Dear Jim: I am landscaping close to the house walls and I want it to be efficient (both for water and energy). I don't know whether to use stone/gravel or low-growing ground cover plants. Which is best for me? - Kathy C.    Low-water-usage ground cover plants and boulders are shaded by trees during the summer and help warm the home during winter   Dear Kathy: Proper landscaping can impact the energy efficiency of your home and obviously the ... [full story]

Dear Jim: I want to install something on my windows and door glass to block the sun's heat and glare, but I want to be able to remove it during the winter. What do-it-yourself options are available? - Robert H. Dear Robert: There are several do-it-yourself options to improve the energy performance of glass during the summer. With the high cost of heating, it makes sense to remove heat- and sun-blocking improvements to get full ... [full story]

School voucher proponent James Leininger has spent millions trying to buy political power in Texas While the philanthropic community has been abuzz about the world’s second wealthiest man, billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s giving a large part of his $44 billion fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Texas’ James Leininger, a much lesser-known billionaire has allocated a large chunk of his fortune to seeing to it that the religious right maintains its dominance ... [full story]

A 13-year-old boy who allegedly set four small fires with a lighter near Lava Lake on Tuesday evening has been cited for reckless burning.  Fire crews responded and made sure the fires were safely extinguished. About 5 p.m. on August 15, Deschutes County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies responded to investigate the suspicious fires, and found that a 13-year-old male was suspected of starting the fires. According to Lt. Shane Nelson, none of the fires burned ... [full story]

More than two-dozen gypsy moths have been trapped in a northwest residential area of Bend, Oregon, indicating the likelihood of a breeding population of the moths in the area. Additional traps are being placed and will be checked regularly over the next several weeks. The 26 detections in Bend mark the highest number of gypsy moths trapped in one location in Oregon east of the Cascades.  The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is now checking ... [full story]

One person died and three were injured in a fiery vehicle crash on Highway 97 south of NW Canal Boulevard in Redmond last Saturday night.  According to a news release from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, initial investigation indicates that a 1989 GMC Sierra swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into a pickup when the driver was unable to stop behind a line of other vehicles that had been stopped to allow a car to ... [full story]

Anyone who loves a quality brew and helping a good cause is invited down to the 3rd annual Bend Brew Fest.  It is taking place at the Les Schwab Amphitheater on Friday, August 18 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, August 19 from noon to 10 p.m. “It is a non-judged beer festival featuring beers throughout the northwest and even a bit further this year,” said Marney Smith, director of the Les Schwab ... [full story]

If you are like millions of other time-starved moms, the thought of back-to-school shopping leaves you feeling stressed and wondering how you can possibly get it all done within your budget and in the limited time you have. Take advantage of these mom-tested, time-saving tips this year and get your children ready for back-to-school in record time - without busting your budget: 1. Start with a plan: Create a master back-to-school shopping list and budget ... [full story]

Anyone looking for a challenge, or two in this case, is invited to the 9th Annual Liberty Bank Sunrise to Summit and Bend to Bachelor Duathlon on Saturday, September 2. This annual race starts at the Sunrise Lodge and climbs 2,700 feet to finish at the summit of Mt. Bachelor. All of the participants will follow an open route to the top of the Sunrise Chair where they can then choose to run or hike ... [full story]

If you had to venture a guess, how much time would you say the average American wastes dealing with paperwork each week? Before you answer, keep in mind all those incoming and outgoing contracts and purchase orders you handle on a daily basis at work, permission slips for the kids’ field trips and extracurricular activities, progress reports you have to sign for school, etc. “Lost count yet?” asks Jeff Zwelling, a businessman from California. He ... [full story]