March 20 (Bloomberg) -- Like the presidential pardon of the Thanksgiving turkey or baseball’s ceremonial first pitch, the First Bracket is now a Washington institution. So it was inevitable that it would become politicized.

The panel that sets salaries for the governor, lawmakers and state elected officials indicated Thursday that it was not inclined to raise pay even if California runs a budget surplus this year.

Republicans in Washington have repeatedly called on President Barack Obama to make changes to the Affordable Care Act as a part of their efforts to deal with long-term budget deficits. Although complete repeal of the law is desirable, such an outcome is impossible in the near-term.

In recent years, monetary and fiscal stimulus across the world have led to the assumption that serious inflation, if not hyperinflation, is on its way. I believe chronic deflation is more likely.

LEMONT, Ill. — Envisioning cars that can go "coast to coast without using a drop of oil," President Barack Obama urged Congress last week to authorize spending $2 billion over the next decade to expand research into electric cars and biofuels to wean automobiles off gasoline.

Vallejo police say a standoff with an armed man ended after officers entered the home and the suspect was found dead.

A San Diego County Indian tribe says a federal court decision to rescind a gaming compact will save it nearly $100 million in either returned payments to the state or future costs.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials allege that a hit-and-run suspect was high on nitrous oxide when he caused a three-car collision that injured five people.

An Anaheim police officer was justified and acted lawfully when he shot and killed a 25-year-old man in July in the first of two shootings that caused weeks of heated protests in the city's streets, the Orange County district attorney said after an investigation.

After an internal review, the Pasadena Police Department has concluded that officers responding to a robbery report acted lawfully and within department policy when they fatally shot a 19-year-old suspect who turned out to be unarmed.

Details are emerging about the National Park Service's ambitious plan to overhaul Yosemite Valley.

A 14-year-old Los Angeles honors student has died after inhaling a computer keyboard dust cleaner, apparently to get high.

Modesto police have shot and killed an elderly man they say held his wife hostage at their home during an overnight standoff with officers.

A former hedge fund manager has been indicted in Los Angeles on federal fraud charges for an alleged stock manipulation scheme that bilked investors out of $200 million.

Authorities say a landslide has closed northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles and they'll remain closed at least during the morning commute.

Authorities in San Diego County say a 15-year-old girl hid in a closet and called police while three burglars ransacked her home.

Additional security is expected a San Mateo high school after an anonymous threat was made against the campus on Facebook.

San Diego County schools are being urged to watch out for signs of meningitis following an outbreak in nearby Tijuana, Mexico that's killed six people.

As funding for public health clinics dries up, visits to hospital emergency rooms in Sacramento County are increasing.

A Los Angeles-based health care company is entering into a joint venture with CharterCare Health Partners, the owner of two Rhode Island hospitals.

NEW YORK — The scene: a Manhattan art-house theater. The cause: a campaign against the gas drilling process known as fracking that's being led by more than 100 celebrities, including Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Robert Redford, Mark Ruffalo and Mario Batali.

Rather than deal with a lawsuit that many predicted the city would lose, La Habra has repealed an ordinance that prevented day laborers from soliciting work on the city's sidewalks.

A couple tied up by rogue former police officer Christopher Dorner at a Southern California mountain condominium are seeking the $1.2 million reward offered for his capture.

Knott's Berry Farm has installed an evacuation system on its Windseeker ride, which was shut down after riders were stranded 300 feet high twice last year.

A California woman and her two sons are back together after the boys were kidnapped and held for ransom in Mexico for months.

The Oakland school board has voted to shut down three of California's highest-performing public schools amid allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.

A Reuters social media editor accused of conspiring with hackers to deface a Los Angeles Times story has posted a statement on Facebook saying he did not commit the crimes he's accused of.

The San Diego Stock Exchange Index closed lower Thursday at 140.14, down 0.33 percent from Wednesday. Declining issues beat advancers 52 to 42, and 142 issues were unchanged.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) was the top dollar gainer, up $1.59 to $8.24.
Life Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: LIFE) was the top dollar loser, down $1.22 to $64.05.
For the complete, updated San Diego Stock Exchange Index visit sddt.com/stocks.