California IN BRIEF : SANTA ANA : More Drug Firings at Paper

A spokeswoman for the Orange County Register said that an additional 26 employees at the newspaper have been fired or disciplined as the result of an internal investigation of alleged drug abuse in the workplace. The newspaper initially stated in a press release Tuesday that about 50 employees had been fired or disciplined. But Peggy Castellano, Register vice president of human resources, said Wednesday that the number increased to 76 after the statement was released to the media. Castellano said employees were questioned about their alleged involvement with drugs and alcohol. A majority of those found to have violated the company’s ban on drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace will be terminated, she said. Employees not terminated will be suspended for two weeks and will face random drug tests throughout the next year, she added.