As the nation mourns President Gerald R. Ford, it is worth remembering part of what it has lost with him - a political style in which battles are hard-fought, but without rancor or personal animosity. After all, Ford entered politics as a congressman from a western Michigan district with bipartisan help. He came back from World War II believing the United States must be actively engaged in world affairs. The congressman from his district was ... [full story]

A odometer rolls over from 3,000 to 3,001. The number '1' is represented by a flag-draped coffin. Caption says: 'Speaking of a surge in troops ...' [full story]

When Boeing announced plans in September to discontinue its high-profile Connexion in-flight Internet venture, the Carlsbad, Calif., company ViaSat saw a potentially lucrative contract essentially grounded. But the satellite equipment maker, which built onboard modems and other avionics for Connexion, is maintaining its foothold in aviation by setting its sights on business jets.   AIR WAVES - ViaSat technician Ken Reahr tests a business jet satellite system in Carlsbad, Calif. ViaSat’s systems will be installed on ... [full story]

Alzheimer's disease costs American businesses $61 billion annually -- $36.5 billion of that total is attributed to the cost of lost productivity, absenteeism and worker replacement when employees become caregivers to family members afflicted with the disease, according to a 2006 Fact Sheet published by the Alzheimer's Association. While there are currently an estimated 4.5 million Americans with the disease, by 2050, the number could grow to 16 million. GPS (Global Positioning System) technology has ... [full story]

If you want to reclaim space from the outdoors, open your home to more natural light or create a comfortable place to commune with nature, you may be considering adding a screened-in porch to your home.   MAKE ROOM - A conservatory is a more substantial addition to a home or yard than a porch or a sunroom, and will be custom-designed to blend with period architecture. CNS Photo courtesy of Marston & Langinger.Think again. Although ... [full story]

Q: We plan to remodel the country house we just bought with an eye to eventually retiring there. All the living areas will be on one level, and we want to use materials that are appropriate to the location (mountains), will last, and are easy to maintain. Who wants to retire to more housework? What do you recommend?   VIEW OVER THE KITCHEN COUNTER - Natural materials like brick and hardwoods warm this all-in-one kitchen, dining ... [full story]

The Les Schwab Tire Centers Board of Directors announced recently that the company will provide a grant of $50,000 to help support the continued economic health and prosperity of the Prineville and Crook County community. The funds will be earmarked for multi-year support of a new, local economic development program being developed by a private-public partnership that includes the Prineville/Crook County Chamber of Commerce, area businesses, Crook County, the City of Prineville and Economic Development ... [full story]

For Mireille Gingras, the road to China's up-and-coming life science community is very much a two-way street. Unlike many U.S. biotechs and pharmaceutical companies that are setting up shop there to take advantage of cheap research labor and manufacturing, Gingras' San Diego-based Huya International is working with Chinese universities and fledgling biotechs to license promising Chinese drug candidates and bring them to the U.S. for further development.   TOP STOP - Scott Southwood, a scientist at ... [full story]

Strictly Organic Coffee Company made two big business decisions recently; to open a retail shop at 6 SW Bond in Bend and to begin buying Blue Sky renewable energy from Pacific Power. For seven years, Strictly Organic has maintained a loyal, wholesale customer base by selling Certified Fair Trade and Organic coffees to consumers, restaurants and grocery stores. Now the company is greening its power as well as its beans.   Strictly Organic Coffee Company is located ... [full story]

A power of attorney is a valuable estate planning tool; however, it has the potential for perpetrating fraud.  It can be used to deplete an estate. That is what happened in a case brought to the USD Senior Legal Helpline by a 69-year-old woman who was named in an aunt’s will to receive a parcel of farmland.  When the aunt died six months ago at age 82, the caller learned that the land had been ... [full story]