ALVIN A microscopic insect found in Alvin spawned a nationwide hunt by agriculture officials to ensure it would not have an effect on American rice producers. The panicle rice mite, which was found at a field owned by Ricetec in Alvin, can cause serious damage by munching on the plants, making it vulnerable to other pests. Cuevas said the mite was isolated to those fields, covering about 120 acres out of the 4,000 acres of rice it grows, and only two to three mites were found in each of...

Adding Wang's Simply Vera collection is a stunning example of the democratization of fashion -- opening up perceived luxury to women of more modest means. Designer Vera Wang's new and modestly priced line -- clothing, accessories, lingerie, jewelry, linens and towels and rugs for the bath -- debuts there today, and it looks absolutely fabulous! In theory, it's a win-win: Wang gets a brand new customer base, and Kohl's gives shoppers the opportunity to buy something most can't easily afford...

Though the tourism industry is mindful of environmental issues facing the Murray River and is committed to minimising the impact of visitors to the region we want to stress to the public that the South Australian section of river remains a great holiday option. Though the tourism industry is mindful of environmental issues facing the Murray River and is committed to minimising the impact of visitors to the region we want to stress to the public that the South Australian section of river...

For most of the mill's existence it was the largest structure in Henderson, and provided the greatest number of jobs. The loss of those jobs hit the East End hard, and much of the local relief efforts were aimed at families who had lost their income when the mill closed in 1931. The mill had recently lost its biggest customer and was being hit hard by utility bills, as much as $30,000 a month for natural gas. She began work in a segregated plant at Washington and Holloway, where blacks...

That's one of the big selling points of Nick's Cove and Cottages, restaurateur Pat Kuleto's new property on the shore of Tomales Bay: At the close of the meal, sated diners can waddle a few steps to their private cabins and slip contentedly between sheets of crisp, 400-count Egyptian cotton. That's one of the big selling points of Nick's Cove and Cottages, restaurateur Pat Kuleto's new property on the shore of Tomales Bay: At the close of the meal, sated diners can waddle a few steps to...