Employment Attorney in Irvine, CA

The 2025 Summer of Loud tour made a stop at The Great Park in Irvine, CA on Saturday July 5, 2025 and delivered a blistering, marathon, all-day experience for metalcore fanatics featuring “The Big Four” of metalcore: Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, Beartooth and I Prevail, along with support from The Amity Affliction, Alpha Wolf and Kingdom of Giants (The Devil Wears Prada is also on this tour but due to medical issues the band did not play on this date). Nothing beats an all-day festival in the summertime, and this one was destined for greatness as the doors to the venue opened at 2:30 pm, and fans ran to be the first to the front of the barricade. The weather was 85 degrees, blue skies with a slight breeze and the forecast for the remainder of the day was six hours of hardcore metal greatness.

Opening the show was Sacramento’s Kingdom of Giants, and they brought the heavy early in the day with a super high-energy set, and the fans definitely knew who these guys were as vocalist Dana Willax set the bar very high to start the day. A familiar face was on bass/vocals as Jonny Reeves from The Amity Affliction is also a member of Kingdom of Giants. The entire 25-minute set was a banger and got the crowd surfing going early.

Kingdom of Giants

From Tasmania, Australia, Alpha Wolf hit the stage with some powerful beatdown hardcore metal. The “youngest” band on the tour, this band from “Down Under, brought the Thunder”. Vocalist Lochie Keogh paced back and forth on the front riser like a caged panther and had the crowd jumping and moshing in the heat of the day. A few of the security guards got banged up a bit from catching all the crowd surfers. These guys were great onstage, was nice to see them on this tour.

Alpha Wolf

I see a pattern here, another band from Australia, The Amity Affliction tore up the stage for 40 minutes as Joel Birch belted out the songs, many with very personal lyrics telling stories of his personal struggles. Bands like this really hit home with the combination of lyrics and heaviness; it’s the perfect therapy for any metalhead going through tough times. And bassist Jonny Reeves was at it again, pulling double duty for the day.

The Amity Affliction

Now the stage was set for a Co-headliner showcase as all four of the next bands are rotating time-slots on each stop of the tour. Up first on this day at 5:20 pm was Killswitch Engage, and they took the intensity up ten notches as they opened their 50 minutes onstage with “Rose of Sharyn” followed by “In Due Time” and “This Fire”. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz addressed the crowd, stating he had been drinking since 9:00 am and was ready to party as the band kicked into “I Believe” off their February 2025 release, This Consequence.

Vocalist Jesse Leach was ready for summer in his white shirt and pants and his voice sounded strong and steady as he pranced around the stage and jumped down into the crowd at one point to sing with the fans. The set included heavy bangers “The Signal Fire” and “Hate by Design” and the set ended with their tribute to Ronnie James Dio with a cover of “Holy Diver”. Based on the amount of crowd surfing and moshing, this was just the beginning of a crazy evening.

Killswitch Engage

Parkway Drive appeared onstage and kicked off with “Glitch,” and vocalist Winston McCall had the crowd in the palm of his hands as he passionately barked out his lyrics. All the way from Australia (another band from down under), Parkway Drive demonstrated metalcore’s global dominance with their ferocious set as every fan sang every word of every song. Somehow, the crowd maintained their energy, and crowd surfers, one after another, continued to make their way to the pit during the entire set. “Wild Eyes” closed out the madness of Parkway Drive, two down and two to go, the night was just getting started.

Parkway Drive

With co-vocalist Brian Burkheiser leaving I Prevail back in May, it was now up to Eric Vanlerberghe to fully lead the band onstage, and that he did, and did it with conviction. With vocal assistance from guitarist Dylan Bowman, Vanlerberghe picked up right where Parkway Drive left off. Starting the night with “Bow Down’ and “Body Bag”, somehow the fans, now fully rejuvenated, again had the crowd surfing going nonstop, keeping security super busy.

