EDUCATION
School board votes in changes at three schoolsOn Tuesday, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted unanimously to make changes at Pomona Elementary School, Wilson Elementary School and TeWinkle Middle School, which are facing sanctions under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The schools are the first in Newport-Mesa to take corrective action under the Bush administration's education law.
Hundreds of students, administrators, city leaders and others gathered on the Estancia field to dedicate the stadium, which is expected to be complete next spring. Hubbard, Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley and Mayor Allan Mansoor were among those digging shovels into the ground — along with Jim Scott, the founder of the nonprofit fundraising group Costa Mesa United, who has been wheelchair-bound since a stroke last year.
In recent years, tension has flared several times between the Muslim Student Union and Jewish student groups, most notably last year when Muslims protested the showing of Danish cartoons that ridiculed the prophet Muhammad. A number of Muslim students also denounced a January lecture by pro-Israel historian Daniel Pipes.
Hillel Executive Director Jeffrey Rips said he hoped to have the task force interview Muslim students over the coming months. Marya Bangee, the spokeswoman for the Muslim Student Union, said she would be willing to participate, but only if she knew the task force's agenda.
BUSINESS
Telecom industry calls for overlay in 714 areaThe telecommunications industry will offer the California Public Utilities Commission its formal recommendation advising the agency to adopt an overlay option for the 714 area code.
The North American Numbering Plan Administration will file the recommendation on behalf of the industry. The utilities commission anticipates a shortage of 714 phone numbers by the end of 2008 and hopes to have a relief plan in place by the end of this year.
