Today, as gas prices are surpassing $3 per gallon, SUVs and minivans are not as practical to own. So what's a family to do? Enter the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L, the midsize sedan that may forever change the attitude of owning a "grown-up" family car. In its most powerful Passat to date, the 280-horsepower arrives soon to dealerships around the country. Although considered a family car, it does not sacrifice speed. The car continues to perform in the ... [full story]

Thursday...Sunny. Highs 49 to 55. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night...Clear. Lows 15 to 24. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Friday...Sunny. Highs 50 to 55. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Friday Night...Clear. Lows 21 to 29. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Saturday...Mostly sunny. Highs 46 to 51. Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 21 to 28. Sunday...Mostly clear. Highs 45 to 52. Lows 19 to 28. Monday...Mostly clear. Highs 45 to 52. ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - From ads that dance or sing to MTV-like commercials, online advertisers are now using a new type of technology called "rich media" to attract consumers. U.S. Internet advertising revenue will have reached about $12 billion last year, up $3 billion from 2004. Of this, advertisers spent about $1 billion on rich media, up from $800 million in 2003, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. So what exactly is rich media? By definition, it is an ... [full story]

Two of the world's biggest e-mail account providers, Yahoo Inc. and America Online, introduced a service that will charge senders a fee to route their e-mail directly to a user's mailbox without first passing through junk mail filters. All I can do is block any and all AOL originated connections from any Internet resource I have influence over. That's now done - and should've been done long ago. AOL is a product unto itself. The ... [full story]

(NU) - There has been an increase recently in Americans' obsessions to look and feel better. Reality makeover programs such as "Extreme Makeover" use cosmetic surgery to erase signs of aging or to change the size and shape of specific body parts. However, for some people, invasive procedures are not an option. Many are afraid to undergo surgery because of the risks or the expense that is often associated with these cosmetic procedures. Fortunately, there are ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - Balmy spring temperatures lure avid boaters and anglers back to local lakes and streams. Early-season boating, however, introduces a risk that isn't as prominent during the summer months: perilously cold water. "Spring is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors as long as you go prepared," says Bob Gonsalves of the recreation boating Web site www.familyfunonthewater.com. "While the air temperatures may be mild, boaters should keep in mind that water temperatures ... [full story]

As the stock market remains bearish and portfolios continue to make only minor gains, the demand for homes has never been higher. It is with this economic trend that more people are opting to invest in one of the most enduring forms of equity: real estate. Nevertheless, according to the 2000 census, there are more than 35 million families who rent. Experts say that while many families are interested in home ownership, a major obstacle they face ... [full story]

Even though Americans are feeling some relief at the gas pump from last fall's record prices, their checkbooks are still likely to take a hit this winter as natural gas and heating oil prices continue to soar. In fact, the Energy Department predicts that those using natural gas to heat their homes can expect to see their monthly bills rise 48 percent from last year. If it's an especially cold winter, the cost will be even ... [full story]

For first-time buyers of modest means, the goal of home ownership is more difficult to attain today. But a new initiative spearheaded by the nation's credit unions is helping more people qualify for home loans. "Real estate prices are still high all over the country," said Daniel A. Mica, president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union National Association. "Mortgage rates are headed upward as well. The gap between the incomes of average families ... [full story]

While the Deschutes River is famous for its summer run steelhead, good fishing opportunities exist well into the winter for summer-run hatchery fish that remain in the river. Summer-run fish are slow to mature and do not typically begin spawning until early spring in the Deschutes . Slowly migrating or holding fish provide anglers opportunity throughout the Lower Deschutes for most of the winter. While not as popular as the summer fishery, winter steelhead angling ... [full story]