Pistorius: Amputee track star Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail, which is somewhat unusual for a man accused of premeditated murder in South Africa. The magistrate cited several errors and blunders in the prosecution case and said Pistorius was not a high risk to flee. Pistorius said he accidentally killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, thinking there was an intruder in the bathroom. Bail was set at about $112,000.

Meanwhile, a new lead detective has been assigned to the case because the original detective is himself facing seven charges of attempted murder. Det. Hilton Botha is charged in a 2009 incident in which he and other officers fired on a minibus taxi that ignored an order to stop.

National: The Pentagon warns that as many as 750,000 civilian employees may be furloughed if automatic federal budget cuts kick in March 1. They say many combat units will not get the training to remain “combat ready”. Other federal agencies have also made dire warnings, including the FAA, which says furloughs could delay air travel.

• A major winter storm has finished dumping snow on the Midwest and is headed toward the Great Lakes and New England. About a foot dropped in Kansas and hundreds of flights were cancelled.
• About one in three fish offered in restaurants and markets are not what they are labeled, according to a new report by the conservation group Oceana. The group says that most commonly fish labeled as snapper and tuna are really something else.

Gun Insurance: Several states are considering requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance, as a way to force them to act responsibly with guns. One policy offered by the Concealed Carry Association would give you a lawyer if you use you gun in self-defense.

Grandma Can Walk: About 150 federal agents descended upon one of the kings of cable television advertising, The Scooter Store. They’re the people who promise they can get Medicare to pay for electric scooters for the elderly disabled. The Scooter Store has been accused of harassing doctors until they sign off, frequently on unnecessary scooters, as much as one hundred million dollars worth.

Now He Is The News: WCBS New York anchorman Rob Morrison resigned following his arrest on charges that he choked his wife in their Darien, CT. home. His wife Ashley is a CBS MoneyWatch reporter. Police said they saw red marks on her neck consistent with being choked and Morrison has been ordered not to come within 100 yards of his wife.

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