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• New superintendent, Cathy Nichols-Washer, aims to raise academic standards of district

• Lodi police arrest two Stockton residents for allegedly trying to fill fake prescriptions

• Delta College ranked fifth in nation

• Plans tied to housing slump

• Fired-up for the Fourth

• Regional Roundup

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (154)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (58)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Public health care is a Christian option (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)

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Lodi police arrest two Stockton residents for allegedly trying to fill fake prescriptions

It took a couple trips to Lodi pharmacies, but luck ran out Monday evening for two people trying to fill bogus prescriptions: They were arrested and jailed on more than $500,000 bail each.

Bradley Porter, 48, and Renee Racho-Tafoya, 34, of Stockton, are now in the San Joaquin County Jail, where they are being held on suspicion of prescription forgery, fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and conspiracy, according to Lodi police.

Porter was allegedly carrying a list of doctors, pharmacies and a type of script to use when calling in prescriptions for narcotics used as pain relievers, according to a Lodi police report.

The plan was tried at two Lodi pharmacies, but both suspected fraud. One employee told police that he suspected fraud as soon as he heard a voice mail claiming to be from a Stockton doctor — because the employee knows the real doctor's voice so well.

Porter also faces allegations of representing himself as a doctor to get a controlled substance, as well as possessing a drug without a prescription. Just to add to matters, he is accused of violating his parole from prison, meaning that he is jailed without bail.

Lodi police had gotten several calls Monday from local pharmacies, reporting suspicious calls to fill prescriptions. Then, at 6:05 p.m., Longs Drugs, 1000 W. Kettleman Lane, reported that someone had just arrived to pick up the prescription. The suspect left before police arrived.

At 6:44 p.m., police were called from Walgreen's, 75 N. Ham Lane, where someone in the drive-thru pharmacy was trying to pick up a prescription. The suspects left but police dispatchers broadcast a vehicle description, and Officer Hettie Schaeffer soon spotted the green Chevrolet Suburban at Ham Lane and Lodi Avenue, according to the police report.

Racho-Tafoya, who told officers that she had left her four children home alone, allegedly denied knowing about the fake prescriptions but acknowledged that she had previously driven Porter to various Stockton pharmacies, the police report said. Officers contacted both her mother and law enforcement in Stockton to check on the woman's children.

Both are expected to appear today in Lodi court.