California is a U.S. state spanning the southern half of the west coast. With a population of 37 million and an area of 158,402 square miles (410,000 km²), California is the largest U.S. state in population and the third largest in area.

The region was inhabited by Native Americans of Asian origin before European explorers started to make sporadic visitations during the 16th Century. California had the highest density and greatest diversity of indigenous peoples in what is now the United States. Spain colonized the coastal areas of the territory starting in 1769. As a result of the Mexican War of Independence, California became a part of the Mexican Republic in 1821. It was subsequently captured by the United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) which was concluded with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The California Gold Rush of 1848-1849 brought about 90,000 additional U.S. immigrants into the state, and California became the 31st state of the United States in 1850.

Although the state's sunny climate has given it a historic reputation for being laid back compared to the East Coast, the $1.55 trillion (as of 2005) California economy is larger than all but the top 7 national economies in the world ^* and is responsible for 13% of the United States' $13 trillion gross domestic product (GDP). The state's major predominant industries include agriculture, entertainment, light manufacturing, and tourism. California is also the home of several significant economic regions such as Hollywood (entertainment), the California Central Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and the Wine Country (wine).

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Los Angeles Times - Top News

Sarah Palin's appeal to working-class women may be limited
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
For many of these critical swing voters, economic interests trump any admiration of the Alaska governor's maternal grit, and some are repelled by her sarcastic jabs at Obama. Trish Heckman, a 49-year-old restaurant cook and disappointed Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, watched last week as the country's newest political star made her explosive debut.
Powerful Hurricane Ike looms as trouble for Gulf
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:02:00 -0700
KEY WEST, Fla. -- Powerful Hurricane Ike rolled down an uncertain path Sunday that may lead to the U.S. Gulf Coast late this week, forcing emergency officials to pay attention and leaving millions of people from Florida to Mexico to wonder where it will eventually strike.
Landslides leave 27 dead or missing in Philippines
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:02:00 -0700
MANILA, Philippines -- Two landslides triggered by heavy rains buried more than 20 houses in a remote gold-mining village in the southern Philippines, leaving at least 11 people dead and 16 others missing, officials said Sunday.

SFGate: Top News Stories

Egypt rock slide toll rises to 31, others buried
By MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press Writer Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:19:46 -0700
Egyptian police on Sunday moved shanty town residents from the site of a rock slide that killed at least 31 and left countless more buried, after concerns that more rocks could tumble from the unstable cliffs overhead. Journalists also were forced to leave...
Candidates weigh in on stabilizing Fannie, Freddie
By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Business Writer Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:39:09 -0700
The historic takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could come as soon as Sunday, moved to the forefront of the presidential campaign Saturday as candidates and congressional leaders seized on the enormous implications for taxpayers and the economy....
SF cops seek info on Western Addition killing
jtucker@sfchronicle.com (Jill Tucker) Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:07:37 -0700
An 18-year-old male was shot and killed Friday evening in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood, authorities said. Police responding to reports of gunshots at about 7:15 p.m. found the victim, Joshua Cameron, on the ground. Cameron reportedly was...

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