Stop the presses! Sources say businessmen/philanthropists George Argyros and Larry Higby are interested in buying the OC Register. Meanwhile, the Register and the Los Angeles Times are exploring the possibility of combining their non-editorial functions to cut costs. See page 1 …
The Reg’s provocative (and sought-after) editorial writer Steven Greenhut says he has decided to remain with the paper …
Donald Bren is cutting dozens of jobs at Irvine Company. “Given the challenge of the current economic climate, successful companies are re-evaluating their operations and, as a planning company, that’s something we do on an ongoing basis,” said company spokesman John Christensen. Christensen’s boss, Tony Russo, promoted just a year ago to SVP of corporate affairs, is leaving the job to rejoin his family in Sacramento and reopen his government affairs practice, with Irvine Co. as a client …
Will they need Angel Stadium to accommodate the Sarah Palin crowd? Emulex Executive Chairman Paul Folino’s Coto de Caza estate can hold “only” about 300 people, so the Sept. 25 visit of John McCain’s running-mate sensation was moved to Bren’s Island Hotel in Newport Center. Except the hotel only can hold standing room of 900. So now organizers are looking at the OC Performing Arts Center. At least 1,500 are expected to pay a minimum of $1,000 each to see Palin here, easily making it a million-dollar payday for the campaign. Palin is making only one other stop, in the Bay Area, on the one-day California swing; donors from L.A., San Diego and the Inland Empire, as well as OCers, are signing up for her local appearance. “It’s the biggest political event I’ve ever been involved with in Orange County,” says Folino, who has been involved in some big ones. Is Palin an even bigger draw than his buddy, Gov. Arnold? “I won’t go there,” Folino says with a chuckle …
This won’t be Palin’s first visit to OC. Last November she attended a Republican Governors Association conference at the St. Regis Monarch Beach. Then Alaska’s little-known first-year governor, Palin was not among the few guvs who dined with Folino and other party supporters …
The California Republican Party apparently isn’t ready to cede the state to Barack Obama. The above-mentioned Russo is chairing an effort to raise several million dollars to try to put the state into play for McCain. He laid out the Team California plan at a Pacific Club reception attended by Mitt Romney and Meg Whitman …
“Inside OC with RR” has launched its fifth season on KOCE …
UCLA b-ball coach Ben Howland speaks at the Boys and Girls Clubs luncheon Sept. 24 at the Anaheim White House Restaurant …
OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano isn’t the only OCer of Mexican heritage with a new memoir. Congressional sister act Loretta and Linda Sanchez are out with “Dream in Color,” published by Hachette Book Group’s Grand Central Publishing.
