A NEW HOME AT KLAX FOR EL CUCUY.

Byline: - Fred Shuster

Spanish-language radio star Renan Almendarez Coello - ``El Cucuy'' to his fans - returns to mornings Monday on KLAX-FM (97.9), a station he once competed against.

Coello was let go from his longtime home KSCA-FM (101.9) last month after he stormed out of the studio in the middle of a program he was hosting, apparently in support of co-workers in a pay dispute.

His new morning show kicks off at 5 a.m. Monday on the station known as ``La Raza.'' At KSCA, Coello's ratings bested English-language competitors from Howard Stern to Bill Handel.

``El Cucuy'' translates as ``the boogeyman.''

'CHOCOLATE' ON SATURDAYS: Public radio KCRW-FM (89.9) is shuffling its lineup next month.

Garth Trinidad's 10 p.m.-to-midnight weeknight ``Chocolate City'' will move to a once-weekly three-hour slot at 6 p.m. Saturdays.

His previous shift will be filled by Raul Campos' ``Nocturna,'' which moves from Saturday nights.

Meanwhile, Liza Richardson's three-hour ``The Drop'' slides to a later hour Saturdays, from 6 p.m. to a 9 o'clock start time.

The schedule changes were said to be fueled by Trinidad's desire to spend more time with his family.

CHUCK NILES TRIBUTE: KKJZ-FM (88.1), Chuck Niles' last on-air residence, will pay tribute to the departed jazz DJ from noon to 2 p.m. today.

Niles, one of the format's best-known voices, died Monday at age 76.

Niles started in local radio 48 years ago, working at influential KBCA from the mid-'60s through the end of the '70s - the last peak era in jazz.

This afternoon's radio special, in which KKJZ host Scott Willis will broadcast interviews with jazz artists and musical tributes to the late announcer, follows Niles' funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Hollywood Hills.