PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS Judge sends teenager...
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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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
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