ART INSIGHTS: Hidden costs the viewer or consumer may not be aware of

"Why’s it so pricey? This artist sure thinks a lot of his work!" Well… he may just make a few dollars an hour. Yes, we keep our day jobs! Great Renaissance masters had wealthy benefactors, such as the church or a ruling family. They had to produce under command and duress.

No, you don't need a 20% down payment to buy a home

Many Americans may be unnecessarily talking themselves out of homeownership. Thirty-seven percent of non-homeowners say not having enough saved for a down payment is holding them back from homeownership, but 62% of Americans incorrectly believe you have to have at least 20% of a home’s purchase price to buy, according to NerdWallet’s 2020 Home Buyer Report.

Marijuana sales soar past expectations

After year of Washington legal pot sales, taxes top $70M

Cyber Monday draws $1.74 billion

The power of politeness

A pompous and arrogant customer in an antique shop was making the owner drag out fragile, old pieces, and then commenting on their poor quality and high prices. After about an hour, she looked at her watch and said she had to go.

Wal-Mart cuts profit outlook

Stock dragged down by sluggish sales, high health care costs

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. cut its annual profit outlook on Thursday amid sluggish sales, higher-than-expected health care costs and the need to invest more in its e-commerce operations.

Health district reveals local vaccine plan

Beginning in February, the panhandle area is prepared to begin scheduling appointments

Home prices increase in 17 cities in June

Prices expected to fall through rest of the year

COEUR d'ALENE - Home prices rose in June for a third straight month as now-expired tax credits inspired a burst of home-buying. But prices are expected to fall through the rest of the year now that demand has faded.

Gas price may drop as oil joins commodities plunge

NEW YORK - Investors finally hit the brakes on oil, gold, silver and food prices. This week's sharp sell-off doesn't mean commodity prices' stunning rise over the last several months is over, but it is good news for anyone planning a road trip this summer.

Summit on chronic pain available

Event is 6 to 9 p.m. at Kootenai Health Fox Auditorium

Heritage Health and A Way Forward will be hosting a free summit Thursday to educate and inspire those in chronic pain.

Medical emergencies take toll on family as Christmas approaches

It has been a traumatic year for this family, draining them emotionally and financially.

Fiscally fit due to Fido

U.S. trade group: Spending on pets at all-time high

It is about more than money

We all know buying one of the few existing houses on the market is competitive and as our latest statistics reveal anything priced below $300,000 really has the seller in the driver’s seat. Understanding that and the fact your offer is likely to be one of several make sure your agent is asking the right questions to determine the seller’s motivation.

Future seems good for local real estate

When attempting to predict the future market we often look at performance in other areas. Particularly we look to the west, beyond Spokane to see what is happening as a prelude to what we can expect here. That is why we were excited to hear, at Wednesday morning's Urban Land Institute presentation, that Seattle is considered one of the top 10 markets in the United States for growth potential in 2014. Actually, Seattle was listed as No. 6 of "U.S. Markets to watch" for investors.

PMS: A raging problem!

Years ago, a 19-year-old woman and her family came to see me for “severe PMS.” I hear the word “severe” a lot, but none as profound as this one. This girl raged for three out of four weeks per month. Only the week after her cycle was she tolerable. For two weeks her rage isolated her from her friends and activities. But the week just before her cycle began was rage on steroids! She frequently ran screaming around her home, punching holes in walls, throwing and breaking things, pushing and battering her siblings and even her parents. As a result, her whole family (except for her) moved into a hotel the week before her cycle. They had tried everything from anti-depressants to birth control pills. Nothing worked. They came to me in desperation.

Oktoberfest is back but inflation hits brewers, cost of beer

Inflation hit an annual 7.9% in Germany in August, and a record 9.1% in the 19 countries that use the euro currency

Common wine misconceptions

This time of year when folks are buying wine as gifts for friends and family we get many questions about wine - from grapes to packaging - that in many cases are simple misconceptions regarding the manufacture, flavors and origins of fermented grape juice so here are answers to some of the more common ones.

That time of year

A widely agreed upon axiom of the wine industry is that the most expensive "bubbles" you will buy are in the fourth and first quarters of each year. With the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and other holidays in the fourth and Valentine's Day in the first quarter, the theory is well grounded in fact. Champagne and other sparkling wines are more in demand, and therefore consumers are a bit less price-conscious. After all, at these special times of year, we all want to treat our guests and ourselves to the best possible "bubbly" experience.

World/Nation Briefs October 8, 2013

Boo-boos that can burst your credit score bubble

I recently received a pleasant email from a reader letting me know that he bumped up his credit score by almost 100 points with information I shared in this column. In that spirit, I thought I would share some more practical tips to avoid mistakes — and maybe boost your score as well.