Today is Thursday, Feb. 14, the 45th day of 2013. There are 320 days left in the year. This is Valentine's Day.

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Olympic star Missy Franklin is graduating from high school.

(NewsUSA) - Many of the key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- better known as ObamaCare -- are already coming into effect this year.

Every spring during the 1950s, my Sicilian grandmother Nonna would host the entire California branch of the Guzzardi family to a home cooked Italian feast. More than a week in preparation, the meal included all the Italian favorites including pasta dishes, sausages, peppers and artichokes.

I believe that a newspaper should carry balanced reporting. That way we can be aware of what the enemy is doing. The Creators Syndicate columns carried in the Lodi News-Sentinel is an example of that premise. They have conservative writers such as John Stossel and Thomas Sowell. Other writers endorse everything Obama says. Higher taxes, more government agencies, more welfare programs — they're all for it.

(NAPSI)—It may come as a surprise to some, but the famous face that can encourage people to donate to charity more than any other is that of the First Lady.

Ups and downs in the current market and recent corporate and banking scandals have prompted many people to seek ways to have more control over their retirement funds. Self-directed IRAs allow consumers to use their knowledge and expertise to invest in assets beyond stocks, bonds and mutual funds. While self-directed IRAs provide a new way to grow retirement savings, they may not be the best option for everyone.

Earlier this week, I was in Washington, D.C., for what most locals say is the year’s busiest period. The cherry blossoms were out and tourists from all corners came to see them. Coincidentally, two major bills are pending in Congress, comprehensive immigration reform and gun control. Lobbyists from near and far came to D.C. to make their voices heard.

Richard Pan’s constituents in Lodi and Galt are just getting to know him in the reconfigured 9th Assembly District. Now he’s seeking the 6th State Senate District seat in Sacramento.

(BPT) - Home-based businesses are booming.

(NAPSI)—Many people take their vision for granted, but what if you started to lose your peripheral vision, developed a black spot in the center of your visual field, or even went blind altogether? For almost 4 million American seniors living with serious vision loss or blindness, these and other vision challenges can make it difficult to enjoy life’s simple pleasures such as reading, playing cards or watching grandchildren grow. Vision loss can also make it difficult to live independently, work or drive.

California water officials released on Thursday the first part of a $23 billion plan to restore and protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and guarantee a stable water supply for millions of Californians.

Ever wondered how many loans are backed by the Federal Housing Authority? With FHA being in the headlines a lot recently it would be no surprise to speculate how large of a presence the institution has in the housing market.

The Galt City Council stopped short of giving unconditional support to the Wilton Rancheria Miwok tribe whose members are seeking to build a casino just north of the city along Highway 99, but said they are willing to work with the tribe.

A committee of concerned citizens who have met regularly for 10 years will no longer discuss how to manage the $109 million bond passed by voters in 2002.

During the great Super Bowl power outage of 2013, Lodi's John Callahan thought, 'This is like deja vu all over again.'

Longtime San Joaquin Delta College Trustee Dan Parises, who died Saturday, will be remembered for his first two loves: Family and farming. He would have been 76 on Saturday.

Here's an update on how amnesty supporters refer to their cause. Outdated are "comprehensive immigration reform" and "legalization." The latest trendy phrase is "path to citizenship," no doubt the result of market research into what resonates best among those Americans whom amnesty advocates need to convince. "Amnesty," suggestive of forgiving criminals, offends. The softer "path to citizenship" may resonate positively with the undecided.

Lodi's Tony Amador, who lost to Democrat Richard Pan in November's 9th Assembly District race, was recently elected chairman of the San Joaquin County Republican Central Committee.

In 1923, Lodi was a progressive city of 8,000 with a bustling business core, modern schools, dynamic fruit shipping industry and miles of valuable vineyards encircling it. Yet, Lodi was so overlooked that it was mismarked on maps.

(NAPSI)—Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom premiered on NBC on Jan. 6, 1963. And television hasn’t been the same since.

(NAPSI)—Beginning March 1, 2013, the U. S. Treasury will no longer issue paper checks for federal benefits, including Social Security, instead requiring recipients to switch to electronic payments. If beneficiaries do not set up their own electronic direct deposit to a bank account, they will receive their federal benefits on a prepaid card.

Ricky Gill: Youth didn't block Lodi man's bid for Congress

At the ripe old age of 25, Ricky Gill raised some eyebrows in 2012 by not only running for Congress, but giving three-term incumbent Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton, all he could handle in his bid for re-election.

The Galt District Chamber of Commerce swore in Tammi Balukoff as the new president during the last membership luncheon held earlier this month. Balukoff is employed by Softcom Internet Communications in Galt.