NEWPORT BEACH Another Newport Beach annexation...

NEWPORT BEACH

Another Newport Beach annexation nears

East Santa Ana Heights residents were heartened to learn that

their

quest for annexation has finally

landed on the agenda of the Local Agency Formation Commission. The

Sept. 16 meeting will probably shift

into full gear their bid to become Newport Beach residents, though

west Santa Ana Heights and Santa Ana Country Club are slated to

become part of Costa Mesa.

Newport Beach’s upcoming water-quality education program will

probably be tailored to a $5-million, state-funded regional campaign

for water conservation, officials said.

Hoag Hospital’s innovative intensivist program is on the verge of

providing 24-hour physician care for some of

the hospital’s sickest patients. The program is expected to be on

a round-the-clock basis beginning around mid-October.

Balboa Village renovations are set to begin after council members

approve a $2.8-million contract at their next meeting. But a lawsuit

over removing the 25 ficus trees on Main Street could mean a change

of plans.

-- JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.

POLITICS

Rohrabacher tries halting Middle East nuclear buildup

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher visited Russia on Wednesday, as part of a

congressional delegation set on dissuading a country struggling with

economic paucity to back off two partnerships with Iran and Iraq to

develop nuclear power.

Rohrabacher joined Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Illinois), the chairman of

the International Relations Committee, and others Wednesday during

the meeting.

The delegation offered alternative economic partnerships -- in

more friendly countries like the Philippines and Turkey -- to ones

with countries that have been lumped into President Bush’s “axis of

evil,” along with North Korea.

Russian officials said the meeting emphasized the “close

cooperation” with the United States to counteract global terrorist

threats.

The meeting came at a delicate time, as Rohrabacher joined Rep.

Tom DeLay in calling for military action against Iraq leader Saddam

Hussein.

-- PAUL CLINTON covers the environment and politics. He may be

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

COSTA MESA

Long Beach flights stir up Costa Mesa residents

Westside and Mesa Verde residents started feeling the effects of

the increasing demand for air transportation last week after a number

of Long Beach flights started soaring over their homes en route to

the growing airfield.

Long Beach Airport officials confirmed that a handful of

commercial jets that Costa Mesa residents started noticing over their

airspace were Jet Blue and American Airlines flights, heading back to

the Long Beach Airport from the east.

Long Beach Airport spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson said the

increase is a result of a federal court decision that allows the

transportation hub to get back to its maximum operation of 41 daily

commercial flights.

The airport’s numbers have jumped from 12 to an anticipated 24

next month and will climb to a peak of 41 by October, she said.

Compared with other regional airports, the number of flights are

small, she said.

Diggs-Jackson said there are fewer than 10 flights on a route over

Costa Mesa and the planes should be at least 4,000 feet high.

-- LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.