BRIEFLY TRAFFIC FATALITIES DIP DURING HOLIDAY.

Traffic deaths decreased about 35 percent during the holiday weekend statewide and about 69 percent in Los Angeles County compared with last year, while drunk-driving arrests rose by about 2 percent statewide and 4 percent in Los Angeles County from last year.

- Daily News

North Hills man gets 10 months

A North Hills man who painted swastikas, ``white power'' and other hate symbols on an Egyptian man's home nearly three years ago was sentenced Monday to 10 months in federal prison.

Joshua Hass, a 21-year-old electrician, defaced the home of Mahmoud Zaki Amin on Jan. 5, 1998.

- City News Service

$25,000 donated to help patients

Catholic Healthcare West gave $25,000 to a program that helps Spanish-speaking cancer patients and their families, officials announced Monday.

The nonprofit Westlake Village-based Wellness Community staffs outreach centers at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar and Our Lady of the Valley Church in Canoga Park.

It is in the process of opening a third site at the Santa Rosa Catholic Church in San Fernando. A grand opening for that branch is planned for Thursday.

- City News Service

Mother arrested in kidnapping plot

CALABASAS - A 31-year-old Calabasas mother was arrested for hatching a kidnapping plot involving her 5-year-old son to get $200,000 from her husband to pay off debts in India, authorities said Monday.

After the child was returned, an intense investigation determined the kidnapping was the result of a plot by the boy's mother, Rajvinder Kaur, who was arrested Thanksgiving Day, officials said.

Also arrested were Tajinder Singh, 36, in his Fountain Valley home on Wednesday; Jaswinder Singh, 31, outside of Denver on Thursday; and Balwilder Singh, 25, outside of Fresno, officials said.

- City News Service

Fire Department alerts public to phone scam

SYLMAR - Con artists posing as firefighters were soliciting donations from people in the Sylmar area for nonexistent programs and publications, a city fire spokesman said Monday.

The phony firefighters were calling people and asking them to set aside money on behalf of a fraud hotline that they would pick up, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

``Never in our 114 years of history have members of the Fire Department gone door-to-door or made phone calls seeking monetary donations,'' he said.

He said the Fire Department received at least two phone calls from concerned residents who said the calls seemed unusual.

``It does occur this time of year when people feel more generous and more giving,'' Humphrey said.

Citizens who need advice about a solicitation or want to report a possible scam can call the National Fraud Information Center at [phone] or visit www.fraud.org.

- City News Service

Sand Canyon body is Sandra Rosas'

The remains of a woman found buried in the Sand Canyon area of the Santa Clarita Valley have been identified as those of Sandra Rosas, the wife of Los Lobos band leader Cesar Rosas, authorities said.

The remains were identified Monday after authorities compared them to dental records, said Deputy Val Rosario of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office.

- Associated Press