Rain, Cold Temperatures Return

1. A cold low pressure system moving south along the coast is expected to hit the Southland today bringing wind gusts and rain in various areas and snow to mountain regions by Friday evening, the National Weather Service says. L.A. County and could have rain into Friday. Overnight showers could bring lows in the 40s with 30 mph winds.

2. The L.A. Dodgers have hired former LAPD Chief William Bratton as a consultant to review security at the stadium. The hiring comes in response to the severe beating of a San Francisco Giants fan in a stadium parking lot following the team's season opener last Thursday. Bratton says he will take a full and comprehensive look at security procedures and processes and make recommendations.

3. L.A. County apartment rents should fall about 3 percent by the end of 2012, a study says. USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate shows rents rose about 1 percent last year to an average of about $1500 but should drop. Occupancy rates have jumped to about 94 percent. Analysts say falling rents should make apartment living better until the economy improves and home buying perks.

4. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Wednesday for the 16th consecutive day, increasing 2 cents to $4.124, the highest since Aug. 9, 2008. The average price is 6.9 cents higher than a week ago, 21.4 cents above what it was one month ago and $1.028 greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

5. Weather today: Showers, highs in the upper 50s. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the 40s.

City News Service was used to compile this report.

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