Email Author MATT COKER

Awards

• 2011 - Southern California Journalism Awards/LA Press Club, published February 4, 2010

  "Douchebag Does Sundance"

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2010 Stories by MATT COKER

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  COVER STORY

  A Year of Navel Gazing: The Virtual Orange County

  published December 30, 2010

  Yeah, sure, we could have done what we’ve done in past years. We could have foisted upon you an end-of-year edition giving month-by-month... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Ugly Police Mug Shot of the Week: Verne Strong

  published Dec 24, 2010

  This week's ugly police mug of the week belongs to someone whose arrest, conviction and sentencing you've already read about. rIt's Verne Joseph Strong, 57, of Newport Beach, who was sentenced Dec. 16... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Author Tracks Pterodactyls Among Us

  published Dec 24, 2010

  We told you last month about an academic in Long Beach warning about flying predators: snakes formally known as Chrysopelea paradisi to be exact. Now, another academic in Long Beach is illuminating th... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Octomom Nadya Suleman Doesn't Work, But Her Kids Do

  published Dec 23, 2010

  Octomom Nadya Suleman may not be employed, but that does not mean she cannot put her kids to work to subsidize her government assistance, help defray the cost of her nail appointments and fight the al... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Steve Martin Puts on His Mouse Ears

  published Dec 23, 2010

  Steve Martin was born in Waco, Texas, moved with his family first to Inglewood, California, and then Garden Grove. He attended Garden Grove High School, took drama and poetry classes at Santa Ana Coll... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Top 10 Accused Perverts of 2010

  published Dec 23, 2010

  Gropers. Kiddie rapers. Sex blackmailers. Public masturbators. Kiddie porn possessors. And a dude who wanted women to fuck his dog.Yep, Orange County's got some winners all right.What follows is a lis... More >>

• Brinda Sue McCoy is in Deep Doo Doo--and Lucky to Be Alive

  published Dec 23, 2010

  Brinda Sue McCoy is looking at a possible sentence of 58 years in prison if convicted of the charges against her, but based on the description of the incident that led to her Dec. 16 arrest, the 47-ye... More >>

• Snow Summit in Big Bear Reopens

  published Dec 23, 2010

  What the warm tropical storm taketh, the cold winter storm giveth.Snow Summit in Big Bear, which had to close Monday because warm rains washed away the snow that had been sticking to the slopes, reope... More >>

• [UPDATED:] Huntington Beach Company Uses 'Toons, Rappers and Twilight Stars to Lure Kids to its Prepaid Debit Cards

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Update, December 22, 11:26 p.m.: 38-year-old Brian Newberry has been developing debit cards for young people for the past 10 years. He actually came from a big bank (which he won't name) that he says ... More >>

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  [UPDATED:] Storm Status: Road and Shelter Closures

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Update, December 22, 10:08 p.m.: The emergency shelter at Mission Viejo High School has closed, the county announced this evening.Evacuated residents in need of shelter can still go to Laguna Beach Hi... More >>

• James Fleming, Ex-Capistrano Unified Superintendent, Wins Appeal in "Enemies List" Case

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Three years after James Fleming, the former superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District, was indicted for allegedly creating an "enemies" list of parents and students and then lying about it,... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED:] Andrew Thomas Gallo Gets 51 Years to Life for Murder of Angels Pitcher Nick Adenhart and 2 Others

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Update, December 22,12:12 p.m.: From the Associated Press:Before sentencing. [Courtney] Stewart's sobbing father, Chris Stewart, told the judge each day that goes by "is one more day I'm without my d... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Obama Signs "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal

  published Dec 22, 2010

  As expected, President Barack Obama signed legislation today that repeals the 17-year-old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that prevented gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. military. Howev... More >>

• Justice for Julian Collender Push Goes to OCDA

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Family, friends and supporters of the late Julian "Jules" Collender, who was gunned down by Brea Police in front of his Yorba Linda home on June 30, plan to hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Or... More >>

• Newport Cutters Offer Dueling Mommy Makeovers

  published Dec 22, 2010

  Two Newport Beach plastic surgeons offer dueling "Mommy Makeovers."Dr. Semira Bayati of Dr. Bayati Cosmetic Surgery on Birch Street provides a combo package of such procedures as a breast lift, liposu... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Loretta Sanchez Seeks Faster IRS Review of Orange County Pension Plan Changes

  published Dec 21, 2010

  Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) is calling on Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to expedite Internal Revenue Service review of Orange County's proposed changes to its employee pension program... More >>

• Orange County Interwebs Horror Show Surfs Cities

  published Dec 21, 2010

  This week's Orange County Interwebs Horror Show goes from city to city to see what is being said about them on the Interwebs. Mayors, chambers of commerce officials and visitors and convention bureauc... More >>

• Paul Rivera, Scott Skallerud and Scott Larson Popped for Bold ATM Heist at Haven Gastropub

  published Dec 21, 2010

  It was a most brazen crime: Around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, two men wearing white Hazmat-type get-ups walked into Haven Gastropub in Old Towne Orange, placed the ATM unit on a dolly and wheeled i... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Toyota's Record $32.4 Million Fine Settles Federal Probes But Not Suits Brought by OCDA and Others

  published Dec 21, 2010

  Toyota's agreement to pay a record $32.4 million to settle U.S. Department of Transportation investigations into the giant automaker's handling of two recalls does nothing to resolve civil lawsuits br... More >>

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  [UPDATED:] Local Emergency Declared in Soggy OC

  published Dec 21, 2010

  Update, December 21, 10:59 a.m.: The county just announced that as a result of the local emergency proclamation issued due to the weather, two emergency shelters will now be open 24/7. They are the Na... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Watch What You Photograph in Newport Harbor Lest You Wind Up in an Anti-Terror Database

  published Dec 21, 2010

  Perhaps you've had family out from Idaho and taken them to the Newport Harbor area for a Balboa Bar and some sightseeing. Maybe they noticed the automobiles floating on water thanks to the Balboa Ferr... More >>

• Santa Claus vs. the City of San Juan Capistrano

  published Dec 21, 2010

  Yes, Virginia, there is a blow-up Santa Claus. A great big one tethered to Buy My Bikes on Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. Owner Jim Curwood says the holiday display attracts customers.But c... More >>

• [UPDATED:] Paul Lawrence Wadley, Retired Police Chief, Left Nude Photos and Exposed His Junk on Park Trails: Police

  published Dec 20, 2010

  CLICK HERE FOR WADLEY'S WEAK SENTENCE rUpdate, December 20, 5:40 p.m.: Retired Huntington Park Police Chief  Paul Lawrence Wadley pleaded not guilty today to misdemeanor indecent exposure charg... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  WikiLeaks Expose Questionable Details From Dana Rohrabacher's Visit to Honduras

  published Dec 20, 2010

  R. Scott Moxley told you in October about Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) having inserted himself in the violent 2009 coup that toppled the democratically elected president of Honduras, Ma... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  War on Christmas Rages in OC's Wealthiest 'Hoods

  published Dec 20, 2010

  Bill O'Reilly, Mike Huckabee and other Fox News blowhards yammer on and on about the "War on Christmas" waged by progressives who choke baby Jeebus in the cradle with their "happy holidays" chatter. S... More >>