In the middle of the set, the band covered Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” and Vanlerberghe also dedicated their set to the late music executive Dave Shapiro, who tragically passed away in a plane crash in San Diego back in May 2025. The band concluded their night with the ferocious “Gasoline” that layed total waste to the Irvine crowd.

I Prevail

The peak of the energy on this day was about to happen. Beartooth is one of the most energetic bands on the planet, as vocalist Caleb Shomo never, ever stops moving. Paying tribute to Black Sabbath with his t-shirt (on the same day Sabbath and Ozzy played their last live performance in England), Shomo bounced, jumped, and never slowed down during Beartooth’s set. “The Lines”, “The Past IS Dead”, “Sunshine!” started the show, and the crowd somehow pulled out a second wind and gave as much energy as the band did onstage.

These four bands are incredible on their own tour, but seeing them together, one after another, was a metalcore dream come true. Kudos to the person(s) responsible for putting this package together – the metal community THANKS YOU!

While all the bands delivered insanely kick-ass performances, the production on this stop of the tour was non-existent. Other stops of the tour had full pyrotechnics throughout the four co-headline sets, but for some reason on this night, there was no pyro at all. Maybe the venue had no fire permits, or the fire risk in SoCal with the wind was too high? The video screens seemed to stop and start throughout each set, but the worst part was the fog machines running nonstop in bright sunlight, making it nearly impossible to see the bands onstage. Also the stage lights after dark seemed non-existent, we want to see the bands so we can connect with them. While the performances are the most important thing here, it just seemed this show was an afterthought compared to other stops on the tour.

Regardless metal was played, fans rocked out and the Summer of Loud gave Irvine a metalcore beatdown.

Beartooth

Irvine voters will almost certainly have a say in whether to replace the Oak Creek Golf Club with a residential community of 1,500 single-family houses and 1,600 apartment units, which is what the Irvine Company proposes to do.

That’s because the land, although privately owned by the Irvine Company, was designated as permanent open space in a 1988 conservation initiative backed by Irvine voters.

For the development proposal to move forward, city officials disagree on whether voters must approve an amendment to the open space plan or if the City Council can change the plan on its own.

Putting the legal argument aside, however, councilmembers informally agreed recently that bringing the matter to a citywide vote is their preferred course of action.

The seven-member City Council could vote on ballot language later this month.

The ballot measure would likely go in front of voters in November.

Irvine’s 1988 initiative was intended to help the city, over time, to accrue large, contiguous swathes of open space in exchange for permitting development opportunities elsewhere.

To facilitate its proposed development on the golf course, the Irvine Company has offered to transfer ownership of 315 acres of open space in northern Irvine to the city and also concede operational control of an additional 565 acres of orchards currently owned by the city, but on which the company maintains agricultural operations. The developer would also build a school in the new neighborhood.

Despite the addition of public open space, the company’s proposal requires an amendment to the city’s open space plan because the golf course is explicitly protected in it.

It’s the first time since the passage of the law 37 years ago that Irvine officials have considered a development on land designated as permanent open space.

The proposed amendment reflects changing times for a master-planned city that has expanded to the edges of its original 20th-century blueprint.

“Frankly, it’s a terrific open space agreement that has stood the test of time and has proven to be extremely valuable to the quality of life and community,” Irvine Mayor Larry Agran said in a recent interview. In 1988, he was a councilmember who supported the initiative.

“While we’ve adhered to the master planning process and to the fundamentals of the master plan, it gets tougher and tougher as you go along,” Agran added. “This development, even though it’s large, is kind of in the nature of what we sometimes refer to as infill.”

Infill is the process of making urban spaces denser instead of building outward.

For decades, Irvine had to deal with infill only rarely, as the city built toward its limits, one neighborhood at a time, according to the city’s master plan.

Since the 1970s, the Irvine Company alone has built 22 residential villages.

Its neighborhoods stretch to the peripheries of the 66-square-mile city and push into the foothills of the Santa Ana mountains.

Now, the city has more than 315,000 residents and hardly any space left to grow outward.

