The Laguna Beach Independent

Established in 2003 and taken over by Firebrand Media LLC in January 2009, the Laguna Beach Independent serves as the community newspaper for Laguna Beach, California. We cover a range of topics including local news, political updates, arts and cultural festivals, news features, as well as local sports and events.

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Opinion: Is a return to greatness upon us?

1 week ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Billy Fried

We’ve been treated to some magnificent news this week. We are finally filling that glaring vacancy of a trophy property known as Laguna Drugs.
Spring Sports Update: Week of April 18

1 week ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Frank Aronoff

BASEBALL (9-0, 18-2)Laguna continues to get closer to capturing its first league title since 2018 with a couple of recent league victories. Five conference games remain, and the Breakers have a three-game lead over second-place Irvine (6-3, 12-11). By virtue of the series sweep, the Breakers hold the tiebreaker with the Vaqueros. The Breakers still need to play the third-place teams—University and Portola, both with 5-4 league records.
Local law enforcement aids in Costa Mesa Warehouse search, illegal cannabis and psilocybin mushroom products recovered

2 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Clara Beard

On Tuesday, April 1, the Special Enforcement Team (SET), with support from the Laguna Beach Police Detective Bureau, agents from the California Department of Cannabis Control, and an investigator from the California Tax and Fee Assessment, seized over 450 pounds of cannabis products and over 50 pounds of psilocybin mushroom products from a warehouse in Costa Mesa, according to a police report.
Laguna hosts the Best in the West NCAA beach volleyball tournament

2 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Clara Beard

Laguna Beach was treated to some of the best collegiate volleyball in the country this past weekend when the third annual Best in the West NCAA tournament took place at Main Beach. Described by event organizer Blair Applegate as a preview for the national championships next month, the top 10 teams from across the country met to compete April 4-6 and featured defending national champions USC Trojans. Top-ranked UCLA also made its first appearance at Main Beach.
Spring Sports Update: Week of April 11

2 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Frank Aronoff

BASEBALL (7-0, 15-2)Branson Wade went the distance as Laguna defeated St. Margaret’s 4-1 in eight innings this past Wednesday at San Juan Sports Park in the mission city. Wade allowed only three hits and struck out 11 in the effort, picking up his seventh win of the season. Both teams scored in the first inning but could not generate another run until the eighth. The rally began with Otis Boultinghouse drawing a one-out walk.
LBUSD approves final environmental report for LBHS pool modernization

2 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Clara Beard

At its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 20, the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education (LBSUD) adopted a resolution approving the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Laguna Beach High School Pool Modernization Project. This resolution concludes the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, which mandates that public school districts evaluate environmental impacts before proceeding with major construction.
Spring Sports Update: Week of April 4

3 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Frank Aronoff

BASEBALL (6-0, 14-2)Laguna 4, Sage Hill 0 - March 27 at Sage Hill SchoolBecker Sybirski struck out 12 over six innings against the Lightning to sweep the league series. Becker only faced 20 batters, giving up one hit. Jake Martinez completed the game in the seventh inning. Dane Jenal’s sacrifice fly in the first inning scored Becker for the first run, who had reached base on a single. Sage’s miscues helped the Breakers add two runs in the third inning and a fourth in the following inning.
Opinion: Oh, what a night

3 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Billy Fried

“Oh, what a night. And I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder. Spinning my head around and taking my body under. Oh, what a night!” ~ The Four SeasonsI’m, of course, talking about the 1st Annual Laguna Achievement Festival (aka LAF Awards), produced by KXFM Radio and held last Saturday night at Seven-Degrees. No one could have anticipated the raging desire this community had to gather together in stoke! And what a bright, colorful mélange of Lagunans in their finest plumage.
PMMC Under Pressure: Laguna's marine mammal rescue has over 80 sick sea lions and cetaceans in its care

3 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Clara Beard

Since the beginning of March, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center has taken in an unusually high number of sick sea lions and cetaceans, all showing signs of domoic acid toxicosis. The acid is a neurotoxin produced by the marine algae Pseudo-nitzschia and has been found moving its way down the Southern California coast from San Luis Obispo County. "We're counting the beginning of March as when the uptick in patients really started," a PMMC spokesperson said.
Spring Sports Update: Week of March 28

4 weeks ago | lagunabeachindy.com | Frank Aronoff

BASEBALL (5-0, 11-0)Laguna 12, Sage Hill School 1 (March 25 at Skipper Carrillo Field)The Breakers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning on four singles and capitalized on Sage’s miscues to roll for their eleventh consecutive victory, marking the second longest undefeated start in 88 seasons of play. Laguna recorded 15 hits, with Parker Moore contributing three. Branson Wade pitched five innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10.