National: Former Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. pleaded guilty yesterday to a conspiracy charge for bilking his own campaign fund of $750,000. Shortly after, Jackson’s wife Sandi pleaded guilty to filing a false income tax return.  “For years, I lived off my campaign,” the 47-year-old Jackson told the judge. The Jacksons used the money for a $43,000 Rolex, vacations, electronics, collectibles, and $60,000 on restaurants. Jackson could spend nearly five years in prison, his wife, could get two years. Jackson was once one of the most promising young black politicians in America. The couple has two children.

• Los Angeles Police are investigating an odd case in which the body of a missing Canadian tourist was found in the water tank on top of a downtown hotel. Guests complained about low water pressure in the Cecil Hotel before a maintenance worker found the body. So far, no word on whether 21-year-old Elisa Lam died by accident or murder. She was missing for three weeks as the hotel continued to use the water.
• A massive winter storm is expected to hit the Midwest today, dumping as much of 18 inches of snow.
• In Las Vegas a rolling gunfight between a Range Rover and a Maserati ended with the explosion of a taxi and three people dead. The driver of the Maserati, the taxi driver, and a passenger died.

World: Opposition forces struck the heart of Damascus with a car bomb that may have killed dozens of people. The target was the headquarters of President Bashar al-Assad’s ruling party.

Wheels: Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has again refused to testify under oath before the US Anti Doping Agency and explain how drugs spun his wheels to victory. USADA was hoping to get information about other athletes, doctors and coaches involved in doping. With this move Armstrong is likely to remain banned for life from sanctioned sports.

Don’t Stop: The city of Los Angeles has finished synchronizing its 4400 traffic lights, which the city says will move traffic faster and reduce carbon emissions by a million metric tons. The system was first proposed for the 1984 Summer Olympics and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa talked about it running for office eight years ago. Some things take time.

The Scandal Sheets: Former Republican New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici admitted that he fathered a son with the 24-year-old daughter of a Senate colleague 30 years ago. The mother is Michelle Laxalt, daughter of former Republican Senator and Nevada Governor Paul Laxalt. And you thought Congress was unproductive

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