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| Monday, Mar 27 2006 12:15 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Mar 27 2006 12:15 PM
The county's decision last month to cancel a state contract and return 1,300 prisoners now in county jails to state facilities would mean a loss of $27 million in county revenue.
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In a move to quell racial brawls in the county jail system, the Board of Supervisors voted to return the prisoners to the state, saying it would free space in the overcrowded jails and remove some of the most violent offenders.
Supervisors said state prisoners added a population of hardened criminals to a jail system and many high-risk inmates were housed in open dorm areas where the February melees began.
Sheriff Lee Baca said he would fill their places with low-risk offenders who are now being released early because of overcrowding.
But county Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen said the jails need the $27 million the state contract brings in.
Additionally, removing the state prisoners won't make the jail system safer. Janssen said he looked at state prisoners' criminal backgrounds and found that only a small percentage of them were high-risk felons.
Essentially, we are going to walk away from $27 million worth of revenue to free up beds for misdemeanors," Janssen said.
The Board of Supervisors will revisit the issue on April 4.
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) - The city may be soon be home to the Coachella Valley's first 9-hole disc golf course.
"Locally, it's been tough the last five years," said disc golfer Chad Dean, 29, who proposed the course to the city Parks and Recreation Commission.
The commission tentatively approved a disc golf course at the 21-acre Palm Desert Soccer Park and it now goes to the City Council for a vote.
"I'm hearing of more people who want to play. There are all these tiny groups of people," Dean said.
Moveable "hole poles" could be set up on the park's five soccer fields when area soccer teams are not playing. Equipment and landscaping will cost the city about $5,500, parks supervisor Jay Niemczak said.
"It's just another way to utilize a wonderful facility for another group of people," commission member Terry Schukart said. "It just seemed like a natural way to help folks in Palm Desert have another outlet for recreation."
Disc golf grew out of Frisbee tournaments organized by Ed Headrick, who developed and patented the popular flying saucer back in 1964. The game began to flourish in 1975 when Headrick invented the pole hole, the moveable basket that players target.
Today, the game is played with sleek discs made out of heavier plastics. Players can use discs of different weights as they play a course.
"It's a lot easier than regular golf," said Phil Spolarich, 20, of La Quinta. "Golf is very competitive. You sort of feel you have to be a good golfer to play."
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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Easter sunrise worship is returning to the Hollywood Bowl.
The bowl service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ was canceled in 2004 and 2005 because of a bowl construction project. But the Hollywood Bowl's 85th anniversary Easter sunrise service is due back April 16.
"We are ecstatic and overjoyed," said Norma Foster, president of the nonprofit organization that produces the free nondenominational event at the 18,000-seat bowl.
The 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. service features 700 participants on the stage, including children's and adult choirs. The Rev. Charles G. Robertson Jr., pastor of Wilshire Presbyterian Church, will deliver the Easter sermon.
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ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) - Neighbor complaints led the manager of Second Chance Sober Living to shut down the transitional home for parolees.
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation rounded up the parolees and shipped them elsewhere, Arthur Dean said. The Second Chance Sober Living home on Flora Street is now empty.
"I'm fed up with it," Dean said. "It's not worth my time and effort to be stepped on."
Neighbors raised concerns about the home because of two registered sex offenders living in the facility. A group of homeowners appealed to the City Council last week and council members said they supported efforts to get the home shut down.
"This council is committed to doing everything we lawfully can about this," Councilman Alan Wapner said.