Happy St. Valentine's Day! Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Carona Lawyers Try To Get Some Corruption Charges Dropped (OCR)
Defense team for former sheriff claims 4 counts of federal indictment are invalid.

Carona's Wife Wants To See Secret Transcripts (OCR)
Attorneys for Deborah Carona say federal prosecutors have abused the process.

OC Pastor Wiley Drake Says IRS Investigating Him For Huckabee Endorsement (LAT)
Southern Baptist pastor Wiley Drake said today that he is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for endorsing GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee in a press release written on church stationery.

Southern California Home Sales At Lowest level In More Than 20 Years (LAT)
Orange County's sales volume declines 46%; the median price is down 13%.

Deputies Use Taser On Sportscaster Josh Booty In Jail (LAT)
Brother of USC quarterback John David Booty was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and held at O.C. jail.

Villa Park Residents Speak Out Against Demolition Proposal (OCR)
Preservationists disapprove of Orange Unified School District's proposal to demolish two historic buildings.

Buena Park To Sell $42 Million In Bonds To Build Police Station, Other Projects (OCR)
The city needs to replace 1963 stationhouse and will help build junior high gym.

Orange Grove: Stimulus Good News For Orange County (OCR)
Previous limits on federal housing assistance programs left O.C. in cold (by Rep. Gary Miller).

H.B. School District To Limit R-Rated Movies In Class (OCR)
Trustees for the Huntington Beach Union High School District made a final vote Tuesday night to discourage movies in class after a Marina High School parent pushed for written rules.

CUSD Parents Allege Rights Violations (OCR)
A civil suit names district and former officials and the county Registrar of Voters.

San Juan Launches Ambitious Open Space Initiative (OCR)
Ballot measure could mean more open space in town.

Santa Ana's Spurgeon Clock Is Being Brought Back To Life (LAT)
A resident history buff and clock connoisseur spurred officials to work on the clock, which is depicted on the city's seal.

Harbor Speeds, Races In Question (DP)
Newport Beach Harbor Commissioner Seymour Beek said Wednesday he wished the community could go back to a simpler time where speed limit laws and other regulations were enforced by the local Harbor Patrol in a "loosey goosey" fashion during sailboat races on Newport Harbor.

Groups Discuss Pool Plan (DP)
The construction of a new pool at Costa Mesa High School remains on tap, the Newport-Mesa School District said Wednesday night, despite the economy causing setbacks and some areas of ambiguity.

Huckabee Not Stepping Out On Supporters (DP)
Despite John McCain's strong nomination-bound trajectory, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is in it for the long-haul, campaign manager Ed Rollins told a packed UCI lecture hall Wednesday.

The Political Landscape: U.S Rep Decks Hall In Style (DP)
Final tallies of campaign fundraising for 2007 show U.S. Rep. John Campbell is raking in the dough.

Church Celebrates 125 Years In A Bar (OCR)
Church of the Messiah in Santa Ana goes back to its roots - on second floor of a restaurant.

Hotel rates Up 8.4% In 2007 (OCR)
Orange County hotel rates averaged $153.90 last year, an 8.4 percent increase over 2006, reports PKF Consulting, a hospitality industry research firm.

Cypress Hookah Bar Request Up In Smoke (OCR)
This city's only hookah bar denied extended-hours request; instead asked to quiet down.

San Juan Mayor Calls Foor Focus On Local Business (OCR)
Soto touts city's financial stability in the face of economic pressure at annual state of the city luncheon.

New Anaheim Movie Theater Applying For Liquor License (OCR)
Excellent!