Infill is the city’s challenging new reality, especially as elected officials walk a tightrope between respecting the original designs of the master plan and meeting ambitious state housing mandates.

They’re also juggling those goals with a promise to keep about 16,000 acres of parks, trails and wilderness areas — an area greater than one-third of the entire city — as “forever protected.”

“We adopted (the initiative) as a ballot measure with the understanding that it would make that open space locked away forever free of development,” Agran said.

“Certainly, as a matter of honest dealing with the public, it was made clear that nobody was interested in having the council tamper on its own with the open space agreement,” he added.

Since the Irvine Company announced its intentions to develop the golf course at a City Council meeting in May, hundreds of residents have submitted written comments to the city for and against the plan.

Hence, councilmembers want the matter to come to a citywide vote.

So far, the council has only voted to begin analyses and technical studies of the Irvine Company’s proposal.

Those studies will take almost a year to finish and will happen concurrently as voters go to the polls.

Only then, and should the amendment pass, will the City Council weigh the merits of the Irvine Company’s proposal.

An Irvine Company spokesperson said it’s premature for the company to comment on the prospective ballot measure, but it welcomes the city’s holistic review process.

In the meantime, Agran says the city must complete its due diligence.

“I think what has been submitted is a coherent, reasonable development,” he said. “We’ll have to await the analyses to see how much adversity this brings in terms of traffic and other adverse effects, whether those could be mitigated, and whether, on balance, it makes sense to go ahead.”

Highlights from the SABPA OC/LA 17th Annual Biomedical Forum: Representing some of Organizers, Speakers, Sponsors & Attendees

On April 26, 2025, the SABPA OC/LA 17th Annual Biomedical Forum, one of the three flagship professional forums organized by the Socal Association for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Advancements (SABPA), convened successfully in Irvine, CA. More than 200 guests from academia, medical device, IVD and biopharmaceutical companies in Southern California and beyond participated in the forum. It was truly inspiring to see the life & medical sciences community come together for thoughtful discussion, collaboration, and innovation. The quality of the program, the diversity of perspectives, and the energy of the speakers and attendees made the forum an exceptional experience.

The event commenced with a welcome speech by Ms. Dongmei Huang, Vice President of SABPA and President of SABPA OC/LA for 2025-26. This year’s forum focused on Innovation and Compliance with a full day of panels and keynotes spotlighting advances in AI, wearable devices, biotech research, regulatory best practices and Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era.

Morning Momentum: Regulation Meets Innovation

In a landmark gathering of biomedical innovators, health tech leaders, and regulatory strategists, a powerful message emerged: the future of healthcare lies at the intersection of AI, continuous monitoring, and smart regulatory navigation.

Dr. Elliot Botvinick from UC Irvine introduced a next-generation implantable multi-analyte sensor, capable of monitoring a wide array of biomarkers — from glucose and lactate to potassium and insulin — every 13 seconds. Designed to function across all skin tones, the device promises to revolutionize chronic care and trauma response by offering real-time, continuous insights without the burden of frequent blood draws. The system’s foundation in spectroscopic sensing and miniaturized wireless technology points to the future where patient monitoring is both seamless and personalized.

On the regulatory front, Dr. Jay Vaishnav emphasized the critical role of early FDA strategy in launching Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). With AI tools becoming increasingly central to diagnostics and workflow optimization, she underscored the need for cybersecurity, human oversight, and post-market vigilance. Regulatory readiness, she said, is not just a compliance task — it’s a key differentiator for investors and clinicians alike.

Panel discussions on Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) grants offered tactical guidance to startups navigating through a tough/increasingly challenging funding environment. Key advice included writing grant proposals with clarity, responding constructively to rejections, and embracing feedback. AI, while useful, should be used carefully in submissions — passion and scientific rigor must still come from the innovator.

AI also took center stage in drug development. Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov of Insilico Medicine shared how Generative AI and robotics are accelerating drug discovery by simulating biology and generating new therapeutic candidates — a breakthrough in aging and oncology research.

