Get ready to enjoy an R-rated “graphic” masterpiece that intertwines political discourse and satire by the celebrated but reclusive Julia Verne. Her newest publication, Trump’s Hot Bot, contains sharp wit and vivid illustrations — both of which pack a punch in a nuanced narrative that takes a deep dive into a society obsessed with power, greed, sex, and the quest for control. In Trump’s Hot Bot, readers are introduced to former president Donald Trump and Petra, an emotionless sex robot. At their first meeting, they fall in lust with each other; suddenly, the stage is set for a laugh until-you ..read more

The Irvine City Council continues to combat rising tension during its public meetings as altering viewpoints over the Middle Eastern conflicts continue to clash locally.  Inside City Hall, a division between supporters of Israel and supporters of Palestine has created a sometimes hostile atmosphere that continues to be the source of noticeable disruption to council business. Members of Irvine’s Jewish community have come forward during council meetings with concern over the environment that is developing inside City Hall, claiming there has been hate speech against Jewish community member ..read more

If you’re still trying to plan your Valentine’s Day itinerary, here are some casual ways to celebrate the special day in Irvine and Orange County.  From bright red Valentine’s Day-themed tortillas to heart-shaped pizzas, here are some local eats that will surely swoon your Valentine.    Puesto With more than 20 million tacos sold, it’s safe to say Puesto is a favorite of many locals in Orange County. This year, Puesto is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a limited-time red tortilla, which is made in-house with fresh beet juice.  With two locations in Irvine — Puesto Pa ..read more

Established in 2018, Moongoat Coffee Roasters has developed a cult-like following in just a few short years. With locations in Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Laguna Beach, and a roasting facility in Santa Ana, Moongoat has become well-recognized in Orange County and recently announced its newest location in Irvine. Moongoat hinted at the idea of opening an Irvine location earlier this year in January, when the company announced its pop up cafe collaboration with The Irvine Company at 4 Park Plaza. While the Moongoat and Irvine Company pop-up is expected to end in March, the coffee company confirmed ..read more

The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of a new Interim Chief Executive Officer in January. In a statement, the Chamber introduced Dave Caffaro, who served as the interim CEO at the Irvine-based Second Harvest Food Bank between 2018 and 2019. As a graduate of Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at the Claremont Graduate University, Caffaro has built a reputation as a strategic advisory, keynote speaker and author. Currently, Caffaro serves as the Principal of Strategic Advisory Consulting Group and the co-founder of the fintech firm Atticus. Lisa Thomas, Ch ..read more

The termination of 1,900 employees within Blizzard Entertainment’s video gaming division in January has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, filed a complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit alleging that the layoffs at Blizzard contradicted Microsoft’s previous promise to continue the independent operation of Blizzard post-merger. The commission is now seeking an injunction on Microsoft’s $69 billion merger of Blizzard Activision, which was completed in October. In the letter to the court, FTC attorney Imad D. Abyad wrote ..read more

The Irvine City Council, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, unanimously approved a $1.8 million contract for the removal of abandoned underground utilities that once powered portions of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The contract, awarded to Cerritos-based abatement and demolition contracting firm Resources Environmental, Inc., was the lowest responsive bid for the project and is expected to begin this spring.    Officially known as the Northern Sector Utility Removal, the project is located near the ARDA site between Cadence and Great Park Boulevard. A staff report indicated th ..read more

A winter storm has brought increased rainfall and prompted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to issue voluntary evacuation warnings for residents within Silverado Canyon and the surrounding regions of the Santa Ana Mountains near Irvine and Lake Forest.  The evacuation warning, issued at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, came as an atmospheric river delivered more than four inches of rain to mountainous regions above Irvine. On Monday, Feb. 5, the Orange County Public Works Department reported that crews were removing “rocks and light mud” from the hillsides on roads near Silverado Canyon. OCPW ..read more

 A cyber attack targeting university-affiliated Discord servers sent thousands of obscene videos and transphobic rhetoric during a days-long attack that impacted college campuses in Washington State, Los Angeles, and Irvine. At UC Irvine, on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 9, approximately 500 university-affiliated Discord servers became the target of an organized attack, which flooded Discord servers with thousands of videos depicting death, violence and necrophilia.  In detailing the context of the attack, community Discord moderators at UC Irvine said the videos included the torture ..read more

After six years and nine months as President and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Bryan Starr announced his resignation in December, according to a new letter released by the Chamber.  On Monday, Jan. 8, the Chamber released a letter praising Starr’s leadership throughout his tenure. The letter, obtained by Irvine Weekly, indicates Starr informed the chamber staff that he would seek a new opportunity in January. No further details regarding his next opportunity were provided. “Bryan’s service has had an undeniable impact on Irvine’s economy. His work helped bring global comp ..read more