DISNEY CRACKING DOWN ON DISABLED TOUR GUIDES: ANAHEIM (AP) — Disneyland Resort is cracking down on disabled guests who sell their right to go to the front of the line on rides.
Several news reports have involved disabled tour guides who charge money — sometimes hundreds of dollars — to take people with them and bypass lines in the California and Florida parks.
The company sent letters last week warning such guides that it will take away their guest-assistance cards and deny them park entry if they continue to use the cards for commercial purposes.
The Register says despite publicity, some advertisements remained active Thursday on Craigslist — including some charging up to $400 a day.
12K POT PLANTS FOUND GROWING ON CALIF. CATTLE LAND: RAYMOND (AP) — Narcotics agents in Madera County have destroyed 12,000 marijuana plants that were found growing on private cattle grazing.
Sheriff John Anderson on Friday estimated the crop planted on steep terrain near Raymond, Calif. to be worth $14.5 million.
Along with the plants, agents also removed mounds of trash, bags and drums of chemicals used by the growers.
Anderson says Madera County has recently seen a rise in the number of illegal grow sites in the foothills and Sierra National Forest and that they are negatively affecting water quality, wildlife — and now livestock.
Investigators think the growers of the crop have ties to a drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico.
$178K STOLEN FROM LA BARTENDER'S SAFE : LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police are searching for a man who stole about $178,000 from the safe of a Los Angeles bartender who had pooled the pile of cash from nearly a quarter- century worth of tips.
The Daily Breeze reports (http://bit.ly/193MdhY) surveillance video from a neighbor's home recorded images of a suspect carrying the safe on his shoulder. No arrests have been made.
Police say the bartender saved the tips for the past 24 years, exchanging them for $100 and $2 bills and then placing them in a home safe. The money was supposed to be for his three children.
SAN DIEGO SCHOOLS TOLD TO REPAY $13.4M LUNCH FUNDS: SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Unified School District has been ordered to repay $13.4 million that state authorities claim it improperly diverted from a lunch program for poor children.
The Department of Education ordered repayment. District and state officials will meet on June 21 to discuss the matter.
The state says the district improperly took money from the subsidized lunch program and spent it on other cafeteria costs, including salaries and utilities.
GROUP HOME TEENS ARRESTED IN RAPE OF GIRL: DAVIS (AP) — Two teenage boys at a Northern California group home have been arrested on suspicion of holding down and raping an 11-year-old girl in a park, authorities said.
Police in the Yolo County city of Davis said the boys were arrested Wednesday in connection with a reported assault at a city park over the weekend.
The 13- and 14-year-old boys and 11-year-old girl were residents of the FamiliesFirst group home. According to its website, FamiliesFirst serves children and youth with complex behavioral health challenges.
Staff from the facility are supposed to supervise the residents at all times, but no staff members were around when the incident occurred, authorities said.
Investigators said the teens have acknowledged other illegal activity such as shoplifting, theft and fighting. Their names are not being released.
FamiliesFirst said it is cooperating with the investigation. The Campbell-based nonprofit operates homes in more than 30 California counties.
Davis police have received more than 500 service calls from the group home this year, officials said.
EL DORADO COUNTY SUPERVISOR FACES NEW CHARGES: PLACERVILLE: PLACERVLLE (AP) — An El Dorado County supervisor is facing new charges of illegally soliciting money from two county workers and a contractor to bail himself out of jail.
The 53-year-old Ray Nutting was charged Thursday with seven misdemeanors counts. Authorities say Nutting received a $50,000 loan from his administrative assistant and $8,000 from a county clerk. He also allegedly solicited $20,000 from a contractor.
State law prohibits elected officials from borrowing money from any person working for their office or governmental agency.
