October 26 - November 1, 2008

Friday, Oct. 31
Being governor is probably becoming a drag – and with so many budget shortfalls on the horizon, it won't get any easier.
More fast food chains are pushing specials - and with the plunge in third quarter consumer spending, they're getting plenty of customers.
CVS is getting into the discount prescription game by offering 90-day supplies of more than 400 generic medications for $9.99.
Intrade gives him a 17.4 percent chance of winning the election, which is sharply up from earlier in the week.
Gas now under $3 a gallon, L.A. drops Palmdale airport, FDIC can't find IndyMac borrowers, and "CNBC effect" impacts book sales.
Thursday, Oct. 30
He called the recent sale of his CBS and Viacom stock "highly unusual" and said it would not happen again.
Courtenay Semel, daughter of former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, allegedly tried that line on a security guard at Caesars Palace.
L.A. foodies know it as Joachim Splichal's effort at a seafood concept and a Westside location, but it just didn't work.
Financial services, publishing, automaking, technology, retail - times are tough and getting tougher.
The 6.4 percent rate of decline on non-durable goods, stuff like clothing and food, was the biggest since 1950.
Market higher despite GDP news, Candy firm defaults on Bev Hills property, and federal commission doesn't like port plan.
The GDP contracts in the third quarter as consumers cut back on their spending by the largest amount in 28 years.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Old habits die hard, especially when the price of gasoline falls by $1.50 a gallon.
A plan being considered would have the lender agree to reduce monthly payments based on a homeowners' ability to pay.
With most politicians, there is usually a subject and verb somewhere in the picture. Not so with the governor of Alaska.
About 30 of them in the newsroom. It's the Register's fourth round of layoffs this year.
The hugely successful mortgage broker specializes in young folks - 24-to-38-year-olds - who like to have a good time.
Wall Street expecting rate cut, new Dubai airline making splash, and Geffen leaves DreamWorks Animation.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
In the latest LAT/Bloomberg poll, Obama has a 49%-40% edge over McCain in Ohio and a 50%-43% lead in Florida.
Am I crazy or is Wall Street beginning to resemble a Fellini movie? How else do you explain today's 890-point jump?
The Dow was up almost 900 points, with most of the action occuring in the last hour.
So what happens to communities in Riverside and San Bernardino that have been at the center of the foreclosure mess?
Executives are being advised not to stay at the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental, where room rates easily run $500 a night.
L.A. home prices still falling, L.A. gas prices still plummeting, more local banks want help, and efforts to unionize Fresh & Easy.
Monday, Oct. 27
With print revenues still driving more than 85 percent of the business, the transition to the Web is happening too fast.
If you happened to have stepped away at 12:30, you might be surprised to know that the Dow fell more than 200 points.
The paper reported a 15 percent plunge in average daily circulation, to 236,270.
Some relief expected next summer, City National gets infused, LAT circulation drops 5 percent, and fewer passengers at LAX.
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