Fast Food Chain Donates $17 Million + Yellow Tier Reopenings

Good morning, Orange County! For Wednesday's Daily, we are focusing on these stories and more...

Orange County moves to the Yellow Tier today! Coronavirus cases and positivity rates have plummeted as more residents are vaccinated. Still, as restrictions loosen, mask mandates remain in many places. Read more on Patch.

Here's why this fast-food giant is helping these 100 Southland students, nine of them from Orange County, fulfill their boldest post-high school ambitions. (More on Patch).

Wednesday Weather:

Partly cloudy throughout the day.

• High 72, low 60
• 6 percent chance of drizzle

On Wednesday, low tide is at 10:27 a.m. with surf at .2 feet.

High tide is 5:54 p.m., with surf levels at 3.74 feet.

Patch Pick:‘60 Minutes’ Sheds Light On UFO Sightings And Pentagon's Response The Pentagon finally says UFOs — or unidentified aerial phenomena — are real and may explain what you’ve seen in the skies over America. (More on Patch).

5 Top Picks From Orange County:

1. 'Roxie's Wish' Bill passes to honors this Southland drowning victim in a bill that proclaims every third week in May as "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children." (More on Patch).
2. Orange County's high school athletes continue to play in their race for CIF-SS titles. See who's at the top of softball thanks to Dan Albano (OC Register).
3. Vaccine hesitancy has reached utter resistance in some parts of Orange County. Will the Board of Supervisors reach their herd immunity independence day? Sara Cardine reports. (LA Times).
4. During the push for testing, education, and vaccination, Orange County's Board of Supervisors made a pricy PR Contract. Did it promote vaccinations...or was it the Supervisors, themselves? Nick Gerda takes a look. (Voice of OC).
5. Laguna Beach's Promenade on Forest is a shining example of outdoor dining surviving and thriving amid the pandemic. Have you been? (More On Patch).

Here are 5 events going on in your neck of the woods:

1. Saddleback Church: Free Food Distribution! Wednesday, May 19 at 10:00 am:

Saddleback Church is providing food, free of charge to families and individuals in need. We are happy to bless families with food once a week at the locations closest to you. Prayers are also provided! Click here for more.

2. BOOK CARNIVAL presents British Author PETER JAMES—LEFT YOU DEAD Thursday, May 20 at 11:00 am

Join us on Thursday, May 20, at 11:00 am for a Virtual Event with British author PeterJames as he discusses his latest book, Left You Dead. Copy and paste this link into your browser for to join Zoom: http://www.annesbookcarnival.com/events/#may20

3. RE-OPENING: Knott's Berry Farm 2021: Buena Park Saturday, May 22 at 10:30 am Re-Opening of Knott's Berry Farm 2021

Opening To General Public For Summer Hours: Friday, May 21, 2021

• Re-opening to season passholders: May 6, 2021 Knotts Berry Farm,8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park CA Click here for more.

4. Livestream Telethon to help nonprofit theatre survive pandemic Saturday, May 22 at 5:30 pm

Creative Kids Playhouse Children's Theatre of Orange County (CKP), a nonprofit organization impacted by the pandemic, will live-stream a Telethon on May 22 at 5:30 pm to help their theater raise funds needed to survive the pandemic and continue providing quality arts education. Click here for more.

5. 'Art of Flamenco' Dinner Show 2021: Cafe Sevilla, Costa Mesa Saturday, May 22 at 6:30 pm

Saturdays, May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2021 - 6:30 p.m.
Cafe Sevilla, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA Click here for more.

See more on the Orange County calendar!

Now you're in the loop and ready for this week. But don't miss out on stories posting throughout the day! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.

~Ashley

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Orange County Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Orange County Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ashley.ludwig@patch.com.