BRIEFLY : SERIES OF QUAKES SHAKES UP REGION.

Several small earthquakes rattled Southland communities Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A magnitude-2.8 temblor occurred 12 miles north-northeast of Ojai in eastern Ventura County at 3:08 a.m., said USGS seismologist Doug Given.

Three small earthquakes shook Imperial County near the Mexican border within minutes of each other late Friday morning, just hours after a separate quake jarred Kern County, officials said.

A 3.1-magnitude quake hit five miles northwest of El Centro at 11:31 a.m. and was followed by a magnitude-3.0 temblor in the same area just seconds later, said Doug Given, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

A third quake, magnitude 3.5, occurred four miles northwest of the town about 11:51 a.m., Given said. El Centro is about 120 miles east of San Diego.

Earlier Friday morning, a 3.6-magnitude quake hit 15 miles west of Wheeler Ridge about 4:21 a.m., he said. Wheeler Ridge, about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is a rural area just outside Bakersfield.

- Daily News Wire Services

Kaiser must cover Viagra treatments

SACRAMENTO - California has ordered Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to continue covering all sexual dysfunction treatments, including the drug Viagra.

Kaiser had argued that subsidizing impotence pills for some men would unfairly raise insurance costs for all members.

The decision Thursday by the state Department of Corporations could affect every health plan in California. It means that Kaiser Permanente cannot specify sexual function drugs and treatments as supplemental benefits available at a higher premium.

As a result, the HMO must continue paying at least half of the roughly $80 it costs to provide a monthly dose of Viagra to men.

Kaiser spokesman Tom Debley said the HMO has no plans to contest the ruling, which he estimated would add about $1 to a monthly Kaiser premium.

- Associated Press

Man out on bond in anthrax threat

NEWARK, Calif. - A Newark auto-parts shipping company worker can remain free on a $50,000 ``personal recognizance'' bond after allegedly making a phony anthrax threat from his workplace, a U.S. magistrate has ruled.

Prosecutors say Robert Peterson, 42, of Hayward called Newark police Tuesday to warn that ``there are 400 people in this building and anthrax has been released.''

Although city hazardous materials teams were sent to the Worldpac company building, no trace of the bacteria was found.

When questioned, Peterson admitted making the call because ``he really wanted to go home'' to get his heart medication, according to an FBI affidavit.

- Associated Press