Morning Wrap: 3/21/13

A 50-year anniversary for The Rock, even with no snow Tahoe says its hotel bookings have been off the charts, couple on railroad tracks in Hayward bungle their planned double suicide, more.

• Today marks the 50-year anniversary of Alcatraz’s closure as a federal prison on March 21, 1963. Mercury News
• Siding against schools in the South Bay, a judge ruled that local officials were wrong last year to yank $30 million in disputed tax funds from the 49ers’ new Santa Clara stadium. Mercury News
• Two years after two Oakland police officers shot and killed an unarmed barber who ran from them testimony began in the federal civil rights case brought by the man’s widow. Mercury News
• The Chronicle looks at UC Berkeley’s long-abandoned and blighted former Extension campus in the Haight.
• Despite a severe lack of snow, Lake Tahoe hotel bookings are up 30 percent the first three months of the year over 2012. At least that’s what the ads say. SF Business Times
• A suicide pact failed in Hayward after a man and woman laid between railroad tracks in the path of a high-speed train which cleared their bodies. Mercury News
• Former Oakland state senator Nicholas Petris, who served 37 years in the Legislature, died at age 90. Capital Alert
• In a potentially far-reaching case, a judge ruled that San Jose must provide city officials’ text messages, emails and other electronic communications about city affairs in response to an activist’s request. Mercury News
• The accused thief who made off with a 19th century jewelry box from the Oakland Museum of California sold the $800,000 item for a mere $1,500. Chronicle
• Union protesters added their voices to those calling for the dismissal of Richmond assistant city manager Leslie Knight for alleged misuse of public resources and retaliation against a whistleblower. Contra Costa Times
• Doctors will evaluate the competency of a Wyoming man accused of stealing a yacht from Sausalito marina and running it aground at Pacifica after a night of partying. ABC 7 
• What is it about San Antonio? The Warriors lost their 29th straight there to the Spurs last night, 104-93. Mercury News