Dr. Binh Nguyen highlighted that in the evolving pharmaceutical landscape, ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of medicinal products is paramount. Quality Risk Management (QRM) has emerged as a critical strategy to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the product lifecycle—from development and manufacturing to distribution and post-market surveillance.

Sessions Explore Innovations in Dental Industry and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Industry

During the lunch break, attendees had the opportunity to participate in three concurrent lunch-and-learn sessions, covering specialized topics offered by SABPA OC/LA sponsors:

Afternoon Spotlight: Generative AI, Wearables, Cell Therapy and Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era

In the realm of cancer therapy, Dr. Peter Wang introduced a remote-controlled CAR-T cell therapy using ultrasound to safely activate or deactivate treatment in solid tumors. Combined with CRISPR, this innovation opens new frontiers in non-invasive, real-time immunotherapy.

From the lab of Dr. Wei Gao came another futuristic development: wearable molecular sensors powered by sweat and AI. These devices target early diagnosis of metabolic diseases, stress monitoring, cancer drug dosing, and even hormone tracking — a noninvasive, continuous, and deeply personal approach to health.

Dr. Laura Li highlighted how AI is transforming genomic interpretation, reducing the cost and complexity of diagnosing rare diseases. Darren LaCour addressed shifting global strategies due to the EU’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR), urging early-stage companies to reconsider their clinical and regulatory entry points.

Closing the event, a forward-looking panel on entrepreneurship in the digital era—moderated by Yinghong Gao of Viva Biotech—brought together leaders from Ancora Medical, Accelerated Venture Partners, Amberstone Biosciences, and BOLD Capital Partners. The discussion highlighted the increasingly challenging investment landscape for digital health startups, where only 1 in 10 ventures now secure funding, a steep drop from 1 in 3 just a few years ago. Investors emphasized a shift toward greater selectivity, prioritizing robust clinical data, experienced advisory teams, and clear, differentiated value propositions. While AI remains a powerful enabler, panelists were clear: AI is a tool, not the business itself.

The Forum Highlighted Future Healthcare Innovations and Collaborative Strategies for Patient-Centered Care

The forum offered a clear vision for the future of healthcare, where new technologies like wearable sensors, AI-driven drug discovery, and advanced diagnostics work hand in hand with smart regulatory planning to improve patient care. From real-time health monitoring to targeted cancer treatments, the message was clear: innovation must be focused, backed by data, centered on patient needs, and meet federal and professional compliance regulation requirements.

But technology alone isn’t enough. In today’s tough funding environment, success also requires strong planning, solid clinical proof, and determined leadership. This event was a reminder and a call to action — encouraging everyone in healthcare to work together, adapt to, and lead the way toward smarter, safer, and more accessible care.

©www.geneonline.com All rights reserved. Collaborate with us: [email protected]

In his commencement address to the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta did not shy away from politics as he challenged graduates to take a stand against injustice.

“I’m here to call you to action,” he told the graduates, who have completed studies in fields related to criminology and law, urban planning and public policy and other social studies.

1 of 6

“UC Irvine gave you the skills, curiosity and willingness to question and challenge the status quo — use that,” Bonta said. “Across the nation, our rights, freedoms and safety are under attack. Our diverse communities and our people are under attack. Now is not the time for silence or blind compliance; the stakes are too high.”

In just over four months, Bonta has sued the second Trump Administration 26 times. And when he called attention to that number during his speech, the graduates and their families who packed the Bren Events Center broke into a loud swell of applause.

Last week alone, Bonta filed three lawsuits against the Trump Administration.

One was related to what he called an unconstitutional threat from the U.S. Department of Justice to compel California school districts to certify bans against transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

Another was related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s move to block California’s mandates to phase out gas-powered cars and clean up diesel trucks.

