BRIEFLY; TRIO CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Three people were charged with animal cruelty and mutilation Thursday, for allegedly injecting a show horse with alcohol to keep it from swishing its tail in an exhibition.

Michael Lee Dunn, 30, of Burbank; Frederick Scott Johnson, 40, of Burbank, and veterinarian James Johnson Rushing, 52, of Jackson, Wyo., are charged with one count each of animal cruelty and mutilation and administering a drug.

Dunn allegedly trained the chestnut quarter horse named Michelle, and Johnson allegedly owned the animal valued at about $25,000.

The mare developed a severe infection from the alleged injection in September, and according to veterinary reports, won't be able to use its tail again, the City Attorney's office said.

The three are to be arraigned April 4 in Van Nuys Superior Court. They could face up to a year in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted, according to the SPCA LA.

- City News Service

WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN SYLMAR

SYLMAR - An unidentified woman was found face-down and dead near a street early Thursday, police said.

The woman, who appeared to be in her late 20s to early 30s, did not have any obvious signs of trauma or foul play, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Rick Papke of the Foothill Division. She was found about 6 a.m. in the 11700 block of Gladstone Street.

- Daily News

UNIQUE PLAYGROUND IN BUDGET PROPOSAL

The mayor's upcoming budget proposal will earmark $250,000 for a playground in Griffith Park with equipment children with disabilities can use, it was announced Thursday.

``Shane's Inspiration: A Boundless Playground'' is believed to be the first of its kind on the West Coast.

The playground will also accommodate children without disabilities and will include raised sand tables, a stage, a butterfly garden and a wheelchair-friendly, multilevel boardwalk connecting the features.

Scott and Catherine Williams came up with the idea after their newborn son, Shane, died of spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic paralysis disease.

If approved by the City Council, the donation would provide funds needed to complete the playground.

- City News Service

DRIVER KILLED IN 210 FREEWAY CRASH

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - A fiery van crash near the junction of the Foothill and Glendale freeways Thursday afternoon left one person dead, authorities said.

The van went over the side of the westbound Foothill, near the Glendale Freeway transition road and burst into flames about 3:10 p.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Frank Sansone.

``Some motorists had stopped and tried to rescue the driver but were unsuccessful,'' he said.

- City News Service

SECOND QUAKE RATTLES MALIBU AREA

MALIBU - A magnitude-2.4 aftershock nudged the Malibu area Thursday following a magnitude-3.4 temblor in the same area the night before, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist said.

The aftershock struck at 4:40 a.m., centered 4 miles north-northeast of Point Dume, said Sue Hough of the USGS.

It followed the larger quake, which struck at 8:35 p.m. Wednesday and was centered 2 miles north-northeast of Point Dume, Hough said. That temblor was a new quake and not an aftershock.

- City News Service