Real estate outlook improving

In wake of our projection last week that the market looks like it will remain strong for the near future comes news that supports that theory.

Pair charged with trafficking fentanyl, cocaine

Police arrested two Washington residents Thursday night who allegedly possessed more than 800 fentanyl pills.

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Sylvia Mercer

Weak appraisals fuel slow recovery

You have noted our frustration with the slow recovery in the rural areas of our Multiple Listing Service geography. The increased number of sales in those areas, unlike the more densely populated ones, have not pulled their prices from the post boom doldrums.

Better Business Bureau: COVID-19 contact tracing scams

It’s alarming to imagine a call stating you were exposed to COVID-19. Anyone who receives such an alert would understandably provide the caller with whatever information they requested if it meant preserving their health. But what if you just gave your personal information to a stranger, not a health official? It’s happening, and it’s making work harder for those trying to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Matthew 'Matt' Studor, 33

Matthew “Matt” Walter Studor, 33

Matthew “Matt" Walter Studor, 33, died in the early morning of June 25, 2016, at his home in Spokane Valley.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Wine price inflation round 2

We wrote frequently during 2022 about the surging inflation in the wine industry. For much of the year the price increases were relentless and pretty much across the board for wines from every appellation New World and Old World alike. Through the first half of 2023 things seemed to stabilize. There were still some price increases but they were more moderate in nature and not every bottle that came through the door went up. Even more refreshingly we saw some wine come in down a “tick or two” at the wholesale level. We were relieved, and I’m sure most wine consumers were as well.

Should young kids have smartphones? These parents in Europe linked arms and said no

Police and public health experts were sounding the alarm about a spike of violent and pornographic videos being witnessed by children via handheld devices

Ramona M. Spickelmire, 86 July 1, 1927 - July 17, 2013

Ramona M. Spickelmire, 86, of Rathdrum, passed away July 17, 2013, at home in her daughter’s arms. She was born July 1, 1927, in Oklahoma to Irwin and Ada (Price) Vogt. They divorced when she was an infant. When Ramona was 6 when her mother re-married to Ira Ward Yount and from that union came three of Ramona’s siblings: a sister, Rilla and two brothers, Ira (Minter) and Roger.

Struggling to provide for the grandkids

One grandmother is paying the price for her adult children lacking parenting skills.

Harry Potter to be sold as e-books

LONDON - Harry Potter battled the forces of evil and now is set to conquer the web - coming to e-books in a groundbreaking deal that has delighted fans but alarmed the book industry that helped make creator J.K. Rowling a billionaire.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Birthday wine

We had a small celebration over the past weekend and one of the most common questions we still get as wine professionals is “What do you like to drink?”

Re-entry alternative: Ship them to Arco, ID.

I am opposed to a pre-release facility in Kootenai County. We already have Spokane right next door and that is more than enough of a criminal activity generator for me and mine.

GM to pay $3.5B for auto financing company

DETROIT - General Motors Co. will buy AmeriCredit Corp. for $3.5 billion, a deal that allows the automaker to expand loans to customers with poor credit and offer more leases, key areas where GM must grow to accelerate its car sales.

Mine owner has big plans

Silver Opportunity Partners anxious to get Sunshine operating

After buying out the Sterling Mining Co. for a cool $24 million in an April bankruptcy auction, Silver Opportunity Partners LLC (SOP) has rolled up its sleeves and isanxious to start drilling test holes.

Restaurants, trying to stay afloat, revamp menus, operations

CINCINNATI (AP) — In the battle to keep their New York City restaurant going despite sharp restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak, the owners of Il Posto Accanto tried something Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta would have considered sacrilege in normal times.

Lessons from a tire man

I often use the expression, “One person can make all the difference in the world.”

New Year's resolutions? Brain can sabotage success

Healthy Lifestyles

WASHINGTON - Uh-oh, the new year's just begun and already you're finding it hard to keep those resolutions to junk the junk food, get off the couch or kick smoking. There's a biological reason a lot of our bad habits are so hard to break - they get wired into our brains.

Thrift store jackpot

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An unemployed Ohio man was browsing at his local thrift store for items he could restore and resell when he spotted a Picasso poster with the word "Exposition" written across the front, some French words, and the image of a warped round face. He handed over $14.14 for what he saw as a nice commercial print.

Rathdrum police warn about scam

Man claiming to be with security firm allegedly steals meds from senior

RATHDRUM - A man claiming to be an employee of a security firm recently entered a Rathdrum senior's home and allegedly stole prescription medications.