Sheriff's Department said in a statement While unused or expired prescriptions will be accepted residents can drop off old or expired medication at the following locations: All National Drug Day events take place on Saturday For the full list of drop-off sites, visit the Orange County Sheriff's Department's website. 2024 at 1:05 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Orange County Fire Authority Courtesy Photo)LAGUNA NIGUEL CA — A fire that broke out in a strip mall in south Orange County Sunday was sparked by an electrical failure It was knocked down in 10 minutes and no injuries were reported was an unspecified electrical failure in a power strip supplying electricity to a towel warmer in the back storage room of a nail salon 2025 at 10:19 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Four people were arrested in connection with a possibly gang-related shooting in south Orange County CA — Four people were arrested in connection with a possibly gang-related shooting in south Orange County Deputies were dispatched to the area of Calle Campana and Calle Canasta in San Clemente Sunday at around 12:45 a.m deputies located several shell casings and other evidence of a possible shooting," the department said in a statement "Shortly after deputies discovered the crime scene a vehicle possibly related to the incident was located in the City of Dana Point." A sweep of the suspect's vehicle revealed two handguns and several rounds of ammunition two suspects found at the original crime scene in San Clemente were arrested 2025 at 2:57 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Whether you're celebrating Easter Sunday with family Dana Point has several brunch options to consider CA — Whether you're celebrating Easter Sunday with family While some restaurants will be closed for the holiday on April 20 plenty in Dana Point and Orange County will be open No matter where you land this Easter Sunday be sure to book in advance — these eateries tend to fill up faster than a basket of chocolate eggs Here are the eateries serving brunch on April 20 this year: the acclaimed Laguna Beach eatery is hosting an Easter Buffet Brunch Chef Rainer Schwarz will celebrate the holiday with a made-to-order Omelet station hot station and carving station with Double R Ranch prime rib of beef and maple-glazed turkey breast The Easter Brunch special will be held on Sunday and pricing for children under 12 is $25 with children under 6-years-old eating for free Reservations can be made online at OpenTable. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar — Tustin and Newport Beach The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar is hosting a very special brunch to honor the holiday on Sunday The brunch will feature a special spring-inspired prix-fixe menu courtesy of Executive Chef Yvon Goetz Guests can enhance their brunch experience with a "Seafood Tower" or partake in endless mimosas please call Tustin at (714) 258-7600 or Newport Beach at (949) 999-6622 Residents can view menus for each location online at the restaurant's website Fable & Spirit will be offering an elevated take on classic brunch favorites Menu highlights include Wood-Fired Shakshuka — featuring baked eggs crème fraiche and queso fresco — and House-Smoked Salmon on a sweet anise toast Fable & Spirit recommends its Crispy Edge Sourdough Pancakes For more information or to make reservations, residents may call 949-409-9913 or visit the restaurant's website. Georgia's Restaurant — Irvine This soul food restaurant is offering Easter Sunday Brunch from 9 a.m Adults may partake in specially-priced brunch cocktails Hard Lemonade for $5 and Bloody Mary for $7 For more information, residents can visit the restaurant's website. The Waterfront Beach Resort — Huntington Beach The Waterfront Beach resort will offer a brunch buffet in the hotel's Breakwater Ballroom Guests will enjoy an ocean-to-table selection of Oysters including NY Medallions and Chicken Piccata For information on reservations and pricing visit the hotel's website. Residents can enjoy a brunch service from 11 a.m A regular menu service will follow starting at 3 p.m For information on menu and pricing, visit the restaurant's website. Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa — Dana Point Guests will enjoy a delicious Easter brunch overlooking the Pacific including specially-curated seasonal specialties a decadent dessert display and interactive stations with local flavors and ingredients Family-friendly activities will be available for children of all ages For information on pricing and booking a reservation, visit the hotel's website. Print The otherworldly looking sea creature that washed up near Laguna Niguel was actually a fairly common fish the moray eel.The eel’s teeth point backward making it hard for anything it has bitten to break free a terrifying set of jaws and a corpse-like pallor If you guessed the titular villain in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror film But a version of the creature that inspired Scott’s “Alien” also washed ashore over the weekend near Laguna Niguel “It’s giving me nightmares,” wrote a Reddit user on Saturday, posting a picture of what appeared to be a dead moray eel on the beach. The creature’s jaws were open, exposing its many teeth. Moray eels are common in Southern California, and they’ve washed ashore multiple times in the past, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Tim Daly. “It looks like it might be a little bleached from being dead,” Daly said of the latest visitor from Planet Moray. The usual hue of the living version is greenish-brown, according to John Ugoretz, pelagic fisheries and ecosystem program manager for the department. A group of kayakers and snorkelers came across a rare deep-sea oarfish floating in the waters off San Diego California moray eels live in coral reefs from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to southern Baja California in Mexico Instead of having gill covers like most other fish moray eels breathe by opening and closing their mouths appearing as if they’re gasping for breath “I think this one drew people’s people’s attention because of the way the teeth and head look on the moray eel and the fact that it was bleached out,” Ugoretz said of the online post The moray eel has a double row of pointed teeth that angle backward The moray’s sharp teeth are coated in bacteria, so their bites can be not only painful but cause infection, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The creature doesn’t tend to bite, however, unless scared or disturbed. 