BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Law school snubbed but not rubbed out

A state commission has voted against supporting the planned law school at UC Irvine, but university officials said they expected the ruling to have little consequence.

The California Postsecondary Education Commission, an advisory group, last week voted not to support UCI’s proposal largely because the members felt that California had enough law schools. The UC Regents, however, voted to accept the law school in November, and UCI spokeswoman Christine Byrd said the Regents’ decision would likely stand.

“Everything’s still moving forward,” she said. “The dean search is ongoing. The school was approved.”

The commission voted against UCI’s law school in September as well, but UCI went ahead and won approval from the state.

“In making its recommendations, CPEC places a different emphasis on regional demand, student needs and campus academic priorities than the UC Regents and campuses do,” Chancellor Michael Drake said in a prepared statement. “The UC Irvine School of Law is a key component of the campus’s overall strategic plan.”

Yacht club to show off innovative rigging

Local seafarers can get a look at the latest boating technology Wednesday, as sailor Robert “Bud” Short plans to exhibit his newly invented rig at a luncheon at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

Short’s model, known as the Flying Lateen rig, operates without a mast, has only one sail and can be controlled by one line rather than the usual several lines. After the luncheon, Short will give a talk on his invention and offer demonstrations at the dock — and around the harbor, by request.

“It is perhaps the only boat in the world that can be completely off in 60 seconds,” said Short’s sailing partner, Mike McCaffrey. “You come to the dock, get on and off you go.”

The luncheon begins at the yacht club, at 720 W. Bay Ave., at noon. Admission is free, but lunch is $12.

Lynx seeks high school students for 16-day sail

The Newport Beach-based tall ship Lynx, a topsail schooner that is a replica of early-1800s ships, is looking for a few more high school students to serve as crew members on the ship’s summer trip from San Francisco to Hawaii. The 16-day trip covers 2,100 nautical miles and teaches students sailing skills as well as leadership and responsibility.

Scholarships are available to cover the $5,000 tuition. For more information, call the Lynx Foundation at (866) 446-5969.

Officials ask O.C. to conserve water

Orange County residents and businesses are asked to conserve as much water as possible from now through March 31 while the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shuts down a Yorba Linda plant for upgrades. The district provides water to the Orange County Water District and Mesa Consolidated Water District, which serve Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

The Robert B. Diemer Water Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda will get improvements as part of a $155-million plan to upgrade water treatment processes. If customers voluntarily conserve water during the weeklong plant closure, water district officials expect locally stored supplies to meet the county’s needs. For more information, go to www.mwdoc.com.