Irvine

Santa Ana, Calif. – September 29, 2026 -- OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) will host a countywide Community Compost Giveaway on Saturday, October 3, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, offering free, ready-to-use compost made from green waste collected across Orange County homes, while supplies last.

The compost will be distributed at three sites: Bee Canyon Greenery at Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine, Valencia Greenery at Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea, and Capistrano Greenery at Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.

Residents must bring their own containers at two locations.

At the Irvine and San Juan Capistrano sites, residents need to bring their own containers or heavy-duty yard waste bags along with a shovel to load the compost themselves. At the Brea location, OCWR will hand out prefilled bags, limited to four per household while supplies last.

Irvine, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- SUPER73 is releasing two new colorways for its M1D Special Edition electric bike, expanding its partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing (ORBR). Riders can choose Nightfall Blue for a classic look or Suzuka White, a design referencing Max Verstappen's 2025 win at Japan's Suzuka circuit.

The M1D SE builds on a sold-out first collaboration

This marks the second joint release between SUPER73 and ORBR, following the sold-out Z and R Adventure Series. The new colorways extend the partnership to the M1D SE, a model with standard dual-battery capability, internal lockable storage for a second battery, and a sizing platform designed to fit riders of different heights.

Irvine, Calif. – – September 19, 2026 -- Irvine Spectrum Center opens its new Spectrum SunWheel to the public on Saturday, September 19, with a 9:45 a.m. ribbon cutting followed by a full day of festivities starting at 10 a.m.

The new wheel stands 132 feet tall, 24 feet taller than the original attraction it replaces

The Spectrum SunWheel takes the place of the center's Giant Wheel, which first opened in 2002. Manufactured by Italy-based Fabbri Group, the new structure features 27 gondolas that each seat up to six passengers.

Riders get upgraded audio and programmable LED lighting

Each gondola includes an enhanced in-gondola audio system. The wheel itself is outfitted with programmable LED technology across its rim and spokes, and operators redesigned ride operations to cut down on wait times.

Irvine, Calif. – September 19, 2026 -- Mazda has launched a national program to reward youth sports coaches, giving families a chance to nominate a coach for a free Mazda CX-90 through October 18.

The automaker partnered with youth sports platform TeamSnap on the initiative, which aims to support coaches who go beyond their basic duties to help kids stay engaged in organized sports. Five coaches selected through a partnership with Good Morning America will each receive a new CX-90 in recognition of their local impact.

Families can nominate a coach starting today

Starting today through October 18, parents and youth athletes can submit nominations for a coach via Mazda's nomination page, highlighting one who has made an extraordinary difference for their team.

Irvine, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Kiwibit has launched the Bird Feeder 2 Pro, which it calls the world's first smart bird feeder with 4K HDR imaging and auto-focus. The device went on sale in the United States on Sept. 15 through Kiwibit's website and Amazon.

The feeder brings phase-detection auto-focus to backyard birdwatching for the first time

An upgraded high-resolution image sensor and phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) keep birds sharp as they move or change distance from the camera. HDR imaging preserves detail across both bright and shaded areas of the frame.

Irvine, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- Taco Bell is inviting everyday customers to compete against celebrities and pro athletes on a golf course, launching the inaugural Live Más Open at The Ranch at Laguna Beach on November 2.

Kevin Hart hosts a 36-player tournament built around wild-card challenges

The nine-hole event pairs qualifying fans with celebrities, pro athletes and creators across nine foursomes in a live draft format. Global superstar Kevin Hart, an avid golfer, is hosting the tournament, which Taco Bell describes as designed to "go off-script" from traditional tournament golf.

Irvine, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- ROKFORM has launched new Rugged and Crystal cases for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, built around magnets the company says deliver 2–3 times the holding power of standard cases.

MAGMAX magnets outperform standard MagSafe accessories

The new cases use ROKFORM's proprietary MAGMAX magnets, offering a stronger magnetic hold than standard MagSafe on compatible surfaces, mounts, chargers, and accessories. Both models also include the company's patented RokLock twist-lock mount, which attaches phones to ROKFORM mounting systems for cars, motorcycles, bikes, and golf carts.

Irvine, Calif. – September 13, 2026 -- Acorns, a financial wellness company, launched a campaign called "Investinall" that matches money lost on sports bets up to $50, converting a losing wager into a first investment deposit for new customers.

New customers can claim up to $50 after a losing bet

Starting today, anyone who loses a bet can go to Acorns.com/Investinall, self-report the loss amount, open an Acorns Invest Account, and set up a recurring investment of at least $5 to receive a matching bonus deposit of $1 to $50. The offer is limited to new Acorns customers and runs through December 1, 2026.

The campaign targets a betting habit tied to real financial harm

Acorns cites survey data showing 27% of Americans, and 52% of men aged 18-49, have an active online sportsbook account, while 96% of bettors lost money overall. The company says 1 in 4 sports bettors have missed a bill because of gambling.

Irvine, Calif. – September 13, 2026 -- The 2027 Karma Gyesera Grand Coupe has been named 2027 Luxury Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Awards, months ahead of its December dealership debut.

The Gyesera carries a base price of $139,995 and arrives at Karma dealerships in December

Built on a high-strength aluminum space frame with extensive carbon fiber reinforced composites, the four-passenger Grand Coupe is powered by Karma's latest Hybrid EREV powertrain, designated HRL15665. The system produces 566 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, pushing the car from 0-60 mph in just under 3.7 seconds.

Irvine, Calif. – September 11, 2026 -- Two Kia models have won top honors in Green Car Journal's annual Green Car Awards, with the all-new 2027 Kia EV3 taking the overall "Green Car of the Year" title and the 2026 Carnival Hybrid named "Green Minivan of the Year."

The EV3 offers up to 321 miles of range on select trims

Built on Kia's 400V Electric Global Modular Platform, the all-electric EV3 is positioned as the brand's most attainable EV. It can charge from 10-80% in roughly 31 minutes on a 350kW DC fast charger, with no adapter needed for NACS connectors. The EV3 is set to arrive in Kia showrooms nationwide in late 2026.