LIBERAL: Connecting Dems, Hollywood

Eureka! I’ve found the unholy connection between Hollywood and the Democrat Party! You know how they’re joined in all things liberal? It’s because both live in a world of make-believe! Actors never know who they really are because that changes from one script to another. Their world is what they want it to be — reality is foreign to them and interferes with their fantasies. They can live in a world where they know everything and can do all things. They can design it without interference from those pesky commoners. In fact, they get invited onto TV programs, world tours and Washington soirées to hold forth on their subjects of interest — just as if they actually knew something. Then they go home to their gated communities, armed guards and adoring fans.

CLOSING: But memories live on

The Sports Cellar is closing and with it, fond memories of my family well served and cared for.

HELP: Save historic opera house

Your help is needed to save a century-old historic icon of the American Old West located in Kooskia, ID. This classic old theater, which once resonated with traditional music and classic period dramas, has been largely forgotten for nearly two decades. We have a chance, with the help of those who share community interest, to buy this building and return music and drama to its stage.

POEM: Signs of the times

we are killing the earth and that’s very wrong

Entering stage 4

Idaho continues to open and step toward the ‘new normal’

President Obama unveils gun plan

Measure calls for background checks on all firearms sales

By JULIE PACE/AP White House correspondent

Cd'A graduation rate increases 3.5 percent

COEUR d'Alene — Coeur d’Alene Public Schools experienced a strong increase in its graduation rate last year. For the class of 2019, the graduation rate was 91 percent — up from a rate of 87.5 percent in 2018.

Getting back to work?

State jobless rate falls in April for first time in four years

George Stewart hears how Kootenai County's jobless rate is slowly improving, but he'd prefer to experience it.

No RICE for you!

Over the last few years, many physical therapists, physicians and fitness professionals have been shifting their perspective on using ice to treat certain injuries. The ubiquitous use of rest, ice, compress and elevate or RICE has been the treatment for sprains, tears, muscle pulls and soft tissue injuries for a very long time.

'Boots on the ground' a bulwark against aggressors

Putin's troop movements should have been matched by U.S., NATO.

Today's Ghastly Groaner

Where did Captain Hook buy his hook?

Collectors group seeks rare coins

Cathie Haas was toting a lot of hope at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn on Thursday.

Stock market rallies for a flat finish

NEW YORK - Stocks closed little changed Thursday on another disappointing jobs report and growing concern over an investigation of banks' foreclosure practices. But the market made up earlier losses as investors anticipated that the Federal Reserve will take steps soon to strengthen the economy.

Even the trees are crying!

My Garden Path

As this very short growing season comes to an end, even the trees seem to be crying as their leaves slip off and drift to the ground. A lot of us "growers" feel the same way. As gorgeous as this fall has been, we are all too aware of what lies waiting just over the rise. I hate to say it, but its time to gas up those snowblowers.

Stocks edge lower after weeks of gains

NEW YORK — Stocks took a pause Monday from their big September rally as worries about the financial sector offset excitement over a fresh round of corporate dealmaking.

Practice what we preach

Mr. Ruskovich's My Turn article "Voters: We don't need no education" meant to slam the intelligence of our Idaho citizens disturbed me to say the least. His premise that we don't practice what we preach in support of education issues requires a response. He is right about our simplicity. As a senior citizen I have watched Idaho grow and change through the years but one thing screams out loud and clear. We have simply preached and practiced that if you can't afford it, don't buy it! You live within your means but set goals for your future.

Use instant coffee to add java jolt to steak tips

Most of us have to be suffering from a pretty mind-blowing caffeine withdrawal migraine before we'll reach for instant coffee. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy some, because while instant coffee makes a generally lousy cup of java, it can do astounding things for your cooking.

That time of year

A widely agreed upon axiom of the wine industry is that the most expensive "bubbles" you will buy are in the fourth and first quarters of each year. With the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and other holidays in the fourth and Valentine's Day in the first quarter, the theory is well grounded in fact. Champagne and other sparkling wines are more in demand, and therefore consumers are a bit less price-conscious. After all, at these special times of year, we all want to treat our guests and ourselves to the best possible "bubbly" experience.

Wine price misconceptions

Assumptions, opinions, we all have them about most everything, including what wine should cost. Even more importantly, we have them about how a wine should taste when it is "X" dollars. Those assumptions and opinions cut both ways, too. We have all thought or said it during a wine discussion: "there is no way I would pay that much for a bottle of wine, it can't possibly be that good." Surprisingly - or perhaps not so - we have also heard, "there is no way I buy wine that is that inexpensive it must taste terrible." Over the summer, a very good customer of ours went so far as to suggest, "you should charge more for that wine, you will probably sell more of it!"

World/Nation

• Doctor: Patient killed caseworker before gunfight