Laguna Beach Local News

Monday, June 20 Squatting. Michael Patrick Cowan, 49, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of illegal squatting at a lodging establishment. Parole violation. Joseph Artzer, 55, of Marina del Rey was arrested on suspicion of felony parole violation and misdemeanor shoplifting. He was held without bail. Tuesday, June 21 Public intoxication. Karena...

Laguna Beach firefighters were working on a contained house fire in the area of Park Avenue and Hillview Drive on Wednesday morning, according to a Nixle alert. Arriving fire engine crews found a two-story home with flames visible from both levels in the front of the home. Firefighters made entry...

After 25 years of responding to 911 calls for service about medical emergencies, traffic collisions, injured swimmers, and more—a Doctor’s Ambulance is slated to depart Fire Station 1 for the last time Friday. The contracted white-and-blue blue ambulances will be replaced with red ambulances crewed by an in-house team of...

The top employee of the Laguna Beach Unified School District will see his annual salary increase to $331,813 starting Friday. A 3% pay increase and other contract amendments for Supt. Jason Viloria were approved by the Board of Education on a 4-1 vote on June 23. Board member Dee Perry...

Tasmin McGill, Special to the Independent As the Sawdust Art Festival enters its first weekend of the season, it held preview night on June 21 to show guests what they can expect this summer. Although the gates opened at 6 p.m. the line to enter stretched down the block. Neighbors waved...

A parcel hosting the South Laguna Community Garden Park was listed for $5 million on Friday, throwing the future of a beloved watering hole into doubt. Since 2009, the use of the 7,522-square-foot property has been donated by the overseas property owner. "We are working with the realtors involved to arrange...

By Tasmin McGill and Daniel Langhorne About 200 people rallied in support of women’s reproductive rights at Main Beach Park on Friday evening, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn women’s constitutional right to abortion. Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties hosted the rally in conjunction with protests...

Wednesday, June 15 Bench warrant. Michael Patrick Cowan, 50, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of three open misdemeanor bench warrants. He was held on a $30,500 bail. Public drug use. Amber Kristen Castillo, 44, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor public use of a controlled substance. Her bail amount...

By Timothy Hessen, Special to the Independent In the months before the pandemic, English teacher Dawn Hunnicutt accomplished her goal of launching a Creative Writing course at Laguna Beach High School. Although she had to finish the school year remotely, her poetry workshop left a strong impression on the family...