SACRAMENTO

Officials say parole leader altered data

A Northern California parole supervisor altered official documents to release ex-convicts from parole in possible violation of state law, prison officials said Wednesday.

The district administrator was transferred to a different post Wednesday while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation investigates what officials said was at least a policy violation, if not a crime.

The administrator had overseen parolees in parts of Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, who first complained about the administrator's actions, said the actions may have jeopardized public safety by ending supervision of dangerous criminals.

Spitzer, who chairs the Assembly's Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations, alleged the supervisor was under intense pressure to end paroles as quickly as possible for as many parolees as possible to help trim the prisons' bulging population.

Fewer parolees means fewer parole violators to be sent back to prison at a time when federal judges are considering a cap on the inmate population.

LOS ANGELES

Spector sues former lawyer Shapiro

Nearly five years after his arrest in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson, music producer Phil Spector is still trying to get a refund of a $1 million fee he paid to famed attorney Robert Shapiro, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the lawsuit marked the second time that Spector has sued Shapiro claiming the attorney cheated him and used their personal relationship to enrich himself unjustly.

Shapiro was the first lawyer to represent Spector after his arrest.

Spector dropped the earlier suit in December 2005 with the provision that he could file another suit at a later time.

The new lawsuit makes allegations similar to the first, claiming Shapiro "took unfair and unscrupulous advantage of his friendship and position of trust with Mr. Spector, and decided to use Mr. Spector's arrest as an opportunity to make a financial windfall and garner publicity for himself."

The suit also names Shapiro's law firm as a defendant, claiming they "stood behind and vouched for Shapiro's work."

Spector alleges that Shapiro's work on the case was inadequate and may have led prosecutors to file formal charges against Spector.

SAN DIEGO

Panda cub coming out on Saturday

Christmas is coming a few days early for panda lovers.

The San Diego Zoo's four-and-a-half-month-old panda cub will make her first public appearance on Saturday morning.

Zoo officials say little Zhen Zhen (JUN JUN), or Precious, will be on view from 9 to 11 a.m. daily. She'll spend more time in the open pen areas as her walking and climbing skills develop.

The cub has been secluded in a private den area with her mother, the panda Bai Yun (BYE' YOON), since she was born Aug. 3. Fans have only been able to see her via the zoo's Webcam so far.

Zhen Zhen is the fourth panda cub born at the zoo.

—From wire reports