PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS Judge sends teenager...

PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS

Judge sends teenager behind bars to await new trial

A judge on Tuesday revoked the bail of Greg Haidl, the 19-year-old

son of former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, and sent him

to jail while he awaits retrial in a high-profile gang-rape case.

Defense attorneys argued that the judge should allow the teen to

stay in a hospital where he is being treated for depression, but the

judge said he needed to be behind bars. Greg Haidl’s attorneys filed

three motions later in the week, including one asking prosecutors to

recuse themselves from the case. The retrial is scheduled to start

Jan. 31.

* Emergency workers on Wednesday tested their preparedness for a

nuclear radiation leak.

Fire, Red Cross, the Sheriff’s Department and other responders

practiced decontaminating exposed victims and handing out potassium

iodide to block radiation absorption. The Orange County Fairgrounds,

where the drill took place, is far enough away from the San Onofre

Nuclear Generating Station not to be affected in a radiation leak.

* Costa Mesa Police on Tuesday morning arrested a taxi driver on

suspicion of raping a female passenger.

The woman had been drinking at a local bar and took a cab home

when friends found her in the back of the taxi, partially unclothed

and unaware of what had happened. Rodney Cornell Carter, a

42-year-old Cathedral City resident, was released two days later

pending further investigation.

* Costa Mesa Police narcotics officers on Tuesday night arrested

six residents on drug and counterfeiting charges at a raid of a

Newport Boulevard motel.

After a three-month investigation, police arrested 40-year-old

Augustin Holguin on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and

24-year-old Kristal Paz on suspicion of selling methamphetamine.

Larry Wilber, 53, and Maria Wilber, 43, were arrested on suspicion of

possessing counterfeit currency, and 24-year-old Samuel Fiebiger and

40-year-old Steven Gambil were arrested on suspicion of being under

the influence of drugs, police said.

* An 80-year-old Irvine woman was killed Monday after she drove

the wrong way on the Corona del Mar freeway and her car fell from an

overpass to Baker Street, where it burst into flames. The California

Highway Patrol was investigating the accident, which shut down Baker

Street between Bear and Bristol streets for two hours Monday

afternoon.

NEWPORT BEACH

Art gets its butterfly wings courtesy of renowned painter

Officials from KOCE-TV and renowned marine artist Wyland gathered

at Roger’s Gardens on Monday to unveil the Butterfly Initiative,

which will raise money for arts and science programs around Orange

County. Wyland’s contribution was a butterfly sculpture he painted

with tropical fish, and other local artists and celebrities also will

decorate butterflies to be auctioned off in February as a fundraiser

for the new program.

* Rep. Chris Cox’s colleagues reelected him chairman of the House

Policy Committee, but it’s still uncertain whether he will continue

to chair the House Homeland Security Committee. House Speaker Dennis

Hastert has said he’ll recommend the latter committee be made

permanent, but whether Cox remains chairman depends on the type of

committee it becomes.

Congress reconvened Monday in a lame-duck session to tackle 2005

appropriations, intelligence reform and other issues.

* The State Water Resources Control Board on Thursday voted to

require seven marinas and anchorages in Newport Harbor and five in

Huntington Harbour to add public stations to pump out or dump waste

from vessels. Boaters can legally dump sewage at sea, but discharges

in the harbors are prohibited.

The pump-out stations can be costly to install, but the state is

offering a grant to pay for 75% of those costs. The board supported

the additional pump-out stations after a study showed that existing

pump-outs are often broken or hard for boaters to reach.

EDUCATION

Getting to the principal of the matter

The Newport-Mesa school board met with principals from each

district school Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss their Single Plans

for Student Achievement.

The board expressed its concern about several schools --

specifically Pomona and Whittier elementary schools and Estancia High

School -- that failed to meet state assessment targets for the second

straight year. On the other hand, board members and principals

praised the schools’ devotion to improving literacy through reading

and math programs.

* University of California regents voted Thursday to raise

enrollment costs for all students to coincide with Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger’s Higher Education Compact. The regents approved an 8%

increase, or more than $400, for undergraduate students and a 10%

increase, or more than $600, for graduate students. The additional

fees will be used to address future accountability goals for

enrollment, student fees, financial aid and program quality.