Cal State Fullerton Economists Say Recession is No Longer Imminent. The threat of a recession has been replaced by a slow and steady stagflationary environment of rising prices and sluggish economic growth, says Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics economists Anil Puri and Mira Farka.  Puri and Farka’s term “stagflation,” outlined at the April 30 Economic and International Trade Forecast, promises stalled growth and persistent inflation. “In the short-run, over the next six to eight months, we are more enthusiastic than the consensu ..read more

The Orange County Board of Education (OCBOE) holds significant sway over decisions impacting the local education landscape, from approving charter schools to navigating policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent article published by the Fullerton Observer and authored by Marcy Fry, the importance of OCBOE’s decisions is underscored. Senate Bill 907 (SB 907) would, if passed, restructure the OCBOE by expanding its composition from five to seven trustees and shifting its elections from the primary ballot in March to the general election ballot in November of each even-numbered year. “Sin ..read more

The County of Orange (County) released the results of the Orange County 2024 Point In Time (PIT) Count on May 8, 2024. A total of 7,322 persons experiencing homelessness were counted during the 2024 PIT Count.  Of the 7,322 individuals counted, 3,149 persons were sheltered, while 4,173 persons were unsheltered. In comparing 2024 to 2022, there was a 37 percent increase in the unsheltered population versus an increase of 18 percent in the sheltered population. However, when comparing 2019 to 2024, the increase was smaller at only five percent in the unsheltered population and nine percent ..read more

In light of intensified terrorist activity in the Middle East, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an Advisory to assist financial institutions in detecting potentially illicit transactions related to Islamic Republic of Iran-backed terrorist organizations.  The Advisory highlights how certain terrorist organizations receive support from Iran and describes several typologies these terrorist organizations use to illicitly access or circumvent the international financial system to raise, move, and spend funds.  These terrorist orga ..read more

Fullerton Recreational Riders (FRR) held its 64th year of competitions, proving Fullerton’s horsey heritage is alive and well. On April 27, cowgirls and cowboys of all ages rode horseback around barrels and weighted slalom poles at the Laguna Lake horse arena for best-in-time and all-around fun. Over 50 competitors on almost as many horses competed in Gymkhana, where riders race the clock on four types of obstacle courses. Gymkhana in Fullerton is a set of four timed courses. It includes the “Cloverleaf” barrel pattern, which is well known to rodeo fans, plus the “Big T,” which adds slaloming ..read more

Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), alongside Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Mark Alford (MO-04), launched the Bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus on May 6, 2024. Real estate represents 16% of U.S. GDP, supports 2.8 million jobs, and generates $50 billion in tax revenue. Considering its importance, Congress must support policies that allow this industry to prosper. That’s exactly what this caucus will do. “Homeownership is an essential part of the American Dream and represents a tangible pathway to the middle class,” Correa said. “As a former real e ..read more

At the recent reopening of the historic Hunt Library, the Museum of Teaching and Learning (MOTAL) exhibition, A Class Action: The Grassroots Struggle for School Desegregation in California, caught visitors’ attention as they stepped through the library’s doors. Open through October 13, 2024, the award-winning traveling exhibition tells the story of the famous civil rights court case Mendez et al. v. Westminster et al., which ended school segregation in California and paved the way for national desegregation. A day before the display debuted at the newly-refurbished library, I had a chance to ..read more

“Please take me away Far from this place Leaving me here Take me away To the furthest star in the sky Take me away To the deepest cave in the night Take me away Voices of love, here am I In this sad, sad world of fear” –Genesis, In Limbo The ACLU of Southern California has dropped a dime on three shelters in Orange County: The Courtyard in Santa Ana, La Mesa in Anaheim, and Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim. Utzman v. Orange County, the suit brought by the ACLU against these three facilities and their parent companies, was originally filed in December 2020 but was held up by various legal le ..read more

The Fullerton Observer is partnering with Troy High School student Edyn Mai to create Observing the Future. This literary and editorial magazine strives to highlight the young talent in the Fullerton community. For the month of June, Observing the Future is currently building a team of students interested in journalism, social media, and graphic design. Observing the Future is looking for writers, editors, social media managers, and website managers to help market and create the first issue, set to release June 28. Each role is virtual and in-person, with workshopping and training dates before ..read more

U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Robin Kelly (IL-02), who serve as co-chairs of the Maternity Care Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.Res 1193) on May 6 to designate May 5-11, 2024, as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week” to raise awareness about maternal mental health and its effects on maternal-child health. “Untreated maternal mental health disorders impact 1 in 5 mothers and cost the United States $14.2 billion each year. The emotional toll of mental health challenges on women cannot be overstated, yet far too few women seek the help that they need during ..read more