— The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board of education voted unanimously for a temporary measure worth up to $127,500 with the Coast Community College District to continue the operation of Early College High School in Costa Mesa through the end of the coming spring semester, the Daily Pilot reported.
A joint venture between Newport-Mesa and CCCD, Early College features CCCD teaching college-level classes to about 270 students and the spring semester is scheduled to run until June 30.
There is no long-term strategy for Early College since the two districts began entering into a series of short-term deals after the end of the original five-year deal.
— The American Lung Association gave Newport Beach an ‘F’ grade based on the city’s providing a cigarette smoke-free environment, Patch.com reported.
The ALA expects smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing, and the reduction of tobacco sales when it assesses cities. Newport earned a ‘D’ for its air and failed the other categories.
However, only four cities in the county received higher grades (which still were not very good: Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods earned ‘C’s and Santa Ana and Seal Beach earned ‘D’s.
— Among 112 contestants participating in the Miss California Teen USA pageant, Miss Corona del Mar Teen Hailee Harris and Miss Newport Beach Teen Savannah Ellison each placed in the top 20.
The girls will pass their crowns to next year’s girls on Nov. 3.
— Newport resident, Ellery Ever, 18, rode with his boarding schools’ horse troop in President Obama’s inauguration parade this past Monday.
The high school senior grew up in Newport Beach but is now completing his stay at Culver Military Academy in northern Indiana
