conditional error based on category?

Apologies first for what is likely a dumb question. I’m new to WordPress and PHP so I’m already over my head. It concerns this part of the code:

if ( count( $this->catlist->lcp_categories_posts) == 0 )
{
    $lcp_display_output .= '<li>No results</li>';
}

I just need a different error when there is no results but when in a particular category (‘news’). I modifyied the error code but I’m getting identical results.

if ( count( $this->catlist->lcp_categories_posts) == 0 )
{
    if ( in_category( 'news' )) {
        $lcp_display_output .= '<li>No news results</li>';
    } else {
        $lcp_display_output .= '<li>No results</li>';
    }
}

I’m trying to filter the error but it doesn’t seem to evaluate the category at all. I always defaults to the last ‘else’ result.

I could really use some help…sigh.

http://ww.wp.xz.cn/extend/plugins/list-category-posts/