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:

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.

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.

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.

Jay Kimball, owner of Wood’s Seafood in Plymouth, says he prefers hard-shell lobsters because they are meatier, but Joe Norton, owner of Mullaney’s Harborside Fish Market in Scituate, likes soft-shell lobsters because they are easier to crack and less expensive.

Most of us would agree that it simply costs more to do just about anything today than 10 or 20 years ago. While inflation has abated somewhat with this very slow economy -- I wouldn't rule out the “I” word as out of the question for the future.

Weekly auto rail, with tips for females, Q&A with Junior Damato and more.

Weekly business rail, with tips for entrepreneurs, a look at the best places to live, workplace-attire tips for women and more.

Weekly financial Q&A, this week with advice on buying a business and student loans.