Reporter

Claire Wang

Claire Wang covers Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa for the Orange County Register. A graduate of New York University and Columbia Journalism School, she's written about politics, culture and Asian American issues for the Guardian and NBC News, among other major news outlets. When not reporting, she can most likely be found climbing rocks.

The Costa Mesa city council during a council meeting in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. At the end of the contentious meeting the council voted 3-2 to remove Katrina Foley from her position as mayor. Pictured, from left, council member Jim Righeimer, mayor pro-tem Sandy Genis, mayor Katrina Foley, council member John Stephens and council member Allan Mansoor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Costa Mesa to consider changes to housing element in response to state lawsuit

August 29, 2026 at 7:43 a.m.

The changes would add dozens of new locations for possible housing and also remove from the city's inventory list more than two dozen sites that didn't meet the criteria for...

The City Council is considering an overhaul of the Huntington Beach Sports Complex, seen here in a file photo, to help boost its use and generate revenue. (Mark Martinez, Staff Photographer)

Huntington Beach to conduct extensive financial review of proposed sports complex overhaul

August 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

To bring in more visitors and boost revenue, the city is considering a major overhaul of the facility, including replacing fields with turf, installing LED lighting and building a year-round...

A pealing pressurized tank that was made for methyl methacrylate at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove on Monday, August 24, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County to sue Garden Grove aerospace company over chemical tank crisis

August 26, 2026 at 5:57 a.m.

The OC Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed Tuesday, Aug. 25, to hire outside law firms and initiate litigation against GKN Aerospace to "seek penalties and recover costs" the county incurred...

The OC Board of Supervisors meet in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

OC Board of Supervisors wants to know if it can subpoena companies investigated in county audit

August 25, 2026 at 8:07 p.m.

The supervisors were updated on Tuesday, Aug. 25, on the latest phase of independent audits underway by accounting firm Weaver and Tidwell of contracts with links to former First District...

A Huntington Beach police vehicle is shown damaged Saturday night after police dealt with crowds attending a party. (Photo from video by Mario Guerrero/OC Hawk)

Can Huntington Beach afford to raise police salary by 17% over three years? City leaders are divided

August 19, 2026 at 5:18 p.m.

Under the tentative agreement, 259 officers would receive an 8% bump the first year, retroactive to July 1, followed by an additional 4% in 2027 and 5% in 2028.

CalOptima Health and their street medicine provider Healthcare in Action launched their mobile doctor’s office in Anaheim, CA on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

CalOptima’s street medicine program expands to four more OC cities

August 18, 2026 at 6:10 a.m.

Starting as soon as next summer, providers will drive through neighborhoods in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Westminster, reaching out to and treating unhoused individuals in those communities...

The control tower at John Wayne Airport overlooks the field as an airplane lands in Santa Ana, CA, on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Coast College to become second California school to offer air traffic controller training

August 14, 2026 at 10:46 a.m.

The school received funding to get simulators and equipment for hands-on training, renovate classroom space and implement a full set of courses by fall of 2027.

A sign at El Camino Park directs voters to the Vote Center at the El Camino Park Community Center in Orange on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Candidate fields take shape for City Council elections in Orange County

August 20, 2026 at 2:05 p.m.

Here are all the candidates qualified to run for seats in the 32 OC cities, including who is unopposed and already destined for office.

The Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa, CA, on Monday, April 11, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fairview Developmental Center plan clears Costa Mesa planning commission

August 13, 2026 at 9:38 a.m.

The Planning Commission voted 4-2 this week to advance the plan to the City Council, which will hold a final approval hearing next month.

Orange County Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau, right, gives a tour of the new mobile vaccination site to Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do in March 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Audit: Former OC health care chief dismissed staff concerns about contracts linked to Andrew Do

August 14, 2026 at 4:13 p.m.

The new report is the latest in a series of audits ordered by the county into contracts that Do played a part in granting. This audit looked at 681 contracts...

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