Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

O.C. sheriff wants secretly recorded tapes thrown out (LAT)
Assistant sheriff used body wire during conversations that helped prosecutors build public corruption case against Mike Carona

Cheech brings his art to Anaheim (OCR)
The other side of Cheech Marin's collection - pastels and drawings - comes to Anaheim's Muzeo.


RIGONOMICS: A primer to ballots for Feb. 5 (DP)
Absentee ballots have been delivered, and voting has now started in California for the Feb. 5 presidential primary. Here are my picks, starting with the propositions.

Tapes show O.C. deputies using Tasers on restrained inmates (OCR)
VIDEO: Deputies shock detainees already on their bellies or strapped to chair.

Man in Bowers probe says he did nothing wrong (OCR)
Called "the smuggler" by federal investigators, 79-year-old Robert Olson says he didn't know if artifacts he supplied to southland museums were gotten legally or not.

Teen dies a month after gang-related attack (OCR)
Vehicle drove up and shots were fired at 15-year-old; no arrested have been made.

Woman, dog die in San Juan Capistrano blaze (OCR)
Cause of Friday night fire under investigation, authorities said.

Local donor named in suit (DP)
Henry Samueli, cofounder of the Broadcom Corp. and one of Newport-Mesa's most famous philanthropists, has been named in a federal investigation as a potential co-conspirator in a case involving backdating of his company's stock options.

Korea and U.S. push for free trade (OCR)
Korean ambassadors visit the Nixon Library for public discussion.

'B' opponents can't keep up with donations (DP)
Retired Newport Beach businessman Jack Croul gave a group behind a Feb. 5 ballot measure on city hall a hefty financial boost earlier this week with another $100,000 donation. Croul also gave the group $80,000 earlier this month.

Sex offender heads home (DP and LAT)
Man who assaulted teen girl with foreign objects in 2002 set for release. He was convicted in 2006 of having sex with a minor.