FOOD & WINE: Upscale winemaking drips with good taste
The current economic crisis is driving people to drink. That is, to drink wine they make at home or in stores. And, increasingly, the do-it-yourself winemaking crowd is made up of wine connoisseurs, rather than just people looking for cheap plonk.

Heavy rain warning issued for lakes and rivers
Metservice has issued a heavy rain warning for the headwaters of Otago's lakes and rivers tonight advising it could cause hazardous driving conditions with slips and washouts.

Snohomish County approves sales tax to expand drug treatment
It's called detox, the place where alcoholics and drug addicts end up when their bodies are so poisoned that they think they'll die ? and might, without medical intervention.

Officer Accused of Drug Trafficking and Rape
A Niagara Falls police officer is under arrest and accused of drug trafficking and raping at least two women. 27-year-old Officer Ryan Warme was arrested Tuesday night by NFPD officers and federal agents after an investigation that lasted several months.

Central Bankers Open the Floodgates to fight Deflation
In the early 1980?s, the Federal Reserve?s headlines figures for the M1, M2, and M3 money supply aggregates flashed at the top of trader?s radar screens, and jolted US T-bill rates by 50-basis points or bond yields by 30-points within minutes.

Library Science: The Chancellor
By Josh Gamble.

Fresno police training center gets OK
Despite worries about a recession and California's financial emergency, the Fresno City Council on Tuesday pledged $15 million to build a regional police training facility at Central and Hayes avenues.

Maximise Opportunities with Tourism Macs
Prominent Queenstown tourism businessman John MacDonald has launched a new tourism service company and purchased a service business as he enters a new career phase that reflects his passions for tourism and for rally driving.

Oregon Recreation Report
The Oregon Recreation report (fishing, hunting, viewing), updated Tuesday, Nov. 25

Snohomish County weighs sales tax to expand drug treatment
The Snohomish County Council today will consider a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax to expand chemical-dependency and mental-health services. Advocates say the tax could save the county money spent on jail costs, police, courts, foster care, emergency-room visits and psychiatric care.

Euro and Pound Fall As Service Sectors Contract Further, Fueling Speculation Of Deeper Interest Rate Cuts
The Euro fell sharply to as low as 1.2610 before finding support as weak service sector and retail sales reports generated bearish sentiment. The Euro-Zone PMI measurement fell to 42.5 from the flash estimate of 43.3 and last months read of 45.8.

Breakingviews.com : Credit crisis hits mergers and acquisitions
As the funding squeeze tightens, other deals could come apart, as did BHP Billiton's hostile bid for Rio Tinto.

Tesco reveal worst sales performance since last recession
TESCO yesterday revealed their weakest sales performance since the last recession.

Discounters: cashing in on the credit crunch
New consumer spending patterns will allow discount retailers to break through into European retailing, particularly in the UK and France. The recession represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for discounters, which are genuinely prospering amid the economic crisis as consumers across the EU cut back on spending and become more discerning in their food shopping behavior.

Cut-price range hits sales growth
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco yesterday reported a halving in UK sales growth in the third quarter after it said like-for-like sales rose by 2%.

Good morning!
Heading back to work and school following the holiday weekend will be a tricky one. Snowfall across the region ranges from a dusting to 6 inches. Road conditions vary from snow covered and slippery to wet with scattered slick spots. Traffic volumes are light.

Now Even Tesco Are Feeling The Pinch..
TESCO yesterday revealed their weakest sales performance since the last recession. Britain's biggest supermarket posted a two per cent increase in UK like-forlike sales, excluding petrol, in the 13 weeks to November 22, down from four per cent the previous quarter.

Area native earns PGA award
Tommy Joyce recently received the Mid-Atlantic PGA Professional of the Year award for his efforts on the green. ?It?s a big thing, career-wise,? said Joyce, the son of Polly and Thomas Joyce of Bassett. ?To get recognized for it is a big honor.?

Confusion Reigns Supreme
?Gold isn?t just another commodity. Gold is money. Some day an international monetary crisis may rudely awaken us to this reality.? ?Mark Skousen, Gold Newsletter, May, 1997, from James U. Blanchard?s Golden Insights.

Putting the green back into nature
What do deerstalkers in the Manawatu, the Coromandel Area School Year Nine class and a group of neighbours in the Far North have in common?