🌱 Federal Oil Spill Investigation Stalls + Kids Ride OCTA FREE

Good morning, people of Huntington Beach, and happy National Clam Chowder Day! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Huntington Beach Daily.

There is no good answer to why permission is still not being granted to analyze a part of the ruptured pipeline hands-on. Also, your kids can now ride OCTA with a permanent Youth Ride Free Pass. Finally, there were racial statements made by an aggressor with a stun gun.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 62 Low: 44.

Here are the top five stories in Huntington Beach today:

1. Why is the federal investigation into October’s oil spill dragging along? We learned Thursday that officials have been waiting “for permission to cut apart, remove and analyze a portion of the ruptured pipeline.” Media reached out to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but received no answers. “Amplify Energy Corp., whose subsidiary operated the pipeline, is working cooperatively with federal agencies,” a spokesperson said. (L.A. Times)
2. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) announced Thursday that youngsters between the ages of 6 and 18 won’t have to pay bus fare any longer. “Making its Youth Ride Free Pass permanent,” OCTA does “hope that more youths will be able to utilize the buses because of it.” “Parents can request the pass for their children to the OCTA website, and the transit agency has worked with local school districts across the county to distribute passes to students.” (Patch)
3. The HBPD charged a 42-year-old Black man for “making racial remarks and also pointing a stun gun at a 54-year-old man” in the city. The incident happened Saturday. The suspect “pleaded not guilty for violation of the victim's civil rights and having a stun gun in his possession” during his arraignment on Wednesday. His pretrial hearing is on March 9. (HB News)
4. The Orange County Clerk-Recorder's Office was busy Tuesday. In addition to the typical business, there were a record 335 marriage licenses to issue. Besides that, officiants “performed 327 civil ceremonies” on 2-22-22. Congratulations! (Patch)
5. The OC Vegan Fest is this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at 253 E. 3rd St. in Santa Ana. This family-friendly event is free to enter and will feature 50 vendors. If you’ve been kicking the tires on going vegan, this is the event to attend! (News Santa Ana)

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Today in Huntington Beach:

• Dog Teeth Cleaning at Pet Supplies Plus (9 AM to 3 PM)
• The Mighty Mutts of O.C. meet at the Park Bench Café (1 PM)
• Rollology Certification Workshop at Love Pilates (3 PM to 8 PM)
• Friday Night Standup - Live Standup Comedy Show at The Amazing Comedy Theater (7 PM)
• The Rec Room by Off The Wall presents ROFL House (10 PM)

From my notebook:

• A Harbor Pines neighbor needs to re-home a 7-month-old dog. (Nextdoor)
• A neighbor in The Landing area is looking for recommendations for straight chair lifts. Acorn seems to be the largest. (Nextdoor)
• Our Yorktown neighbor still has Girl Scout Cookies for sale!! They are $5 per box!! (Nextdoor)

Loving the Huntington Beach Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.