2024 at 7:46 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Insurance fraud costs California residents an average of $440 a year through higher premiums CA — Four men — including one from Laguna Niguel — face charges after a three-year investigation uncovered that they were billing nearly $100 million in fraudulent fees as part of an extensive workers’ compensation scheme “At a time when families across America are struggling to keep up with increasing prices for everything from gas and rent to just being able to put food on the table for their families criminals like these only increase the cost of insurance premiums and put the American dream just that much further out of reach for so many hardworking people,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a news release announcing the charges Insurance fraud costs California residents an average of $440 a year through higher premiums Brill and Lee formed a company called Southern California Injured Workers that offered medical management services which was the management company’s main client the management company controlled patient referrals to a limited network of providers that contracted the business they billed nearly $100 million to insurance carriers and were illegally paid referral fees from providers of services such as diagnostic testing and compound pharmacies who was banned for life from the state workers’ compensation system after twice being convicted of insurance fraud faces up to 18 years and four months in prison and Brill and Lee both face 12 years and four months 2025 at 12:59 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}There's a slew of reasons to get out in Laguna Niguel this March CA —Now that the weather is starting to warm up OC Parks announced a whole slew of scheduled events for the month of March designed to get Orange County residents out and engaged with all of the natural beauty the county's parks Here's a rundown on the schedule of OC Parks events for March across Orange County: fun crafts and meeting zoo creatures up close Cost is $5 per child (one parent included) Parent or guardian must accompany child for entire program Join OC Parks for a 1-mile hike around Mason Regional Park with your little ones (ages 3 to 6). We will explore the Butterfly Garden, the lake and more. This hike is relatively flat on paved surfaces. The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Advance registration required. Register here. Join OC Parks staff and volunteers for a nature scavenger hunt that’s fun for all ages Participants will find a series of interpretive tables and posts that are “hidden” along the trails near the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center There will be hands-on educational activities and prizes available for those who complete the scavenger hunt The scavenger hunt takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and participants may begin it anytime between 9:30 a.m 2025 at 10:20 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A pair of storm systems are expected to dump rain on Southern California beginning Tuesday again raising fears of possible debris or mud flows in recent burn areas CA — A pair of storm systems are expected to dump rain on Southern California beginning Tuesday The first system is scheduled to arrive sometime Tuesday evening although the brunt of the rain from that storm is expected to fall in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties A second storm system is projected to drop more rain from Thursday afternoon into Friday morning Although rainfall totals were still being calculated forecasters estimated that most areas would see a quarter-inch to an inch from that system with as much as 2 inches falling in favored hills and mountains "This will generally be a beneficial rain for the region," according to the NWS "Snow levels will be very high and above any major roads The risk for burn scar debris flows is very small Flooding impacts should be minor and confined to localized roads and clogged storm drains especially off the Central Coast and in the mountains forecasters predicted rain across Orange County with temperatures in the low-60s to high-50s residents can expect cloud coverage with a 50 percent chance of rain residents can expect more rain and cool weather with winds blowing up to 10 miles per hour The rain will continue into Friday and Friday night City News Service contributed to this report 2024 at 12:30 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Authorities Thursday were searching for a man wanted for apparently stabbing a victim during an attempted carjacking in Laguna Niguel CA — Authorities Thursday were searching for a man wanted for apparently stabbing a victim during an attempted carjacking in Laguna Niguel Deputies were dispatched just after 10 p.m Wednesday to the Aliso Village Shopping Center at La Paz and Dorine roads according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department The victim was taken to a local hospital and was expected to survive his injuries The attacker ran away and deputies only have a vague description of the suspect the attacker ran off before he was able to take the vehicle ABC7 reported from the scene that the victim was an employee at a Whole Foods market in the center and some nearby construction workers chased the attacker from the scene 2025 at 2:28 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The City of Laguna Niguel's annual "Bunny Bonanza" is making a return to town at a new location CA — On the hunt for spring-related events in your town The City of Laguna Niguel's annual "Bunny Bonanza" is making a return to town at a new location live entertainment and photo opportunities The annual "Bunny Bonanza" takes place from 10 a.m on April 12 at Crown Valley Park's lower soccer field 2025 at 4:37 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man believed to have assaulted a law enforcement officer was being sought by Orange County Sheriff's deputies in San Clemente Tuesday afternoon CA —Orange County sheriff's deputies Tuesday were searching a San Clemente neighborhood for a man suspected of stabbing a deputy on patrol Tuesday in the area of Avenida Pico and Calle de Los Molinos according to spokeswoman Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff's Department but her wounds were not considered life-threatening The suspect was described as a white man in his mid-30s who is about 5-feet-10 and weighs about 160 pounds with brown hair He was wearing a black jacket and dark pants and was last seen running toward a storm drain at Pico and El Camino Real Anyone who sees the suspect was directed to call 911 and to not approach him Students at nearby San Clemente High School and Las Palmas Elementary School were sheltering in place 2025 at 1:31 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Orange County Sheriff's Department Courtesy Photo)DANA POINT CA — A truck crashed into a dentist's office in Dana Point Thursday afternoon The crash was reported shortly after 1 p.m in the area of Del Obispo Street and Stonehill Drive The cause of the crash was not immediately known and no injuries were reported 2025 at 12:20 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man hanging onto a tree at a creek in San Juan Capistrano was rescued Thursday by Orange County firefighters (Orange County Fire Authority Courtesy Photo)SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CA — A man hanging onto a tree at a creek in San Juan Capistrano was rescued Thursday by Orange County firefighters Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at about 9:40 a.m Thursday to the area of Trabuco Creek and Rosenbaum roads regarding a person trapped int he creek Crews found a vehicle up against the trees in a creek filled with rushing water and a man hanging onto a tree nearby It was not immediately clear how he got there "We strongly encourage everyone to stay clear of all moving water," according to an Orange County Fire Authority news statement "It does not take a lot of water to move a person or a vehicle down river."