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Ask the Propellorheads

Will gas prices derail economy?

Economists say U.S. in better shape than last year

NEW YORK - The price of gas has jumped 45 cents since Jan. 1 and is the highest on record for this time of year, an average of $3.73 a gallon. On Wall Street, talk has turned from the European debt crisis to another worry: Will higher gas prices derail the economic recovery?

Statistics show balancing act

March real estate sales figures show a geographical shift in activity. The long impoverished Rathdrum area showed a dramatic 77 percent increase in sales this year to date, although overall our sales are down 1 percent from last year. We certainly don't see that as cause for alarm and our members continue to report activity in excess of their experiences last year.

Market stabilization continues

The latest market statistics have been compiled and depending on where you live, you will be pleased or discouraged. As reported with regard to statistics at the end of March, Rathdrum was a strong geographic area of market activity. April's activity shows that the Rathdrum/Twin Lakes average price remained equal to last year while the average price increased a modest 1 percent, indicating stability is reaching them.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Right sizing the U.S. wine industry

For a bit over a year now the United States has topped the world in total amount of wine consumed. On a per capita basis the U.S. doesn’t even crack the top 15! As far as production the top five wine producing countries are Italy, France, Spain, the United Sates and Chile. As the saying goes “lies, damn lies and statistics.” When you combine these statistics with much anecdotal information and more importantly knowledge of what is going on in the wine industry a very interesting “snapshot” starts to come into focus, and somewhat sadly it is not a pretty picture for the domestic wine industry.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Napa: The wines

The feedback from our series of columns on our trip to Napa has been truly rewarding.

The state of local real estate

By BRIAN WALKER

Glacier National Park's summer season comes to a close

As Glacier National Park's 2011 summer season comes to a close, park visitation statistics are nearly 20 percent behind last year's record-high numbers.

National park statistics show decline in camping

NEW YORK (AP) - The number of overnight camping stays in national parks has declined in the past 15 years.

North Idaho Briefs April 24, 2012

Drug Turn-in

How does the IRA affect you?

The Inflation Reduction Act, a big bill signed into law this month, is broader than its name may imply. With tax credits and other provisions for climate change mitigation, healthcare, firefighting and more, this 730-page bill covers a fairly broad range of items potentially impacting American life both long-term and short-term. As with most things these days, there’s already a rash of misinformation out there, claiming it does more, less, or different than what’s actually in the text of the new law.

Looking for love in online spaces? Wallet alert!

When you consider that dating is a $3 billion-a-year business and 20 percent of people who got married in 2017 met online, it’s no wonder scammers are circling these websites like sharks ready to pick the pocket of any potential love interest gullible enough to fall for their sob stories.

Cheaper but not better?

Several bidders beat WiFi contractor's price

The state Education Department received 10 bids for its controversial high school WiFi contract - and four bids were less expensive than the winning bid.

Fall arrivals

For us and for most consumers (judging by buying patterns), wine consumption has a seasonal element: more rose and white with bracing acidity in the spring and summer, full-bodied whites and bubbly as the leaves start to turn. Similarly with reds: lighter-bodied reds with lower oak profiles during the warm summer months but when there is a chill in the air, tastes shift to embrace fuller-bodied reds and, of course, Pinot Noir for those holiday meals.

Building a better barn

Walker's Furniture has undergone a multitude of renovations

DALTON GARDENS - It retains much of the look from 1910, but few would recognize that beneath all the add-ons and extensions at Walker's Furniture Gallery is a century-old barn.

Kroc Rx poised to go national

One year, 500 success stories

Dr. Joseph Abate stood at an unfamiliar starting line.

Legal pot in Colorado hasn't stopped black market

DENVER - A 25-year-old is shot dead trying to sell marijuana the old-fashioned, illegal way. Two men from Texas set up a warehouse to grow more than they would ever need. And three people buying pot in a grocery store parking lot are robbed at gunpoint.

Two arrested following traffic stops

Women reportedly had illegal drugs

A Spokane woman was arrested in Athol for possession of a controlled substance on Sunday.

Early results

Within the last month or so we have begun to see the early results of the troubled 2010 vintage so here's an update on what we are seeing or more accurately tasting. Since the 2010s have started to be released we have tasted some pretty dreadful wines. One of the questions we frequently get from readers is why we don't identify these wines in print? While we always strive to be straightforward in our assessment of the juice we taste the lion's share of the challenges winemakers and grape growers faced in 2010 and again in 2011 were so daunting and out of their control we don't feel it is fair to punish otherwise great producers for unforeseen conditions.

Ask your audiologist...

What is the difference between getting hearing aid(s) from a warehouse store and a local independent office? (Part three of three parts.)