JANET NGUYEN sworn in as the new state Assembly member from the 72nd District.

She’s back.

Janet Nguyen, a homegrown political leaders, who rose all the way to the state legislature of the nation’s most populous state, was sworn in Monday as the new state Assemblyperson for the 72nd District.

“I still can’t believe it,” she said in a Facebook post. “I would not be here without the trust of the voters of the … district and the support of my family.”

Nguyen, who grew up in Garden Grove and served as an Orange County Supervisor, is returning to service in Sacramento after a hiatus caused by her upset loss in 2018 to Democrat Tom Umberg when she ran for re-election for the 34th state Senate seat she initially won in 2014.

Earlier this year she finished first in the “open” primary for the Assembly seat. Garden Grove Councilmember Diedre Nguyen was second and incumbent Tyler Diep, a Republican, was third.

In November she bested Diedre (also known as Thu-Ha) Nguyen 54 percent to 46 percent.

Bond Fire is 75 percent contained

The Bond Fire in the Silverado Canyon area of Orange County is 75 percent contained, according to the latest update from Cal Fire and the Orange County Fire Authority.

An estimated 6,686 acres were involved in the blaze and 31 structures destroyed, while 21 more were damaged. There were no known injuries to first responders such as firefighters and law enforcement officers. All evacuation orders have been reduced to evacuation warnings.

“Impaired” driver held in fatal CM crash

An allegedly “impaired” driver was arrested Sunday night in a fatal crash with a 12-year-old bicyclist in Costa Mesa.

According to the CMPD, the incident took place around 5:55 p.m. in the area of Arlington Drive and Junipero Drive.  Arrested was Richard Lavalle, 59, of Long Beach the driver of a pickup truck. He is charged with murder, driving under the influence and parole violation.

Police say the Lavalle’s truck failed to stop at a stop sign and struck bicyclist Noel Bascon, who died later at a local hospital.

A passenger in the truck was also arrested on drug possession charges.