Friday morning headlines

Stocks down slightly: The weak jobs report is causing just minimal damage in early trading, perhaps because it boosts the odds that Congress will extend the Bush-era tax cuts.

Tax deal afoot?: The compromise plan would extend the tax cuts for everyone, while authorizing billions of dollars in fresh spending to bolster the economy, including an extension of jobless benefits. (Washington Post)

L.A. pension costs higher than expected: The city will be contributing $50 million more to the police and fire pension fund than had been expected, but $27 million less to the city employees fund. The disparity in projections was partly due to a change in investment return and investment gain assumptions. (City News)

Health insurance coverage soars: The average cost for an employer to provide health insurance in California was $12,631 in 2009, a 40 percent jump from 2003. Good news is that the state was below the national average. From the LAT:

Employers say the relentless rise in U.S. healthcare costs is forcing them to shift more of the financial burden for coverage to employees or abandon benefits altogether. Companies typically cover about three-quarters of the cost of premiums and require workers to pay the rest. Businesses say that continuing to contribute at such levels threatens their viability. "This is a continuation of an absolutely unsustainable trend that has been going on for years," said John Arensmeyer, chief executive of the Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy group headquartered in Northern California.

Brown to talk budget: The governor-elect will be holding a forum next week to discuss the deficit problems. He won't take office until next month. (Sacramento Bee)

HOWS markets are closing: Only the Pasadena location will remain open. HOWS was co-founded in 1999 by the heir of the Hughes family supermarket dynasty as an upscale alternative to the major chains. (LAT)

Airport Commission president resigns: Businessman Alan Rothenberg has complicated efforts at getting new concession contracts because he's on the board of California Pizza Kitchen, which has several LAX locations. From the Daily Breeze:

Among his accomplishments over the past five years, Rothenberg said he was proud of reaching legal settlements with several airlines, which led to new lease agreements and allowed the airport to regain control of Terminal 2. He also touted $6.5 billion worth of capital improvements at LAX since 2005, including the Bradley terminal renovation, efforts to retrofit and strengthen the space age-styled Theme Building and shifting the airport's southernmost runway to make room for a centerline taxiway.

Glass ceiling still tough to crack: More than two-thirds of California's 400 largest companies have no women among the highest-paid executives, according to a study, and almost half have no woman director. From the Sacramento Bee:

The imbalance is especially clear in high-tech. Among telecommunications companies, 78 percent have all-male boards; 83 percent of electronic hardware companies and 76 percent of software firms have all-male top executive teams. The California-based firms with the highest percentage of women in the executive ranks include retailers bebe and Hot Topic, which hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, and Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. and Jack in the Box, which were tied for fifth.

Glendale City Council approves Caruso plan: The L.A. developer wants to purchase buildings adjacent to his Americana at Brand shopping center as part of an expansion plan. (LAT)

Little change in gas prices: An average gallon of regular in the L.A. area is $3.136, a penny less than last week, according to the Auto Club.