Top of the morning’s news
- An Occupy encampment went up at San Francisco State last night, after students held an extraordinary hour-long discussion with university president Robert Corrigan on the steps of the Administration Building. Chronicle
- NPR’s new chief executive, Gary Knell, says he will vigorously defend continued public funding for NPR. [Listen]
- Only a third of voters in San Francisco’s ranked-choice election filled out all three choices in all races, according to a University of San Francisco analysis. The Bay Citizen
- Supporters of Mayor Jean Quan held a press conference at an East Oakland church Thursday to publicly fight a recall effort against the mayor for her handling of the Occupy Oakland protest. Chronicle Politics Blog
- Former SFPD crime lab technician Deborah Madden was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that she skimmed cocaine from the lab. Chronicle
- Most Occupy SF protesters appeared Thursday to want to accept the city’s offer to move to a campsite in the Mission district, but others continued to refuse to vacate Justin Herman Plaza. Chronicle
- The state Public Utilities Commission approved a record $38 million fine against PG&E for a Christmas Eve 2008 explosion near Sacramento that killed a homeowner. Chronicle
- A man arrested last week in Kentucky, where he had fled, was charged with fatally shooting a man near the Occupy Oakland encampment Nov. 10 moments after the victim was severely beaten by others. Oakland Tribune
- Mono Lake was removed from the state parks closure list after a nonprofit group agreed to collect the fees necessary to keep it open. Chronicle
- Five members of the MS-13 gang in the Mission district were sentenced to life in prison for a violent spree that included three 2008 murders. Chronicle
- A film crew shooting a robbery scene without a permit in San Francisco’s Cole Valley neighborhood caused a stir Wednesday after police responded, believing the robbery was real. Bay City News Service
- As the NBA swings back into action, the Warriors will reportedly begin their season Christmas day at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. LA Times
