Financial advisers preying on senior citizens

Question: I was at a presentation to senior citizens who have most of their funds invested in fixed income products (CD's). The presenter showed how our investments are taxed and we don't keep up with inflation. He scared the hell out of us. Then came the product he sells which was a fixed annuity that ...

Toyota promises plug-in hybrid vehicle by 2010

Toyota is introducing a plug-in hybrid with next-generation lithium-ion batteries in Japan, the U.S. and Europe by 2010, under ...

Bonita prepares to issue its own building permits

Within a few weeks, new building permits for development within Bonita Springs will no longer be handled by Lee County. In CH2M Hill’s update during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, it was announced that the company will take over building permits after the end of the work day on June 27. Just three ...

Dixie Moon owner fed up with crime on Old 41 Road after oven gets stolen

Fried green tomatoes, hamburger steaks and Cajun fries weren’t the only things heating up at the Dixie Moon Cafe on Monday. Owner Tim Robinson’s blood pressure sizzled, after he realized that the restaurant’s new oven had disappeared in broad daylight.

U.N.: Food production must rise 50% by '30

World food production must rise by 50% by 2030 to meet increasing demand, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon told world leaders Tuesday at ...

Mow your lawn... or risk jail time in Canton, Ohio

CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Homeowners who don't mow their grass in the northeast Ohio city of Canton now face stiffer penalties - including possible jail time....

Slow times mean pay cuts for many

When times were good, Mark Gershman's salary was all but an afterthought. It made up only about 20% of his pay. The remaining ...

Maine jail for sale for $200,000

SKOWHEGAN, Maine (AP) -- If you're in the market for a roomy brick-and-stone Victorian, complete with a security system and razor-wire fencing, then Somerset County officials may have a deal for you....

When economy revives, how will we know?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With any luck, the second half of this year will be better than the so-far rocky first half. The Federal Reserve chief hopes that is the case. So does President Bush....

Naples council decides to let the music play at 8 local restaurants

The band will play on at eight Naples businesses. Naples City Council on Wednesday renewed the live music permits for eight businesses in Naples, including Handsome Harry’s Third Street Bistro, 1205 Third Street South, and the Bayfront Inn, 1221 Fifth Avenue South.

Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address

TOKYO (AP) -- When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught - recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help....

Cash Back Credit Card Roundup

Chase Freedom SM Credit CardThe Chase Freedom SM Credit Card is now offering 3% Cash Back on every eligible $1 spent at Grocery Stores, Gas Stations, and Quick Service Restaurants. Earn 1% Cash Back for every $1 spent anywhere else.Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa CardThe Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa Card ...

Lee County's subprime holes may deepen

For every 1,000 homes in Lee County, 62 are financed with the shakiest of loans.

Clearing begins for new Catholic school in north Collier

After a blessing of the grounds, the crowd watched as workers cut down the first tree at the site of what will become the new campus for a Catholic school in northern Collier County. Students, staff, parents and friends gathered off of Livingston Road to celebrate Royal Palm Academy’s tree-cutting ...

Investor group purchases Tuscany Reserve from WCI

AB Naples LLC, a well-financed, international investor group, has purchased from WCI Communities Inc., the high-end, golf course community of Tuscany Reserve in North Naples.

Home sales are declining, or are they?

While a new report reveals a still-slumping housing market, many Lee County real estate agents argue otherwise. They say they’ve experienced growth over the past few months, and are exploring alternative routes to stabilize their sales. This increase in sales runs contrary to the Florida Association ...

Foreclosures surge 65% to record

U.S. foreclosure filings reached a record high in April, rising almost 65% over the previous year and putting municipalities at risk by putting into the value of taxed property, according to a study released Wednesday.

The only 7 investments you need

It's a tough market, but that doesn't mean you need more weapons for your portfolio. Now more than ever, don't complicate your strategy. Simplify it.

Indoor Pot Farms Uncovered From Seattle to Miami

Law enforcement officials are grappling with the spread of sophisticated indoor marijuana farms, often run by ethnic gangs, that produce hundreds of pounds each year

Lee County online auction May 30 for delinquent properties

Property owners failed to pay taxes on more than 58,000 parcels in Lee County this year, a record and indication of Southwest Florida's floundering...