Morning Splash: 454,000 Californians Set to Lose Jobless Benefits; Parents Okayed to Sue Over P.E.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday failed to meet a deadline to extend federal unemployment benefits, threatening half a million Californians with the prospect of losing their benefits by the end of December. An estimated 454,000 California job seekers are among about 2 million nationwide who will be cut off from weekly unemployment benefits by the end of the year if the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program is allowed to lapse. Full article

San Francisco’s bid to host the America’s Cup yachting race in 2013 advanced yesterday, as the Port Commission approved two race site alternatives: a more expensive alternative that would place the hub of the race south of the Bay Bridge, and a second that would center it on the Northern Waterfront. Full article

A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed willing Tuesday to uphold a federal court panel's authority to order California to reduce the population of its crowded prisons as a step toward improving its woeful health care system for inmates. In more than an hour of arguments, some justices suggested they would narrow the San Francisco-based panel's August 2009 order that required the state to transfer or release 40,000 prisoners in two years. Full article

Parents can take their children's public schools to court to force educators to provide the minimum amount of physical education required by state law, the California Court of Appeal ruled in Sacramento on Tuesday, which could spell trouble for a lot of state schools. Full article

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed says it's unlikely the city will be able to put a downtown ballpark measure on the March 8 ballot, because a committee appointed almost two years ago by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig still hasn't decided whether the Oakland A's should move to town. Full article

...The rail authority board is set to vote Thursday on the plan to build 65 miles of track between Borden, south of Madera, and Corcoran, south of Fresno. The two cities have a combined population of about 25,000, according to a Central Valley congressman who's asking the U.S. Transportation Secretary to intervene. Full article

Beginning today, anyone with a nonviolent misdemeanor warrant or traffic warrant can walk into any law enforcement agency in Santa Clara County and receive a citation with a new court date and avoid being booked into county jail. The program "Operation Second Chance 2010" is directed towards all misdemeanor warrants, no matter the bail amount, including those warrants stamped "No Cite and Release," "No Walk-Over," and "No Bail," according to the sheriff's office.The programs runs through Dec. 31. Full article

A Peninsula card room is suing several YouTube users who posted videos of violent confrontations between gamblers and security staff on the video-sharing website. Lucky Chances Casino in Colma is seeking a court order to force the unidentified posters to take down the videos, which "create the false impression that Lucky Chances card room is a disorderly and unsafe place" and that the establishment's staff is "violent and aggressive and/or incapable of maintaining order," according to the complaint filed in San Mateo County Superior Court. Full article

After losing postseason hero Juan Uribe to the Dodgers despite offering him a three-year, $20 million deal, the Giants have agreed to a one-year contract with Miguel Tejada with plans to make him their everyday shortstop, sources confirmed. Full article

Nearly two dozen elite surfers gathered in Half Moon Bay on Monday for the opening ceremonies of the annual surf contest at Maverick's, the event's co-founder said today. The competition, newly named the Jay at Maverick's Big Wave Invitational, will take place sometime between Wednesday and Feb. 28 at the famed surfing spot located about a half-mile from Pillar Point Harbor. The area is known for its 20- to 40-foot waves during the winter season. Full article