Thanksgiving good for Calif. economy
Today we can thank the Pilgrims — and the California pumpkin and sweet potato growers. While the biggest turkey raisers are in other states, California benefits from a lot of the side dishes that make Thanksgiving so special, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. North Carolina at 874 million pounds produced more sweet potatoes than any other state in 2008, but it was followed by California with 437 milli

Jobless extension checks to begin in early December
The first unemployment extension checks should begin going out the second week of December, reports the California Employment Development Department. Congress approved on Nov.8 at least 14 weeks of additional unemployment for those in California who have exhausted their 79 weeks of benefits, but EDD's antiquated computers weren't up to immediately sending out the checks. EDD spokeswo

No action on COBRA subsidy until December
Congress left on Thanksgiving break without taking any action on extending the current COBRA health insurance subsidy, so any decision will be delayed until at least December. Rep. Frank Sestak, D-Penn. introduced one COBRA bill into the House in October.  Jonathan Dworkin, Sestak's spokesman, noted Congress would be off until Monday, Nov. 30, so any action won't take place until next

California workers see bad job market
California workers see little good in the job market with 74% polled in October believing there were fewer positions available, up from 69% in September, according to a new survey by Spherion Staffing. Spherion's California Employee Confidence Index fell to 42.9 in October, down three points from the previous month but up from the low of 37.7 last December.

Nov. 30 deadline looms for IRA tax break
Many retirees who took the required minimum distribution from their IRA this year ended up losing a lot of money because they had to cash out during the stock market crash. Congress, however, has approved a one-time waiver that gives people until Mon., Nov. 30, to put the money back into their IRA or roll it over into another qualified account without facing tax penalties.  In addition to possibly recouping some of the lost value in their accounts, reinvesting the money also will lower a taxpayer's 2009 income and tax liability. Brad Hall, a certified public accountant in Irvine, explains how the required minimum distribution usually works and how it'