Hay is one of the most valuable crops in the Northwest. But across the country hay farmers have seen a dramatic decline in income. Correspondent Anna King reports on why prices are down.

Washington, Oregon and Idaho produce about 85% of the nation's peppermint oil. In the midst of mint harvest now, those producers say they are feeling competitive heat from farmers in other countries.

Hospitals in Washington are required to provide free care to anyone living below the poverty line, if they ask for it. But some hospitals give more freely than others. Correspondent John Ryan looks at how charitable hospitals really are.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says there are signs the economy may be stabilizing. But she warns the state is not yet out of the woods.

According to an insurance company ranking, Boise and Eugene are home to the best drivers in the Northwest. But be more alert while driving in Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland.

MIAMI, Florida, Jul 14 (IPS) - At a recent conference in Miami organised by Offshore Alert, a specialised media organisation focused on financial crime, IPS correspondent Lucy Komisar sat down with veteran investigator Bob Roach to discuss the hurdles facing

COLOMBO, Jul 14 (IPS) - The Sri Lankan government wants the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to scale down its operations in the country, but is sparing other international nongovernmental organisations amid questions over the post-war role for

JERUSALEM, Jul 14 (IPS) - What's a name, what's in a road name? History, ideology, nationalism.

MEXICO CITY, Jul 14 (IPS) - For the first time, Mexico is eligible for a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. But even if its application is successful, resources for HIV/AIDS prevention among high-risk sectors

OAKLAND, California, Jul 14 (IPS) - Pastor Rick Warren would never be described as laid back. However, since delivering the invocation at President Barack Obama's inauguration in late January, he's been somewhat on the down low.

JOHN Kingman is no mean man of parts. For just £143,000 a year he is a top civil servant, banking overseer, investment management guru, taxpayer guardian and, not least, Madam

WHY should Scotland be celebrating Bastille Day? The short answer to that is: because the French love you. They always have and they always will.

HAVE you pledged your children's investments as security for a business loan? The caravan in Argyll? Family heirlooms lying round the home?

IT WAS no coincidence that at the very moment last week when Alex Salmond made his worst gaffe since becoming First Minister, his spin doctor in chief was away sunning himself

WHEN my husband first tried to propose to me, he got it very, very wrong. He started his speech as we were walking across Shoprite car park. "Let me stop you right there,&

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has caught itself in a trap of precedent and logic that should force it, finally, to regulate homeopathic products. FDA regulations require that drugs and treatments be "scientifically proven safe and effective." Homeopathic remedies,

When an authoritarian regime approaches its final crisis, as a rule its dissolution follows two steps. Before its collapse, a mysterious rupture takes place. All of a sudden people know that the game is over, and then they are no

The independent sector can lie down in front of the tanks or get its guns out says Simon Heffer.

First Lady Janet Museveni said on Sunday that irresponsible journalism can breed "untold damage" and urged media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of ethical journalism practice.

WITHOUT a strong, independent regulator to ensure the public broadcaster fulfills its licensing conditions and public mandate, only Parliament and the Department of Communications can call the SABC to account - and both of these institutions are dominated by the