Redbox's golden opportunity

Higher Netflix prices position movie rental company to make gains

SAN FRANCISCO - Netflix is giving Redbox a golden opportunity to gain some ground.

Palin, Obama spar from afar

NEW ORLEANS - President Barack Obama and Republican Sarah Palin sparred from a distance over nuclear policy with each questioning the other's experience on the issue in a potential preview of the 2012 White House race. "Unbelievable," Palin said earlier this week after Obama rewrote the U.S. nuclear strategy, and she suggested the president was weak on nuclear defense.

Lower gas prices arrive for holidays

By BRIAN WALKER

Preseason remains a costly nightmare

There are some awful rip-offs in the sports world.

Spring rush to rain soon on real estate market

In a few short weeks, the North Idaho real estate market will get a burst of energy, as it does every spring.

Class for first-time homebuyers

A free homebuyer education class is coming to Coeur d'Alene June 29.

Consumer confidence surges

NEW YORK - Americans are beginning to feel more confident about the U.S. economy just as the all-important Christmas shopping season begins. But their optimism may be short-lived.

Family Dollar bucks Dollar General bid again

Antitrust concerns abound, but deal remains possible

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Family Dollar is rejecting Dollar General's latest acquisition offer, and Dollar Tree says it will now divest as many stores as needed to get antitrust clearance for its deal to buy Family Dollar.

Distillery delights

COEUR d’ALENE — Liquor might not solve all your problems.

Water companies wanted Firm sipping North Idaho supply

A Portland-based company created to own and operate water utilities throughout the Northwest is proposing to buy the assets of three local water companies as "a platform for potential additional acquisitions in Idaho," according to a filing with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Investment grade?

Hard assets have been relatively stable or even growth investments over the last couple of years. It’s not unusual during a high inflation cycle for physical assets to out perform financial ones. In just the last couple of months we have been asked by several folks from neighbors to customers about the potential for wine to be a good investment. I will tell you that for me I’d rather drink wine than hold it as an investment, but as it turns out the answer is fairly lengthy on whether it is a good idea.

Swinging with the symphony

Black and White Ball offers beautiful music, chance to dance

COEUR d'ALENE - Pam Nordby sits down to talk about the Coeur d'Alene Symphony's Black and White Ball. Here's the first thing she says:

Hundreds line up to buy legal pot

Wine clubs, wine clubs everywhere

As the popularity and accessibility of wine grows so does the proliferation of wine clubs. While joining a club at a local shop, your favorite winery or some other organization is a great way to get well priced access to some of your favorite wines, as consumers there are some things to watch out for too.

Anybody buying this trend?

Retailers report strong January sales

A lakefront roundup

The vast majority of us common folks won’t be buying waterfront property anytime soon. Sure, inheritance and lotteries are possibilities, and the most mechanically minded might find just the right fixer upper project worth their time.

Administration toughens mileage rules

WASHINGTON - Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks, but they'll save at the pump under tough new federal rules aimed at boosting mileage, cutting emissions and hastening the next generation of fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars.

Voters pessimistic about economy

Economic ills may defy next president

WASHINGTON - Whoever wins the U.S. presidential election will likely struggle to manage the biggest economic threats he'll face.

Here's a real shot at loving numbers

You can do any kind of trick with numbers.

Bette Ammon: Connecting people with the world

IN PERSON

Bette Ammon has been a librarian for 30 years, eight of them served as Library Director of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. When she talked about her profession, her enthusiasm was instantly apparent. Books, she will tell you, are only one of the many community services provided by today's libraries.