CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : NEWPORT BEACH : Gnatcatcher Status Decision Delayed

The California Fish and Game Commission on Thursday postponed for a month its decision on whether to grant the California gnatcatcher special environmental protection. The postponement came after about four hours of testimony in an often-raucous hearing that drew about 800 people, including biologists, builders and environmentalists from throughout Southern California. The commissioners decided their staff needed more time to review mounds of data that has been recently submitted. Coalitions of builders and other businesses have mounted a vocal campaign to persuade the commission to reject the petition to name the gnatcatcher a candidate for the endangered species list.