A WOMAN sitting on the storm surge protection dune watches the waves hitting the pier in Seal Beach, Calif on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

A high surf warning and a coastal flood advisory have been declared for Orange County, including Huntington Beach, in place through Monday. The National Weather Service predicts  that high surf will be all along the Orange County coast from six to 12 feet; surf was as high as 11 feet in Huntington Beach.

  Seal Beach’s pier has been closed. Also expected is minor flooding of low-lying beach parking lots and boardwalks. Danger from high surf may be in place until about 2 a.m. on Monday.

Court rejects charter lawsuit

  A lawsuit aimed at keeping a series of controversial proposed charter amendments from going before Huntington Beach voters in the March primary election was rejected by an Orange County Superior Court judge on Thursday.

 The suit, brought by HB resident Mark Bixby, had asked Judge Niko Dourbetas to block a vote on city charter amendments that would require voter ID at polling stations in 2026,  allow for monitoring of ballot drop boxes in the city, set rules on which flags can be flown on city property and other measures.

Heritage events back on calendar?

  Claiming that action by the Huntington Beach City Council to leave “identity politics” – such as Black History and Women’s History Month – off the municipal calendar was misunderstood, city spokesperson Jennifer Carey said that the action did not exclude other observances of Black or women’s heritage.

 “While the monthly historical themes have been determined for 2024, a calendar of additional acknowledgements and tributes will be displayed on the city’s website and updated quarterly based on committee and city staff feedback,” a news release from the city said.

Murder-suicide in Seal Beach home

  A 65-year-old man living with his 84-year-old mother in Seal Beach is believed to have fatally shot her and then killed himself.

  That murder-suicide is the conclusion of police after investigation of the incident which was discovered on Wednesday. Police say the son was frustrated with the care of his ill mother and complained about it during  a call to an out-of-state relative.

  A pistol was found in the son’s hand. He was lying on the bed next to his mother. Both had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.