DOUCHE OF THE DAY: Dorner Charged with Murder of Riverside Officer

Christopher Dorner has been charged with the murder of Riverside officer Michael Crain who was shot and killed while on duty last Thursday. Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach announced the murder charge,  with special circumstance allegations, along with three attempted murder charges at a news conference Monday. The special circumstance allegations make Dorner eligible for the death penalty. Zellerbach also announced a no-bail arrest warrant has been issued for Dorner’s capture, meaning he can be “apprehended anywhere.” Federal and local law enforcement agents are still hunting the suspected killer and fugitive, and for that, you are the douche of the day. [KTLA]

Pope Benedict XVI to Become First Pope in 600 years to Resign

Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he will step down on Feb. 28 due to failing health, stunning the world’s 1 billion Catholics by becoming the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the office. The German pontiff, 85, made his surprise statement to cardinals during a Vatican concistory on Monday, saying “my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” a reference to his duties as leader of the church. Speaking at a ceremony held to canonize three new saints, Benedict said he would step down at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28. Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said a conclave of cardinals would be held in March to elect a new pope in time for Easter. Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano, the dean of the College of Cardinals, said Benedict’s announcement was a “bolt out of the blue.” Describing his decision as being “of great importance for the life of the church,” Benedict told cardinals that “in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary.” His strength, he added, “has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.” [KTLA]

Thousands Still Without Power in Northeast Blizzard

The worst of the storm has passed, but the recovery effort is just beginning. A mammoth blizzard that dumped as much as 3 feet of snow in parts of the Northeast headed out to sea Saturday, as workers across New York and New England struggled to get airports, trains and highways back online. The snowstorm, a product of two converging weather systems, is being blamed for at least nine deaths in three states and Canada. It forced the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights, and knocked out power to more than 635,000 customers. That figure had fallen to around 554,000 Saturday night. [KTLA]

 BaconFest 2013 Features Dress Made Entirely of Bacon

It’s a local festival with plenty of sizzle — and what could sizzle more than a dress made entirely of bacon? The Des Moines Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, now in its 6th year, has somehow become hip. The festival doubles in size every year, and this weekend’s 8,000 tickets sold out in three minutes. The Des Moines Register reports that if you stretched out this year’s five tons of bacon that will be served at BaconFest, it would span 20 miles. The big draw in the first year was bacon cookies — weird at the time, but now fairly commonplace at the annual bacon-tacular. This year’s crowning achievement is a dress made entirely of bacon, the perfect fashion choice for her majesty, Miss Bacon Queen 2013. The greasy gown was created by an east Des Moines dressmaker. And who gets the honors of donning the creation and prancing about like a porcine princess? After an intense talent competition and a grueling grilling of each bacon queen contestant, the winner was chosen — a young lass named Kim Phannebeker. [KTLA]

 Not enough bourbon to go round! Maker's Mark waters down its alcohol content by 3% so it can make more

Oh boo! The owners of Maker's Mark, which is distilled Loretto, Kentucky, said they are unable to produce the bourbon fast enough so they’re cutting the alcohol content so it can meet its increasing demands faster. The plans became public after an email from Maker's Mark executives Rob Samuels and Bill Samuels Jr, son of the company's founder, emerged. It announced that the bourbon - which used the slogan 'It tastes expensive... and is' - will drop its alcohol content by there per cent. It will now be reduced to 42 per cent ABV from 45 per cent.  In the email, which was sent to clients, the pair are quoted as saying that stores have been running out of Maker's Mark because the 'demand for our bourbon is exceeding our ability to make it, which means we're running very low on supply'. They said they had made the decision after 'looking at all possible solutions'. It is unclear when the reduced bourbon will become available. [Daily Mail]