The third was a challenge to the president’s decision to federalize and call the California National Guard to Los Angeles, without authorization from Gov. Gavin Newsom and against the wishes of local law enforcement, to respond to people downtown protesting immigration raids.

After a judge ruled on Thursday that Trump did not have the authority to federalize the California National Guard, the administration quickly appealed and was subsequently granted a stay to maintain control of the troops.

A panel of three judges, including two Trump appointees, on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case on Tuesday.

“We remain confident,” Bonta said in an interview after delivering his speech. “We think in any tribunal, in any court, where the judges are fair, objective, look at the law, look at the facts — they’ll find for us. We don’t bring cases unless we think we’re going to win.”

Still, Bonta signaled that, if the result does not go in favor of California, he would be interested in seeing it through to the Supreme Court.

“This might not be the last stop, so we’ll see where it ends up,” he said. “But we think we have a really strong case here.”

In his speech, Bonta tackled the uncertainty of the moment — and the immigration raids — head-on.

“We all know no one does it alone, so let’s hear it for all the parents, loved ones, professors and faculty who helped you to get here — including those who might have stayed home out of fear of their safety,” Bonta said.

“As much as today is and should be a joyous celebration, I know many of you may have mixed feelings as you walk across the stage,” he added. “You might be thinking about tomorrow with some sense of trepidation.”

UC Irvine is recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution, a federal designation awarded to universities where at least 25% of undergrads identify as Latino and at least half of all students receive financial aid.

“We did want to recognize the fact that some people might not be here out of fear,” Bonta said after the speech. “Given some of the ICE raids in the region last week, we didn’t want to just gloss over that. We wanted to recognize it and address it.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted targeted arrests in Irvine last Thursday. The agents’ presence in the city led Councilmember Kathleen Treseder to take to social media to encourage undocumented people to stay home that day.

To the graduates, Bonta called this era a “uniquely daunting time to enter the so-called real world.”

“Our democracy, the very foundation our nation stands on, is being stress-tested,” he said. “No doubt about it.”

“Still,” he said, “I’m filled with hope.”

The root of his optimism, he told them, stems from their resilience.

“You endured a global pandemic, grew up experiencing active shooter drills and sometimes active shooters,” he said to the crowd in their academic gowns and mortar boards. “You witnessed miscarriages of justice and took to the streets declaring, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Stop Asian Hate.’”

“You turned your pain into purpose,” he said.

Now, he implored them, “Don’t slow down.”“If anything, put your foot on the gas,” he said. “We need you. We are counting on you.”

Irvine, CA (June 14, 2025) – A traffic collision involving injuries occurred late Friday night in the heart of Irvine’s business district at the intersection of MacArthur Blvd and Fitch. The crash took place at approximately 10:01 p.m. PDT, drawing a prompt response from emergency crews.

First responders, including paramedics, assessed and treated individuals hurt in the crash, which took place near corporate campuses and commercial centers along the busy MacArthur corridor. The scene remained active as crews worked to assist the injured and manage the aftermath of the collision, which disrupted traffic flow in the area.

The number of vehicles involved has not been disclosed, nor have the conditions of the injured parties been released. Authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the crash, including a review of traffic patterns, driver behavior, and possible impairment or distraction.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this accident.

Even during nighttime hours, areas like MacArthur Blvd in Irvine remain busy with employee traffic, rideshares, and delivery vehicles. Intersections such as MacArthur and Fitch are particularly active due to their proximity to John Wayne Airport and the surrounding business parks, increasing the likelihood of after-hours collisions.

According to 2024 data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, Irvine continues to experience a notable number of crashes in business and commercial zones, with many occurring after traditional business hours. Factors like reduced visibility, fatigue, and driver distraction play key roles in these late-night incidents.

Injury victims in such collisions often face more than just physical trauma—they may encounter insurance challenges, property loss, and long-term recovery hurdles. Prompt medical care, accurate documentation of the incident, and legal guidance can help individuals recover more fully and understand their options for support.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash, reach out to Local Accident Reports for assistance.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.