Plight of the displaced poor is our problem

Travesty. Inhuman. Heartless.

At San Francisco restaurant, pups chow on filet mignon

For $75 dollars per pup, doggie diners get a multiple-course “bone appetite” meal

Entertainment Calendar for February 3, 2012

Schedule of events for Feb. 3-11

Kristian offers a sales pitch

Steve Griffitts of Jobs Plus is always looking for sound research he can use to entice businesses to move here.

OBAMA: Rally to block treaties

Obama and Clinton are entering into negotiations over or seeking ratification of five treaties that could radically limit our national sovereignty. “International Criminal Court,” Clinton has reversed Bush’s policy and entered into negotiations over U.S. participation in the court. Specifically, the intent is to create a new crime of “aggression,” which is essentially going to war without the approval of the United Nations. This of course would give Russia and China a veto over our military actions.

Hundreds sound off at march, town hall

COEUR d’ALENE — Perhaps Democrats aren’t really an extinct species in North Idaho.

NBA in Seattle one step closer

Maloofs agree to sell NBA's Kings to Hansen's group

The time is right to buy or sell

This week's news of rising interest rates should get the attention of those contemplating a change in their housing status. These last three weeks we have seen a modest rise in interest rates among the nation's lenders. Fannie Mae reports that last week's typical 30-year loan rate was 4.46 percent, up from 4.17 percent last month. Although this rate increase is modest, less than half a percent, the cost of housing has risen accordingly.

2012 Home & Garden-Best Furniture Store

Walker’s Furniture

Ask your audiologist...

MINNICK: Is he good for Idaho?

Rep. Walt Minnick claims to be good for Idaho. However, his current silence on a number of key topics seems to counter that claim.

Now more than ever, vintage matters

It always has, but vintage now really does matter in every purchase you make as a wine consumer. Beyond the quality differences of harvest years there are a number of other factors that affect the aromatics, flavor and your own personal feelings about any particular wine. We have covered the variation of vintages a number of times in this column, and briefly as we approach the release of wines from the troubled 2010 and 2011 years for wines from California and the Northwest we urge caution. Try before you buy domestic wines from these years.

Should you buy or continue to rent?

We know there are plenty of reasons for folks to rent their homes. Young people just out on their own who haven't built good employment or credit history are the obvious ones. Folks with transient employment that causes them to move frequently are not good homeowner candidates. Some people have sold their homes and have opted for retirement community living, so they rent apartments there. All of these create competition for the available rental properties.

NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE WEEK: Preparing for the spring ‘rush’

At the risk of tempting fate, I’ll knock on wood while declaring this next sentence: Spring is nearly here.

Locals hunt Black Friday deals - on Thursday, of course

COEUR d’ALENE — If you think Black Friday is dead, you don’t know Traci Miller of Coeur d’Alene or Scott Doering of Spokane Valley.

Not safe across the sea

Say goodbye to traditional free checking

NEW YORK - Free checking as we know it is ending.

Behind the Chutes 2012

As we all know the third annual Winter Wine Rodeo is coming up next week on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 3-7 p.m. Like the previous events this year's will have all of the same great wine, food and vendors we have come to expect. Nearly 100 wines being sampled by our great local distributors, food from our favorite area restaurants like Scratch, Seasons, Fire, Angelo's and more, some holiday shopping from local vendors and of course the chance to buy the wine that you sample and want to take home for your big holiday gatherings!

Midwest restaurant chain tries pay-what-you-want experiment

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.