On the eve of being honored by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation as one of IUSD’s distinguished alumni, former major-leaguer and University High grad Tim Wallach paid a visit to his old stomping grounds this week.

Sometime during the 1978-79 school year, this happened at Irvine High School. At first glance, taking a sledgehammer to the driver-side of a sedan might appear to be grounds for some disciplinary action, but this was actually a school-sanctioned event, and we can say with some confidence that no staff members’ cars were harmed.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has released its latest list of semifinalists who are in the running for prestigious National Merit awards, and 94 of them are from right here in IUSD.

Farewell, summer. We hardly knew ye.

An arraignment was held Wednesday morning for the suspect who allegedly set a number of arson fires and drafted emails outlining plans to harm staff members and students at University High School.

Vehicle shade structures outfitted with energy-producing solar panels will be added to the parking lots of nine campuses, saving the district an additional $305,000 a year, following a vote this month by the IUSD Board of Education.