Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- March 1, 2007

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Longer Haul For Toll Road -- OCR and LAT
TCA says construction can't begin until 2011, citing time-consuming environmental approvals it needs.

Alicia Robinson's The Political Landscape: Work On Destroyed Sand Dune Begins -- DP
The first step toward restoring a destroyed sand dune in Newport Beach began last week, officials said, but it's uncertain when more work will take place.

Editorial: Irvine Does CenterLine -- OCR
City wants mass transit for Great Park

Road Funds Enough To Satisfy -- OCR
Officials say they are pleased with the $22 million Orange County received to widen the 91 Freeway.

D.A. Drops Swearing Charges -- OCR
Woman cited for outburst near children in airport has sued over county ordinance.

A Voice For Slow Growth -- OCR
Activist who helped rescue Fullerton theater takes aim at city's perceived overdevelopment. I'm waiting for the OCR to do an interview with "A Voice For Property Rights."

Easing A Barking Laws Bite -- OCR
Cypress ordinance stresses customer service when dealing with vocal pooches.

Festival of Whales Starts Saturday -- OCR
More than 100,000 visitors are expected to gather in Dana Point's harbor area.

Parents Air Concerns After Student Contracts Meningitis -- OCR and LAT
Parents and students should not panic over a solitary case of bacterial meningitis, which has left one Pacifica High School senior hospitalized, local school and health officials said Wednesday.

Playing With Numbers -- OCR
Many factors weigh into whether the Great Park will cost less or more than $1.1 billion.

Frank Mickadeit: Accuser Mercifully Exits The Stand -- OCR
Frank continues his coverage of the Jeff Nielsen trial.

Fromer OC Congressional Aide's Accuser Admits Lying About Details -- LAT
Jeff Nielsen is on trial in alleged sexual molestation of a Westminster teenager.

Zoned For Villages -- OCR
Councilman Larry Agran suggests renaming part of business complex to reflect Irvine's character. How quaint! Why not "Jamboreeville" or Jamboreeburg"?

Santa Ana Trustees Vote To Close Grant -- OCR
Shutting the small campus will help balance the budget, district officials say.

Santa Ana To Close Two Schools -- LAT
Trustees in Orange County's largest district vote to close Grant Elementary and Taft Intermediate as part of plan to trim $15.6 million for next year.

Correa Wants To Stop Private 'Tax' On Homes -- OCR
Senator backs a bill that would stop developers from imposing fees on the future sales of homes they built.

Plan To Convert Trash To Ethanol -- LAT
An Irvine company gets a federal grant to turn garden, wood and paper waste into fuel.

Suit Against OC Charity Founder Settled -- LAT
Organizer of event for military families had been accused of failing to repay a $6,000 salary advance.

Rumors Of Vote On Park-Site Use Begin To Spread -- DP
The Newport Beach City Council late Tuesday decided, for the third time, not to put a city hall on a park site next to the central library, and this time the issue may really be over.