Newport Beach

Newport Beach officials and shipwright Dennis Holland came to an agreement Friday that, if approved by a judge, will allow him to keep restoring his 1916 wooden ship at his West Bay home. As long as Holland moves the Shawnee out of public view and follows the city's construction laws, he can rebuild the vintage ketch there, according to a statement by the city attorney's office. The agreement may end a protracted legal battle between Holland, the city and neighbors who contend the restoration has no place on their block.

A cross-country move to Newport Beach in 2007 turned out to be a life-changing experience for Daria Gordeeva-Grinkova. Before, she seemed destined to become a figure skater, following in the footsteps of her renowned parents, Katia Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkova. But when Daria came from Connecticut to Newport Beach two weeks before her freshman year at Sage Hill School, she hung up the skates and took up lacrosse. The life of a competitive ice skater is behind her. Daria’s life has changed.

The search for a Newport Beach doctor reported missing near Tucson, Ariz., has been suspended, authorities said Tuesday. Last week, Pinal County Sheriff's deputies began a search for Dr. Kenneth Litwack, 71, who went missing from a clinic where he was being treated for foot neuropathy. Staff at Sierra Tucson called Litwack's wife, Louise Litwack, about 3 p.m. Aug. 16 to tell her that her husband hadn't been seen in at least an hour. Sheriff's deputies in the area searched for Litwack, looking for footprints near the clinic.

State raids on local coffers have cost Newport Beach tax payers more than $89 million in property taxes since 1993, according to a city financial report. The money, along with property tax revenues from cities and counties across the state, has gone to fund public schools through the Education Revenue Augmentation Fund. Newport Beach paid more than $8.5 million into the fund during the 2009-2010 fiscal year alone, according to the Orange County Auditor-Controller’s office.

LAGUNA NIGUEL — The momentum created by Jeff Saroyan's walk-off home run was still lingering Saturday afternoon. The Newport Beach American Major All-Stars started the game against Saddleback game with a 4-0 lead, after narrowly escaping elimination from the District 55 All-Star Tournament Thursday night. But the team's steam ran out in the top of the sixth inning, just as Saddleback started to heat up, and Newport Beach dropped out of the tournament with an 11-5 loss to Saddleback at Chapparosa Community Park.

Marisa O'Neil After a massive landslide Wednesday destroyed more than a dozen homes and displaced hundreds of Laguna Beach residents, Newport Beach businesses were among those pitching in to help. As many as 18 homes were destroyed in the Bluebird Canyon area of south Laguna Beach and more than 350 homes were evacuated following the Wednesday morning slide. When news reached Newport Beach, City Council member Steve Rosansky knew the city would want to help.

LAGUNA NIGUEL ? The Army credo states that in a battle, leave no comrade stranded. In a battle Wednesday night at Chapparosa Park, the Newport Beach National Little League Majors Division All-Stars showed the kind of heart and determination a general would be proud of. Newport Beach outhit its foe, 9-8, and made some nice defensive plays in the field. Ultimately, however, the squad left two too many runners holding the bag, which ultimately proved to be its undoing in a 4-3 loss to Central Irvine in the District 55 All-Star Tournament.

The remains of an Army Air Forces captain who went missing in action during World War II have been returned to his family and will receive a burial with full military honors off the coast of Newport Beach, the Department of Defense said. George W. Grismore of Salt Lake City and five crew members departed Tanauan Airfield in the province of Leyte, Philippines, on March 12, 1945, for a resupply mission to guerrilla troops. Their C-47A Skytrain failed to return, and a search that extended 10 miles wide on each side of the intended route revealed no trace of the men or their aircraft.

Greg Risling Some of the most famous and recognized faces in the country have homes in Newport Beach. Most anyone you ask here can recite the list of usual suspects: author Dean Koontz, comedian and Rat-Packer Joey Bishop, actress Heather Locklear and members of the band Sugar Ray. Newport Beach ranks high on any multimillionaire's list, whether it's for a luxurious home or a slip to dock a boat. Is it any wonder then that athletes, whose salaries have skyrocketed over the past 20 years, have chosen Newport as their personal playground?