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

World's stock markets sink; Dow falls below 10,000
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:47:00 -0700
Foreign governments' attempts to shore up financial institutions trigger a sell-off. Credit markets remain tight; a potentially severe worldwide recession is feared. But oil prices drop. Stock markets around the world collapsed today as the credit crisis imperiling banks in the United States appeared to be swiftly contaminating major financial institutions around the world.
Lehman Brothers chief executive faces lawmakers
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:59:00 -0700
Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles grills Richard Fuld about compensation he acquired while the 128-year-old investment bank foundered. WASHINGTON -- The chief executive of Lehman Brothers Holding Inc., whose bankruptcy filing last month dramatically escalated the Wall Street financial crisis, faced angry lawmakers Monday and defended his leadership and the millions of dollars he and other executives made as the company's troubles mounted.
Countrywide mortgage pact may be worth $3.5 billion to California loan holders
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Bank of America Corp. agrees to nation's largest mortgage-workout program to settle charges of lending abuse. An estimated 125,000 Californians who are struggling with risky mortgages from Countrywide Financial Corp. may get their loans modified and payments reduced under a program to be announced today.

SFGate: Top News Stories

Town hall debate dilemma for McCain - stay negative or not?
cmarinucci@sfchronicle.com (Carla Marinucci) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:50:16 -0700
With the Dow Jones tumbling, the credit crisis spreading, and the economy in crisis, John McCain enters Tuesday's town hall debate as his embattled campaign has expanded its hard-knuckle attacks on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - and the Democrat has retaliated...
Judge: Calif. must pay for prison health care
By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:17:18 -0700
A federal judge scolded California officials on Monday for failing to provide the billions of dollars a court-appointed receiver says is needed to upgrade the state's prison health care system. U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson made it clear he expects...
Nobels awarded for AIDS, cancer virus research
By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:07:55 -0700
Two French scientists who discovered the AIDS virus and a German who defied convention in showing a viral cause for cervical cancer shared the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for breakthroughs that have led to lifesaving drugs and a vaccine. Francoise Barre-...

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