THE PROPOSED “Symphony of Flowers” in Huntington Beach’s Central Parl\k (Cavalia).

Politics and political efforts leading up to the 2026 off-year elections dominated the news in our West Orange County cities for 2025.

But the rising tide of deaths in traffic accidents also made headlines in Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster.

Here are the top news stories (by month) in The Tribune’s coverage area. This is Part One. We’ll resume with Part Two in our next issue.

January: Westminster City Councilmember Amy Phan West was accused of attempted bribery in connection with a dispute over parking …

February: Republican Tony Strickland, Huntington Beach councilmember, won the 35th State Senate District seat … The Huntington Beach City Council approved the placement of a plaque in the Central Library featuring the crostic of “MAGA” … Also at Surf City council meeting a speaker – former NFL punter Chris Kluge – was arrested after making a speech and then rushing the city council dias … Former Huntington Beach City AttorneyMichael Gates left town to take a post in the federal Department of Justice ….

March: A lawsuit was filed to stop the proposed “Symphony of Flowers” light show to be held in the Central Park East in Huntington Beach …Andrew Gruel was appointed to the Huntington Beach City Council to fill a vacancy created by Tony Strickland’s election to the state Senate … A Westminster man was arrested for manslaughter after a fatal hit-and-run accident in Westminster …Acting City Manager Travis Hopkins was hired as permanent CM with a four-year contract for Huntington Beach … The Santiago High School Cavaliers defeated the Ramona Rams 64-49 for the 4AA CIF-SS boys’ basketball title, the first CIF-SS boys’ hoops crown in school history

…Next issue (Jan. 7): Will revisit April to June 2025.