Thursday morning headlines

Stocks down a bit: More of the same sluggish movement - Dow is down about 20 points in early trading.

Another drop in jobless claims: Four-week moving average is 427,500, the lowest level since August 2008, but still not low enough to see much impact on the unemployment rate. (AP)

Brown considers special election: The choice for voters, perhaps next June, would be higher taxes or sharp service cuts. From the LAT:

Brown is holding talks with small groups of lawmakers and influential interest groups about how to put that decision before the public. He won't discuss his plans publicly, but people involved in the private discussions expect him to propose a special election after enacting a dire austerity budget in the spring. State Senate minority leader Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), who met with Brown this week, said the governor-elect told Republican senators he wants to "rip the Band-Aid off next year" and hinted that a special election was part of the plan.

Fed not popular: A majority of Americans say that the central bank should either be brought under tighter political control or abolished outright, according to a Bloomberg poll. (Now ask that same group to explain what the Fed actually does.)

More billionaires giving away fortunes: Mark Zukerberg and Michael Milken have agreed to give the majority of their wealth to charity, joining a group of super-rich entrepreneurs committing to philanthropy. From the WSJ:

The Giving Pledge is an effort organized by software mogul Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett to persuade the world's rich to boost their giving. "I view this as a call to others who might in their thirties or forties use some of their creativity to get involved in philanthropy earlier in life," Mr. Milken, 64, said of the pledge.

States loses big with online shopping: More than $1.1 billion in taxes go unpaid each year, much of it by Californians purchasing items from out-of-state, says the Board of Equalization. (Sacramento Bee)

Howard Stern re-ups with Sirius: The shock jock will stay with satellite radio for another five years, and Sirius shares are soaring this morning. (Reuters)

Steve Garvey takes an interest in Dodgers: He's forming an investment group that wants to buy the team. Jamie McCourt is thinking about the same thing. Frank McCourt insists that the Dodgers are not for sale. (LAT)

Gold dealer is seized: A judge has frozen the assets of Superior Gold Group in Santa Monica. The firm was accused of fraudulent business practices in a civil lawsuit filed by the L.A. County District Attorney. (LAT)

Fast food restrictions approved: The City Council vote will sharply limit the number of chain restaurants that will be allowed to open in South Los Angeles. (Daily News)

Council approves Fresh & Easy market: Opposition to the Crenshaw Boulevard location had centered on a parking design that required an exception to the Crenshaw Specific Plan. (CurbedLA)