The weather: Central and Southern California and parts of the San Joaquin Valley actually saw enough moisture early Tuesday to dampen rain gauges and windshields, but only traces of precipitation have been recorded north of southern Monterey County. Forecast: Dry, dry, dry. For more, see the National Weather Service Bay Area.
- San Francisco officials lose track of $1 million in bond money (San Francisco Chronicle):
The developer of a Rincon Hill luxury high-rise complex near the entrance to the Bay Bridge may have ended up with nearly $1 million in bond money that the city planned to spend on park and pedestrian improvements South of Market, according to public officials. But exactly where the money ended up is something of a mystery, because a lawyer for the developer said it never received the money. Full story
- Mormon leaders call for Utah LGBT protections -- with conditions (Salt Lake Tribune):
In a break from the past, church officials say they would support legislation to safeguard gay rights as long as religious freedom is protected, too. A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints statement adds the church will not and cannot support same-sex marriage. Full story
- San Mateo Keeps Small-Town Feel as Tech Boom Rolls Through (KQED News):
San Mateo has long been a bedroom community for tech hubs to the north and south. But in recent years, it’s built a niche for itself as a home to tech startups such as GoPro and Solar City, among hundreds of others. Unlike in other cities, such as San Francisco or Redwood City, the boom hasn’t altered the character of San Mateo all that much, says Rafat Haddad, who owns 3 Bees Coffee downtown. “It has the feeling of a small town,” he says, “but it’s a big downtown.” Full story
- Thieves smash their way into Wells Fargo, steal actual gold (San Francisco Chronicle):
Thieves in ski masks smashed a stolen sport utility vehicle into the site of the original Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco’s Financial District early Tuesday and held a security guard at gunpoint before making off with gold nuggets from California’s Gold Rush era, police said. Full story
- Inmate dies in S.F. County Jail incident (San Francisco Chronicle):
A 58-year-old inmate died in a jailhouse confrontation with San Francisco sheriff’s deputies Monday morning, authorities said. The inmate died after deputies attempted to search him at San Francisco County Jail No. 5 in San Bruno about 9:30 a.m., according to San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault. Full story
- CHP officer avoids jail by pleading no contest to sharing explicit photos of female arrestees (San Jose Mercury):
Former California Highway Patrol officer Sean Harrington pleaded no contest Tuesday to two felony counts of secretly copying and sharing explicit photos of female DUI suspects, however the Martinez resident will avoid serving any time in jail. Judge Terri Mockler said she struggled with his sentence, but in the end gave him a 180-day suspended jail sentence. As long as he follows his probation terms and attends violence prevention classes, Harrington will not spend time incarcerated. Full story
- America's fastest-growing cities (Forbes):
The business organ touts Houstin, Austin and Dallas -- those are all in Texas, right? -- as the nation's fastest-growing cities. San Francisco comes in at No. 7 on the list, San Jose at No. 17. Full story
- That big East Coast snowstorm:
Check out photos from the Boston area (via WBUR) and New York (via the New York Times). And oh, heck, here's even more from the Boston area (via The Boston Globe).
- Newly discovered planet has ring system 200 times bigger than Saturn's (BBC):
Astronomers say they have discovered a planet with a gigantic ring system that is 200 times larger than that around Saturn. It is the first such structure detected around a planet beyond our Solar System. The researchers say there are probably more than 30 rings, each measuring tens of millions of kilometres in diameter. Full story