New strip mall near Post Falls Walmart

Business Bits

Construction may begin in February on a new strip mall in the northwest corner of Mullan Avenue and Cecil Road on the east side of Post Falls. Tentatively called the Mullan & Cecil Retail Complex, the $3 million project will comprise two multi-tenant buildings of 8,000 and 9,000 square feet north of the Walmart complex.

Social isolation opens scam doors

Social distancing and isolation are good health practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but it may be helping scammers. Research from the Better Business Bureau, along with other organizations, has found that people are more likely to lose money to a scam when they are socially or physically isolated from others and are actively engaging online during uncertain times.

Locals ahead of national census curves

The Founding Fathers understandably did not have the forethought to predict when a pandemic would threaten the machinery of the Constitution. After all, prior to its drafting, the most recent outbreak on record was a smallpox epidemic from 1633.

FOOD BANKS: What a wanton waste

I can’t believe the wanton waste of perfectly good canned food exhibited in the photo on 12-28 of a Boy Scout discarding “expired” cans at the food bank.

NIC SOFTBALL: Chapman notches 100th win as Cardinal coach

NIC returns to action on March 2 at a crossover tournament at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Wash., facing Clackamas and Southwestern Oregon.

CENSORSHIP: Be wary, voters

I have been mulling over this letter for a few weeks.

White House wants less government in mortgage system

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration wants to shrink the government's role in the mortgage system - a proposal that would remake decades of federal policy aimed at getting Americans to buy homes and would probably make home loans more expensive across the board.

The great debate

When should the Fed reduce stimulus?

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve's decision to postpone any pullback in its economic stimulus immediately ignited a debate: Was the Fed right or wrong to delay the inevitable?

Idaho House backs hunter 'loyalty discounts'

BOISE (AP) - The Department of Fish and Game won House approval to give hunters and anglers a break on their licenses, provided they buy them year after year.

Brewfest scheduled July 6

Tickets online are $35 and include a commemorative pint glass and six 5 oz. beer pours. Extra beer pours will be available. Day of event tickets will be available at McEuen Park for $40.

Why people keep scammers in business

Money, money, money. Many victims of consumer fraud are lured into the scammer’s web by the promise of quick, easy and unearned money.

Building a savings cushion in a time of emergency

If you are going to stockpile anything these days, consider liquid savings.

'I'll sue!' But irked consumers rarely do

While most of us have never actually gone to court over a consumer issue, we’ve all felt like throwing down the legal gauntlet at least a few times in our lives. The problem is that often, the amount of money in question isn’t large, or the circumstance surrounding our situation isn’t clear (like not having a contract).

Amazon Prime customers, you’re being targeted

I’ve received calls from readers who are receiving text messages that their Amazon Prime account is going to be closed and their order history will be deleted unless they click on the link to reactivate their account.

The new face of buying and selling

The only constant in life is change. And the sales game is certainly doing its share of changing.

Best grocery list app

Ask The Propellorheads

Dear PropellerHeads: Hey, I just got a new Android smart phone and I need a grocery list app. Do you have any recommendations?

Apple's cloud system could finally make piracy pay

LOS ANGELES - Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs on Monday introduced more than just a cloud storage system for songs that fans buy legitimately through iTunes. He unveiled a system that might finally get music lovers to pay for the songs they got through less-than-proper means.

Wine Rodeo 2012

Each year at this time the four judges for the North Idaho Wine Rodeo commercial wine competition gather to start judging the hundreds of wines entered from around the world. This year the judging panel has a new addition - Jill Kausen of Possibilities on Sherman Avenue. Jill's experience in retail wine sales makes her the perfect addition to Eric Cook, Chris Cates and me, and in the first judging sessions she has proven herself to be a great replacement for past judge Jenniffer Curran who left the area earlier this year.

All olive oils are not created equally

One of the key ingredients to a long and healthy life is olive oil. For years dietitians have been promoting the use of olive oil as a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Because of its rich source of tocopherols, carotenoids and polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties olive oil has been shown to provide cardiovascular and anti-cancer effects. Italy, Spain and Greece are the major producers of olive oil and it is the principal source of dietary fat in these countries. But not all olives or olive oils are created equally.

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John Joseph “Jack” Hartnett, 96