Happiness is on sale; get some

The price for happiness is now 30 percent off. This is not one of those today-only sales; in fact, happiness may be that rare product whose relative price, even with inflation, inches down over time. All society's worrisome problems aside, could this mean humanity is nevertheless getting wiser?

Realtor roundup - picking an agent that's right for you

As temperatures tick up this spring, more buyers and sellers will be entering the local real estate market. Getting the best Realtor on your side can make a huge difference.

Home shopping made easily online

Windermere Cd'A offers Buildcda.com

COEUR d'ALENE - Let the mouse find the house. A new website offered as a service of Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty lets anyone shopping for a new home shop by city, neighborhood and builder.

Fed survey: U.S. economy ends 2010 on strong note

Rise in business expenses currently not being passed on to customers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy ended last year on an encouraging note, with all parts of the country showing improvements. Factories produced more, shoppers spent more and companies hired more - pointing to a stronger economy in 2011.

Eating well for the working person

Do you experience an afternoon slump at work (or an all-day slump)? How we eat makes a big difference in how we feel and how we perform during the day.

Varietal Emergence II

As we wrote earlier in the summer we have been pleasantly surprised at the demand for some previously over-looked wines, varietals and producers. Part of this trend has demonstrated its strength most notably though with some unusual varietals being requested more often, and garnering high marks from many consumers.

Russian aggression demands an American response

The President’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said it is “incontrovertible” that the Russians intervened in America’s 2016 elections. The President rebuked McMaster for the statement. Daniel Coats, appointed by the President last year as Director of National Intelligence, joined other top American intelligence officials in warning that the Russians will continue interfering in our elections.

Heading in the wrong direction

Gasoline prices get early start on spring surge

NEW YORK - Gasoline prices are getting an early start on their annual spring march higher.

Retailers report best sales growth since March

Going for gold

'Apprentice' second-place finisher goes from Trump Tower to Cd'A pawn shop owner, gold buyer

Is the iPad worth buying?

Dear PropellerHeads: I've been hearing some buzz about Apple's iPad that will be out soon. What do you know about it, and should I buy one?

Midwest farmland prices soar due to high demand

DES MOINES, Iowa - Increased commodity prices and strong demand have sent prices of farmland skyrocketing, making it more difficult for young and beginning farmers to get established but strengthening the balance sheets for those who own the land.

Wines of the Year

While we don’t rate wines on a number scale, there are clear winners from the past year based on customer purchases. As I’ve said so many times, big ratings and high praise from me won’t change a wine you don’t like into one you do. While clearly this rating system is unscientific, it is based on a far better indicator — your purchases and repeat purchases, many times by the case. The wines are listed in order of white to red and lighter bodied to fuller.

I deserve something nice for not being naughty

Ask The Propellerheads

Cd'A to spend $1M for police expansion

Will buy 1.6 acres north of station

Police Station expansion moves ahead

Targeting greenhouse gases

SAN FRANCISCO - California began auctioning permits Wednesday for greenhouse gas emissions, launching one of the world's most ambitious efforts to cut heat-trapping gases from industrial sources.

Flame in or flame out?

NEW YORK - Amazon is making a bid to enter living rooms with Amazon Fire TV, a new streaming device that delivers online video, music and other content to televisions.

Good news hard to ignore

We are as delighted as anyone that there is good news about the real estate market at almost every turn. The national television news has recently featured two stories on booming housing markets. Even so, we are reluctant to predict similar activity locally. True, we are selling more real estate these days. One newspaper reported that we didn't think foreclosure activity had dampened sales. Well, I guess that is true, because we continue to outsell our previous year, but foreclosures have had an effect on prices.

UPS reaches tentative contract with 340,000 unionized workers potentially dodging calamitous strike

Under the tentative agreement, existing full- and part-time UPS union workers will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more per hour over the length of the five-year contract

Riding to the rescue?

Low prices, weak hiring raise odds of Fed action