A swimming pool is almost like a member of your family. It needs to be fed and cleaned, and it needs regular attention.

Weekly auto rail, with tips on used-car buying, Car Q&A with Junior Damato and more.

Having seen my share of high school and college graduation speakers in the past few years, I'd like to give a college graduation speech of my own:

Jasper County has been granted $292,400 of federal stimulus money to install new lighting as well as heating/air upgrades inside four Carthage-based Jasper County facilities, commissioners said.

Mike Holman is overjoyed with his new lab-boxer mix, named Eddie, but he knows that somewhere someone’s heart is breaking. Holman adopted Eddie two months ago after the dog’s previous owner contacted the rescue group Cause 4 Paws because he could no longer keep Eddie. Liz De Arvil of Cause 4 Paws and Lean on Me Doberman Rescue said pet owners are definitely feeling the financial strain of the economy, and unfortunately, it’s the pets that often end up paying the price.

Weekly business rail, with tips on your 401(k) if you change jobs, a look at the world’s most powerful athletes, a BBB warning about magazine scams and more.

What makes Gov. Mark Sanford’s sin even worse is the way he left his co-workers and his constituents out to dry. Not only did he act shamefully toward his wife, but the arrogance he displayed by keeping his trip to Argentina secret is unforgivable. The only action he could take to perhaps salvage some of his reputation is to resign his office.  

Caterpillar Inc. is getting into the hybrid vehicle business. Except these won't be vehicles you'll see on the highway. The company Tuesday officially launched its line of Diesel-electric hybrid bulldozers - the D7E - that it says will improve fuel efficiency 30 percent or more while not skimping on the power its customers expect from Caterpillar equipment.

Q&A with former New York Times editor Robert Phelps on the newspaper industry.

Weekly financial Q&A, with items on investing and multi-level operations.

Earlier this month, the Carthage City Council rejected a proposal to increase the fine for parking longer than two hours on the Carthage Square from $1 to $15.

Although it’s been up and running for a couple of weeks, a unique ribbon-cutting was held Tuesday afternoon — not for a business, but the Carthage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s new Web site.

In the day and age, with job layoffs at an all time high, nabbing a 30 percent discount on one or more prescription drugs sounds like a fairy-tale story.

Five Rockford residents and two guys from Poplar Grove will be the death of millions of aliens. They want you to join them in killing off alien invaders and have fun doing it. Eric Nofsinger, Mark Muraski, Pat Dolan, Tom Martin, and Damion Davis, all of Rockford, along with Altair Lane and David Pellas, both of Poplar Grove, helped develop High Voltage Software’s latest release for the Nintendo Wii called “The Conduit.”

Providing proper health care for those in jail has helped one Peoria company lock up plenty of contracts all across the country. "It's a very stealthy business," said Dr. Norman Johnson from his office at Advanced Correctional Healthcare, referring to the fact health care for prisoners is not only overlooked by the taxpaying public but often not fully understood by counties that operate the jails.