​Rush Limbaugh apologized to Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke Saturday, who he called a "slut" for testifying in favor of contraception coverage. "My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," he said in a statement. "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices." Meanwhile, Limbaugh continues to see fallout as a result of his continued attacks on Fluke, in which he's likened her to a "prostitute" and mocked President Barack Obama for calling to thank her for her testimony. Quicken Loans and five other advertisers have all pulled ads from Limbaugh's show. [Rush Limbaugh, ABC, NYT]

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​At least 31 are dead across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Alabama after tornado storms ravaged the Midwest and South, essentially destroying towns. Today, the rescue effort continued, as parts of the South remained on tornado watch. "It's just nuts right here," National Weather Service meteorologist John Gordon told CNN during the storms. Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodwin told a CNN affiliate that they have "complete destruction." [CNN]

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​Data rating 18,000 New York City teachers was released Friday, but not without strong caveats as both teachers and education leaders warned of flaws. Teachers are evaluated based on how much value they add as evidenced by change in student performance on standardized tests relative to measurement of how the student should perform when taking into account demographics. The margin of error is, however, wide: 53 percentage points for English teachers and 35 for math. "I think it's extremely important that we not denigrate our teachers based on the reports. This, as I have indicated, is just one piece of information. It's dated information, it's two years old," Chancellor Dennis Walcott said. News organizations had requested the information under the Freedom of Information Law. [NYT, NYDN, NY1]

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There are flakes in this photo. We promise.

​It's actually winter! Kind of...The city is seeing some light snow this morning. The National Weather Service predicts accumulation of less than one inch. It's not much, but it's something in this winter that hasn't always really felt like winter. According to a NY1 report from last night, the Department of Sanitation was put under snow alert at 10 p.m. Because of the threat of powder, the MTA scrapped some weekend subway work. (Don't get your hopes up, L riders. Or for that matter, you people planning on taking on the 1, 2 or 7.) Regardless, there won't be much to do in this snow. Still, it's kind of comforting to know it's there. [NWS, NY1, CBS]

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​After three more people were found alive Sunday, at least 17 people are still missing from the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that ran aground off the Italian coast Friday night. Francesco Schettino, the captain of the ship, has been arrested for, according to CNN, "investigation of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship while passengers were still on board." The New York Times said that his arrest was "amid concerns that the megaship had steered dangerously off course." [NYT, CNN]

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​Last night, Beyoncé Knowles gave birth to her and Jay-Z's child, Ivy Blue Carter. The Daily News reports the baby girl was born in Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side in a private wing and that "hospital workers placed tape over security cameras and are forcing employees to turn in cell phones when they arrive for their shifts." Ivy Blue is the couple's first baby. [NYDN]

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It's like this outside, but without the leaves.

​As of writing, it is 62 degrees in New York City. Fahrenheit! If you aren't a numbers person, let us translate: It's comically pleasant outside. People are wearing T-shirts, dogs are going doggie jacket-less, and everyone is happy because they don't have to deal with the bleak frigidness of yet another day of harrowing winter. Things are going to cool down when the sun sets, but you still have some time to enjoy this unseasonable warmth. Here are 10 things to do outside this afternoon.

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​Welcome back, all! Perhaps you've been working for days already, or perhaps you've been relaxing on a balmy beach -- in any case, we're here to ease you through your troubled Tuesday. First up: Weather. It is cold, the coldest all year (you've heard that joke already?): 27 degrees with a low of 16, though it "feels like" 15 degrees currently and will feel like 8 degrees by 9 p.m. It's windy, and there is a chance of flurries. Use this opportunity to take your coat out of the closet and wear it. It will thank you, and you it.

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​The weather today is nothing to bitch about. The sun is shining, it's a positively balmy 45ish degrees. But that doesn't mean we have to stop bitching about last year's horrible weather. In fact, the Associated Press reports that the city, as of December 23, has paid $1,855,152.53 in claims resulting from what some called Snowmageddon. Remember that? The feeling of being trapped inside our apartments or -- the horror -- outside of the city as snow pummeled our dear streets?

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No Frosty this year.

​Recall, if you will, last Christmas-time in New York City. Aside from the gifts you did or didn't give or receive, there was ever so much white stuff, blanketing the ground, preventing you from flying home from wherever you happened to be, forcing you to stay with your family and go marginally insane for an extra 2 or 3 or 5 days. It was so holidayish, except for the roads not being cleared and snowplows crushing cars and Mayor Bloomberg "going missing" and everyone complaining, and some people deserving to complain. Alas, we'll be missing out on that this year. Even though it was really quite freezing yesterday, chances of a seasonal precipitation blanket for New Yorkers and other Eastern Seaboard types are minimal at best.

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