August 10 Reports: Be Thi Nguyen, 38, was arrested for assault when he allegedly struck and hit a victim during an argument in their home, in the presence of 3 children. Robert Crawford Adams, 26, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Nathan Alton Van Amburg, 29, was arrested for suspicion of DUII. Dewey Bruce Hoxie, 54, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Kevin Daniel Dill, 40, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Roger Lee Housing, 26, was arrested on an outstanding ... [full story]

Q: Some of our well-meaning friends have scared us about the possibility that our three cats might cause our unborn baby to be abnormal because of a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis. My physician has not mentioned this disease and has not even asked whether or not we have pets. Are we worrying overtime? We dearly love our cats; however, we would never knowingly do anything that might cause risk to our unborn baby. A: You ... [full story]

Every few years a new fad sweeps through the public schools. There's been self-esteem, new math, whole language, New Age, outcome-based education, school-to-work, mental health screening, school-based clinics, global education, diversity, multiculturalism, and early childhood education. The newest public school fad was announced last week on the front page of the New York Times, so educators must be taking it seriously. If it hasn't come to your town yet, no doubt it will come soon. ... [full story]

When we realized Mom's end was near, I asked her if she'd send me a sign from the next world to say she was OK. She promised she'd try. Now, on the anniversary of her death, I think I've received that sign. This semester I'm teaching a course on Writing Your Life Story for San Diego Community College Continuing Ed. At my first session, I asked the students to share something interesting about themselves. One ... [full story]

For weeks I've been refraining from joining the Whither Goest Lindsay Lohan? debate, refusing to crack bad jokes (like saying "Lindsay: Fully Loaded" is her best movie), avoiding TMZ and PerezHilton.com and supermarket tabs, and pretending to pay attention to only high culture. I can pretend no longer. For Lindsay's sake, I must speak out. Unlike the troubled - and trouble-courting - Paris Hilton, who's famous for being famous, or Britney Spears, whose onetime successful ... [full story]

An increasing number of homes and other real estate properties in the United States are being purchased by buyers from outside the United States. Most purchase offers from foreigners are legitimate, but some are scams. Sellers should beware of possible problems with international transactions. Many properties being acquired by foreigners this year involve the purchase of second - or vacation - homes, according to the "2007 Profile of International Home Buying Activity" prepared by the ... [full story]

Last week I wrote about putting personal finance on your teen's curriculum this fall by teaching them about the basics of money management: budgeting, saving, and the pros and cons of credit cards. But I also believe teens should at least start to learn about investing for the long term. One of the more eye-opening findings of the survey about teens and money I mentioned last week, co-sponsored by Schwab and the Boys & Girls ... [full story]

President George W. Bush telephoned Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman last weekend. A White House spokesman said Bush wanted families grieving over the Huntington mine disaster to know "they are in his thoughts and prayers." Appropriate words, these. And no fair person, I think, will question Bush's faith in the power of prayer. But in the matter of Utah's multiple and probably unnecessary deaths in that coal mine, the president could have given so much more. ... [full story]

Back-to-school time is as good a time as any for parents to start thinking about nutrition and fitness for their children. Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. As a result, instances of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are being seen in children in unprecedented numbers and ever-younger ages. The folks at the International Food Information Council in Washington, D.C., have put together a Web site - www.kidnetic.com - with the ... [full story]

Jo Frost comes across as one tough cookie when she's laying down the law for children - and their parents - on ABC's hit series "Supernanny." Off camera, she literally lets her hair down from that British bun. That's what she's doing right now, strolling barefoot in the sand of a Southern California beach with her hair let down.   SUPER NANNY - Jo Frost enjoys a walk in the surf at Carlsbad, Calif., during a ... [full story]