Matt Szabo

Reporter at Daily Pilot

Daily Pilot reporter. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate. The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis.

Articles

Hoag names Jack Sun its director of cardiovascular surgery

1 day ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Jack Sun, who started as Hoag’s director of cardiovascular surgery at the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute last month, spent nearly seven years as chief of cardiac surgery not too far away, at UC Irvine. “At UCI, I had always known about Hoag, and you never know what’s going on over there,” Sun said with a smile. “It’s kind of like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Huntington Beach introduces police-led e-bike training program

2 days ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

The rise of e-bikes has brought an exciting new way to get around, but not without consequences. Huntington Beach had 147 reported e-bike crashes in 2024, more than double the amount reported two years prior. Mayor Pat Burns said he saw another close call just recently. “I saw several kids blow right through a red light, clueless to how close they came to getting slaughtered by the oncoming cars,” he said.
Laguna Beach's Nyjah Huston returns to skate as X Games celebrates 30 years

2 days ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

A numbers game might favor Nyjah Huston at this weekend’s X Games. The action sports showcase turns 30 years old this year. Huston, the highly decorated skateboarder, is also 30. He celebrated his golden birthday (when the date of one’s birth coincides with one’s age) on Nov. 30. “It’s the 30th anniversary, is it really?” Huston said Tuesday morning during an informal press conference with other Monster Energy athletes Kevin Peraza, Jackson Strong and Ryan Williams, held on Zoom. “Damn, that’s sick.
Laguna Beach's Fischer sisters honored with USA Water Polo retirement ceremony

4 days ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Makenzie Fischer was a record-setting water polo player at every stage of her career. Her U.S. national team coach, Adam Krikorian, explained why rather succinctly. “She could, on any moment’s notice, be the best player in the world in any phase of the game,” Krikorian said.
Newport Harbor quartet helps U.S. Junior National water polo team earn silver

4 days ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

No United States men’s water polo national team had ever finished this high at a World Championships event at any age group. But a quartet of players from Newport Harbor, past and present, helped the Team USA Junior National team earn a hard-fought silver medal at the World Aquatics Under-20 World Championships in Croatia. Team USA fell to Spain, 14-11, in the gold medal match on Saturday.
Canine cowabunga: Repeat surf dog champions crowned in Huntington Beach

1 week ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Petey the Surf Dog caught a long wave early in the small dog finals of the Purina Pure Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional competition on Friday morning. The 6-year-old West Highland white terrier from Huntington Beach rode it all the way in toward the shore, earning plenty of points. Petey’s trainer, Kay DeLoach, marveled at the ride after the competition. “He seems to adjust his balance so he doesn’t fall off,” DeLoach said.
Huntington Beach environmental advocate asks 'What's Going On?' with new podcast

1 week ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Christine Mulholland can trace her environmentalist roots back to when she was about 5 years old. On rainy days back then, she would put on her boots and grab an umbrella. She’d also round up the other kids on her block. “I would put this worm-saving committee together,” Mulholland said with a laugh. “I would make everyone help me rescue the worms out of the gutter, and put them back in the grass and the soil.
Daily Pilot/TimesOC writers win several Orange County Press Club awards

1 week ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Daily Pilot and TimesOC writers won several awards at the Orange County Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards gala held Wednesday night at Anaheim Hills Golf Club to honor the work county journalists did throughout 2024. Daily Pilot writer Sara Cardine won first place in the Best Public Affairs Story category for her look at an apartment complex on the west side of Costa Mesa that was due to be demolished after years of housing low-income tenants.
Huntington Beach activist Chris Kluwe planning state Assembly District 72 run

1 week ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Huntington Beach resident and activist Chris Kluwe was cast into the spotlight in February, when he was arrested at a City Council meeting for what he maintained was an act of peaceful civil disobedience. Now, Kluwe plans to run for public office for the first time. The former National Football League punter said Wednesday that he will be running for the state Assembly District 72 seat next year.
Huntington Beach mayor again makes disparaging remark on hot microphone

1 week ago | latimes.com | Matt Szabo

Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns made a disparaging remark on a hot microphone Tuesday night, at the same meeting where the City Council said it would not repeat public comment restrictions that the American Civil Liberties Union alleged violated the Brown Act and speakers’ 1st Amendment rights. Burns’ remark was made after Wendy Rincon and her daughter Sydney made public comments.