Iran's Nowruz New Year, typically joyous, haunted by virus

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — At this time of year, the meandering arcades and alleys of Tehran's Grand Bazaar and other markets would usually be filled with shoppers rushing to stock up before the Persian New Year, Nowruz — a major holiday in Iran, when the entire country goes on vacation.

Local home sales still ahead of last year

The staff at the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has completed their monthly compilation of statistical information for area sales. The good news is we are still running ahead of 2009 in total sales.

Is complete online anonymity possible?

Most Internet users would like to be anonymous online at least occasionally, but many think it is not possible to be completely anonymous online, according to new findings in a national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project.

Don't redial, lettuce worries and kudos

NO REDIAL: When you get a call to your landline and the caller does not leave a message and you don’t recognize the Caller ID of the caller — DON’T push the “auto redial” number. When you do this, you make yourself a “gift” to spam callers and salespeople everywhere. This week, one consumer wrote me a long, involved, very precise email asking how spam callers got her number and why the same number keeps calling her back (usually she’s not home). The reason they keep calling her back is that they have and use Caller ID to determine when they have a “live one” on the line. Without realizing it, they are engaging the spam callers in a game of phone tag. MY ADVICE: Never return spam, or unknown calls — NEVER!

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SALE!

U.S. retail sales rise in August

Auto sales lead the way in consumer spending

Mobile park's water issues linger

Problems have been unfixed since May

POST FALLS - The water situation at the Arundel by the River mobile home park - murky since May - remains that way despite residents being told the problem would be rectified three weeks ago.

Pop culture thank yous

Deck the halls and fa the las, because it's time for another month of Christmas-themed columns! Oh, wait. It's not even Thanksgiving. Sorry, I'm currently camped in front of Best Buy, and time is a flat circle.

Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig get best marks in diet review

CHICAGO - Trying to slim down? Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig scored the best marks for effectiveness in a review of research on commercial diet programs, but many other plans just haven't been studied enough to evaluate long-term results.

Man hopes for new hat and gloves

This 56-year-old said he needs a new hat and gloves, and he knows that with help from Press Christmas for All, they're within reach.

Small car prices to drop in fall

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Thinking of trading in the clunker in your garage for something that gets better gas mileage? Wait a little longer.

The Best price cut deal-a-palooza

Best Avenue is the best avenue because the Best Avenue deals don’t stop.

Lower gas prices arrive for holidays

By BRIAN WALKER

Gas prices soar

Idaho sets record for highest average price for regular gas at $4.48 per gallon

Idaho sets record for highest average price for regular gas at $4.48 per gallon

Eating with our eyes

Blame the external cues for making us overeat! Brian Wansink, economics and marketing professor at Cornell University has conducted research demonstrating that we are way out of touch with our internal hunger and fullness signals. In fact it is all the external cues that contribute to overeating.

Prison company asks court to toss lawsuit

BOISE - A private prison company has asked a federal judge to bar a lawsuit brought by 24 inmates and the American Civil Liberties Union over violence at Idaho's only private prison, saying the primary plaintiff should go it alone in court.

Fed attacks inflation with another big hike and expects more

In their updated economic forecasts, the Fed's policymakers project that economic growth will remain weak for the next few years, with rising unemployment

Home sales drop, average price up

Two-thirds of sales are of homes under $200K

Home sales in Kootenai County during July dropped compared to the same month last year, according to the latest report from Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service.

Gem State gas prices jump another 9 cents

Meanwhile, the national average sits at $3.63 per gallon, which is 3 cents more than a week ago and 20 cents more than a month ago, but 4 cents less than a year ago.

NIC invests $8.1M in health science expansion

NIC approves $8.1 million building expansion