TRIO RETURNS TO CRIME SCENE FOR SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: SANTA CLARITA  (AP) — Investigators say three young robbers are in jail after returning to a Southern California crime scene to retrieve liquor store surveillance camera video.
Los Angeles sheriff's Lt. Tom Bryski says the trio stole beer from Dooley's Liquor Store in the Newhall area of Santa Clarita on Sunday night and fled. They returned to the store about 85 minutes later to get the surveillance video.
The lieutenant tells City News Service that there was a scuffle and one of the robbers pulled a knife and slashed the store clerk's arm.
Deputies arrested 19-year-old Oscar Jimenez, 18-year-old Eduardo Salgado and a 17-year-old youth. They have been booked for investigation of theft, intimidating a witness and assault with a deadly weapon.
LAWMAKER IN SHOPLIFTING SCANDAL APOLOGIZES: SACRAMENTO  (AP) — A California lawmaker who pleaded no contest last week to charges that she shoplifted from a San Francisco department store has issued an apology.
In her first public statement about the incident, Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi called it a "painful experience" but said Monday she wanted to "offer apologies, not excuses."
Hayashi was arrested last October after security cameras caught her walking out of a Neiman Marcus store with clothing that wasn't paid for. She pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of grand theft and was sentenced to probation.
The Castro Valley Democrat says she unintentionally walked out of the store without paying.
Hayashi says "a number of personal factors" contributed to her absentmindedness, including a benign brain tumor that's she being treated for. But she insists that she's taking full responsibility for her actions.
INVESTIGATORS SAY MAN GOT INTO EX'S BED TO CUDDLE: SANTA ANA  (AP) — Investigators say a Southern California man is in jail for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and slipping into bed to cuddle.
Augustin Sanchez has been arrested and booked for investigation of burglary and sexual assault.
Orange County sheriff's Lt. Roland Chacon says Sanchez cut through a screen and pushed open a bedroom window while the woman slept early Sunday in her home in the unincorporated El Modena neighborhood near Orange.
Investigators say Sanchez crawled into bed to cuddle before attempting to remove her undergarments.
The woman notified deputies and Sanchez, who was described as drunk, was still in the home when deputies arrived.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE TO ANNOUNCE OSCAR NOMINATIONS: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jennifer Lawrence will help announce this year's Academy Awards nominees.
The 21-year-old actress will join Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak at the nominations announcement on Jan. 24.
Lawrence earned her first Oscar nomination last year for "Winter's Bone." She stars in the anticipated adaptation of "The Hunger Games," set for release in March.
Sherak and Lawrence will announce 10 of Oscar's 24 categories at the early-morning press conference.
The 84th annual Academy Awards will be presented on Feb. 26.
MENTALLY ILL PRISONERS OVERWHELM SYSTEM: LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state's shifting of newly released state prisoners to the responsibility of local probation agencies has meant many ex-convicts with serious mental illnesses are slipping through the cracks.
The Los Angeles Times says the situation is an unexpected repercussion of the court-ordered reorganization of the state's prisoners to reducing overcrowding, known as "realignment."
Continued mental health treatment for convicts after release is seen as a key to curbing recidivism in the inmate population.
Parole officials say many ex-convicts have incomplete medical records and more serious mental illnesses than anticipated.
More than half of California's inmates report mental health problems and two thirds report drug abuse problems.
About 3,300 people have been released to Los Angeles County to date, and 6,000 more are expected.
ARSON SUSPECTED AT HARRIS RANCH: COALINGA  (AP) — Investigators say arson is suspected in a blaze that destroyed 14 big-rig tractors and several trailers at California's Harris Farms cattle operation, the state's largest cattle feeder, beef processor and beef marketer.
Fresno County sheriff's investigators say the trucks in a storage yard were burning when firefighters and deputies arrived at the Coalinga property early Sunday at Interstate 5 and State Route 145.
The Fresno Bee reports the fire was extinguished in 45 minutes.
A Harris Farms spokesman didn't have a damage figure.
The company says it doesn't expect any disruption in operations.
CALIF. FIRE THREAT EASES AS GUSTY WINDS MOVE OUT: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gusty, dry winds that prompted fire danger warnings in Central and Southern California have moved out of the area — replaced by morning frost advisories.
The National Weather Service says freezing temperatures are possible through mid-morning Monday in wind-sheltered valleys, particularly at the coast. It will warm up to the 70s in many areas later in the day.
On Sunday, red flag warnings were up as winds gusting to 70 mph at times moved through the area. The California Highway Patrol says several trucks were blown over on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.
However, the winds have moved off without any major fires reported.

ARRAIGNMENT DELAY FOR WOMAN IN SEVERED PENIS CASE: SANTA ANA  (AP) — Arraignment has been postponed for a Southern California woman charged with cutting off a man's penis and throwing it into a garbage disposal.
Catherine Kieu stood in a screened inmate area in an Orange County courtroom on Monday for what was supposed to be an appearance to enter a plea.
But her arraignment was delayed until Feb. 2.
A superseding indictment issued last week charges the 48-year-old woman with felony torture and felony aggravated mayhem for the July 11 attack.
Investigators say Kieu lived with the 60-year-old victim and the pair got into an argument over a future houseguest's visit.
Authorities allege that after the man went to sleep, Kieu tied him to the bed and severed the organ.
Kieu faces a possible life prison sentence if convicted.
CBS DEBUTS MORNING SHOW WITH CHARLIE ROSE, OTHERS: PASADENA  (AP) — CBS News debuted its new "CBS This Morning" program on Monday, its latest attempt to climb out of third place in the network morning show competition.
Hosts Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill sat at a circular glass table in a new studio constructed at CBS' New York headquarters. Rose presented the day's "eye opener" at the top, a minute-long clip package of what was new in the world, from Republican debate sparring in New Hampshire to Tim Tebow's winning touchdown pass in the NFL playoffs.
Jan Crawford reported from New Hampshire. Rose interviewed GOP contender Newt Gingrich and debriefed chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer. Scott Pelley followed up on a "60 Minutes" report from the night before. They also reviewed online headlines from around the world.
CBS has long trailed NBC's "Today" show and ABC's "Good Morning America" in the morning ratings.