TAXES: Tale of two cities

It is well known that resident property taxes in Post Falls are more than double those in Hayden even though both generally provide the same services. One might conclude that Hayden is a more desirable place to live and buy a house and certainly more affordable.

WAGES: Risks of higher minimum

Minimum wage — a beginning to your place in life, not the level you plan on spending while supporting a family. A Republican thinks “This is my beginning.” The start of the journey that will level off at the peak of my education or the top of my talents. A Democrat, on the other hand, thinks, “I enjoy not having to have any responsibility and it’s sort of fun flipping burgers so all I have to do is raise the minimum wage and stay right here.” Little does he realize that the minimum wage sets the price of everything and he will never be able to buy anything without going deep in debt. Something Democrats have been doing for years. Is this so hard to understand? Then why hasn’t Congress said this to the people?

Crime Stoppers seeks help with pharmacy robbery cold cases

COEUR d'ALENE - Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in two pharmacy robberies that occurred in 2009.

Consumers expected to spend more during 2018 holiday season

The season of giving is also the season of spending and consumers are expected to hand over to retailers a good chunk more of their income than they did last year.

Stocks decline for third week

NEW YORK - The stock market was hit hard Friday, capping a third week of declines, as investors reacted to a steep drop in oil prices and a jump in the value of the dollar.

Hormone-blocking drug reduces breast cancer risk

Healthy Lifestyles

CHICAGO - Millions of women at higher-than-usual risk of breast cancer have a new option for preventing the disease. Pfizer Inc.'s Aromasin cut the risk of developing breast cancer by more than half, without the side effects that have curbed enthusiasm for other prevention drugs, a major study found.

Hormone-blocking drug reduces breast cancer risk

CHICAGO - Millions of women at higher-than-usual risk of breast cancer have a new option for preventing the disease. Pfizer Inc.'s Aromasin cut the risk of developing breast cancer by more than half, without the side effects that have curbed enthusiasm for other prevention drugs, a major study found.

Farmers file antitrust lawsuit against big ag companies

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A group of farmers has filed an antitrust case

The proximity principle

This principle, in various studies, suggests that people develop lasting relationships with those in closest proximity to them. Their proximity leads to frequent contact and relationships develop by way of this frequent contact. This principle also applies to real estate - proximity affects value. Property close to a school can bring a higher price than a similar home that is distant to schools, at least for families with school-age children. Homes in proximity to a sewage treatment plant or landfill are not as desirable as a similar home next to a park.

Nothing scary about October sales

The results are in and sales in October continued to show improvement over previous years. In fact this is the sixth straight year of gains for home sales in the Coeur d’Alene Multiple Listing Service.

More improvement seen in local real estate

Gosh it feels good to be able to report more positive news on the Coeur d'Alene real estate market.

Another banner year for Windermere Home sales remain hot; downturn in 2020 predicted

COEUR d’ALENE — The real estate market continued to sizzle in 2018, a fact celebrated Friday morning by nearly 200 attendees of Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty’s 18th annual Agent Award Ceremony and Breakfast.

Say goodbye to tax-free internet purchases

COEUR d’ALENE — Idahoans buying products over the internet will now have sales tax collected on most purchases, thanks to a bill Gov. Butch Otter signed into law Thursday.

Silencing the hatred

Throngs of counter-protestors provide peaceful reply to Westboro Church

COEUR d'ALENE - All you need is love.

Marty and Max: Where is the market going?

Where is the market going and how will the year-end? Is the market going to crash? How will the market react to 7.25% rates or perhaps 8% rates? Will inventory increase?

Financial resources are available, local retailers hiring due to COVID-19

Layoffs and furloughs are happening across the state due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Cities and utility companies will not shut off utilities due to late payments amidst the coronavirus and financial help is being offered through community organizations:

Colorado judge temporarily blocks Kroger-Albertsons grocery ‘megamerger’

U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson have also challenged the merger of supermarket chains in court.

Dining in the dark: Brussels eateries tackle energy crunch

No ovens, no stoves, no hot plates, no coffee machines and no light bulbs.

Neighborhood of the Week: Cottage Grove

Carefree living. That's what life in Cottage Grove is all about.

REFORM: Beware many online pitfalls

I am disturbed that the Idaho Legislature recently passed the education reform bill SB1184 which diverts money from teachers' pay in order to buy laptops and require online courses. As a pediatrician I frequently counsel parents and students about the need to limit "screen time" that can consume hours each day as kids log-on to the Internet, play video games or watch TV. Consequently, vital communication and social skills are often not well developed. Of course, our students need to be computer competent but to suggest that online courses replace real time, live instruction and classroom discussion is negligent and doomed to fail.