THE FRONT ROW with Jason Elliott, July 27, 2013

Athletics at Lakeside in jeopardy

Fall practices aren't scheduled for the Lakeside High football and volleyball teams until Aug. 16, but the biggest date will come on Aug. 27.

Property not selling?

There was a time, not so long ago yet it seems a distant memory, when someone would pay any price for real estate offered for sale. Some refer to it as the real estate boom, others merely call it insanity. You have seen us here refer often to the crazy market from 2004-2007 as the feeding frenzy. An oft used strategy in that marketing period was, if your listing is not selling, raise the price. Interestingly enough, that strategy yielded results more often than not.

CVS Health set to acquire Omnicare

CVS Health will pay more than $10 billion for pharmaceutical distributor Omnicare in a deal primed to feed its fast-growing specialty drug business and tap a lucrative and growing market: Care for the elderly.

Gas prices still look low for summer even after spring surge

Sports briefs February 19, 2013

Basketball

A long list of problems

Congress' familiar path: short-term solutions

A cauliflower soup so rich you won't believe it's so simple

It's easy to overthink things in the kitchen. It's easy to fall into the trap of assuming that flavor needs a whole lot of labor. Or at least a long ingredient list.

Interest rates dip slightly

Interest for 30-year mortgages dipped last week to equal the lowest in six weeks. These lower rates not only encourage those looking for homes, but have caused refinancing applications to increase as well. While applications for new mortgages increased 1.3 percent, refinancing applications increased 6.9 percent over the previous week according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Freddie Mac reports that the average rate for a 30-year fixed loan last week was 4.27 percent, down from 4.34 percent the prior week. Still, that rate is .86 percent higher than last year at this time.

What the HELOC?

The financial world is brimming with acronyms and baffling terms. Here's a guide to some of the worst offenders.

IFF goal: Affordable healthcare for all

There is much wrong information being circulated about Proposition 2 and the ensuing Constitutional challenge, of which I am the plaintiff. Most of this misinformation has been conveniently encapsulated in a recent column “OPINION: Dig a Deep Hole for Prop 2 Lawsuit” by Steve Cameron.

A perspective on mortgage interest

Last week brought another moderate increase in 30-year mortgage interest rates but with the average rate still below 4.5 percent there seems to be little cause for alarm. Still, with many remembering the lowest of the low at 3.35 percent in November 2012, rates over 4 percent may seem high at 4.2. Those of us who purchased homes in the early '80s will agree that, by comparison, these rates seem ridiculously low. Even so, Americans have not always enjoyed fixed rate loans.

New year in the neighborhood

Welcome to 2017. We want to hear from you.

Shopko, Pamida to merge

Combined $3 billion company will have nearly 350 stores

COEUR d'ALENE - Two of the nation's leading Midwest-based general merchandise retail chains, Shopko Stores and Pamida, announced Wednesday they will merge to create one of the largest U.S. retailers focused on serving smaller and rural communities.

Fed plans to raise rates as soon as March to cool inflation

The Fed’s actions are sure to make a wide range of borrowing costlier over time

Congress aims to boost enforcement at the border – with Canada

Most of the people crossing the border come from areas outside Canada. About half come from Mexico, CBS News Boston reported. Others are from India, Bangladesh and Haiti.

Idaho to comply with reform

LEWISTON (AP) - The Idaho Department of Insurance is working to implement a major piece of a new health care law, even as the state seeks to overturn the reform.

LABRADOR: Misses key differences

I am amazed that our Congressman, Raul Labrador, has such a fundamentally flawed understanding of “Obamacare” and the recent Supreme Court decision upholding its constitutionality. He stated: “The fundamental grievance that I have with this law, and in particular the individual mandate component, is that no government should ever be powerful enough to compel its citizens to purchase a product or a service under penalty of law. What is there now to prevent the federal government… from taxing us to compel the purchase of life insurance, a cell phone or any other product Washington deems is necessary for us all?”

His sleep number: One year

Former Cd'A man posed as his ex-wife to buy bed

COEUR d'ALENE - It'll be a year of hard nights' sleep.

TRUMP: Paper tiger or trojan horse?

He has turned people’s anger toward both parties, because of their disgust with the way politicians run this country. Do I like him? No. His ideas — which are very few now — tap into people’s anger. Hopefully he will be more specific instead of just bloviating. It is his mean spirited view of everyone else except himself that I object to.

Building support, brick by brick

Supporters of Winton Elementary in Coeur d'Alene have a chance to forge a permanent connection with the school.