Poor UC Irvine. The university, rocked by medical controversies, can’t catch a break in the media,not even when one of its top genetic researchers gets flattering prime-time exposure. Hans Keirstead was featured Feb. 26 on CBS’ “60 Minutes” for his pioneering work with stem cells. Except the telecast never mentioned UCI. UC San Francisco and Stanford, though only tangential to the storyline, got plugs. UCI spokeswoman Susan Menning said the show’s producers apologized, explaining to her that a UCI reference was inadvertently left on the cutting room floor. She said CBS agreed to mention UCI in a planned rebroadcast this summer and has credited the university on its Web site. Menning said CBS told her calls have been pouring in from viewers, with most volunteering to be test cases and the rest “wanting to know if they can marry Hans.” Sorry, gals, the handsome Keirstead is engaged …
Flush with an estimated $350 million from the sale of Huntington Beach-based C & D; Aerospace to France’s Zodiac last year, James E. Downey is interested in helping his rural hometown of Ottawa, Ill. (population 18,500). The Times of Ottawa reports that Downey is talking about redeveloping a downtown block that has stood largely vacant since a 1997 fire. No comment from Downey, now running The Wave Equity Partners in Newport Beach. But an associate said, “He loves Ottawa” …
All those years his 6-foot-11-inch baby brother Joe Kleine played center in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and others, health exec R. Michael Kleine (only 6 feet 8 inches) didn’t earn nearly as much in salary. But Michael says he’s closed the net-worth gap “a little” with the sale of his Aliso Viejo startup, catheter maker MicroVention Inc., to Japan’s Terumo Corp. He says the deal (price undisclosed) should mean faster growth for 4-year-old MicroVention, which projects 2007 sales in the $40 million range. What really pleases him: “Every employee is a stockholder” and will benefit from the sale. Soon to be the ex-CEO, Michael says he’ll stay on to see if he likes being a division president …
Wry Hank Adler says, “The Irvine City Council should rename the Great Park and call it The Irvine Great Park of Orange County” …
Whatever the temperature outside, there could be a chill inside when the Governator has cocktails with the Lincoln Club in Costa Mesa this Wednesday. Some members are uneasy over Schwarzenegger’s recent policies, but the Insider is told that more are upset that he’s waited until now to have his first meeting with “the organization that kick-started the recall” …
R TC’s big idea for lessening border tension, boosting the Mexican economy and satiating Southern California’s appetite for new resorts: The U.S. (or California or OC) buys Baja for $2 trillion, runs a toll road down the middle and sells off development rights.
