So, the news in this space last week was about the Norte fire driven by high winds and the local response to it. This week Mother Nature, thanks to her 2026-27 intense or “super” El Niño weather pattern, brought to our coastline enormous king tides and flooding for a period that began Sunday and will end early in the afternoon tomorrow.
Bracing for this week’s tides, which have surpassed 8 feet in height (a record 8.4 feet in Newport Beach Tuesday morning, and it could reach that high, or higher, today at 10:28 a.m.), Metrolink took the cautious step of temporarily suspending, through Friday, its coastal route that has been beleaguered by erosion.
“By originating and terminating Orange County Line trains at Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, Metrolink can maintain a more predictable schedule for customers across the system,” Metrolink said in a statement.
“This shift will also reduce competing rail traffic and shorten potential weather-related delays for other carriers, including Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and freight trains, that operate along the beachfront corridor near San Clemente.”
The land under the endangered, scenic rail line is managed by the Orange County Transportation Authority, which secured $308 million in state and federal emergency funding to shore up that endangered line. But, according to the Los Angeles Times’ story about Metrolink’s decision this week, “hasn’t been able to secure all of the permits from the California Coastal Commission, the California State Lands Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers in time to complete the work.”
In other preparations for the expected flooding, Newport Beach public works crews were found busy Saturday placing sandbags along the most vulnerable public spaces on the harbor side of the Balboa Peninsula. After the enormous tides swept through, the crews were out there again, siphoning water off of walkways.
The city’s spokesperson, Georgia Rios, told The Times that Newport residents also took advantage of the availability of free sandbags to protect their properties.
“We saw about 25,000 sandbags go this weekend,” she said. “We really saw the community come out. So I think a lot of the success of not having immense amount of flooding damage is due to residents taking part and grabbing sandbags for their homes.”
The Times’ report, found here, delves into the science behind the monster sizes of the king tides that are expected this year and next. Scientists the reporters spoke to explained that the record-hot temperature of the ocean off our coast is causing seawater levels to be 1.25 to 1.8 feet higher than they would be under more normal circumstances.
So, while our coastal residents may well be accustomed to dealing with the tides and the flooding they have brought in the past, they likely have not experienced anything quite as extreme as the ones we’re seeing now.
And, to add to the soggy misery such events can bring, The Times notes, if El Niño rainstorms accompany a king tides period, coastal flooding will, of course, be even more intense.
The next few times the “royals” are expected to revisit us will be Thanksgiving week, again at Christmastime, then in January, around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all holiday occasions that will call for the finest of sandbags.
MORE NEWS 
The Anaheim Police Assn. has joined forces with Jeff Flint, a lobbyist whom the FBI investigated as a “ringleader” of a self-described “cabal.”
(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; Photos by city of Newport Beach, Central District Court of California, Anaheim Police Assn.)
Lobbyist involved in Angel Stadium controversy returns
Jeff Flint, once referred to in court documents as “Political Consultant 1” and “Co-Schemer 1,” in the FBI’s corruption probe in Anaheim, but was never charged with any wrongdoing, has reemerged in local politics during this election season.
Flint’s Tennessee-based consulting company, HexaCom Group, now counts the Anaheim Police Assn. as its principal client. A political science professor at Fullerton College told TimesOC it’s an “extraordinary” comeback for Flint, who had fallen from grace in the city.
Newport Beach calls off court-ordered special election on three ballot measures
A special election on three citizen-backed ballot measures that a judge ordered the city of Newport Beach to hold has apparently fallen through, for the time being, anyway. It’s a long saga, but at first the City Council balked at placing them on the regular Nov. 3 ballot at all. Then, they decided the measures should go before voters in 2028 instead.
But once the city was court-ordered to make it happen now, it was too late for the county registrar to place them there. So, next they turned to a special, city-run mail-in ballot that was supposed to have been handled this month. On Friday afternoon, the city put out a notice that it could not proceed with the election because it did not have all the materials and information it needed from the state and county.
Huntington Beach to bury America 250 time capsule at City Hall
On a split vote of the Huntington Beach City Council it was decided last week the city will bury an America 250 time capsule on Nov. 30 at City Hall to be opened in 2076.
An America 250 banner, hat and small replica cannon are expected to be included in the capsule, along with a book prepared by City Celebration Committee member Patti Pappas.
Laguna Beach unveils new emergency operations center
A much-needed emergency operations center was formally opened last week in Laguna Beach’s recreation center at the former St. Catherine of Siena school site. The new EOC was named in honor of a stalwart community proponent of emergency preparedness, Matt Lawson.
Laguna College of Art and Design places final beam on innovation center
Also in Laguna Beach, college officials and local dignitaries marked a construction milestone last Friday for what will become the Patrick Howe Quilter Innovation Center at LCAD, which is expected to be completed in November 2027.
Quilter, who donated $40M toward the project, was on hand to sign the final beam alongside other attendees before it was put into place.
Anaheim couple trafficked endangered wildlife parts
A married couple from Anaheim pleaded guilty in federal court to helping traffic wildlife parts such as black bear gallbladders, lion teeth and rhinoceros horns between Oregon and Vietnam. They were sentenced to three years’ probation and each was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
After their 13-year-old died in an e-motorcycle crash, they’re facing charges
Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer announced charges against a Santa Ana couple whose son had been repeatedly injured in electric motorcycle incidents before dying in a May crash. The father was charged with one felony count of child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His wife was charged with one count of misdemeanor child endangerment.
Son fatally stabs parents and dog in Westminster, police say
A 74-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man, along with their family dog, were allegedly murdered by the couple’s son at their Westminster home last week, according to police.
Man is found dead near entrance to Disneyland
A 65-year-old transient was found dead Sunday afternoon near Disneyland’s south entrance, according to police. No foul play was suspected.
Sports roundup 
The Angels fired manager Kurt Suzuki after he lost 100 games during his sole season leading the team.
(Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Angels fire manager Kurt Suzuki after losing 100 games in his sole season
Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced last Wednesday that the Angels declined the option on manager Kurt Suzuki’s contract, following a dismal season.
Marina High products help Milwaukee Brewers make second World Series
But hey, baseball fans! Things might not have gone so well in Anaheim for the Halos, but how about those Milwaukee Brewers? Did you know that two of the team’s key players are products of Marina High School?
The Oilers are celebrating their first league football championship since 1993 after a 37-22 romp over visiting Troy.
4 Things to do in OC
🧟 Check out the resurrected Stanley Haus, a longtime regional favorite themed Halloween display on the residential Oak Ridge Circle in Aliso Viejo that was on hiatus for a couple of years. Hours are 6:30 to 9 p.m. weekdays, until 10 p.m. weekend nights.
💀 Take the kids to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos this Sunday at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, where they can decorate a sugar skull and enjoy a live Folklorico performance. The event begins at 11 a.m. and space is limited. Visit this site to book your visit.
🎨 Get a look at the new exhibition at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana that highlights the creative ceramic works of Pablo Picasso from the extensive Rosenbaum Collection.
💸 Buy, sell or trade collectible sports or TCG cards at the OC Card Show this weekend in the Anaheim Building at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Please feel free to reach out with comments or questions at carol.cormaci@latimes.com.