The board that oversees a charter high school accused of
tampering with grades and submitting false attendance records has
voted to close the school.
Board Votes to Close Oakland Charter School
Oakland – The board that oversees a charter high school accused of tampering with grades and submitting false attendance records has voted to close the school.
The 3-1 decision Tuesday to shutter University Preparatory Charter Academy in East Oakland has left more than 400 students scrambling to find other schools to attend before the school year begins in late August.
The state administrator appointed to oversee the Oakland Unified School District said last week the school, known as Uprep, would have its charter revoked Aug. 20 if its operators failed to answer the misconduct allegations.
Officials Say Tortured Tortoise is Healing
Ventura – A tortoise who was stolen, slashed and mutilated is still being fed through a tube in his neck but healing nicely, officials said Tuesday.
The 42-pound pet tortoise, named Bob, was being treated after police found him in brush behind an apartment complex days after the animal was stolen July 7.
The 25-year-old African spurred tortoise belongs to Dorothy and Bill Sullivan of Ventura and is a special friend to their 6-year-old autistic son, who rarely spoke to people but chattered to the animal.
Assets of Berkeley Medical Marijuana Club Frozen
Berkeley – Officials from a medical marijuana dispensary that’s had its assets frozen say they want their money back.
The freeze appears to be connected to a raid of Los Angeles-based dispensaries conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration last week, said Sarah Pullin, a spokeswoman for the DEA in Los Angeles.
The operation, conducted with the Los Angeles Police Department, targeted about 10 dispensaries in Los Angeles, including one that was a sister organization to the Berkeley Patient Group, one of three legalized dispensaries in the city and serves more than 5,000 medical marijuana clients in Berkeley and Oakland.
Doctor Accused in Transplant Case Posts Bail
San Luis Obispo – A transplant surgeon charged with committing crimes during a failed effort to harvest organs from a donor surrendered to police and was released early Wednesday after posting $10,000 bail.
Dr. Rootan Roozrokh, 33, of San Francisco, is accused of prescribing excessive drugs in an attempt to hasten the death of a disabled patient. The patient, 25-year-old Ruben Navarro, was born with a neurological disorder, was diagnosed with irreversible brain damage and placed on life support. As Navarro was being prepared for organ donation, prosecutors alleged Roozrokh was in the operating room ordering drugs for Navarro and attempts to harvest his organs were abandoned. He died several hours later.
