Study: Climbing income ladder hasn't grown harder

Research runs counter to belief of widening gap between rich, poor

WASHINGTON - Young Americans from low-income families are as likely to move into the ranks of the affluent today as those born in the 1970s, according to a report by several top academic experts on inequality.

WORRIES: ‘Worlds in Collision’

Ancient-languages scholar Immanuel Velikovsky (1895-1979), wrote, “Worlds in Collision” (1950). It was a Best Seller.

Extension of energy rebate stalls

BOISE (AP) - A tax break extension for Idaho's alternative energy developers is stalled until next week after talks late Thursday between utility lobbyists, wind developers, legislators and Gov. Butch Otter's office ended without resolution.

Experts help smokers

HAYDEN - A free workshop, sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Inc., for smokers who want to quit, will run 9-10 a.m., March 24, at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn.

Briefs: Tempers flare during budget cuts

BOISE (AP) - Tempers flared a day before Idaho budget writers were due to set the biggest state spending plan: Public education.

POST: Simply follow the law

The Knapps of the “Hitching Post” aren’t being “forced to violate their religious beliefs,” they’re being told to obey the law of our land. They opened their doors and invited the public to purchase their services. They’re in it for the money and the public is there for their services.

Poll: Majority of Americans want government to curb prescription costs

WASHINGTON - Move over, "Obamacare." A new poll finds Americans worried about medication costs and broadly supporting government action to curb drug prescription prices.

Blackberry maker at a crossroads

RIM sinks, but patents, network have value

WATERLOO, Ontario - Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of the BlackBerry, is in steep decline. The company, once the crown jewel of the Canadian technology industry, is now worth 1 percent of Apple's market capitalization. One way for RIM to stop the downward tailspin: It could sell itself to a competitor or financial firm. But who would step up to buy RIM -and why?

GROWTH: Needed to keep home ownership accessible

A recent study has shown that in Kootenai County, more than 80 percent of the current working households cannot afford to buy a home. While increased traffic in some neighborhoods is indeed frustrating when a new development goes in, does stopping it justify preventing over 80 percent of our families from homeownership?

AAA: Idaho gas prices defy national trend

Gem State pump prices hold steady while U.S. average climbs

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.54, which is the same as a week ago and 14 cents less than a month ago.

Stocks slip as European protests worsen debt fears

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks slipped in muted trading Wednesday as traders held back ahead of corporate earnings announcements, which start to roll in next week. Protests in Europe against austerity measures renewed worries about the region's finances and helped keep buyers at bay.

Short sales and housing shortages

A press release last week assures that the process for getting short sales approved is about to get easier. As you know, a short sale is the sale of property where a seller (debtor) agrees to sell for less than they owe. Although attractive to lenders and sellers alike, this process has been far too arduous for all but the most tenacious of buyers and can take months to complete.

The curse of 1183

As 2018 approaches its close, it seems like an appropriate time to look back on proposition 1183 that has now been in place some four years in our nearby neighbor Washington. The law heralded as a huge benefit for consumers and largely funded by the likes of Costco, Total Wine and Trader Joes has turned out to be anything but a benefit.

Idaho's rising star

In 1998. there were 13 wineries and about 800 acres of wine grapes grown in Idaho. By 2012, we had 50 wineries and twice the acreage planted to wine grapes. Still small by most any standard, but it shows how well-regarded the appellations of the Snake River Valley and our home state winemakers are.

Snow or no, it might be worth selling your home now

If you’re wanting to list your home this year, don’t wait on spring.

Marty and Max: Is the market recovering?

The estimated single-family year-end inventory will be around 525k. Our normal inventory peak is in August, however this year it appears that it is November.

Let your sweets do the talking

Spirit Lake man hopes personalized chocolate hits production line

Bret Wengeler was on a long, lonely road trip back home when he had a sweet idea: The Spirit Lake man wants to personalize chocolate.

'The Fed can't wait forever'

U.S. consumer prices move up as first rate hike weighed

Winter Wine Rodeo III

Pour lists are being compiled, restaurants and vendors are committing, layout of the room is near completion, which can mean only one thing... The third annual Winter Wine Rodeo is scheduled and will be the biggest and best gathering of food and wine yet. It is sometimes hard for us to believe that it is the third of these events to take place, and each year it seems to be more fun, with more folks from North Idaho and around the area gathering to sample more than a hundred wines, food from great local restaurants and get a little holiday shopping done too.

Good movies from all angles this holiday weekend

When it comes to cheap movies, you don't necessarily have to be up early for Black Friday deals.