By

EDITOR’S NOTE: Indy reporter Sara Hall compiled this look back at what made headlines in the Newport Beach Independent during 2018. This week, January through June. Next week will cover the top news stories of the second half of the year. (click on the text to see original story)...

After tallying about a third of ballots with no change in the results, recount proponents have ended the effort. Only 36 votes separated the two candidates running for the District 3 Newport Beach City Council seat in the results certified by Orange County Registrar of Voters...

Newport Beach Harbormaster Kurt Borsting has been “blown away” by his first week. The welcome he’s received, the passion for the harbor, the engaged residents, it’s been a great start, he said on Wednesday. “This is the crown jewel of the city,” Borsting said. “Getting the chance...

Some new and expanded services may be headed into an empty space at the library soon, replacing a credit union that previously occupied the area. On Monday, the Board of Library Trustees heard a proposal for transforming a retail space in the central library into a gift shop and...

The Newport Beach Harbor Commission held a study session Wednesday in the Little Balboa Island meeting room at Marina Park that focused on the future of the harbor. Commissioners Paul Blank and Scott Cunningham led the session, which was an interactive exercise that asked the...

Alongside its on-the-water companion, the Ring of Lights home decorating contest sparkles again this year. Next week kicks off the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Tied in with the boat parade is...

It was a night of olive branches, healing, and moving forward, during the Newport Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday. In Newport Beach City Council’s “changing of the guard” meeting, a slightly new lineup of Council members voted for a new mayor, as scheduled, but it was...

Newport Beach’s new Harbormaster Kurt Borsting is hitting the ground running. His first day on the job was Monday. Wednesday was a Harbor Commission meeting, which included a 90-minute study session consisting of an interactive exercise on the developing Harbor Plan. Next week is...

For any Newport Beach resident who thought that their vote doesn’t matter, think again. In the tightest race in years, only 36 votes separated the two candidates for the District 3 City Council seat in the results certified by the Orange County Registrar of Voters on Saturday....

Officials and residents heard an update this week on the effort to remove invasive species and restore Big Canyon Nature Park, the stretch of forest, bushes and trails off of Back Bay Drive (across from the gravel parking lot), to its more natural state. The Parks, Beaches and...

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted their monthly Wake Up! Newport meeting on Thursday morning in the friend’s room at the library. Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Chip Duncan was the guest speaker. He explained to a crowd of about 100 people how the NBFD fights wildland...

Discovery Cube CEO Joe Adams discussed Ocean Quest, formerly known as ExplorOcean, with the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Marine Committee during its monthly meeting at Marina Park on Tuesday.   Discovery Cube took over in 2016. In some ways, the team that was there at...

A popular annual event this weekend will allow attendees to get see how the locals decorate and celebrate Christmas on Balboa Island. The Balboa Island Improvement Association will host its 22nd Annual Balboa Island Holiday Home Walking Tour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (rain...

Some local students are learning what it takes to give a great speech after their teacher was selected for an instructive national program. Lindsey Charron, a history and leadership teacher at Ensign Intermediate School, was selected to return during the 2018-2019 school year for...

Amid some concern, the second reading of a sidewalk vending permit program and the accompanying ordinance regulating the vendors was unanimously approved this week. Newport Beach City Council voted 7-0 on the item on the consent calendar, which allows the movable merchants to...

In the Newport Beach City Council election, results for one race have been too close to call for weeks now, although the challenger has consistently maintained the lead, this week the two swapped positions. Incumbent and current mayor Marshall “Duffy” Duffield overtook challenger...

Residents interested in Newport Harbor got an on-the-water overview of current issues and projects from the officials over the weekend. Newport Beach Harbor Commission hosted their biennial special ferry tour meeting on Saturday. About 50 people attended the meeting, which...

Vendors selling food and merchandise from non-motorized carts may soon pop up along Newport Beach sidewalks following a City Council decision this week, made in an effort to comply with the upcoming implementation of a state law, but still regulate them within city limits....

As officials continue to count votes in Orange County, some races that were on ballots in Newport Beach are still up in the air. The Orange County Registrar of Voters estimates there are a total of 156,241 votes still left to count. Locally, the race for Newport Beach City...

Just over 10-weeks in and new City Manager Grace Leung is already well-versed on a wide variety of Newport Beach topics, as she proved during a presentation at a community forum this week. Leung discussed a number of local issues, current city work, and proposed projects, during...