Briefly in the news

The Orange County Health Care Agency has posted warning signs at two

Newport Beach swimming areas after high bacteria levels were discovered.

The agency warned swimmers and others to stay out of the water at The

Wedge and a stretch of Corona del Mar State Beach.

Higher than acceptable levels of bacteria forced the posting of 300

feet of breakwater from Newport Harbor to The Wedge and 1,000 feet of

breakwater down the coast along Corona del Mar from Newport Harbor.

The postings were announced Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The agency will

continue to test the waters, until bacterial levels creep back to

acceptable levels. The beaches aren’t closed.