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BC-CA--California News Digest 1:30 pm, CA

Hello! Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up in California. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Los Angeles bureau at 213-626-1200, losangeles@ap.org, or to the AP-San Francisco bureau at 415-495-1708, sanfrancisco@ap.org. John Antczak is on the Los Angeles news desk, followed by Tami Abdollah. Kristin Bender is on the San Francisco news desk.

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Pacific.

Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

TOP STORIES:

CALIFORNIA COLD

SACRAMENTO - California is under the influence of a cold air mass that could bring the first widespread frost of the winter across the Central Valley, even as southern areas continue to see damaging winds. The National Weather Service said a freeze watch will be in effect Friday night through Saturday morning in the central and southern San Joaquin Valley because temperatures are forecast to range between 28 degrees and 32 degrees for four to six hours. "It's going to be the coldest weather we've seen, really, pretty much this year," said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sacramento. By Judy Lin. SENT: 130 words, photos. Upcoming 380 words by 1:30 p.m.

SONY HACK-THE INTERVIEW

LOS ANGELES - Sony's move to release "The Interview" in theaters and on demand at the same time represents unchartered waters for major studios. The film, released on just over 300 screens rather than the approximately 3,000 for which it was originally planned, took in more than $1 million at the box office and untold sums in streamed rentals and online purchases. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 130 words, photos. UPCOMING: Full story. See the BUSINESS section below for additional Sony coverage.

IMMIGRANTS-DRIVER'S LICENSES

LOS ANGELES - While tens of thousands of immigrants living in the country illegally are gearing up to apply for a long-sought driver's license in California starting Jan. 2, others are being urged to think twice. Immigrant advocates say the vast majority should be able to get licensed without trouble but they want anyone who previously obtained a driver's license under a false name or someone else's Social Security number to speak first with a lawyer, fearing a new application could trigger a fraud investigation. By Amy Taxin. SENT: 761 words, photos.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

FOUR DEAD-CALIFORNIA CRASH

FAIR OAKS, Calif. - Two vehicles collided head on in a fiery crash near Sacramento, leaving four people dead and two more seriously injured early Friday. The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the identities of the dead have not yet been released pending notification of their families. SENT: 225 words.

PINTO ABALONE

SEATTLE - The National Marine Fisheries Service has decided not to list a 6-inch Pacific Ocean marine snail as an endangered or threatened species. The federal agency says its review found that the pinto abalone was not currently in danger of extinction and did not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The snail, prized for its delicate flavor and colorful shell, are found from Alaska to Baja California. By Phuong Le. SENT: 474 words.

Also:

- PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY-SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Department of Public Health reports a significant increase in the number of cases of shigella, a highly contagious bacterial illness in the city, especially among homeless people.

- CHRISTMAS JAILBREAK-CALIFORNIA - Authorities say an inmate broke out of Monterey County jail by climbing up a ventilation duct and punching out a window. He remains at large.

- CHRISTMAS PROTEST-NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Protesters smashed business windows on the edge of downtown Oakland and tore ornaments and lights from a large Christmas tree in a protest designed to keep police working on the holiday.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

LOS ANGELES MOTEL FIRE

LOS ANGELES - Some residents slid down knotted bedsheets or clambered down people standing on one another's shoulders to flee a raging Christmas night fire that injured six people and badly damaged a residential motel near downtown, authorities said Friday. SENT: 254 words.

Also:

- FOREST FIRE DANGER - A series of rainstorms earlier this month has prompted authorities to reduce their rating for fire danger from "very high" to "high" in Southern California's Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

BUSINESS:

SONY-MUDDLED MARRIAGE

TOKYO - Sony's iconic gadgetry and the star appeal of Hollywood may have appeared to be a perfect match when the electronics giant bought Columbia Pictures in 1989. A quarter century later, it's apparent that Sony Corp. hasn't attained the magic synergy it was hoping for. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.

TESLA-ROADSTER UPGRADE

NEW YORK - Tesla Motors says improvements it's making to its older Roadster model will let the electric car travel about 400 miles on a single charge. The Palo Alto, California, company says a new battery and other improvements like new tires will boost the car's range 40 to 50 percent compared to the original. SENT: 173 words.

OBIT-BEYSTER

SAN DIEGO - J. Robert Beyster, a scientist-turned-entrepreneur who founded a small technology firm called Science Applications International Corp. and built it into one of the largest and most influential defense contractors in the country, has died at age 90. UPCOMING: 300 words.

ENTERTAINMENT:

PEOPLE-ANGELA LANSBURY

LOS ANGELES - Angela Lansbury has settled in for a six-week run of Noel Coward's comedy "Blithe Spirit" at the Ahmanson Theatre. This is Lansbury's third time around with Coward's 1941 farce, which is propelled by a medium who accidentally conjures the ghost of a writer's precocious wife. By Entertainment Writer Mike Cidoni Lennox. SENT: 600 words, photos.

SPORTS:

CHIEFS-SMITH OUT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will miss Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers because of a lacerated spleen, he said Friday. Chase Daniel will start in his place with both teams seeking a playoff spot. SENT: 442 words, photos.

FBC--HOLIDAY BOWL

SAN DIEGO - Nebraska (9-3) and Southern Cal (8-4) make their final preparations to face each other in the Holiday Bowl on Saturday. By Bernie Wilson. UPCOMING: 700 words by 5 p.m.

BKN--SUNS-KINGS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Phoenix Suns go for their fifth straight victory when they visit the Sacramento Kings. By Antonio Gonzalez. Starts 7 p.m. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos.

BKN--LAKERS-MAVERICKS

DALLAS - Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks try to avoid their first three-game losing streak in their fourth game since the Rajon Rondo trade. The Lakers could be without Kobe Bryant again a night after losing in Chicago on Christmas. By Schuyler Dixon. Game starts 7:30 p.m. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos.

FBN--RAIDERS

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Raiders story. By Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4 p.m.

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If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to losangeles@ap.org or sanfrancisco@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from California and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click "All" or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.