Top of the morning’s news
- The 49ers officially celebrated their emergence from the NFL wilderness, clinching the NFC West title with their 26-0 win over the Rams. Chronicle
- San Francisco-based Current TV has dismissed most of the staff of its acclaimed “Vanguard” documentary unit, as its focus shifts from being an original source for news to a liberal talk channel. Media Decoder
- An NYT Fashion & Style piece says new NBC “journalist” hire Chelsea Clinton is feeling a lot more comfortable with her celebrity.
- Some of the same folks who’ve been big supporters of Occupy SF at Justin Herman Plaza are singing a different tune when it comes to moving it to a vacant lot in the Mission. Chronicle
- Gov. Jerry Brown has the second lowest first-year approval rating of any California governor in a half-century but analysts say it isn’t so bad, considering the intractable budget mess he inherited in Sacramento. Chronicle
- It’s been a year of layoffs, pay cuts and pension reform talk among public workers in San Jose, and SJPD is experiencing an astonishing 40 percent surge in officers calling in sick compared to last year. Mercury News
- The price of gas at the pump is down 9 cents nationally in the last two weeks. AP
- An accused thief who pepper-sprayed his way out of Nordstrom in Walnut Creek after allegedly grabbing $10,000 worth of high-end purses was tackled by passersby before he could reach a getaway car. Contra Costa Times
- Stanford beat Duke 1-0 Sunday to win the NCAA women’s soccer national championship. Stanford Sports
- Tiger Woods won his first PGA tournament since his 2009 sex scandal. LA Times
- Four geese were found shot to death in a Concord park over the weekend. Contra Costa Times
- East Contra Costa residents are bracing for potentially massive disruptions next year when all Highway 4 off-ramps in Antioch are likely to be under construction. Contra Costa Times
- Raiders stink it up in Miami. BANG
- Complete bowl game lineup: LSU-Alabama for BCS championship; Stanford to Fiesta vs. Oklahoma State; Cal to Holiday to play Texas ESPN
