A quick look at the things that made news this week in Newport Beach:
• Brent Brodie, 18, of Irvine, was arrested this week under suspicion of burglarizing homes in Newport and Irvine.
Police found him sleeping in a stolen vehicle around 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to an Irvine Police Department statement, Brodie is suspected of committing five home burglaries and two vehicle thefts in the last month.
Brodie entered homes through unlocked windows, police said, and managed to get the keys to steal cars.
Police recovered a number of stolen items, including laptops, designer handbags, jewelry, and a gold watch believed to be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Authorities are working to return them to their rightful owners.
Police have asked that anyone with information call the Irvine Police Department at (949) 724-7200.
• School officials from Newport-Mesa Unified School District are almost finished gauging public sentiment regarding possible “flagship programs,” to be installed in each school zone and could define a student’s academic career, the Daily Pilot reported.
If implanted, each school zone could designate a particular academic subject to be their signature program offered from elementary through the high school level.
Students would be allowed to pick what zones – Estancia, Costa Mesa, Newport Harbor, or Corona del Mar – they wish to attend based on their academic focus.
The district is asking for input from the community on the possible program. The last meeting will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Corona del Mar High School.
An online survey is available at web.nmusd.us/flagshipprograms.
• The 30th annual Newport-Mesa Spirit Run at Fashion Island is Sunday, with events and attractions opening as early as 6:30 a.m.
For the first time, the Spirit Run is offering cash prizes for race winners. Those finishing in the top six will split $1,250.
The event, which is for students of all ages in the Newport-Mesa district, has its final registration stand open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Whole Foods on Fashion Island.
For more information, visit nmspiritrun.org.
• The Newport Beach Central Library has a scheduled closure in preparation for the Civic Center and Library Expansion project, reported Patch.com. The library will be closed from March 16 through 31.
The rest of the branch location will be open through that time period.
• A court date of April 22 has been set for Travis Dewayne Batten, Jr., 29, of Irvine, charged with three sexual assaults, reported Patch.com.
A delay in the hearing was requested by prosecutors because one of the suspected victims needs be flown in from Japan in order to testify.
Batten was arrested after he was connected to a 2005 assault and two more in 2006 and 2010, respectively. He remains in custody.
— Compiled by Justin Swanson
