A rarity: This is no scam

It seems some bad actors, calling on behalf of Dish Network, the pay TV service, have been found guilty of violating federal law. According to the terms of the ruling in a class-action lawsuit, anyone with one of the 18,066 phone numbers that were listed on the National Do Not Call Registry but still dialed up by Dish Network telemarketers between May 11, 2010, and Aug. 1, 2011, could receive $400 for each call, up to $1,200.

Bringing healing, one boat trip at a time

Dogsmile Adventures offers therapeutic sailing

For Captain Jon Totten, founder of Dogsmile Adventures therapeutic sailing, launching his non-profit was one of the hardest things he’s ever done, and the most rewarding, Totten said Wednesday, during a presentation for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.

We made it

Although it was touch and go, the Debt Forgiveness Act survived the fiscal cliff negotiations. This means that folks who are losing their homes will not have to pay income taxes on the money they lost as if it was income. Example; when a home sells for less than owed the IRS considers the balance as personal income even though no money was tendered. Realtors' lobbying efforts to keep the exception to this tax code - which expired Dec. 31, 2012 - intact, at least for the short term were successful. So too, did we retain the Mortgage Interest Deduction which provides some incentive for people to buy and own homes. Caps have limited the deduction for high income families and the MID will undoubtedly be scrutinized as Congress fine tunes their 11th hour agreement. For now at least we can heave a sigh of relief that the slow, but steady, housing market recovery can continue.

The ageing of white wines

Many stereotypes and assumptions are based in fact. Some are not. The assumptions that white wines are not age worthy would fall into the latter category. The determination of how well any wine ages has virtually everything to do with how the wine is made and the grapes are harvested not the color of the wine or even the varietal selection.

Atlantic City loses fourth casino as Trump Plaza closes

Haunted houses can be a hard sell

Every house has a story. Sometimes they’re ghost stories.

MACKAY: Santa's business tips

The holidays are full of tradition and are a time to gather with family and friends.

Trump's social media app launches year after Twitter ban

His Truth Social app was offered for download from the Apple App Store

Coeur d'Alene councilwoman: 'A very smart investment'

Funds could be key to finding affordable housing solutions

A March report from the Housing Solution Partnership stated that 24 of 30 categories of local workers are unable to buy a home.

Epsom salt - forgotten but not gone

Today, Epsom salt has become an almost forgotten folk remedy -- something that might crop up among the creased and yellowing pages of a farmer's almanac. Sure, you can still find it on pharmacy shelves just about anywhere, but what the heck is this stuff, and what is it used for? These days, most people regard it as a medicinal soak for things like sore feet or insect bites. And, yes, it works wonders for both, but that is only the beginning. This multipurpose miracle salt can help cultivate internal and external wellbeing, and it is also a great go-to ingredient for happy gardens and houseplants.

River cleanup comes with a cost

Post Falls, Rathdrum wastewater rates proposed to increase 60 percent over next five years

POST FALLS - Post Falls and Rathdrum wastewater rates are proposed to increase 60 percent over the next five years to help fund $30 million in treatment plant upgrades needed to meet future discharge permit requirements aimed at cleaning up the Spokane River.

World/Nation Briefs April 10, 2012

Syrian troops fire over borders with Lebanon, Turkey

The future of wine pricing

For the first time since we opened the shop 12 years ago there are many forces at work pushing wine prices higher. Forces that go beyond the normal ones of supply and demand, good vintages with large harvests and challenging years with low yields, and the normal ebb and flow of consumer demand for certain varietals, or appellations. Both on a global scale and right here in our own local area many factors are at work to change the wine marketplace and influence pricing.

Why the bond market is more fragile than you think

NEW YORK - A bottleneck is building in the global market for bonds.

Google buys ITA

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google Inc. plans to buy travel technology company ITA Software Inc. in a $700 million deal that would enable the Internet search leader to steer more of the airline reservations booked on the Web.

Physical distancing, but socially connect

By JASON KAMA

Better balance for seniors

POST FALLS - Jack Smith has fallen at least three times, and he wants to do his part to reduce the risk of it happening again.

Dispute closes rapper's restaurant

Clock strikes midnight on Flavor Flav's chicken

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) - A fried chicken restaurant in Iowa founded by Flavor Flav has abruptly closed its doors after the reality TV star and his business partner cut ties and exchanged harsh words.

Jackass Half voted tops in the state

The Jackass Half Marathon was recently named the Best Half Marathon in Idaho, according to RaceRaves, an online race review website.

Idaho trail enthusiasts encouraged to buy specialty license plates

Proceeds go toward maintaining, building mountain bike paths

BOISE - Backers of the nation's first mountain bike specialty plate are encouraging trail enthusiasts of all kinds to buy the mountain bike plate and raise funds for preserving, protecting and creating multi-use trails in Idaho.