THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Dennis Rodman got a belated birthday present for his 40th birthday

from the Orange County District Attorney on Thursday when he was charged

with three counts of criminal misdemeanor.

The charges alleged that Rodman disturbed the peace and used loud

amplifiers without a permit during his May 12 birthday bash. The party

featured live bands and Rodman himself attempting to land on the public

beach in a helicopter. Police in riot gear showed up at the gala.

The city for its part has filed a civil suit against Josh Slocum’s

Seafood Restaurant on Coast Highway, partly owned by Rodman. City

officials say they want to put an end to live, music, dancing and

overcrowding at the restaurant.

In other news, a bank robber, who claimed he dropped off a bag with a

bomb in a local Wells Fargo branch, got away with more than $25,000

Tuesday afternoon.

A Sheriff’s bomb squad unit later discovered that there was just a

towel and a small radio in the black sports bag. But the damage was done.

The scare closed down a portion of Pacific Coast Highway for more than

90 minutes Tuesday, frustrating local residents who could not get to

their homes and confusing commuters who were looking for alternate

routes.

Employees at adjacent businesses were also evacuated during that time.

Police are still looking for the robber.

More razor blades were found in Newport Beach this week. Three blades

were discovered at Newport Harbor Lutheran Preschool on Dover Drive and

three at Las Arena Park on West Balboa Boulevard. No one was hurt.

But no arrests have been made either. Razor blades and glass pieces

have been found in several play areas in both Costa Mesa and Newport

Beach since March.-- Deepa Bharath covers cops and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

A project he could tolerate

Josh Ludmir, a senior at Corona del Mar High School, turned the

necessary evil of doing a senior project into an eye-opening experience

for more than 500 students. It also was the realization of a three-year

dream for Ludmir.

He created the first-ever Tolerance Day at the school, to which he

invited about eight speakers of different races and religions. His

original keynote speaker, a gay and lesbian rights activist, as well as

his second choice, ex-skinhead T.J. Lyden, were vetoed by the

administration as too controversial.

Despite the restrictions, the day was a success.

-- Danette Goulet covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.

Is the light green?

When the city’s voters overwhelmingly approved a new slow-growth

measure last November, developers retreated for a while to reconsider

their options.

But one of them stepped back into the game last week, announcing that

he’ll move ahead with a 250,000-square-foot expansion project for Koll

Center.

Tim Strader Sr., one of the partners that own the complex in the

airport area, said Planning Commissioners will discuss plans for a

10-story tower at their June 7 meeting. If commissioners approve it, City

Council members also have to sign off on the deal before voters have the

final say on the project in an election.

Greenlight, Newport Beach’s new slow-growth law, requires citywide

votes for projects that want to add more than 40,000 square feet or 100

peak-hour car trips or dwelling units on top of what the general plan

allows.

Strader said he hopes to convince voters that his project would be an

asset to the city and proposes to sweeten the deal with $2 million in

traffic funds on top of fees he needs to pay to deal with traffic

increases the project will cause.

If city officials approve Strader’s plans, he and his partners will

pay for a special election in the fall.

-- Mathis Winkler covers Newport Beach. He may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at mathis.winkler@latimes.com.

More spilling is chilling

In an effort to reduce postings and closures of city beaches, Orange

County began diverting urban runoff in the Santa Ana River.

The county’s Public Facilities and Resources Department installed two

large sand berms in the channel to send automobile oil, animal waste and

other grime that washes off city streets into a sewage treatment system.

The waste water is then pumped to the Orange County Sanitation

District’s plant for chlorination.

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach are helping shoulder the cost of the

$580,000 program. Costa Mesa is chipping in $39,000. Newport Beach’s

share is $1,310.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at paul.clinton@latimes.com.

Another Scenario Garden scenario

Just when it appeared the California Scenario garden was saved, word

came last week that a few more ticks exist before the planned Town Center

becomes a reality.

The project, which seeks to transform South Coast Metro into a

pedestrian-oriented cultural arts district bordered by Bristol Street,

Sunflower Avenue, Avenue of the Arts and the San Diego Freeway, is a

collaboration between Commonwealth, the Orange County Performing Arts

Center and South Coast Partners, the owner of South Coast Plaza.

Now, after the city and Commonwealth agreed to a deal that would

ensure the garden’s protection for 50 years, details about how much

parking and money Commonwealth has to contribute is throwing things into

disarray.

The council will look at the problem at its meeting Monday.

-- Jennifer Kho covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at jennifer.kho@latimes.com.