One question uppermost in the minds of many retirees and those eyeing that milestone is how they can prevent some destructive force from rolling over their nest eggs and leaving nothing behind but tread marks. Perhaps the best answer to this question didn't originate at a brokerage house with a Wall Street address or a hoaried economics professor at a place like the Wharton School. Rather, the words of wisdom come from an unassuming certified ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I have owned several Motorola phones and I'm pleased with how they work. I would like to invest $1,000 for my son, who also owns a Motorola cell phone, and buy him 50 shares of Motorola stock, which sells for less than $20. Do you think this would be a good, long-term purchase for him? P.N. Aurora, Ill. Dear P.N.: It's almost inconceivable that back in early 2000, Motorola Inc. (MOT-$18.71) was ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I'm about to invest $350,000 in a trust deed that will pay 18 percent. The company representing this investment is purchasing a privately owned state-chartered bank in Nevada as well as a financial advisory management company. I've seen the signed contracts for the purchase and sale of these investments and when they are finalized I will also be entitled to 1.5 percent equity participation as well as the continuing 18 percent on ... [full story]

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The case against Santa Clara, Calif., murder suspect Maurice Nasmeh has been thrown out after 2 1/2 years of prosecutors delaying the trial. Nasmeh sat in jail until Superior Court Judge Ray Cunningham ruled that the prosecutors were taking too long to bring him to trial for the disappearance and death of Jeanine Harms, The San Jose (Calif.) Mercury-News reported Thursday. Maurice Nasmeh, 43 Nasmeh, 43, was the last person ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Eight candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination focused mainly on domestic issues at a forum Thursday at Howard University in Washington. In a debate televised over PBS, the candidates spoke before a live audience at the historically black school, and one of the first topics was Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the use of race in public schools' efforts to achieve racial integration. The candidates denounced the ruling, and Sen. Barack Obama, ... [full story]

The Oregon Senate and House adjourned sine die Thursday afternoon, concluding the regular session of the 74th Legislative Assembly. The session, which began on January 8, lasted 172 days, making it the shortest session since 1995.  By adjourning today, the legislature will save Oregon taxpayers an estimated $998,000 in operating costs over the last legislative session.  Session highlights include a strong commitment to education, health care, consumer protection, landmark family equality legislation, updates to Oregon ... [full story]

MOSCOW - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has suggested that his country might one day go nuclear, and defended Iran's right to pursue nuclear energy. Noting that neighboring Brazil has declared its nuclear energy intentions, Chavez said Venezuela "might do likewise," Globovision TV reported Thursday. Chavez's remarks in Moscow came ahead of President George W. Bush's scheduled visit to the Russian capital. The remarks also came as the Venezuelan leader discussed a deal for the purchase ... [full story]

LONDON - The son-in-law of former Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser was found dead in London in suspicious circumstances. The death of Ashraf Marwan had not been classified as a homicide, The Times of London reported. Some in London's Arab community suggested he might have committed suicide after learning he was seriously ill. Zvi Zamir, former head of the Mossad, the Israeli secret service, told Haaretz he believes Marwan died because of reports that he ... [full story]

RAMALLAH, West Bank - The former security chief of Fatah said he had warned people about Hamas' plans in Gaza. "I was not surprised by the coup in the Gaza Strip," Muhammed Dahlan told The Jerusalem Post. "I knew about Hamas' plans and I told different parties about this so we could try to thwart them." Dahlan is a Fatah member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The Post said his remarks came as PA Chairman ... [full story]

ALGECIRAS, Spain - Spanish police have reportedly arrested two people in the kidnapping of a young English girl abducted from a resort apartment in Portugal. Details of the arrest were sketchy. A spokeswoman for the Spanish police said she could confirm only one arrest, that of an Italian man. Some Spanish television stations reported two men were picked up while there were also reports of a Portuguese woman, British newspapers reported. The arrests took place ... [full story]