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

McCain and Obama tax plans diverge on wealth
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
True to party doctrine, the GOP candidate's economic proposals would ease the burden on the rich, while the Democratic candidate's would increase it. One in a series of occasional stories
Conservatives urge McCain to select a running mate who opposes abortion
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
His noncommittal responses and the release of the GOP convention schedule fail to allay their concerns. Many of those speaking -- and the VP pick may well be among them -- favor abortion rights. Unofficial Republican presidential nominee John McCain insisted Wednesday that he had not yet picked a running mate, even as he was confronted here by conservative voters worried that he would select someone who favored abortion rights.
Rice arrives in Iraq to iron out security deal
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:53:00 -0700
She insists that negotiators have made progress on all issues after five months of talks and are now filling holes in a draft agreement that will govern the role of U.S. forces here. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew into Iraq's capital today on an unannounced visit to try to iron out difficult final issues of a long-awaited security deal that will govern the role of U.S. forces here.

SFGate: Top News Stories

'Incalculable loss' _ US Rep. Tubbs Jones mourned
By M.R. KROPKO, Associated Press Writer Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:53:45 -0700
Tributes from political allies and even one-time enemies came pouring in for Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a trailblazer whose energy and outspokenness made her one of Congress' most dynamic leaders. Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to...
14 bodies ID'd so far in Spain plane crash
By DANIEL WOOLLS, Associated Press Writer Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:49:45 -0700
Spain began three days of mourning Thursday for the 153 people who died when a jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff in the nation's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years. Only 19 people survived Wednesday's crash of a Spanair plane bound for the Canary...
Lawsuit blames alarm companies for Contra Costa firefighter's death
hlee@sfchronicle.com (Henry K. Lee) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:07:03 -0700
The widow of one of two Contra Costa County firefighters who died in a 2007 house fire that also killed two residents has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against two security companies, saying improper reporting of the blaze led to his death. The fire at 149...

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